First night with the babysitter!

Last night was a big first for us!  It was Ella's first night with her babysitter Monica (without Mommy being home)!  Brandon and I attended the Festival Ball - a Gala to benefit the City of Hope in San Francisco.  It was at the beautiful St. Francis Hotel in Union Square.  We had a great evening and Ella did great with Monica.  We could get used to more nights like these! 

Ella - 3 months old

Our little Ella is 3 months old already and we can not get over how much she has grown! She is so much more alert and smiles and laughs all the time!  She has rolled over by herself a couple of times, but prefers to be on her back for now! She still loves her swing and enjoys going on walks in her stroller and in the Bjorn (now that she can face outward)! She's traveled a little more with trips to Sausalito and Tiburon and even made her 4th visit to Napa!  She also had her first overnight trip with mommy and daddy for their anniversary in Half Moon Bay.  She is such a special little girl and we feel so blessed each day to have her in our lives...Lexi is even becoming a little fonder of having a sister around!  

Ella smiling for her 3 month picture!

Ella practicing her tummy time.

Lexi "supervising" tummy time - what a sweet big sister!

Our sweet girls!

Sweet girl :-)

Ella relaxing on her blanket on the lawn at Silver Oak Vineyards.

Group photo at Silver Oak Vineyards with our friends Jean and Rachel.

Family photo in Tiburon.

Half Moon Bay, CA - 3 year anniversary

Again we are a little late with our post, but I wanted to share a few pictures from our Anniversary trip (and our first overnight trip with Ella).  Brandon surprised me with a night at the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay!  It was a great trip and we enjoyed being spoiled for the day!  Ella did great and she told us she can't wait for her next trip to the Ritz!  

Having Smores by the firepit!

Ella and Mommy on the beach.

Daddy walking with Ella.

Ella's first time in the bjorn where she could face outward - she loves looking at everything!

Bagpiper that plays at sunset - very cool!

Back of the resort.

Ella meets Papaw and Anna!

This weekend Ella's Papaw Jim and Anna came to visit! We had a great visit - we went to the Farmer's Market, grilled out and visited Napa.  We had great weather and enjoyed spending time with everyone! Here are some pictures from our weekend!

Ella and Papaw

Ella laughing!

Daddy, Ella and Papaw.

Visit to the farmers market with Anna, Papaw, Ella, Daddy and Mommy.

Anna, Mommy and Ella at lunch in Napa! So yummy!

Ella and Papaw playing!

Lexi's first visit to a winery - she made herself right at home!

Ella and Lexi snuggling after a long day!

Ella meets her Uncle Tyler!

In July (...again behind on posts), Ella's Uncle Tyler came to visit before he had to go back to school.  We had a fun week - we went to the top of Mt. Diablo, visited San Franciso and went to a couple of Vineyards in Napa.  Here are a few pictures from the visit!

Ella playing with Tyler!

Tyler holding Ella...it took some convincing!

View from Sterling Vineyard! Ella was sleeping in her stroller so she did not make the picture!

Tyler "eating" the Golden Gate Bridge!

Tyler and Brandon at the Ferry Building.

Ella - Two Months Old!

I am a little behind on this post, but here is Ella's 2 month old picture! She experienced her first outdoor concert, visited Napa twice, had her first visit to San Francisco and went to the top of Mt. Diablo!  She also started sleeping through the night and found her left hand, which she loves to suck on!  Now if we can just get her to take naps and a bottle! We are so in love with her and are amazed at how much she has already learned in just two short months.  She is looking more and more like her daddy everyday!

2 months old!

Ella and daddy at the outdoor concert!

Ella and mommy at the concert!

Ella and Mommy at the top of Mt. Diablo!

Mommy, Daddy and Ella at the Golden Gate Bridge!

Ella all bundled up - it was in the low 60's and windy!

Ella meets her family!

This past month we have had lots of family visitors!!  Ella got to meet her Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Ed just before the 4th of July and her NanaC and Rick.  We had a great time during their visits and were able to have our first meal out with her (you can see how happy Ella is in the picture) along with our first trip to Napa and Carmel! We want Ella to be well traveled before her first birthday! Here are a few pictures from their visits with us!

Ella - One Month Old!

I'm a little behind on the blog but Ella's first month home has flown by! We have come a long way this month and have learned a lot about one another. Ella has learned to eat well (and regularly), loves baths, wore her first bathing suit (see picture) and loves her swing! She has truly been such a wonderful addition to our lives!

At one month old, she weighed around 8lbs but was still in her newborn clothes and diapers. Here is her one month picture and a couple of her newborn pictures from her photo shoot - she was 9 days old during the shoot!

One Month Old!

 Newborn Photos taken by Monica Wharton Photography

First Father's Day!

For Brandon's first Father's Day we decided to do a picnic lunch at Sycamore Park near our house. It was a beautiful day - great temperature, cool breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The four of us found a cozy spot under a beautiful willow tree at the park and relaxed and ate lunch with daddy! Lexi was on her best behavior and Ella loved being outside in the fresh air. They are two lucky girls to have such a great, loving daddy! Happy Father's Day to the best daddy ever! We love you!!