Family filled 1st Birthday

What a busy week we had last week, we all need a spring break from our spring break :)  We had so much fun with all our family that came into town to help celebrate Ella's 1st birthday.  I still can't believe she's one!!!  She had such a fun day! Ella says even more words like "balloon" and "boo" now due to her special day.  We got to spend a lot of time with Auntie Melissa and Opa Renny & Cheryl going out to eat, the Getty Museum, church, park, and Starbucks :)  

Yay! It's my birthday breakfast!

My mom & auntie made me "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" cupcakes!

Mommy & me

Daddy & me

Family photo time! Just give me my cupcake!

Delicious!

double-fisted! still don't know if i'm a lefty or a righty!

Love opening presents, especially the tissue paper!

Thank you Grandma & Grandpa for the sandwiches & all the presents!

The "Mayne" Clan, thank you Grandpa for coming & my duck!

Feeding Opa Renny!  I love you Opa! Why is North Carolina so far away?

Easter day in Laguna, Mommy gave me ice cream!

Auntie don't leave!!!

Out to eat @ Islands sitting with Opa & Cheryl, such a big girl!

Baby Monet is my favorite Baby Einstein DVD...the REAL "Haystacks" @ the Getty!

The Irisis by Van Gogh, I'm going to know my Impressionist art, like my mommy!

Opa is teaching me how not to disturb everyone in the museum :)

Family photo again!  When's lunch?

Learning how to color!  

Quick visit & a bagel with Stacy :)  

Ducks, Ducks & More Ducks!

I love animals! I am always amazed by the details of God's creation shown through them.  Where we live, there is a "spring" that runs through the apartment complex.  Last year, about the time Ella was born, a duck couple had their 10 ducklings.  This year, the ducks returned and Ella has fallen in love with visiting them each day, and feeding them bread.  I've noticed the past week, the "Mama" duck hasn't been around much, but the "Dada" duck would ever faithfully be perched on a rock in the stream seemingly watching everyone passing by.  Today, unloading groceries, I saw the reason the Mama duck has been missing...she was busy keeping her 15 eggs warm!  Today, she and the Dada duck (I love that they truly are a couple and watch after their ducklings together!) took them for their first swim.  Absolutely adorable!  Ella is napping now, and I can't wait for her to wake up and show her all the ducklings.  She's going to go nuts saying "duck-duck".  I still can't get over that she had 15 ducklings, I'm so glad I'm only preggers with one!