Swim Day 2 Take 2

See how small the changing room is?!

Ellie went underwater today!  She did not cry or anything!  In fact, we continued the game we were playing before the instructor came over as if nothing unusual had just happened... another underwater swim under her belt!  Ellie is going to be just like Daddy and swim underwater looking for sunken treasure... I hope she finds some and then we would all be super rich!

Blowing bubbles is still a challenge.  Instead of blowing air out, Ellie sucks air/water in and chokes/ sputters.  We will continue to work on this, but she does think it is funny to watch Mommy blow bubbles, so she keeps trying.  Ellie loves the water.  I know I say it every swim day, but it is just so fun to watch her and be with her in the water!  She looked so proud of herself when we got out of the water!

On the way home, we stopped at Terry's farm where Ellie got to hear and see Black Angus cows.  She watched them with a huge grin on her face!  We also stopped to pick up eggs at the Bushongs and Ellie laughed at the chicken that have free range over the farm.

After Ellie's nap, a strange, white van pulled into the barn driveway.  Then they went around Fairview Circle very slowly, passed the house, again and went back to the barn.  Mommy and Ellie walked down the driveway, got their attention and asked them to come on in and see the house (with the one condition - they are aware that it has not been straighten up.)  We do have the house for sale.  They were given the grand tour by Mommy and they loved it, so.... we would love to hear back from them!

 Finally, to end the day, we went to Winchester Thai Restaurant for dinner.  We made Grandma try the soft shell crab and she loved it!  Ellie loves coconut juice, coconut meat and brown rice.  It was wonderful!  We all passed out (second night in a row.) when we got home!

Mommy's Birthday!

What a beautiful day for a birthday!  Thank you for all the Birthday Calls and Cards!  Unfortunately, most of the calls were in the morning, when Grandma, Ellie and I went to a Discovery Toy Marketing Scheme Party, or in the evening, when I was getting Ellie into the bath and then to bed, but the brief chats and messages are very well received.  I let Ellie listen to the messages as we finalized our bedtime routine, she was very excited to hear all the voices! 

Ellie is now saying, "Hi" and "Hey".  She seems to know that they mean hello, as she will say them to the horses when we go to the barn to feed them, to the dogs when she sees them first thing in the morning, to Daddy after a nap, to her reflection in the mirror (with a wave) after her bath and to her stuffed sheep conversationally in the car. 
She babbles to the dogs, toys and to herself in the tub and sometimes you think you hear certain words... I thought I heard doggy, daddy and apple; Daddy heard reciprocity,inter-dental fricatives and stratosphere.

Grandma has been playing a game in the car with Ellie to keep her entertained and full... Grandma will put a Cheerio in her palm and close her fingers around it, loosely.  Ellie will pry Grandma's fingers apart and grab the Cheerio and push the hand away for more.  This actually entertains both of them!

Looking up at Daddy!

Last cute thing - After bath time, we spend a few minutes every night reading books or playing with toys on the floor in Ellie's room.  She has a giraffe that sits on a little music box with a pull string that plays the song, "Toyland".  Daddy always pulls the toy toward himself and then pushes it away again, slowly to get the tune just right.  This evening, Daddy was downstairs entertaining our guests, so Ellie pulls the toy toward herself with the string and then uses the other hand to push it away again.  She did this several times. Adorable, it just seems like such a big-kid thing to do.

Swim Day 1 Take 2

Today was the first swim class for this second time we have signed up for classes; hence - take 2.  We are taking swim classes every other month.  Grandma joined us at the class, but watched from a viewpoint out of the water.  Ellie did so well, even better than the last time we were in the pool.  She really relaxed when held on her back.  She did more leg movements, can't quite call it kicking, but something close to kicking.  We have 14 babies in the class, 2 that we recognize from a month ago.  The class size was fine in the pool because each baby had a guardian.  The problem of a big class was prominent after we all got out of the pool and tried to change out of our wet suits in a tiny changing room... there were nekid babies everywhere!  And the noise; unhappy, nekid babies and frantic, half-dressed Moms with bench space for about a third of them.  I have never dressed Ellie and myself so quickly! 

