A Walking Thanksgiving!

This past Thanksgiving turned into an extra special one as Ella decided (at 16 months old) that this would be the day she would take her first independent steps!! It was so exciting and even greater than I imagined, especially since our families were able to see them too!!

Ella has been doing really well walking around and holding onto our fingers, but she has never wanted to let go. Thanksgiving morning she was expecially urgent in wanting to walk (holding on), which was a change, because in the last week or so, it was like she had just stopped trying.

After Thanksgiving lunch at my sister's house, my dad (Grandad) took her outside because she just wanted to walk around. While outside, Ella spotted two little pumpkins that she wanted to hold. After she picked them up and was holding one in each hand, Dad said that she reached back up to hold his hand and then realized she couldn't hold his hand and hold the pumpkins too, so she just took off on her own! He came and got us and Lee went outside and she walked between him and Dad taking pumpkins to each of them. The rest of us just huddled around the storm door to watch, hoping not to scare her while we cheered. It was so awesome. Here is a picture of only her 3rd attempt at walking! How great  it was that we were all there to see it!!!!

This was the highlight of our day, but here are other pictures to remember Thanksgiving 2010!

Showing off her turkey bow...

Uh-oh...caught red (or blue) handed with a marker...

Practicing her walking skills with cousins Jackson and Lucas

More walking with Daddy

Sweet moments with Lee and his girl...

Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...up close and personal!

Still practicing...

Let's go!

Posed family picture where Ella isn't screaming...this is one for the books!