Bo Bo the doggie

Ella has discovered Bo Bo the doggie and she absolutely LOVES him.

We were playing with her stuffed animals last week where Bo Bo has been for the last two months, and he was the instant favorite. SHe seems to have an aversion to the many frogs and giraffes laying about, but the doggie was what she wanted to play with and hold onto.

Ella took to naming the doggie "Bo Bo" sometimes it sounds like "Ba Ba" so we alternated between the two names, but she certainly knows who it is that you are talking about when you say either of those names.

Now about "Dobby." I must admit that I am a little saddened that Dobby has taken a backseat to Bo Bo. Dobby is the giraffe we sent to Ella in her care package in March, Dobby helped us get through China on those tough days, and Dobby has been here to help Ella feel comfortable. There are times that Dobby and Bo Bo are held together as Ella walks from room to room (or sits on the potty), but then there are times that Dobby is just left on the bed, floor, or table and Bo Bo goes on the adventures with Ella.

However, this morning just before we left for the doctor's office Ella did choose to take Bo Bo with her, but she made sure to put Dobby on her bed, gave him a kiss, said "buh bye Dobby," waved, and then said "Llllllllll" (you know how your tongue flicks in and out of your mouth)which is "love you." It was one of the sweetest moments.

(Sorry for the sideways video...I am not a techie and have no idea how to make it upright.)

~lovin' Dobby dee, Silly make Ella laugh David, and Ella lovin' Bo Bo (and Dobby too)

Look Out Gordon Ramsey....Ella has a kitchen now!!!

Today we went to IKEA and picked up Ella a little kitchen set. (I will post a photo tomorrow showing the whole thing put together along with pots, pans, and felt food!!!)
David and Ella were very busy this evening putting it together, she is such a good little helper.


Ella being the boss of the applesauce!

~IKEA shopper dee, Master Little Kitchen Assembly Man David, and Chef in Training Ella

Happy 2nd Month Family-versary!!!

Today is our 2nd Month Family-versary!!!

It is crazy that we have only been together as a family for two months...it seems so much longer, yet at the same time the time has gone by so quickly.


Proud Mama and Dada and our ever amazing Ella!!!

FCC Potluck (Saturday, July 24, 2010)

Yesterday (Saturday), David, Ella, and I attended a local potluck for FCC (Families with Children from China).

We had a wonderful time meeting and making new friends. We were able to share stories that only those that have had "the China experience" can understand...the marble curbs, the food at Lucy's, the crazy driving, etc....


Ella and Jadyn
(I love both of their expressions. By the end of the day as we were leaving Ella gave Jadyn a hug and kiss on the cheek.)


Ella with the China Girls

Hopefully, we will see our new friends sooner rather than later.
~Oriental Salad maker dee (yes, that is what we took as our dish), Ella follower David, and China Girl Ella

Zoo Day and Play-Doh Fun!!!

Ella and I went to the Detroit Zoo this morning and walked around for a few hours. It was quite nice zoo weather this morning, kind of cool and overcast so many animals were out and about. We were able to see the river otters swim, the peacocks walking about, the fairies...ummm...I mean butterflies flutter about our heads, the giraffes grazing on grasses, the camels lumbering to and fro, the arctic foxes running and the arctic seals blowing bubbles and so much more.

While we were on our way to exit the zoo, I decided that I wanted to take Ella's photo in front of the iconic Detroit Zoo Bear Fountain, I would have liked to have had her stand, however, she already had taken her shoes off (which she does whenever she is riding in her carseat or riding around in her wheels), so to get her shoes back on, get her to stand "still," while I would try to take a photo of her was more work that I think either one of us were up for after walking/riding around for almost two hours.




Then this afternoon David and Ella were playing with Play-Doh. David was making funny mustaches and putting them on his face and Ella in turn was doing the same. Ella has some hilarious facial expressions...she squints her eyes, curls her nose, raises an eyebrow, rolls her eyes, which apparently was what she was doing just prior to this photo being taken. Of course, the camera missed those shots, but did catch a cute one of her holding a mustache up to her face.


~giraffe is my favorite animal dee, Play-Doh mustache maker David, and silly funny girl with about a million facial expressions Ella

Having fun!!!

At Target yesterday (Yes, Ella has made her debut at Target several times now...she is a champ at riding in the cart!!!) we purchased some bubbles and a bag of balls that we could put into a little baby pool. You can see from Ella's expression it is mixture of happiness and curiosity.



Now, the bubbles...those prove to be an enigma to her. She really likes sticking her fingers in the soapy bubble bottle and she tries really hard to blow bubbles when the wand would pop up, she also liked it when she would see the bubbles float around, however, she wasn't very patient waiting for Mamamamamama to blow the bubbles...nonetheless...she is as cute as ever!!!


~Target Shopper dee, Making dinner for his girls while they play outside David, and Bubble Blower in training Ella

We are doing well!!!