Then, we went to Costco and picked up another of those Sacher Tortes (Jeff said it would be the practice cake for my birthday cake - tomorrow!)  Grandma was doing a great job keeping Ellie awake on the way home, until about 5 minutes to arrival.  Ellie crashed hard and did not wake up to be removed from the car seat or placed in her crib.  She slept for 2 hours - until Grandma and I woke her up while pounding the pork tenderloins for schnitzels.  For dinner, we had schnitzels, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut and, of course, Sacher Torte!  YUM! 

Daddy was able to stay up, but Ellie, Grandma and I were in bed early.

Business Proposition

We are starting a new business, Babysit My Kid.  For $75 (well worth it!), we will allow you 30 minutes (all you need) to babysit Ellie.  Yes, you pay us to babysit our kid!  Hate waiting to see the doc?  Get through any doctor's appointment in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed!  Take her to your doctor's office for that appointment that you usually wait 3 hours just to be blessed by a physician's assistant for 3 minutes.  We did.  It really works (testimonials to follow.)

Today we went to UVA (Charlottesville, VA) for a follow-up appointment with the nephrologist, routine visit - everything is fine.  It takes two hours to drive and park at the hospital.  I usually wait an hour to see the doctor (who is wonderfully nice and we really like him!).  I actually waited 1 hour, 45 minutes once before telling the receptionist that they could reschedule my appointment because I was going home and I drove 2 hours home without even being blessed.  So, today was a shocker.  Grandma is visiting and she and Ellie planned to spend some quality time in the waiting room while Jeff and I saw the doc.  Unfortunately, in the car ride up, Ellie soiled her diaper.  So, as I signed in, Grandma and Ellie visited the ladies' room.  I would have helped, but you never know when the nurse will call you in for weight, temp and blood pressure measurements (it was immediately).  I could hear Ellie screeching down the hall, around the corner and through two closed doors, so could the doctor and nurses.  We were rushed through vitals, into the room, chat with doc and back in the car not 30 minutes later (the walk from car garage to office alone is 10 minutes, one way!) 

I'm thinking that making a business out of this could fund Ellie's college, graduate school and law school (with a couple of years in med school to boot.)  We will, of course have a script ready for you to take, "I'm just watching Ellie for her Mom who had an emergency.... she's a Momma's girl... I'm sorry, does the screeching bother you?"  TeeHee!

We celebrated by going to the Kohr's Bros frozen custard shop.  Ellie deserved it.

PS:  Don't worry about Ellie.  She and Grandma are best friends, now.  They chatted all the way home.  Ellie loves her new word, "Hi!"  She repeats it in different tones, octaves and rhythms and it pleased her that Grandma would repeat it exactly how she said it.  Oh, Jeff and I long for the good old days when Ellie hated the car and there was just screeching to contend with.  Now, it is,"Hi! HHHHi, HIIIII!, HUH  I...  etc" all the time! :)

10 Months Old!

Happy Birthday, Ellie, 10 Months!!!  She is weighing in at 18.6 lbs (25%) with a height of 29 inches (75%).  So, she is still tall and thin - model material. 
Ellie chatted throughout mass this morning, but then took a wonderful 2 hour, 15 minute nap that allowed Mommy a nice nap, Grandma time to read the Polish books we had been saving for her and Daddy time to watch a few movies on Netflix. 
After lunch, we bundled Ellie into the snowsuit she received for Christmas and we went for a walk around the circle.  Wasn't sure Grandma was going to make it up the hill, but Ellie and I cheered her on and we all mad it back home.  The Spring snow had already melted off the ground, but still decorated some of the trees.

