What so great about this guy with the beard?

This past Tuesday, Ryan and I met his parents at Park City Mall to do our annual Christmas shopping. While there, we figured we would get Ella's picture with Santa. How fun it would be!

We dressed her in the cutest red sweater dress, white tights, and no shoes. I didn't have any that matched her outfit, so you better believe I wouldn't dare put a non-matching pair on to complete the outfit. Let's be realistic. As we were driving there, we were discussing what we thought her reaction would be....either crying or pulling at his beard. Ultimately, we thought crying!

So we get ourselves all prepared to hear Ella scream bloody murder when she is sitting on Santa's lap. Instead, this is what we get.........

Yep, the ultimate look of disgust. NOTHING was getting her to smile. Not the game of "Power Up" we play at home that she loves, or any of the silly things we were trying, that we would rather only do at home or around people we know...not in the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle. I have a feeling we will be seeing this look a lot when she is a teenager (as they say, "payback is a bitch").

Despite her utter disgust, we did manage to get a cute picture when she decided to look up at Santa. Regardless, they are both a keeper:)

Strike a pose, there's nothin' to it

The Elf on the Shelf!! Yay!! I think I was excited more than she was! I can't wait to start this tradition with her. I am especially excited for when she understands it!

So excited to open her first gift of the countdown...what is it??????

Ella and me with her sock count down that Grammy and Grandad made her. It will look even better when we put the rest of the decorations up!

She always seems to fall asleep on his chest...as long as she is comfy!

Paying homage to Uncle Twan and the fact that he insists on doing her hair like this EVERY time he is with her.

Pink is not the new black

Ella being in daycare has been a pretty good thing. As much as I would like to have her with me all day, I know she is safe and doing well the the ladies at daycare. One thing I don't like- all the germs she brings home with her. It seems as though I have gotten pretty much every ailment she has gotten from stuffy noses to throwing up....yummy.

The latest and greatest: pink eye. The eye drops that we have to put in her eye? Even better. Her screams that can be heard from miles away is just the icing on the cake. Of course it is to help her and make her eye feel better, but how do you explain that to an 8 month old?

Despite the pink eye, she is still as talkative and curious as ever.

Its never too late

So I have been contemplating this whole blog thing for a while, and I figured, 'Why not?' I thought it would be nice to have this for not only us to look back on, but for all of our family and friends that aren't close to us (way too many for m liking) and don't get to see her frequently.