Ella says "Hi!"

This picture is for all of the family members that Eric, Ella and I won't get to see for a little while.

Look carefully!!!!

Talk to you soon!

The Chilton Family Reunion was held on June 12Th 2010.
It must have been the hottest day in TH on record!!!!! The poor babies were even sweating, but it was good to see the family.

Ella got to see her cousin Joseph a couple of weekends ago. They are so funny together! We can't wait until Joseph is more mobile so they can run around together.

Daddy and I tested out my new hiking backpack last month. It works great! I fell asleep in it on the way home from the Farmers Market.

One year ago on April 30th, Ella Jade Chilton graced this world with her beautiful charisma. Ella has wrapped everyone she has ever met around her pretty little fingers, and she will continue to do so as the years go on. So, everyone raise your milk glasses for a toast to Ella Jade Chilton, here is to a little girl who is loved by all, and here is to many more years to come.

I would also like to thank the family for making the trip up to help us celebrate a special day.

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea,
Mommy & Daddy love you very much!

Give me your best Popeye!

I am sorry honey, there is no spinach in that box......

Early B-Day Present from Uncle Scott and Sarah!

A wrap at the door drew our attention to a man in a brown suit. We had been given a heads up from Uncle Scott that several gift wrapped packages where headed North. Uncle Scott made sure that we understood that Ella was to open this gifts immediately upon arrival........ she was more than happy to oblige! If Ella could form complete words she would say "thank you Uncle Scott and Sarah for ALL the GREAT gifts!"

PS - Kate says that Ella is so wearing her Nike sweatsuit to Stroller Strides next week!!!

E to the C

How does she know how to eat a banana?

A good morning smile!

Honey NOOOO!!

Go Cats!!

Ella celebrates the Cats first victory in the NCAA tournament!

The Collins Family (Aunt Tiffy, Uncle Mitch and Cousin Liam)

Ella and Liam in the Haute

With all the schedules finally clear the whole fam damily was able to make the trip to the Haute in order to catch up. It was great for Ella to hang out with her cousin Liam, although he might think differently! Once he becomes mobile these two are going to be best buds! We look forward to seeing everyone again very soon!

The Sleep Monster

I was recently talking to a friend that was about to celebrate a birthday and he stated that he feels exactly the way he did when he was 20 years old, but he just has a lot more to do now! Our days are consumed with work, children, grocery shopping, cooking,cleaning house, church, working out, paying bills..... and on and on. Seldom do we get the opportunity to look at our watch and say NOW is a good time for a nap! Or how about... I am going to take a warm lavender scented bubble bath, sit down and read a book, the sound of waves crashing outside your window (CD unfortunately) and then slowly drift off to sleep, knowing that you have the opportunity to get a FULL 12 HOURS OF SLEEP!!! Can you imagine?

For the life of a 9 month old these are exactly the opportunities that exist for them. Ella has not only passed on these opportunities, she has defiantly made her stance to become a sleepless child, known to anyone within screaming distance. Actually, if she could walk and hold a little picket sign she would be out in front of a mattress store right now!

We have read the books, talked with experts, and listened to advice from countless friends who have told us stories of their night time bliss, as their newborns seemingly sleep for days at a time (to this point I have resisted the urge to set off massive amounts of obnoxiously loud fireworks in their front yards at 2:30am). Taking all this advice into consideration and application, I have learned that Kate and I might be better off trying to train a raccoon to drive a fork truck then convince Ella to sleep!

Growing up, your parents teach that everyone has a gift, or in some cases multiple gifts, to be discovered. Some of us are lucky to find these gifts early in life while others seem to wait a lifetime to discover their hidden talents. These gifts/talents come in many forms - juggling chainsaws, playing piano with your feet or convincing a sleep defiant 9 month old to enter a temporary comatose state of mind. I know what you are thinking..... one of the above is a rather unique talent, but I have witnessed my dad (Sam) perform this very talent on many occasions. He first started juggling chainsaws when I was 6 years old......... just joking.

Unfortunately, there are 375 miles that separate my father and Ella and he has his own life to live and is therefor unable to perform the task of becoming Ella's sleep nanny (we have already asked). So in the meantime we will strategize on possible solutions to convince Ella sleep is a good thing and cherish the napping moments she gets with her Grandpa (The Sleep Monster).

First shoes...

We where at the Nike store getting Kate some workout clothes when we spotted these awesome kicks! Once we tried them on her we HAD to get them for her!!

I hope these picks bring the same smiles to your face as they do ours!

Take 2...... and ACTION!

There is NO stopping her now!

Introducing THE sweater!

Occasionally my wife will save a special edition of Ellen on the DVR for me if it contains a musical artist or actor that I might have an interest in. This particular episode she saved for me had John Mayer, whom I admire for his quirky sense of humor and guitar skills. What Kate did not expect to grab my attention was the undeniable awesomeness of his sweater that he was wearing to celebrate the winter season.

I told Kate that if she got me nothing else for Christmas this sweater was what I had to have! Immediately there where visions of a holiday tradition taking shape for the fist time. I could see Ella in her 30's dreading to come home for Christmas in fear that her boyfriend, she will have just started dating, would witness her father coming down the stairs in a raggedy old sweater that screamed "IT'S CHRISTMAS".......as it has for the last 29 years!!!

My visions would be come reality as I peeled back the paper on Christmas eve, the holidays will never be the same!

Thank you John Mayer and despite your regret for saving this episode, I thank my wife for bringing me this joy!

John Mayer on Ellen - You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7t3VgJJ-_g&feature=related

Bath Time

Ella loves her bath time and does not seem to mind her dad shaping her hair. It is funny how my Saturday night entertainment has changed over the years but I would not have it any other way!

Hootie Hoo!

The towels that turn your kids into animals that they love are too stinking cute to not take a picture!

dry air = crazy hair

Winter times in Ann Arbor brings us plenty of snow, cold weather, dry air and static electricity. One day while Ella was playing with Briar and her toys, Kate could not help to notice Ella's new hair style!