Ellie is now eating pretty much everything that we eat. Her favorites are green beans, blueberries, mashed potatoes and strawberries.  She is trying really hard to say "Daddy".  Watching her attempts is humorous.  She pauses, looks at Daddy, looks as if she were pushing from the other end and blurts DA.  Then, she gives a small huff of a breath, looks very pleased and starts again.  Ellie is bathing on her own and enjoying her tub experiences more, this morning while in an empty tub (we stick her in the dry tub while Mommy showers - like a playpen) she picked up the letter "D" and said, "DEE", then she did the same with the letters A and B.  Is it all a coincidence?  Perhaps, but for now it makes a nice 10 month story.  Ellie loves to turn the pages of books, her favorites are still the touchy-feely books and plastic, puffy, bath books.  She loves to knock over blocks when someone will build them back up for her and she thinks it is funny to get kisses from anyone, but especially Daddy.  Ellie is starting to roll a ball to you and (we believe it is because Alex chews on tennis balls) she is loves to push and crawl after tennis balls.  We would like to get her something bigger, but it wouldn't last around Alex and Katy... any ideas??

Ellie, Happy 10 Month Birthday!  You are growing so fast and we are loving every moment!  You are a joy to be around! 

Daddy's Contribution...

Ellie being "cute" for Daddy.

This evening, I asked Daddy to help with the blog.  I asked him what Ellie did today.  His response, "Ellie was cute.  Well, that was special for me."  Then, he went back to watching The Office on the computer.

OK, what else happened today?  Well, the Grandma scheme didn't work quite as planned.  Seems Ellie is going to need a few more days to warm up.  But, Grandma has inspired and pushed me to get a whole lot more done today than I would have, so we (Grandma, Jeff and I) have high hopes for the rest of the week!  :)  Grandma is also helping us with our milestones... working on words, pointing at objects and putting objects into a box (not just pulling them out!)  So, today, Ellie said, "Mama, dada, Ellie."  She pointed at our noses and the light when asked and she dropped a block into her toy cooking pot.  What else can we say?!  This kid is a genius!  (...and cute.)

Grandma Visits!

Grandma is coming to visit for a week to help watch Ellie so that Mommy can clean and organize the house for the swarms of people we are praying for to look at our house and go into a bidding war for our treasured home bring the price well over what we had to lower it to in order to keep it reasonably on the market.  OK, all that was wishful thinking except for the Grandma part!  Yay!

Most of Ellie's pictures are of her in the highchair... she does a lot of eating, but she does other things, too!

This morning, Ellie and I dropped some borrowed items at Terry's house.  His puppy was out in the run, so I pulled Ellie out of the car for a look see.  Terry was walking over and got my attention at the say time that Ellie said, "doggy!"  She didn't repeat it, but did look VERY excited to see the puppy, so I am pretty sure that she said doggy, but am hesitant to say that is her first word.  Of course, when Grandma and Grandpa showed up, we told them about it.  The dogs were rambunctious and happy to see them, so they were jumping around, which made Ellie bouncy and she said, "doggy!" or we all think that is what she said because doggy can sound like ba-eee or da-eee or any other two syllables put together by a babbling baby.  But, Ellie did seem to be looking at the dogs, argh!  this baby's first stuff is so hard to discern.  Doggy is as good a first word as any, but Daddy and I never refer to Alex and Katy as doggies, but only dogs.  Maybe we will hold off on updating her baby books...

Books and Babies Thursday

So, Ellie claps... at home.  All three of us go to Books and Babies at the library, where they clap after every book, song, dance, word, etc.  Does Ellie clap? No.  Does she say, "YAY!" No.  What does she do?  She leaves Mommy on the floor and crawls to Daddy sitting across the room.  Then she tries to sneak off with some child's pacifier.  Then, she tries to touch the eyelashes of another child.  Finally, she grabs the book that Ms. Diane just read and she proceeds to sit in the middle of the floor, in front of everyone, and read the book, complete with page turning and vocals.  Ms. Diane adores Ellie and insisted that this was great.  Daddy and I just raised our eyebrows and formed awkward smiles with our mouths.  That is our little girl!  Apparently, just like her Daddy, can talk her way out of anything!

Year Old Goals

Cleaning off the desk to make room for the computer Uncle Carrington is bringing over, we came across the paperwork I have to fill out before Ellie's One Year Appointment.  She has two months to meet a ton of milestones.  Standing up in the middle of the floor with no help, walking holding one hand or all by herself, speaking three words, putting objects into a box, pointing at items we ask her to and a bunch of other things!  No pressure, No stress, Ellie!  Aaaahhhhh! 

