Ella Kate Goes to Cali

This past weekend Ella Kate and I flew to San Francisco to meet Dave and spend a long weekend. Dave had been out there all week at a work conference so we decided to take advantage of the opportunity. I was so very nervous about how Ella Kate would do on an airplane for 5 hours. Ella Kate did perfect. It did not seem to phase her at all. The plane ride was a little bumpy to San Francisco so the fasten seat belt light was on almost the whole time. Ella Kate sat in my lap the entire trip and played with all the Dollar Store junk I had bought to keep her entertained and watched Barney (her new favorite) on the DVD player. When we arrived in San Francisco Dave met us at the airport picked us up and off we went. The first day we drove down the Pacific Coast Highway enjoyed the beautiful views and went to Stinson Beach. We found a great place to eat on Stinson Beach and then let Ella Kate run around on the beach and put her feet in the Pacific Ocean. She loved it! There were also tons of birds so she wore herself out chasing them. After Stinson Beach we went to an old military base which was up on a hill and took in some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The next day we got up bright and early and checked out the Sea Lions at Pier 39. After the Sea Lions we hopped on a Ferry boat and toured Alcatrez. Alcatrez was so cool!! After Alcatrez we went back to a Farmers Market on Pier 39 walked around and had lunch outside at a restaurant on the Pier. Pier 39 is one busy place but Ella Kate loved sampling all the fruits especially the oranges. We had to buy a few oranges b/c Ella Kate had taken so many samples I was feeling a little guilty. :) After lunch we walked from Pier 39 to Pier 1 (yes 39 blocks) and then Dave talked me into climbing the Coit Tower (20 flights of steps w/ child, backpack, and umbrella stroller). Needless to say we were exhausted by the end of the day!! After the Coit Tower we went back to the hotel room freshened up and did what I think was one of Dave's favorite tourist stops. Dave loves the TV show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and one of the recent episodes featured a place called Rocco's. The owner of Rocco's was working the night we went and he actually seated us and played peep eye with Ella Kate. The food was great and the atmosphere even better! We had a great dinner and it was fun getting all of the special treatment from Rocco's grandson (who was the owner). Our last day in San Francisco we toured Muir Woods and saw the most amazing Redwood trees, took a few trolley rides, did some shopping, and ended the day with a visit to Jap Town.

We had a wonderful family trip and it was fun having Ella Kate as our little entertainer. She had us laughing the whole trip with some of her antics. She wants to be sure that everyone knows what is hers and so she often holds her shoe, etc. and says Ella Kate's. She thinks all names should be plural and now refers to me as Momma's which sounds like Mommaz when Ella Kate says it. And of course Dave is Daddyz. It is pretty funny to hear her calling our names. Since she was born Dave has always called her Pooks or Pookums. He will often say something like "aww Pooks." Well sometimes when she is just playing by herself we would hear her say "Aww Pooks." Pretty funny.

Ella Kate and Daddy along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Walking down to see the great view.

Ella Kate loved the water in California. We stopped by Stinson Beach for lunch one afternoon and let Ella Kate run on the beach and stick her feet in the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately we did not get pictures but she had a great time! She has absolutely no fear of the ocean so the beach this summer should be extra fun.

These were some street performers we saw near Fishermans Wharf. Ella Kate was amazed. They were actually really good and hilarious.

The performers were a family 2 brothers and 1 sister from England.

Ella Kate and Dave in Muir Woods looking at the beautiful and amazing Redwood trees. It was sprinkly rain while we were in the Muir Woods National Park which was actually kinda cool b/c it gave it a rainforest feel. Ella Kate loved the rain and she especially likes wearing her raincoat.

She wanted to jump in all of the puddles and of course her Daddy let her. :) Her Daddy likes to jump in mud puddles too.

Posing in front of one of the huge redwoods.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. It was absolutely beautiful.

This is the house that was filmed in one of my favorite TV shows - Full House.

Ella Kate loves dressing herself these days and she wanted to take her raincoat off and put it on herself a million times.

A view of San Francisco and Alcatrez from the top of the Coit Tower. Yes, we climbed 20 flights of stairs with a baby, Backpack, and Umbrella Stroller. It was quite a workout but the view was worth it.

Ella Kate and Mommy at the top of the Coit Tower.

One afternoon we stopped and had lunch at Pier 39. We found a cool restraunt and we ate outside. While we were waiting on our food Dave and Ella Kate fed the birds. Ella Kate loved the birds.

Daddy and Ella Kate at Alcatrez. Ella Kate thought the audio equipment was pretty cool.

Family Pic outside Alcatrez.

Ella Kate and I inside one of the cells at Alcatrez. It was such a cool tour.

Checking out more birds.

We got really lucky and the day we visited Alcatrez one of the original guards from when the prison was open was there speaking.

A view of Alcatrez from our Ferry boat.

Sweet Ella Kate was such a trooper. We toured the city non-stop and she napped on the go the whole weekend.

The Sealions at Pier 39. This was so cool to me. You could see them swimming in from the ocean into the pier area and then hop up on the doc. Loved it!!

Ella Kate and I watching the sea lions.

We climbed up a hill which I believe was an old military base and saw an awesome view of the Golden Gate bridge.

The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. Quite a site!

