Teething UGH!!

More pics fresh out of the tub. Look at that chubby thing. Her rolls are adorable.

Hanging with my buddy Moxley. It looks like Mox is biting her but she is really trying to give her kisses. These two are going to be inseparable some day.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my swing.

Sitting in my new Bumbo seat for the first time. Not sure about it yet. We are still working on it.

Ella has started teething. This was something that I was not expecting to have to deal with a few months. Let me tell ya... Not the funnest part about being a parent. She is cranky and drools constantly. I feel bad because she is normally such a happy baby. Hopefully things will get better for her soon. On a happier note she is just about the cutest thing ever. She has recently discovered her hands and is AMAZED by the fact that she is the one making them move. She also jabbers up a storm. I seriously can't shut that kid up. She always has so much to say and does it with a big smile. If you ignore her babble, she just does it louder and louder until you start talking to her. It's really quite funny. Above are just a few pics of the recent happenings in her life.

More Memorable Moments

Playin on Daddy's shoulders

Ella fell asleep with her shirt in both hands and pulled up by her face. Crazy kid!!

Year 6 is in the Books

Today Taylor and I are celebrating our 6 year anniversary. Well... the celebrating is on hold until Saturday but today is the day. On Saturday we planning on heading out on our first real date since Ella was born. We'll be having a pretty standard dinner and a movie date but, I'm still really excited. Year six brought some really exciting changes to our little family with the birth of Ella. Each year together is a little more exciting then the one before and it leaves me anxious to see where year seven takes us.
Taylor - You are the love of my life and my best friend. You are an amazing husband and father and I really couldn't ask for more. I love the way you make me smile. I love how safe I feel when I am with you and how broken I feel when we are apart. Year seven is going to be amazing as we watch our little girl grow and our family become closer than ever before. I love you. - Jess

Bitter Sweet

My time at home is coming to an end. My maternity leave is almost over and I head back to work next Monday. While on my maternity leave I have come to realize that I could never be a full time stay at home mommy. I need to be able to get out of the house. And though I have been saying for weeks now that I'm ready to go back to work, now that it is really here I'm feeling bummed to see this time end. It all just went by way too fast. Not every day of my maternity leave has been peachy but I will say that now that Ella is a bit older it's been a lot less stressful and a lot more fun. I'm going to miss seeing her all day. I'll miss being the one to get her out of her crib in the morning because that is her happiest time of the day. I'm feeling sad to think that someone else may be the one to witness milestones like her first laugh, steps, and words because I am at work. Oh well.... life goes on. I have to remember that I'm not the first women in history to go back to work and leave my baby with a babysitter. At least I have comfort in knowing that she is with my amazing friend Kendra who I'd trust with my life. Taylor and I love Brandon and Kendra and their kiddos and know that Ella is in good hands there.

On a side note, I can't even believe that Ella is almost 3 months old already. She is growing so fast. She is already cooing up a storm, rolling on her side, holding her head up with ease, wanting to jump and stand when you hold her on your lap, and smiling like crazy. She is developing her own little personality and I have to say that I think I might be in trouble. She even threw her first temper tantrum the other day. Ella tries to suck her thumb and because I come from a family of thumb suckers I will not let her do it (this would be why she always has a binky in her mouth). The other day when she was trying to suck her thumb I kept moving her hand away from her mouth. When I did she would scream and kick her legs. Then she would stop crying and try again screaming and kicking her legs every time I moved her hand. It was quite comical but man...I think this kid maybe more stubborn then her mom and her dad!! She is very independent and most of the time she would rather lay on a blanket by herself then cuddle. She has already out grown cuddle time in less then 3 months! If I get any snuggles any more it's rare. She is feisty yet sweet and I just can't get enough of her.

Ella's First Easter

Here are a few pics of our little Ella in her very first Easter dress (and a spare of my adorable little red head). Ella got completely spoiled by her Grandma and Grandpa Riley and her great Aunt Krysti. I can't wait until she is a little bit older and can participate in the egg hunt! It will be so much fun. Also huge thanks to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Nolan for keeping Ella looking so adorable and getting her this fun spring dress to wear.

Bath Time

Now that Ella no longer has her cord we are able to give her REAL baths and not just sponge her down. It has made things so much easier and much more fun because Ella LOVES her bath. She loves to just sit back in the warm water and relax. Here are some cute pics Taylor took of her bath the other night.

What a Blessing

Our Family

Ella with her Aunt Rosey

Last Sunday Ella had the privilege of being blessed by her Uncle Cooper. Cooper did an amazing job even though Ella screamed pretty loud the entire time. Taylor's mom and his sister Rosey were able to come down from Washington to share in Ella's special day. Her Grandpa Nolan made sure she looked like a princess and bought her this gorgeous dress and Aunt Michelle made sure the brunch was awesome by making all of the food. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to this wonderful day!! It really couldn't have been any better.

Even though the last few weeks have been trying, I can't say enough what a blessing our little girl is in our lives. Every morning when I go to get her out of her crib, she greets me with a big smile like she just couldn't wait to see me again. We love her so much and I could never imagine what we would do if we didn't have her. She was truly meant to be our baby. We love you Ella Bean!!

Growing and Growing

With Grandma Roberts

Sleeping with my Uncle Cooper

My little family all snuggled up

In my adorable snow suit

Snuggling with Daddy

Here are a few new pics of Ella. I still can't believe how fast she grows. Every day she looks so much bigger than she did the day before.

Resting Easy

Things have become a little more relaxed in the last week. Not only have we managed to get Ella on a routine and sleep schedule but, we received the last bit of results from her blood work and all is well. Looks like she just had a really stubborn umbilical cord. Now if we could magically get the plumbing fixed without paying an arm and a leg I think we might even start to see some smiles again :)

Getting Better

This morning I went to change Ella's diaper and when I went to pull the diaper down so it didn't touch her cord, I noticed that it was gone!! Her cord finally fell off!! We still haven't received her lab work back yet to see if she has L.A.D but this is really promising news!! Things may be looking up at the Riley house!