Probably unrelated, Ellie has started pulling out the bow barrettes we were using to get the hair out of her face.  So, we are now pulling her hair up into a little twiggy on top of her head.   She is so darn cute... OK, we are a little biased!

Getting back to the milestones... Fortunately, Ellie is already talking in full paragraphs, we only need someone to translate!

Thunderstorm

Our Hero Pup

Last night, early morning, we had a wicked thunderstorm come through the Valley.  We believe it stopped on top of our house for at least a half hour, give or take an hour.  Alex is terrified by thunder storms because of an incident that happened a few years ago when the basement dog door did not exist (we had not put it back after getting a replacement door for the one that had rotted).  The humans had left the dogs outside when they went on a Memorial Day picnic.  The weather started and the humans (only 2 miles away) forgot they had not left even the garage door open for the pups to find shelter.  Now, if you do not call him  inside, Alex will frantically run up and down the fence line when a storm comes.  At night, he will cower on the bed and try to curl into your lap.  It is very sad - we humans really screwed up!  He has been getting slightly better, but last night, he started whining (Alex NEVER whines - Katy on the other hand...) he refused to come up on the bed.  Then a particularly harsh thunderclap resounded, vibrating the house and Ellie woke up screaming.  He raced with me to get her.  I brought her back to our bed to snuggle and Alex stayed on the floor right next to Ellie and me.  I gave the storm some time to settle down, then returned Ellie to her room.  Alex followed me and settled onto the floor in front of Ellie's crib.  He would not leave her until she woke up again, later in the morning.  So, I guess he is fixed of the trembling and crawling into our laps phase.

Ellie realized that Daddy wears glasses and Mommy does not.  We always play a game before Ellie goes down for her morning nap.  Mommy swings Ellie close to Daddy as he kisses and nibbles on her neck.  Ellie giggles and Mommy pulls her back away.  This is repeated too many times to accurately keep track of; it usually ends when Mommy has had enough - the other two could play all day!  During this play, making the game that more complex and exciting, Ellie likes to grab at Daddy's glasses.  During one of the pull backs, Ellie reached for Mommy's glasses, which of course are not there (Mommy got her eyes fixed back in 2006!)  Ellie stops, takes a closer look at Mommy and then at Daddy and you can see the light click in her eyes... she proceeds to grab at Daddy's glasses and pull them off his face!  Ellie, you are so smart!

Uncle Marvin Visits and Cruising

Uncle Marvin came to visit last night.  He went to mass with us this morning and then he and Mommy worked on various projects that Jeff and I have been wanting to get done.  By the time Uncle Marvin left, he and Ellie were pretty, good pals.  This meant, he could actually hold her if he stayed near Mommy.

This evening, Mommy and Daddy were watching a movie and Ellie was playing in the theater.  There is a low bookshelf in front of the screen and Ellie had pulled herself up.  Holding onto the bookshelf, she cruised, very slowly and deliberately, walking foot over foot, then moving one hand over the other in order to get the blue comb Mommy uses to pull all the extra layers of dog hair off the pups.  Sure, that comb is dirty and nasty, but when someone works that hard to obtain it, you let her chew and slobber all over that comb!  Congratulations, Ellie - first time you cruised the furniture, you are on your way to independence and ... walking!!!

Check out the pig tails.  A little uneven, but this was a first attempt.  Look a little like horns!

Clap, Clap, Yeah!

Ellie clapped all by herself today!  Anytime we said, "Yea!" she would clap.  Then, she started saying, "yea!"

She also enjoyed her first meal of Corned Beef and Cabbage and she signed, "more."  So, of course we gave her more!

Eating apples for a snack.

