ARIZONA!

We are back from Ella's 1st vacation and she did wonderful! I was very nervous about her plane ride and over all she did really well. The flights that bothered her the most were the flights from Sioux Falls to Minneapolis. The long flights to Phoenix she did very well and slept for most of them. I think her ears did bother her a little bit, but with the help of her bottle and paci she did fine!

While in Arizona Ella got to meet Mommy & Daddy's friends.... Bethany, Bryan, Steve, Sarah, Monica, Steph and Johnny! We also got to meet Steve and Sarah's little one Kaitlyn who was born 3 weeks after Ella.

We celebrated Great Grandma Deanna's 70th birthday party with a fun gathering poolside and spent lots of time outdoors. It was Ella's 1st time going outside without a coat on. I think she is really going to like summer time! Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Shelly also met us down in Phoenix for the long weekend... and helped spoil little Ella. We will see them again in a few weeks back up in Sioux Falls and Great Grandma and Pa will be home for the summer sometime in April. As we were leaving on Monday we also found out my step-brother (Robert/Bruce's son) and his wife Lisa are having a baby BOY!!! They are due June 10th. We are excited to have a boy on that side of the family.

We also visited Great Grandma Marilyn who lives in Phoenix and Ella got to meet her Great Uncle's Dave and Jeff.

Overall it was a fun but quick trip... I am so happy Ella did so well! Maybe we'll take another trip soon! :)

As for Ella, she is still doing very well and is a little over 2 feet tall already! We have her 4 month checkup on March 1st and will start Oatmeal at that time! She is still sleeping through the night and is now going to bed about 930PM and up at 730AM... it is wonderful. She is super smiley and even has started to smile at other people not just mommy and daddy. Her smile is contagious I must say. She finally rolled over for the very first time while we were in Arizona and in front of everyone so we have witnesses! However after those 2 times she has yet to roll over again, but we are working on it. I think she was just trying to show off.

I hope everyone is well -- Until next time, good bye!