Celebrate!!!!

(Picture of the 2 Ellas hugging)

So we should probably start from the beginning of the weekend to make sure we don't leave anything out...
Friday night was a wonderful relaxing time and just what we needed to recuperate from a long week. Mommy took a little nap when daddy got home and then we were all ready to relax. Time for the family together to eat and reconnect, that was wonderful for us all. Ella continues to amaze us with her fearlessness and ability to use new words, or ways to communicate. She told us both a story with her babble and hand motions that would have enthralled even the most staunch literary critic. Mike and I were laughing at the intensity and sincerity with which she talks sometimes, even if we don't understand it. The new motion of putting her hand in front of her little mouth and laughing when she says something she knows is wrong or funny only adds to the effect.

Saturday we spent the day gearing up for Mike's holiday office party. We joined a gym (that Ella and I will wait until after the new baby to use the gym), did some grocery shopping, and
napped. The party was nice, if a bit overwhelming! There was a lot of beautiful food, most of which was so gourmet that the pregnancy prevented me from tasting it, but man it looked lovely! We mingled with one of Mike's bosses and coworkers. The room that the party was in was decorated festively, but there was no place to stand and converse other than amongst the already tight tables. Overall it worked, but the situation didn't lend itself well to much interaction with a lot of people, just those within a close radius. Mike was recognized for joining the company and for newly entering the corporate world. He was asked to stand and did so sheepishly with the other new (and reluctant) recruits. We really love our daughter, but a night out alone is wonderful! The time alone also makes us appreciate the time with her that much more. When we get time together to nurture the relationship that created our family it is fantastic reminder of how amazing that love is. (cheesy I know, but true)

Sunday was a great day that included friends and fun! Jenn (and her girls) and Rachelle came over for an afternoon of gift wrapping and playing. Ella and Ella are too cute together! They are close enough in age be interested in similar things, yet there is enough of an age difference that they play nicely together. I love Jenn's nickname for the girls of Ella-squared. It seems fitting. The 2 older girls (Ella Sq) played on the Kangaroo climber, while Layla "helped" Jenn wrap presents. And the mommies got time to talk about our Christmas memories, and our anticipation for beginning new family traditions. It was a wonderful afternoon of girl time, younger and "older". I am constantly amazed at the patience and skill of Rachelle and her ability to knit without looking at her work while still knitting. If only I had that much skill at something! Mike spent part of the afternoon at our new gym, and the rest of the time reading and wrangling the Ellas so that the mommies could wrap more efficiently.

All in all a great weekend! Hard to believe that we are only 15 days from Christmas and that all of those gifts we wrapped today will be ripped open. We can't wait!