Visiting with Cousins

So, today Ellie went with her cousins to the Children's Museum in Winchester while Mommy went to Annandale and Daddy got work done at home.  Every parent deep down would like their child to miss them that first time away for an extended amount of time.  Ideally, your kid would be sad you are leaving, then get over it as soon as you were out of sight to go on to have a wonderful, happy day.  Ellie was happy to transfer cars and was quiet all the way to the museum.  Then, from my understanding, she cried the entire time she was there and screeched all the way back (1.5 hours) home.  Not quite the ideal.  I hope her cousins and aunt will let her visit again sometime!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

                                 

We had a wonderful day!  Ellie (Daddy decided he wanted her full name because we have had pictures and video with her name anyway...) and Mommy went to morning mass and played on the church playground before returning home.  Then, Daddy joined us and we headed to the library for Books and Babies.  Daddy sat in one of the chairs along the wall and Mommy joined Ellie on the carpet on the floor across from Daddy, so Ellie could keep an eye on him (when it was all over, she made a bee line for him crawling right through groups of other children and toys.  She hasn't figured out the go-around option!) During the 15 minute story telling class, Ellie crawled away from me, sat smack dab in the middle of the class facing the children and just observed everyone.  Of course, everyone observed her to.  After a while, she came back and sat with me.  That is totally something Jeff would do and not me, I would have crawled behind everyone and watched from under a table or something like that.  :)

 

We had friends over for corned beef and cabbage and Ellie got to stay up until 9pm.  Hopefully, she will still do well for Aunt Nadyne and her cousins.  They will be watching her tomorrow - all day... the first time she has been away from Mommy and Daddy. 

Ellie is 1/16th Irish, so of course, Daddy bought her a "Kiss Me I'm Irish shirt!

Don't Help Me, Mommy!

This morning, El would not eat her breakfast.  I thought maybe it was because she likes to eat her little snack things; puffs, cheerios, yogurt melts, etc.  Then I recalled last night's independent thinking and decided to give her the spoon.  Sure enough, she wanted to feed herself.  She wouldn't even let me help her dig more cereal onto the spoon.  So, she had her spoon and I got another spoon and the two of us successfully helped her to finish breakfast. (Me working 20 times to each spoonful El took)

Daddy and I have opted to discontinue the strict diet we were on (thank goodness).  So, we celebrated by going to the Thai Winchester Restaurant, a wonderful place to eat!  I ordered young coconut milk and let El try it.  She loved it.  There were pieces of coconut meat in the drink, so I pulled it out, cut it up and gave some to El.  She loved that, too!  Then, out of nowhere, she gets mad at me and pushes my hand away as it heads toward her mouth.  Now, I have it all figured out... I put the piece on the table and she picks it up herself.  Then, and you won't believe this - I don't want to...  Daddy, who is sitting across from us, picks up a piece of coconut.  El leans in and opens up like a little bird and Daddy pops the piece in her mouth.  They continue this for the rest of the meal!!!  I used to tell Daddy that El was my baby, but his little girl.  Looks like she is no longer a baby!

Don't Help Me!

Today, we made guacamole salad.  El tasted everything as we put it together and once it was all mixed up.  Lemon juice was her favorite ingredient and she "bird-begged" asked for more, so I filled her little spoon up, twice.  I didn't have her try the onions by themselves.  She LOVED the final result and I resolve to continue cooking with her help - I like to hear myself talk!  :)

After another solo tub experience where El seemed to understand the tub rule (she is also enjoying the big empty tub and balancing her body in the water), we went to her bedroom for a final few stories.  El picked out her own book and tried to turn the pages on her own.  It was a paper book (as opposed to those chunky, baby, board books) and she was beginning to get frustrated.  As the Mommy, I did not want to see my little angel suffer, so I helped out by lifting single pages - OK, I took over the page turning.  El fussed at me and turned away from the book, I assumed her frustration pushed the direction of her attention elsewhere.  This was not the case.  As soon as I put the book back down, she turned back to it, grabbed it and resumed her clumsy, page-turning attempts.  Bad Mommy!  So, I sat back and let her work out this issue on her own.  I always figured she would be a little older before she didn't need her Mommy anymore...

Cleared to Tub Solo

For two mornings in a row, El has pointed to both the candle on the table and then the recessed lights above her head.  Daddy always lights the candle when she eats and turns on the lights.  If you ask where the lights are, she makes a fist and stretches that pointer finger out straight and points directly!  Two days in a row means no coincidence.

