Happy Half-Birthday!

That's what my sixth grade Core Group girls call it anyway. Today Ella is offically halfway between one and two. 18 months old?? I have no idea where the last six months have gone. It seems like we just had her first birthday! Not an official celebration today, but she did get the most adorable pair of spring shoes (that will have to be a post for later...you're gonna love them). Here's our not-so-little Ella:

Here are some funny things she's doing nowadays:

• She loves to dress-up- mainly in hats, necklaces, bracelets, and glasses.
• She talks non-stop, mostly just in one or two word phrases ("Mama, grapes?" (gapes)). Earl's favorite word is "feet" (peets) and mine is "It's pretty" (iss pwetty).
• She is eating us out of house and home and I'm beginning to think she's making me second guess that it's just a "boy" thing.
• Her babies are strategically placed around the house. Some go in a stroller, some in a grocery cart, some in a bed. Everytime she picks one up she puts it to her shoulder and pats its back...so cute.
• She loves to read. She'll sit for nearly an hour and let me read to her or she'll sit for even longer and read to herself aloud.
• If she sees lights come up the driveway she usually runs to the kitchen door and says "Daddy?" This is my favorite part of the day (for more than one reason).
• She loves shoes. Mostly boots, but it isn't summer yet so give me time-I'm working on it.

Happy Half-Birthday, Ella! I love you!!