Ellie ~ 6 Months Old ~ Half a Year Already?!

Weight: 15 pounds 13 ounces ~ 46th percentile

Height: 26 1/4 inches ~ 69th percentile

Oh. My. Goodness.  This past month has been crazy!!!  Crazy awesome that is!  We spent most of the month in Indiana and I think all that humidity made her grow 3x as fast.  She hit a lot of milestones this month.  It seemed like almost daily she did something new or improved greatly on something.  It has been so much fun watching her grow and develop.  A friend said to me, "Isn't it so fun to watch them figure things out on their own?!"  Yes, yes it is.  Ellie brings me so much joy.  I love this little girl more than words can express.  Can't believe she's already half a year old. 

* She started eating rice cereal.  She was quite unsure of it at first but got the hang of it very quickly!  She eats pretty well now.  Next step: Baby food...here we go in a few days!
* She can sit up by herself.  I realized I needed to give her the opportunity more often and once I started sitting with her on the floor she did it really quick.  She's had a few soft face plants and some hard backward falls, but she's getting there.  She'll sit up for long periods of time and can play with toys while sitting.  She's so big!
* Ellie is mobile.  AHHH!!!  I'm still not okay with this ;)  She is army crawling now.  It seriously happened overnight.  We were at the Bell's in Ohio.  Up to that point she could scoot a little and roll around and get things but it took awhile to make it very far.  One morning I set her on the ground and went into the kitchen to get something and I hear this thump, thump, thump.  I go back in and she was across the room!!!  What?!  She hasn't slowed down since then.  This girl can get wherever she wants now...and whatever she wants...and she sure likes to get into everything she shouldn't!  It's already starting...  I've learned I can't put her in white onesies right now unless I want them to be filthy.  I've used a lot of Shout lately :) 
* She cut her first 2 teeth.  The bottom incisors.  They're so cute...and lethal!  It hurts when she bites now...especially when she gets the top of my foot when I'm not expecting it! 
* Ellie discovered grass one day and it was the funniest thing!  She would run her hands through it really slow and you could tell she was just trying to figure it out.  Adorable.

I think those are the big things from this past month.  I'm sure there's more, but I've been slacking on blogging and I'm a little behind.  Trying to catch up when you have a baby that changes almost daily is quite hard to accomplish.  Anyway.  Pictures make up what I lack in writing :)  Ellie Beth is basically the cutest baby in the world.

Des Got Married!

I just have to say that I'm a good friend.  HA!  I made sure the fly back to Utah to make it to Des' wedding.  I flew in Tuesday night and stayed with Amber and then we did wedding stuff all day Wednesday.  I'm glad I was able to make it back.

It was a beautiful day to get married!  Amber, Megan and I went to the temple for the sealing.  I wasn't able to go because my sitter fell through for Ellie, but it is what it is.  I'm glad I was there when she came out.  I'm really happy for her!  This is the best part of life.  We went to the luncheon, which was delicious.  Then we hung out for awhile before the reception.  I'm so grateful I got to spend the day with Amber and Megan!  Landen came down for the reception (and to take Ellie and I home).  It was so fun to see more friends at the reception, Ariel, Whitney and Andrew.  Fun times.  All in all it was a great day! 

Back home in Indiana!!!

Best. Trip. Ever.  I was able to take Ellie back to Indiana for 3 1/2 weeks and it was awesome!  Landen was able to join us for the first week and I was so glad he had vacation time and was able to go.  We had so much fun.  My parents showed us a great time!!!  They gave us a real vacation and it was much needed.  We packed so much into that first week since Landen was there too.  It started out with a family party with all of my siblings.  It is always great to get together with everyone.  All my nieces and nephews are getting so big.  It's ridiculous.  We had a blast just hanging out and talking and playing games. 

Ellie's First Plane Ride:  She did awesome!!!  On the way home I was alone with her and she was perfect.  The people sitting around me said they had never seen a baby not cry on a plane.  Good job, Ellie!

Family Time!  PIT is a must...and it gets crazy!

Mom and Dad took us on a roadtrip and it was awesome!  I love that Dad is old school and uses maps still :)  We headed to Illinois to visit Carthage Jail and Nauvoo first. It was so great to be able to visit these historical church sites again, it's been a long time for me.  It was Landen's first time.  I'm so grateful we were able to go.  I love the Spirit you feel in these places.  It always strengthens my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the early members of the Church.  I'm so grateful for the sacrifices they made so that we can have the Gospel today.  We are so blessed!  My favorite part was going to the Nauvoo Temple to do a session.  Dad was kind and stayed with Ellie at the hotel so Mom, Landen and I could go.  It was beautiful!!!  This has become one of my favorite temples.  It is gorgeous on the inside.  Wow.  What an incredible opportunity to go!

We then headed to Chicago for a Cubs Game!  Oh it was so great to be at Wrigley Field again.  Another first for Landen.  The weather was perfect!  Ellie had a blast too!  She is so darn cute.  Of course the Cubs lost...in the 9th inning...I would not expect anything else!

From Chicago we drove to Michigan to Aunt Ellen and Uncle Dale's to spend the night.  The next day we went to Columbia City to Aunt Carol and Uncle Mike's for a family party.  Ellie finally got to meet her Great Grandma Barrell.  4 Generations :)  I'm so glad Grandma got to see Ellie, I'm not sure when the next time will be.  We also got to meet baby Claire!!! (Goeff and Chelsey's little girl)  Ellie wasn't sure what to do with her...  It was  really fun day with family.

I always have to get a few pictures of HOME.  It is gorgeous this time of year!

I was able to go visit Theresa and we took a few laps around the lake on the boat.  It was beautiful!  It was so good to catch up!  I love hanging out with good friends.  A few days later I got together with Theresa, Nikki, Kelly and Linda for some card action!  It's not a trip home without a good game of Shanghi Rummy!!!

The last Saturday I was home we watched Bailey, Camryn and Parker and they spent the night.  We had so much fun.  I still can't believe they are getting so big!  We played battleship, foosball, arcade basketball, Spot It, Guesstures and Word on the Street!  Such a fun night.  Those girls are crazy!

This next picture is significant because Grandpa kept trying to feed Ellie solid food!  Ha!

Well, I was so sad this trip came to an end.  Seriously sad.  I love being home with my family.  I'm so grateful I was able to be there for so long this time.  What a blessing it was.  I figured if I was spending the money on a plane ticket I might as well make it worth my while.  And it was totally worth it!  Thanks, Mom and Dad for making it such a great trip!  We love and miss you!