For lunch, El helped Mommy make hard-boiled eggs.  She touched the water and tasted salt.  Mommy talked the entire time about the process to a poor, entrapped El (she was secured in her chair), but she watched everything and tried to get her hands into it.  When they were done, she sampled and decided that she really likes hard-boiled eggs.

We got really busy after that and ended up getting to the bath later than usual, so we tried something new, partly to save time.  Mommy filled the tub 2 1/2 inches and El LOVED it!  She was tubbing solo and was as pleased as she could be.  She crawled the length of the tub, was easily able to get the duck who used to eluded her in the deep water with Mommy or Daddy.  She sang, poured water, splashed and we taught El her first real rule, "Sit on your bottom in the tub."  She is a great listener.  She tested a few times to make sure she understood what we wanted and then sat down and played!  We know this is not a charted milestone, but to Mommy who has had to undress, dry, redress and spend time in poo-poo water, this is one of the biggest milestones!  We will slowly bring the water level up, but El was comfortable and happy.  She almost looked glad to have the tub to herself - kid is very independent-minded.  And, if the case comes up again, Daddy has not lost his job of ridding the tub of those nasty, sinker stinkers!

Milestone:  Mommy clothed, El nekid.

The Day the Time Changed

Sequel to The Day the Earth Stood Still.  :)

We were aware of the time change this year (as opposed to last year when we showed up an hour late for mass).  I got up, took a shower and El woke up 2 seconds before I was planning to wake her up.  It was perfect!  Even Jeff was getting a shower and would be ready on time.  Minor issue - we ignored the fact that El's brain thought she was doing the wake-up-for-the-final-feeding-of-the-night-so-I-get-two-more-hours-of-sleep wake up.  She refused breakfast.  We went to mass.  El and I left after the gospel reading and came back after Communion.  All was well, until Fr. Martinez took too long (in El's opinion) for the final Blessing.  It started with a hushed, scrunched up face and whine.  I was able to quash it by sitting down with her.  I was convinced we would make it, but Father would not say "Amen."  The folks around us were starting to smile, then laugh as El scrunched her face up again, opened her mouth wide and, well, let's just say that is not how you say amen!  I stood up and practically ran out of the church.  And then he says, "Amen!"

Video is of El giving Daddy her two cents worth!

El fell asleep on the way home, but woke when I took her out of the car.  Again, she refused to eat (too tired).  I attempted to put her down for a nap and close my own eyes.  She slept for 10 minutes and then started screaming.  We decided it was more important to get things done than take a nap.  So we did laundry and had lunch.  Then we ran errands before El and I went to a double baby shower that started at 2 (the exact time her afternoon nap starts).  She fell asleep in the car 5 minutes from the party.  Awake, again, once the car stopped.  We hung out for two hours and went home.  El fell asleep 5 minutes before we got home.  I was able to get her out of the car this time without waking her up!  It was my intention to carry her upstairs and put her in her crib for a nice, long, satisfying nap (for all of us!)  However, Alex and Katy had other ideas.  They had come out the gate when I put the wheelbarrow in the gate and when I slowly pulled sleeping El out of the car, they went exploring.  I agonized for 5 seconds (but it felt like longer) on whether I should bring El in the house first or locate the dogs and get them back in the backyard.  Dogs won out, there are too many dangerous places they can run off to.  Which meant a stern, "ALEX, KATY, COME!"  Sure, I am not as loud as El, but I can belt out a few commands.  After the third call, Alex and Katy came running, all happy and panting, and El was sitting up, looking around, smiling! 

We had a dinner to go to in two hours, so I had to put El in her crib wide awake.  She screeched and then, thankfully, slipped into a peaceful slumber - two minutes before I did.  Fortunately, El's timing is impeccable.  She woke up at 5:50 (dinner was at 6pm), so we all rushed back out of the house, had a wonderful dinner, returned home, bathed and she was out again (at 9 - 2 hours past her bedtime... but good enough for me!)
Does it really all start again in the morning?!?!

