Ella from the very first

Today is Ella's 8th birthday. We named her Ella Simone, the "Ella" after Ella Fitzgerald, and "Simone" after my favorite character in my favorite book, Kay Nolte Smith's book A Tale of the Wind. I had practice labor in the mornings for 12 days before she finally emerged, 9 days after the official due date, at 7:50 in the evening on Sunday, April 29, 2001.

Ella has always been irrepressibly Ella (not that we'd want to repress her or anything!). Sunshine on a cold day, that girl is. Always happy, unless she's (temporarily) dramatically unhappy. Always up for a snuggle. Loves dogs. Loves to dance. Will still play Mommy Birdie and Baby Birdie with me. Favorite color is pink. She paints rainbows into everyone's life.

Ella 2001:


Ella 2002:


Ella 2003:


Ella 2004:


Ella 2005:


Ella 2006:


Ella 2007:


Ella 2008:


Ella 2009: