Can I get some steak with my carrots?

When Ella turned 6 months old, we got to celebrate a new milestone - solid food:) After speaking with her doctor and reading about all the benefits of waiting until 6 months, we decided to do so, and it's been hard for her daddy. He has been dying to feed her real food, and he had so much fun planning her menus and picking out foods for her to try.

We started with rice cereal, which she hated. We tried oatmeal cereal, and it was pretty successful right off the bat. Now, she LOVES it. Then, we moved on to carrots, and it took a few tries, but now she likes them pretty well. We've also been successful with sweet potatoes, green peas and bananas. Her favorite...squash. My girl LOVES her squash. I can't wipe her mouth because she can't keep her tongue in her mouth - she is constantly trying to get the spoon or the towel.

So far, the only thing she doesn't like is green beans, which is interesting because I ate a ton of green beans while I was pregnant. Maybe that's why...

She also has her first tooth coming in. It should make chewing on things interesting:)

Did I mention that I have a beautiful baby girl? 

Happy Half-Birthday, Ella!

It was nearly a month ago (I've been very bad about blogging, I realize), but we celebrated Ella's half-birthday. She turned 6 months old on July 26, and we had a LOT to celebrate, so I wanted to do something fun.

It was about two weeks after my second surgery, so I wasn't 100%, but I felt like I had already missed so much, I didn't want to miss another opportunity to celebrate my beautiful baby girl. I made her a sign, and my sister and brother-in-law decorated in the dining room. And then we were just missing party guests, and although it was last minute, all of her "friends" were able to make it. Big Bird and Elmer even donned party hats for the special occasion. Ella was less than enthused. But she did take to the party horns and hats quickly. She enjoyed chewing on them, so we had to keep an eye on her whenever she got hold of one.

I think the party girl had a good time:) We didn't party for too long, and then I had to rest for a good bit afterward. It was the most I had done since before my first surgery, so it took a little out of me. But it was worth it. Here are some pictures from her "party!"