We are doing well, we have just had a busy week.

Ella was a super trooper at the peditrician visit on Wednesday...it was a "Shot Day!!!" Of course, shots are shots and they are not fun, but she recovered quickly.

Ella also went for her first visit to the dentist yesterday. It was just a 10 minute visit, just long enough for dentist to tell us that her teeth look great.

We have also celebrated being home for a month now. It seems like forever ago that we were in China and at the same time it seems like the past month home has just flown by too.

Just look at the difference a month can make!!!


A few days after being home...isn't she just the cutest little thing.


A photo of Ella and Mom Mom.

Have a great Friday everyone!!!!
~Running Mama dee, Working Overtime Dahdahdah David, and Looking as cute as ever Ella

Ella's Car Songs

We all know Ella's love for music and singing. Well, she really does not disappoint while traveling by car.

David also moved the mirror on the back of passenger seat so Ella can see herself better. She really enjoys watching herself sing and practicing all of her "Ella looks."

Getting started song...


Keeping it going song...


Mamamamama and a little bit of Daddy song....


~Mamamamamamama dee, Daddy David, and Lady Chaochao

Ella and the DEVO Powerdome!!!

David went to a DEVO concert last night. Of course he needed to get a DEVO Powerdome (if you remember DEVO from back in the day they wore red Powerdomes...blue is now the new red).

David tried several times throughout the day to get a photo of Ella wearing the Powerdome... she really enjoys the new DEVO tunes but, she wasn't to sure about this Powerdome as you can see from her expression.


~DEVO tolerant fan dee, DEVO devoted fan David, and DEVO fan in training Ella

Mama's Sunglasses and Dobby Fun

Recently Ella has become fascinated with sunglasses (She had a pair in China...remember the bathing beauty photo and Aunt Merle brought her several Elton John star style sunglasses when she came for a visit a few weeks ago.). She seems to be reallly into my sunglasses. She likes to take them off of me and put them on herself and she also likes to try to wear them on her head.



Now onto this Dobby (think "Bobby" but, with a "D")character. Dobby is Ella's baby. David and I included "Dobby" in the care package we sent Ella back in March. We were really hoping that the care package arrived at the correct S.W.I. (orphange) and that Ella (as well as the Director, Nannies, and her little friends) received what we sent. We were so happy to see on Ella Day that she had "Dobby." We had been calling the giraffe "baby" since Ella Day. We are unsure, but for some reason Ella started calling the giraffe "Dobby," so that is what we call it now. Sometimes she flips back and forth between "Dobby" and "Baby" but, usually when she is looking or wanting she will shout out "Dobby."


~Sunglass wearing dee, Ella Daddy David, Dobby Hugger Ella

Salute to America at Greenfield Village

Each 4th of July holiday "weekend" David and I have attended the Salute to America at Greenfield Village...and for the last 7 years we always talked how "maybe next year" we would be able to bring our baby.

Well, this year we were finally able to bring our baby!!!

We were interested to see how or what Ella would do during the 3 hour Detroit Symphony Orchestra extravaganza, and then what she would think of the fireworks after the DSO was finished with the concert.

Ella really enjoys music so she clapped her hands and sang outloud during many parts of the concert. Little did we know that there were words that went along with Peter Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, all these years we and everybody had been missing out...Ella made sure to rectify that situation!!!

During the concert part Ella and Daddy went on a couple of walks which included stepping up and down (almost jumping)off of the curb, crossing the street, and stepping up and down off of that curb. It was pretty funny to watch her amazement each time she would get to the curb and step up or step down and know that she was successful...she would just squeal with delight.

When the concert was over the fireworks started. At first she seemed a little unsure, but after seeing the first few light the sky up then there were lots of "Ooooooo's" and "Ahhhhh's" with many claps in between throughout the firework show!!!!

Now, after all the years of waiting, hoping, and wishing that by the next 4th of July we would be able to bring our baby, we are now waiting, hoping, and wishing that the Salute to America next year will be just as fun as we had this year!!!


Check out Ella's new hooptie ride!!! Our wonderful neighbors had the wagon as a surprise for us waiting in our garage when we returned home. The umbrella came from Emma's Shop in China. Ella's expression is pretty much how we all felt after trudging through the crowd to get to our spot. She is looking adorable nonetheless though.


Ella and Mama


Ella and Daddy enjoying their ice cream puff.

Happy 4th of July!!!
~dee, David, and Firecracker Ella

Watering the Flowers

Ella and I decided to plant some flowers yesterday...she really isn't to getting to dirty and she tried to water the flowers, but she wasn't to sure about that either. It is difficult to see what she is doing, but she is using her watering can to sprinkle water onto the flower boxes that are on the ground.

It isn't the best video, but it sure is cute!!!
~gardener dee, tomato and cucumber planter David, and Flower Fairy Ella