Saturday

El had a strange night.  She woke up at 1:30am, I gave her a few minutes and she went back to sleep?  Well, I thought she did, so I snuck in her room to make sure it was warm enough and that she was sufficiently covered.  Our little sweet head popped up as soon as she heard me, looked at me and the next thing I knew, she was standing in her crib... how does that happen so fast?  So I held her for a little bit, gave her water and (even though she was looking for it) told her there was no milk and if she kept wiggling, I would have to put her back in bed.  This worked for a couple of seconds, El snuggled (nothing better than an El snuggle!)  But, then she would be squirming, again.  So, back into the crib she went.  But don't feel too bad, by the time I got back to my bed, her screeching had stopped.  I decided it was warm enough and I would not try to cover her up, again.

We went to a Surprise Birthday/Retirement Party this afternoon.  Amazingly, our friend actually had no idea.  It was fantastic!  El was even fairly patient through the speeches and stories.  And then she got to wear the Birthday Boy's cowboy hat!  El likes hats.  We worked on the St. Patrick's Day pictures today and she put her hat on and took it off... repeat, repeat, repeat.  She even opens books and puts them on her head?!  And we thought she was a smart kid who enjoyed reading the books...

Costco Day

Alright, so we are on the Anti-fungal Diet again, which means a trip to our favorite place - Costco!  Do you know how many wonderful desserts they have... available for tasting?!  The sample distributors practically open your mouth, put luscious samples of chocolate goodness into your mouth and then hold your mouth and nose closed until you swallow.  Anyway, El and I were waiting in line to purchase some seafood and Jeff goes wandering off.  Next thing you know, he is back (looking a little suspicious) and as I glance up to tell him we chose the sea scallops, I notice a crumb on his cheek!  Sure, he says the lady forced him even after he explained the diet we are doing, a little taste won't hurt... So, of course El and I had to be the Adam to his Eve and we shared a sample, too.  Wow!  If apples were anything as good as that chocolate sacher torte...

El made it through Station 8 when we went to Stations of the Cross.  Then she and I practiced walking in the narthax.  I think that means the two of us get prorated indulgences.

Before her bath, El played on Alex.  Yes, she actually climbed on top of him (poor dog).  He was very patient, but after 10 minutes had enough.  Alex gently got up and left the room.

Bleh!

This morning, we all got to sleep in because El was placed back in her crib after a 5:30am feeding and she was sound asleep until 7:30!!  I woke up at 7, took a shower and became so weak, I couldn't even brush my hair.  I ended up cheating on the diet we started again by having a bowl of Cheerios.  The carbs were an instant fix and I felt better.  The issue was that yesterday (Ash Wednesday) was a fast and abstinence day.  I had also exercised with Sara and Bonnie for 45 minutes.  When I calculated the calories I took in, minus the exercise, I only had 500 calories all day, subtract the 300 calories for breastfeeding and you have one sick, dizzy, weak Mommy.  No wonder you do not have to follow the fast and abstinence when you are nursing.  I enjoyed a HUGE amount of calories today and I didn't even exercise!!! 

Bought blue crab pieces at Walmart... El loved them!  It was pouring down rain, that is why her head is a little... soaked!

Ash Wednesday

Sara, Bonnie, El and I got up bright and early (6am) to exercise together (El was in the Moby) before heading to mass for Ash Wednesday.  Aunt Bonne held El throughout the mass, it was wonderful!  She had to leave twice - after ashes were distributed, they came back to sit with us.  It is not that El is loud, it is her wiggliness.  She is in constant motion without friction, and as you know, an object in motion will stay in motion...

In any case, I enjoyed sitting next to Jeff all the way through mass for the first time in a LONG time.  I was even able to offer him Peace.  :)
After church, we went home and El took a nap while Sara, Bonnie and I made cards.  We were all able to be very creative for an hour and a half before El woke up.  Then it was clean up, pack up and Sara and Bonnie left us.  It was a fun visit!  We LOVE visitors!!!

Bonnie's Birthday!

Cake is smaller than it appears - Honest!

