Happy Halloween!!!

9 Months Old Doctors Appt

Another good doctors visit!



Ella is still in the 97% for weight (23lbs 10oz), but she dropped to the 90% for height (28.75in) and up above the 97% for head circumference (18.5in). While height and weight are looking great... we need to watch that head size a little. They really don't like the kiddos above 97%. If it still seems a little high at her 1 year visit, then we will talk about a CT scan to make sure everything is growing ok in Ella's HUGE head. :) But nothing major to worry about!

Doc is super happy with Ella's development and also gave us the go ahead with any new foods we are ready for her to try. She can pretty much eat what we eat now... with the exception of shellfish, honey, corn, nuts, chocolate and berries.

Compare Ella to her last 2 doc visits:
Oct 10th: http://herbfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/doctors-visit.html
August 1st: http://herbfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/ella-6-months-old.html

Anniversary and 9 months old

Today Ella is 9 months old and Mark and I are celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary. But we have even bigger news:

ELLA IS CRAWLING!

We were so afraid it would happen while we were in DC, but Ella timed it perfectly! Back in the safety (and all the baby proofing!) of our own home... she's moving around like crazy!

Video to follow!!

Our 9 month old doctors appt is tomorrow so I will report back with new measurements soon!

Washington DC Visit

Thanks to our hosts Sean & Tonya and Tom & Susan for making our trip to DC so amazing. It was Mark's 1st visit to our nations capitol and we all had a blast. Because of the marathon, we weren't able to do as much family sightseeing as we would have liked... but I'm sure we'll be back for another visit.

Marine Corps Marathon

I completed my 2nd marathon on Sunday with a time of 6:08:20. While it wasn't quite the time I hoped for, nothing can compare to the experience of crossing the finish line with one of my best friends, Jen Bailey. Jen was running through major knee injuries to finish her 1st marathon.

We had the best cheering section anyone could ask for... Tom & Susan Bailey, Andy Paul, Jen & Eli Veenendaal, Tonya & Sean Lawson, and (of course!) Mark & Ella!

Thanks to all of you who sent us support in the form of phone calls, text messages, and thoughts and prayers. It meant a lot to know that we had our own private cheering section all over the US!! :)

Ella visits the Pumpkin Patch

We made our 1st Annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch this afternoon! Not only was this Ella's 1st trip, but Mark tells me that this was also his 1st ever visit to a REAL pumpkin patch (I have a feeling that his Mom will disagree).

I don't know who enjoyed it most! None of us had ever seen so many pumpkins in the same place!

Mom and Ella think they've found the perfect pumpkin!

Ella and Dad pose for a quick pic before we leave.

More Photos From Patti's Wedding

To check out more pics from my sister's wedding, go to
http://www.paulvphotoevents.com/pickpic/gallery/splash.php?gallery_id=308
Password: Walker

Standing!

Well... not totally standing on her own. I had to help her up, but once she holds on- she can stand up on her own for quite bit!

Moving and Shaking

Ella has been our little mover this past week. She is still not OFFICIALLY crawling forward, but boy is she moving. She maneuvers herself all over the floor: rolling, scooting, backwards crawling and the occasional shimmy, but still no forward crawling.



New this week as well, she can stand on her own by holding onto tables, chairs and the side of her playpen. We've had a few brushes with gravity as a result, but she's been pretty tough (and Mom is always putting pillows around her).



Now that she has dipped her toe in this whole moving thing, she is rarely satisfied sitting still!!

Also a new development... but not as exciting... Ella is really showing some "personality". She certainly knows what she wants and makes sure everyone else knows it. This girl is going to be STUBBORN- just like her Mommy!

I'm going to try and see if I can figure out how to upload some videos so you can see our little mover and shaker!

Ella moving!

Check out Ella trying to get the cordless phone in the pic below. Her legs kick around like crazy! Hilarious!