Four Months with Ella

It is always interesting to think back to what Michella was like when we met her four months ago and compare her to our daughter today. She is not the same girl. I can't believe it's only been four months. It feels like we've been together much longer.

Here are a couple of videos to highlight the difference. The first is from our first few days together. The second is from last week.

Michella brings us so much joy. Here are a few things that she loves....

Going for a ride in her car seat, especially with snack in hand

Playing with her favorite toys, Fia and Gerald. Sometimes they don't respond to her tactics to get them to interact the way she would like. Here she is trying to get Gerald to play with her toy shapes.

Jumping in the front seat for a few minutes of play each and every time we need to go somewhere.

Playing hide and seek

Wearing pretty dresses

Her daddy

Her mommy... and balloons

Things she can jump and bounce in. She shocked me the day recently she went into a moon bounce without me and with lots of other big kids in there!

Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa in Canada. She also loves to skype with her cousin Annika.

Sleeping in her crib. Her favorite sleeping buddies are Andrey's old childhood blanket and puppy.

Holding (mastering) Gerald

Posing for a picture (when she's in the right mood)

Wearing socks

 Talking on the phone and watering the plants, while wearing socks

Trying to get Gerald to talk on the phone

Taking care of her "baby" or one of her many puppy dogs. She will feed them, wrap them in a blanket, put them to bed, change their diaper, wipe their bum, and cuddle them while speaking very sweetly to them. Very cute.

Peaking out of a window saying "Hi!" before climbing through the window and then demolishing the cardboard house mommy just made by knocking it down and marching all over it.

The swing and the slide

Having undivided attention from her parents