The past 6 months.

September: Jackman-family trip to The Big Island.


September: An incredible trip to Paris...


And Belgium.


October: Ella was "The Devil Wears Prada."


October: Pumpkin picking.

Summertime Splashes!

At the Pop-jets in Old town Gilbert with some friends.

Ella couldn't get enough!

Where's the Marshmallow?

The Sweet One!

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Ella.

Last Saturday we celebrated Ella's first birthday. The theme was The Sweet One candy shop! It was so much fun to be with so many friends and family. Ella sure made out with a TON of her favorites...balls, books and bows!

This was my kitchen at 1 a.m. the night before the party, I was trying to get my Betty Crocker on. It took me four boxes of cake mix to create 2 dozen cupcakes. I kept overflowing the cupcake foil.


Here are a few of the decorations.








Ella enjoying her cupcake!

The talented, Megan Papworth, was at the party…so more pictures to come!!

Hey Moms!

Hey Arizona Moms:

If you live in the East Valley and are looking for something fun for your girls to do this summer, check out my friend's website. She does a Culinary Craft Camp. So fun!!

I have taken her adult classes... (yes, I am trying to learn how to sew)... and she rocks!

You can check it out here: http://www.createyourownjoy.com/

-Meagan

San Diego 2010

My mom wanted to squeeze-in “one last” family vacation before my little bro, Sean, leaves on his mission.

So, off we went to San Diego, with the whole family & a few close friends!

Day #1 – We checked out the Sea Lions then headed to soak-up-the-sun (clouds) at Del Mar beach.


Day #2 – We went to the Japanese Friendship Garden at Balboa (Sean is leaving for the Kobe, Japan mission) then we spent the day at the San Diego Zoo. We ended the day with the yummiest restaurant, Extraordinary Desserts!


Day #3 – Cam and I took the family to our favorite beach, Tide Pool Beach. This picturesque location was incredible. We had the entire beach to ourselves. After the beach we hit-up the Carlsbad outlets.

This is one of my favorite pictures.


Day #4 – Started off at Scripps Aquarium then back to Tide Pool Beach. The sun was finally out and we took advantage of every moment on our “private beach.” Of course we ate at the all-time-best place, Pat & Oscars! For those of you in Arizona, you might remember it as "Oscar's". I am still craving a breadstick.

Cam kept dunking Ella's feet into the aquariums.






After a quick "wardrobe" change, Ella wanted to walk the beach for hours.


Ella learned the "O-face"... thanks Cam.


The END.

Ella's 10 months old.

Today Ella is 10 months old.

It is hard to believe my baby is almost one.

Here are a few of our favorite things about Ms Ella at 10-months:

• She screams. LOUD.
• She is learning to walk. She can take baby-steps if she holds our hands.
• Her baby-babble talk has increased. She will have full-on conversations with herself.
• She still hates getting dressed.
• She loves blueberries.
• She can give high-fives.
• She dances.
• She LOVES music.
• She loves being outside.

Adventures in Tucson.

On Tuesday we traveled south to Tucson with the Hills. We went to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and Sabino Canyon.

The babies loved seeing the animals at the museum and playing in the river water in the canyon... Even though the water was 38 degrees!

Cam lost his sandal on the tram ride up the canyon. But, he was later reunited with his long-lost flip-flop.

We had a blast with the Hill family. Here are some pics of our adventures in Tucson.

Marley Farms.

This week we took Ella to Marley Farms. Who knew there was this awesome rescue farm a few minutes away from us!! Ella was excited to see the all of the animals. We saw donkeys, zebras, camels, pigs, goats, llamas and mini-horses. And more! If you want to take your family, you can learn more about it here.

Fun on the farm.

Miss my girls!!

Last month, Cam, Ella and I were in Utah visiting Cam's family. My sweet friends, Tara and Dawn, came down to Orem to visit. It was such a treat! It was so great to see them and catch up. I miss you girls.

Tara made this adorable headband for Ella. Thanks Tara!!

You can check out Tara and Dawn's work at http://uniquedistractions.blogspot.com/

Ella is 9 months old.

Our baby girl is 9-months-old now. Time flies!

This is such a fun stage. She is into everything and always on the move. We get to see more and more of her sweet and social personality.

Ella:
* Is on the move!
* Loves to blow kisses
* Loves to roll her tongue
* Loves to huff and puff
* Is pulling herself up
* Claps for herself and for others
* Loves to kiss herself in the mirror
* Loves to bang the doorstops and listen to the loud rattling noise they make
* Is a tough-cookie – now that she is crawling, she doesn’t look where she’s going and bonks her head on walls and furniture. She just looks up at me a smiles.
* Screams. Loud.
* Is a social butterfly. Loves being around other babies and kids.
* And, she has a *thing* for shoes. If there are shoes around…she will find them and have them in her mouth.

The Ostrich Festival.

I took Ella to the Chandler Ostrich Festival today. Yes, you read that correctly. The Ostrich Festival. Ella LOVES animals so we went to the petting zoo. Then, we went to watch the Ostrich race. Did you know there are Ostrich jockeys! I swear. It was an experience!!

Here is Ella at the race trying to fit in.

When I turn my back.

So, Ella has this love of cords. Any type of cord- she wants to chew on it. The computer, my flat iron, TV cords, Lamp cords...anything.

Here she is munching on the DVD cords.

We are such great parents!

Ella is on the move.

Hello Blog, I’m back.

I’m so sorry. I haven’t posted an updated in awhile. Cam is always getting on me to update our blog…to me it is just “one more thing to do.”

But, I love blog-stalking my friends and family. So, here’s our update.

Life has been very busy the last couple of months. Cam has been working a ton and I started a marketing consulting business. The combination of the new business and Ella on-the-move…life is crazy.

Yes, Ella is now crawling. As first-time-parents, we didn’t realize how much this changes everything!

Now that Ella is on-the-move...this is how I get ready in the morning. Ella kicks-it in the tub with her toys.

Ella is 7-months.

I can’t believe Ella is seven months old already! To say that she is the love of our lives is an understatement. Cam and I are irrevocably in love with her. Her personality just lights up a room and she brings joy to everyone she meets…except when she’s teething, which we’ll get to in a minute.

A few milestones:
• She weighs in at 18.2 lbs. (90%) @6-months check-up
• She is 27.5 inches long (95%) @6-months check-up
• Four bottom teeth
• Can sit up on her own
• Now eats in a highchair
• Flaps her arms up & down when she gets excited
• Still loves to sleep in her swing
• Loves taking baths
• Babbles
• Loves prune-flavored baby food
• Loves going on walks
• Is able to get up on all fours…and rocks back and forth (Almost crawling…nooooo)

Cam calls it babysitting.

Every once in awhile, Cam will use the term “babysitting” when referring to tending our daughter, Ella. I explain that a parent does not babysit. You just parent.

But this is what I came home to one day… Cam babysitting.

Notice Ella in her bouncer with a DVD player on. Notice Cam on the couch with the TV on.

Actually, I think this is a pretty great idea!

January Date Nights.

Cam and I had the opportunity to have some really fun DATE nights this month. We normally do the dinner and a movie thing, then back home to Ella. But, we got to Live It Up this month!! Supercross and the Suns. Cam’s idea of perfect dates.

A Complete 180.

Last time I went to a Suns Game, I had FLOOR seats. No lie. I sat next to Steve Kerr. This time, we weren’t the very top row…but the second to last row! But it was still a blast.

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 was such a memorable one for Cam and I because it was the first Christmas with our daughter, Ella.

We were fortunate enough to spend time in Arizona with my family then travel to Utah to be with Cam’s family.

It was truly a Christmas to remember.