Zella has a Secret!

So, Zella has a secret that she is excited to share. Here she is when we told her the news....

And here is her big news!!! (Sorry about the photos. They are camera pictures.)

Zella is going to be a big sister! We just found out a few weeks ago, so it won't be until March, (Zella's actual birthday) that we are due. We are super excited and eager for our new addition into our little family!

Miss Funny Girl!

Zella is one funny little chica! She definitely has her own unique, wonderful personality. Here are two things that had made me laugh over the past week.

First, this is how Zella prefers to watch her favorite television show, The Fresh Beat Band, by riding a dinosaur! No couch or floor for her! It is all about the dino!

Second, this one still makes me laugh. Will and I realized that we hadn't heard Zella in a few minutes so we began to call her name, and no response. So we got up and began to look around the house, only to find her here, in the glass cupboard!

I still have no idea why she got inside or how she planned to get back out, but she did make me giggle!

I love you Zella!

Fourth of July Fun!

Zella had an exciting 4th of July weekend. It all began with her spending the entire day on Saturday with one of her BFF's, Asher! They had so much fun coloring, playing in the sandbox, bike riding, and just hanging out with one another. Look how cute those two are!

Big thanks to Asher's mommy and daddy for making the day super awesome!!

On Monday, we went to the traditional Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast over at our ward! Zella munched on delicious pancakes and scrambled eggs!

However, the most exciting part, was that Zella got to cheer on her cousins, Ellie and Duncan at the Primary bike parade! Here they are with their razzle dazzle bikes! They did awesome!!!!

Afterwards, we had all the families over for a big BBQ and swim party. Zella had a love-hate relationship with the fireworks. She kept putting her hands over her ears, but then clapped when they were done. She was just happy that all her family and friends were there to celebrate! Actually, I think that her favorite part is when she snuck a piece of cake off the kitchen counter when no one was looking....... sneaky girl!

Tahoe

So this past weekend, we all went to Tahoe to celebrate Will's Birthday! It was absolutely beautiful and Will and the boys took a gondola ride up to the top of the mountains, which is a big thing for Will since heights are not his thing. He snapped this photo from the top...

However, while the boys were at the top, us girls went to what is now Zella's favorite place... The Cookie Store! Zella, loved seeing all the yummy, delicious, cookies, and they even sampled a few! Here she and Asher are deciding what cookies to buy. Mommy's favorite was a peanut butter chocolate chip, and Zella's was everything!!!

Larry...

We have a new addition to the family.

His name is Larry.

Zella is in love....

Fairytale Time!

Over the Mother's Day weekend, Will was out of town, so Zella and I went to Fairytale Town with her cousin Duncan from Arizona, and her BFF from church Mia! Growing up I have always loved Fairytale town, and now, I actually have a real reason to go!

Here they all are playing on the slides.....

Oh...and how can one forget the teepee???

But I think the most fun that Zella had that day was chasing the chickens. She was so determined to get those chickens that she flung herself over the small end of a fence, landed on her face, shot back up, and ran as fast as her tiny legs could to go and have an up-close-and-personal look at the chickens!

After a few hours of playing....

....Zella and mommy headed to Ernesto's downtown for some yummy quesadillas and to let our hair down for some girl time! It was a great day!

Easter Week!

This Easter was super special for Zella and I because I actually had almost 2 weeks off to spend every moment with her! I don't like being at work because I would rather be a SAHM, but we do what we have to, so this was an awesome treat!

One of the first things we did over my break was go and visit the Easter Bunny at the mall. I am usually not a fan of mall bunnies, and in fact it wasn't our intention to take a picture either, but as soon as Zella saw the bunny walking down the hall she let out a HUGE squeal! I really think that she thought the Easter Bunny was a giant stuffed animal!

This was Zella acting like her grandpa and checking the Easter Bunny's dental work!

I actually had to pull Zella off of the Easter Bunny! Every time that I reached out for her to go, she would turn around and hug the Easter Bunny so that she wouldn't have to leave. I am sure that made the Easter Bunny feel loved since so many kids usually end up scared of him or crying!

Of course she received a little bunny ears hat! It lasted about 10 minutes before she ripped it into pieces!

On a different day, Zella and I had crazy hair day! Guess who won???

Finally, last night we finished off with chocolate pudding and I decided she could go crazy. This time I was prepared with a bath and bedtime to follow!

Zella's 1st Birthday!

Zella turned the big '1' in March and we had a little party to celebrate. Usually, in Tongan culture there is a big celebration, but we decided to keep it small and to keep it mostly family.

The party was at the park and we had a 'Bugs and Butterfly' theme! First we had all her family and friends decorate their own butterfly sugar cookie and add all the sparkles and gummi worms it could hold!

Zella, of course, needed to taste test her cookie to make sure it was up to her standards! Next the kids went on a bug hunt. Each had their own bug catcher and bug net and they went through the park searching for butterflies, 'bubble' bugs, 'sixlet' inchworms, and other fun bug treats!

Finally, Zella had her first piece of real birthday cake. I made this cake just for her so she could dive right in. She didn't go too far because she was caught up in the frosting.

And the creme de la creme.... a birthday kiss! How cute!

1st Year Photos!

So as you all may have guessed.... I really suck when it comes to posting on my blog. So I guess I can do a quick recap and then make a small promise to be better!

So I can't believe that it has been over a year since my little monkey was born. I love her so much, and she is such a personality. Below are some of her first year pictures that the talented Erica Savage (ericasavagephotography.com) took of little Z.

So for some year highlights, Zella was off and running from the start! She began taking her first steps around Christmas (about 9 1/2 months), and never looked back. At the moment, her new thing is trying to walk backwards! It is super cute!

This happens to be one of my favorite pictures, and I am sure Zella will hate that I will have it framed and hanging for all her friends and boyfriends to see in years to come! But she does have the cutest little tushy!

Zella can say a few words now. It's the usual "mommmm" and "daddy". She can also make out what seems to be "grandpa" and "grandma". She says "nice nice" when talking about the kitty and "mob boss" when looking at the diaper. I don't know the correlation with that one, but it makes Will and I laugh.

Some of Zella's favorite foods are sweet potatoes and pizza. She loves trying new food! However, I do know that she is not a fan of broccoli. I tried disguising the broccoli with cheese. Silly mommy, little smarty picked off the cheese and tossed the broccoli on the floor!

Zella had her first big 'owie' when she was 11 months. She was running after her grandpa down the hall when she tripped and fell into the door frame. It left a small cut above her left eye, which so far, hasn't gone away. Will thinks it will scar... I am hoping it won't.
Zella is now a little traveler. We had the opportunity to go to Texas for a wedding this past November, and I must admit, she did really well. Plane ride? Not a peep. Hotel? She was so excited she was giggling every time we walked through the door. Even with the long car ride from the airport to our hotel, she slept. I guess we will see if this was a fluke when we go to Seattle this September. Hmmmmm......
Zella has a very big heart for stuffed animals. Too big of a heart if you ask me. We have over 25 stuffed animals, and they are ALL Zella's! She hugs them and says "night night" and then sits on them! It is so cute. Her grandpa also has a big heart for stuffed animals and bought her a giant duck, (which we named Jefferson), and every time she sees Jefferson laying on the floor she runs up to him and fall directly on top of him. I have actually come into the family room to see her lounging on him and doing nothing else. Those two are too funny!
There is so much more to say about my Z Bear. I have loved every minute she has been in my life and a part of our little family. She has brought us so much love and joy and I am so grateful for her and to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be her mommy!