For the most recent and everything Daily, visit Our Everyday Daily.

Ella's First Owlween

Get it?  Owlween-- Halloween?  I make myself laugh… sometimes.

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday, but having Ella sure has put a little extra treat in my “trick or treat”.  This season is all about pumpkins, and apples and owls.  Oh my!

We started the holiday festivities with a trip to Tanaka Farms, a real pumpkin patch.  I absolutely <3’d Tanaka Farms!  There was pumpkin picking (from the vine), vegetable picking, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and hayrides.  Definitely our family’s go-to pumpkin patch.

Tanaka Farms

A couple weeks later we went to another pumpkin patch (I <3 me a pumpkin patch).  This time we went to the Irvine Park Railroad.  There were so many activities for the kids.  The pumpkins were beautiful and had some of the coolest stalks I have ever seen.  I know, random right?  But the stalks were like I have never seen on a pumpkin.  They were impressive.  [Sorry, I didn’t get a picture of these stalks I speak about.]

Irvine Railroad

After pumpkin carving, a few glasses of hot cider, and another week or so we were all ready to celebrate Ella’s first Owlween.  The night started at Pappy and Nenie’s house for Nenie’s annual “Dinner in a Pumpkin”.  Yum!  We even got to spend time with Batman and a Flower Fairy, also known as Cousin Jack and Cousin Lily.  We knocked on a couple doors, ate a few pieces of candy and headed home where we met Scary-Creepy Swamp Guy and Hummungasauras, also known as Cousin Damien and Cousin Eric.  Mamaw, Grand-Mommy, Pa, Auntie Cole and Uncle Joe came too.  Everyone wanted to see our little Hoot.  More trick-or-treating and piles of candy later, and Ella’s first Owlween was a success.  Best. Halloween.  Ever!

 

Happy Owlween
XoXo, The Cutest Owl

· · ·  PS, Shout Out to My Mom-- Mamaw Made Her Costume  · · ·

Thank you Mom for working so hard to make Ella’s costume such a hoot.  I <3 that she was the only owl like it.  Thanks for making it happen!

Such A Hoot

CHOC Walk 2012 and Ella's Check Up

On October 14, 2012 our little family walked our first ever CHOC Walk in the Park.  Seventeen loved ones of family and friends joined us in support of team Ella Kate Daily.  SEVENTEEN!  Both our walker and fundraising goals were met and we couldn’t have done it without those of you that walked and/or donated, a big huge “Thank You!”  We have such a great group of family and friends and we are so blessed to have you all in our lives.  Your support means more than we could ever tell you.

As a family, we couldn’t be prouder to participate.  As we walked through the park I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed with emotion.  There we were, seventeen of us, with our little Ella.  That day we got to hold her, squeeze her, kiss her, take pictures, and create memories with her-- All while so many (too many) parents and other loved ones walked “in memory” or walked “in support” of their little ones that were unable to be there.  And to see the recovering children, so little yet so seasoned with strength and courage!  It was an experience that I will never forget-- Today her Daddy I will hold Ella a little tighter, give her an extra kiss, and create a memory with her because we know just how blessed we are to have that opportunity.

· · ·  Fast Forward a Few Weeks · Ella’s Check Up with CHOC  · · ·

A couple tests and two weeks after the walk we had a scheduled 6-month check up at CHOC.  Ryan and I went into the appointment feeling confident, we left frustrated.

All tests came back normal!  Great, right? Ella has shown no signs of CF.  Great again, right?  Well, except one, slow/decreased weight gain.  In about six to eight months time Ella has dropped from the 80^th percentile to the 35^th in her weight (weight to height ratio that is).  Because of this her doctors are concerned and have recommended that our visits be at three months AND they would like us to have all tests retaken (plus a few more) at one year of age.  That's in about two months.

Insert frustration.  Without getting into all the nitty-gritty of it, Ryan and I are not 100% convinced that this is the right thing for us to put Ella through again (at least not right now) and are giving this MUCH thought before committing to anything.  It's a big decision for our little family.

As always, we appreciate everyone’s love, kind words, support and prayers.  We will keep you posted.

Everyday Daily Meets A. Daily Kitchen

When two blogs become one…

Everyday Daily is everything Ella and all things domestic whereas A. Daily Kitchen, well, it was where I went to share my kitchen adventures.  Then, I was a newly married wife learning my way around the kitchen, and now, I’m a Mom learning to cook for my family (and still learning my way around the kitchen).

I still <3 being in the kitchen so this is my attempt to merge a little bit of the old with all of the new.  You’ll find that I have added an A. Daily Kitchen page to Everyday Daily.  Here you will find our new family favorites, including Ella's favorites.  Baby food recipes, YuM!

Over the next couple weeks you will see a few changes here at Everyday Daily-- New pages, some categorizing, and definitely more new and updated recipes.  I’m already drooling at just the thought of what’s to come.  So please keep checking in.

2012 CHOC Walk in the Park

Let me begin with saying, I do not normally solicit for sponsorships/donations or anything of that sort, however, I feel completely shameless about this one!  The CHOC organization is such an amazing group of people and our family could not be any more proud to support them.  Not to mention, it’s a place that holds a very near and dear place in our hearts.

CHOC Walk in the Park at Disneyland

October 14, 2012 · 7:00 AM

Please join our family and team “Ella Kate Daily” as we take a ‘walk in the park’ in support of the 2012 CHOC Walk.  All team registrations, sponsorships and donations go directly to the CHOC organization(s).

     · Become a Walker!  Lace up those tennis and register yourself under the “Team and Walker Registration” button.  There is a step-by-step process that will guide you through walker registration.

     ·  Sponsor a Walker!  If you're unable to join in the fun, support someone who is.  Find a walker you want to support, or pick one that hasn’t yet met their fundraising goal.  Help with whatever amount you can.

For more details and the official ‘How-To’ of it all, please visit the walk’s website:  www.CHOCwalk.org

Allow me to give you just a little insight to our own personal experience with CHOC-- As most of you know, Ella was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, which makes CHOC our go-to place.  We've experienced exactly what this organization has to offer.  Since the very first phone call the staff has been nothing but helpful and supportive. Everyone!  Everyone from parking attendants to the receptionist, and from the nurses to the doctors-- They have all been so caring, so kind and so unbelievably patient.  That being said, I cannot say enough positive things about the CHOC organization.  They're just a group of everyday people doing super hero jobs for families like ours.  And that is why this is a cause worth supporting!

To Join Team "Ella Kate Daily" Register at:  www.CHOCwalk.net/EllaKateDaily

My Life's Story...

Among the many things that I am learning as a Mother one is that time is a-movin’.  There are only so many hours, so many days and so little time.  No pause button.

It’s all too easy for time to slip away.  “Life” just has a way of taking over.  Making it all that much more important to stop and smell the flowers every once in a while.  So today, I will stop and smell the flowers-- Or sit on the couch with my feet propped up while Ella naps and blog. 

It has been seven (SEVEN!) weeks since my last post.  So here’s the latest and greatest with our little Miss Ella.

Crawling:  "Look Mom, I'm Mobile"

[Crawling]  She’s on the move!  And, she’s a girl on a mission.  The mission:  To get into all things Mommy calls “No”.  Mission accomplished!

Talking:  Ready to Chat-it-Up at the Ice Cream Social

[Talking]  Miss Social-Butterfly sure knows how to chat up a crowd, but even better, she knows how to make Mommy and Daddy melt.  Her first two words, “Mom-Mom” and “Da-Da”.  (“Mom-Mom” being first, of course).  Love!

Swimming:  This Girl was Born to Swim (and Wear a Sun Hat)

[Swiming]  Ella has been quite the little mermaid this summer.  She closed out the summer with three sessions of swim.  That’s six weeks, thirty classes and fifteen whole hours of splashing.  At seven months (then), she can swim from Mommy to instructor (about 5-7 feet) and hold on to the edge of the pool.   Along with everything else mentioned in [Insert Link:  Splish-Splash].

Teething:  "Mom, I Think There's a Toofers"

[Teething]  We have a toofers (one that actually decided to break through this time).  It seems like Ella has been teething for m-o-n-t-h-s!  Stubborn little toofers kept working their way up, then going back down, working their way up, going back down-- Never cutting through.  Finally!  One cut through.  Yay Ella!  One step closer to steak dinners.

Growing:  Too Big, Too Fast

[Growing] Growing, growing, growing.  This weekend marked Ella’s 8-month Birthday.  Eight months!  Talk about time moving too fast (I know, I know-- My life story).  She’s getting so big that we even had to graduate her to a “big girl” car seat, talk about a hard day for me.  I may, or may not, have shed a tear… or two.

So there you have it, the fast-cap of our last seven weeks.  Too big, too fast.  Too fast!

Splish-Splash: Ella Goes to Swim

Today was Ella’s last day of swim classes.  She did it, she graduated!  For two weeks Ella and I have been going to parent-and-me swim classes at Aquatics at the Plunge. Highly recommend!

Ella has always been a fan of the water, but the last two weeks has made me think that she may be part mermaid.  This girl <3’s the water!  She didn’t throw a fit, shed a tear, or even show and ounce of fear.  Not at all.  All I got was smiles, giggles and splashes.  Oh, and lots of cute pictures.

 

    

She made friends [Such a social butterfly mermaid]

She blew bubbles [And maybe swallowed a few ounces of water in the process]

She ring bobbed [My little girl went all the way under and grabbed her ring-fishy]

She learned how to use her little kickers [Kick-Kick-Kick]

And, drum roll please….

She went off the diving board [YES!  YIKES!!]

Gasp!  She did it!

I know, I know.  Ah!  I gasped too.  But, she loved it!  She came to the surface with a big smile, and otherwise completely unfazed.  Told you, she may be part mermaid.

We both enjoyed ourselves so much that we have signed up for another session, only this time Daddy will be able to come too.  Yay!