Ella Kate and Mommy looking at the Pacific Ocean. Some of the view driving along the Pacific Coast Highway reminded me of Hawaii.

Family Shot

Ella Kate was such a good girl on our trip to California. She was old enough to really enjoy seeing some of the sites. She was our little buddy. She of course rode in her stroller alot but when she wanted to walk she would want to hold both of our hands. So sweet!!

Ella Kate loves her Dogs

Ella Kate loves both of her dogs very much but today she was all about Sally. Sally was the first pound puppy that Dave and I adopted the first Christmas after we got married. Sally was our first baby and she is so sweet and cudly. Ella Kate loves to boss the dogs around and today she wanted Sally to sit by her while I took their picture. If you watch the below video you will even see that Sally gives Ella Kate a kiss then Ella Kate kisses Sally right back. So sweet!!

Ella Kate playing in her ball pit. I know it looks kinda pitiful since we don't have enough balls. Buying more is on my list!!

Just playing!!

Such a sweet girl! We were stuck inside all day b/c it was just so cold!

Playing Peep Eye.

Posing with sweet old Sally!!

She was very excited to be getting her picture made with Sally.

I had trouble getting the video up of her playing with Sally so I will post it later.

18 Month Checkup

Today was Ella Kate's 18 month checkup! She weighed in at 21lbs 13oz which puts her in the 20th percentile for weight and 33" tall which puts her in the 90th percentile for height. She only had to get one vaccination today and she did so very good! Because she was so good I told her she could have a prize. Well she picked up that word fast and clearly knew what it meant b/c she said "prize, prize, prize" a million times. It was so cute!! Her prize was a trip to Chick-fil-A for lunch with Mommy! She loves Chick-fil-A particulary b/c of th indoor playground. There were two other little boys around 3 years old playing and she had so much fun with them. I let her play for probaly a good 30 mins b/c I was loving watching her play so good with the little boys. After Chick-fil-A we headed to Lizard and Lollipops to get her a raincoat for our big trip to San Francisco next week!!!

Poor little thing was worn slap out and is sound asleep right now. Hopefully she will rest good b/c we have a playdate this afternoon. Our sweet neighbors Mary Cobb, Lawton, and Tommy are all coming over soon and I know Ella Kate will have fun sliding and "cooking" with them. She loves to say "cook" which means she wants you to play with her and her new kitchen.

I just can't believe that she is a year and a half! I am enjoying seeing all of the phases she goes through as she gets older but it is also hard to think that my baby is growing up. I love hearing her say "Momma" and call for me when she is playing and wants me to come play with her. It just makes my day!! Lately she has not been wanting me to carry her when we go in stores, etc. but instead she wants to walk and hold my hand. It is so sweet and I love it!!! Today when we were in Lizard and Lollipops she stayed right with me and kept taping me on the leg and saying "look" Wow." She has never been one to sit in a stroller so I think she really enjoyed being more apart of the shopping experience with me today. Well I better get a little work done before she wakes up from her nap.

We love you very much Ella Kate!!!

Happy 2010!!

Happy New Year!!! Our New Years started off great and we are excited about 2010! On New Years Day we took Ella Kate to the Imagine It Children's Museum in Atlanta. It is such a cool place and we all had a great time. Ella Kate has been to the Children's Museum before so it is fun to see the differences in how she interacts with other kids and plays as she gets older.

She is growing so fast and getting so smart. She can talk up a storm and has recently learned to say her name. She will point herself out in pictures and say "Ella Kate." Over the Christmas holidays she also learned to say Chocolate "Choco." She is still learning more and more sign language and does the sign and says alot of her basic words like eat, drink, socks, more, etc.
She loves her Tuesday school and Sunday school! She loves to swim in the bath tub and in the next month or so I am going to sign her back up for swimming lessons to get her ready for the summer. However right now with it being 19 degrees this morning I just can't imagine getting in a pool. I am thinking maybe late February or early March.

We have booked Ella Kate's first plane ticket and we leave on January 15th for San Francisco!! We are so excited. Dave is going to be out there for a week attending a conference so Ella Kate and I are going to fly out Friday afternoon and we will all return together the following Monday. I am a little nervous about flying by myself with Ella Kate to Cali but we cashed in some skymiles and Dave got us first class tickets so that should help! Please say a prayer for us and wish us luck! Dave and I are hoping Ella Kate will enjoy the trip and this will be a great start to many more family travels!

Enjoy the pics!!

Daddy sneaked Ella Kate a cookie during breakfast this morning. By the time I turned around to see what was going on this was what I found :)

Mommy and Ella Kate on the tractor at the Children's Museum.

Ella Kate loved the tractor and climbed on it several times.

She loves to drive!!

She was really good at building with the sticks. We were impresssed with her coordination.

Playing with the Choo Choo trains with the other kids.

Our future builder.

Ella Kate and Daddy loved the construction blocks.

If Daddy has anything to do with it Ella Kate is going to be quite a little fishergirl.

Fishing!

Her all time favorite activity - Sliding.

Ella Kate is taking alot of interest in going to the potty. She pats her bottom and tells me when she has a "Yuck" aka dirty diaper. She sometimes tells me TeTe. Anytime I go to the restroom she comes with me says "TeTe" and sits on her potty. We are not officially potty training yet but she is starting to ge the idea.