Yeah!  Bonnie is visiting on her Birthday, that means... cake for all!  El and I ran errands in the morning; I needed routine bloodwork done and Alex was going to the vet to finally complete the teeth cleaning procedure that was started back on Valentine's Day.  We also stopped off at Walmart and picked up the cake and chocolate donuts!  (Not dieting until tomorrow!)
When El went down for her morning nap; Sara, Bonnie and I exercised in the garage and then picked up 3 buckets of black walnuts for the fire.  El woke up, we had lunch and then all of us (minus Daddy, who was VERY relieved to get the girly commotion and noise out of the house) went shopping.  It was fun.  Godmother Bonnie had El in the backpack while we shopped.  El just looked around and relaxed.  On the way home, we picked up pizza and Alex from the vet.  We will need to exercise again tomorrow!  :)



Serenading Bonnie with bubbles.

Also, Happy Fat Tuesday!!!! 

El was not as happy to wear the Mardi Gras hats as we were!

Snuggle Up With A Book

We spent the day with Bonnie and Sara who, exhausted from traveling, took naps.  Carrington left this morning. So, El and I went alone to the library (Daddy was resting, also.)  Today we turned in our Snuggle up with a Book poster.  Together with Daddy's help, we read 311 books in February.  We were not planning to be so ambitious, but El enjoys her books.  At night, she will pull out books when there are toys in the same shelf.  She also has particular books she likes best (plastic Care Bear Colors book)and particular pages she turns to (the K is for Kitten in her B is for Bear book - the kitten has a ball of yarn that is real yarn and when you drag your finger over the yarn, you can see the white page underneath it) until she finds what she is looking for.  Then, of course, you have to read the same book 3-4 times, so it wasn't hard to get so many books read.  I am sure we were not the only ones who read that many books, but the librarian was so excited, she wanted a picture of El picking out her reward - a free book.  They are going to put the picture in their newsletter (provided El has the most books read by the time everyone brings in their posters).  I will get the picture and post it... In the meantime, El received her second certificate of achievement!

Sara and Bonnie to visit!

We had a great day!  Aunt Sara and Bonnie and Uncle Carrington came to visit!  They all arrived around dinner time, so El was already in bed.  We had a wonderful German dinner and then everyone helped bag black walnuts (from the pasture) to burn in te basement wood stove.  The walnuts burn hot and are essentially free (except for the labor of picking them up in the parture!)  The nuts were gathered a long time ago and I never had the opportunity to get them begged and ready to be burned.  Sara and Carrington ended their night early and Daddy and Terry were watching a movie, so Bonnie and I sat in he office and reviewed all the pictures from Bonnie's travel in the las few weeks.  El woke up at 11.  She usually goes back o sleep immediately, but I guess with all the excitement, she wasn't ready to settle down again.  So, I brought her out to visit with her Godmother Bonnie for an hour.

Cleaning Day

We spent all day today cleaning house to get ready for Sara and Bonnie's visit.  Didn't do too much else, so there are no pictures, but I'll throw in a cute video (hope I have not already posted it...)

First Friday of the Month

We like to go to Morning mass on the first Friday of the month.  This morning we went to church, arriving a little early so that we could play on the swing.  El loves the swing!  I hope to find one to put on a tree in our yard.

Dr. Suess' Birthday

El had her 9 month appointment today.  NO SHOTS!!! We have three more months, shot-free, before more immunizations are required.  Nobody is complaining!  El's stats: 85 height percentile = 28.5", 25 weight percentile = 16lb, 12.5 oz, 95 head size percentile 19 inches.  So, we have a tall, thin, brainy baby!  El is meeting her marks all around, no problems, all looking good! Keep doing what we are all doing.

When we returned from the pediatrician, El was supposed to take a nap.  Instead, she screeched for 20 minutes, until it was time to go to the library for Dr. Suess' Birthday Party.  They had all sorts of things going on; cat hat making, birthday cake, green eggs cooking, book reading, face painting and drawing on a mural.  We got El's face painted and we sat through about 5 pages of a book reading.  It was really a shame because it was one of my favorite Dr. Suess books about the pale, green pants with no one in them. 

Unfortunately, napless El was in no mood to sit.  We went to the board book alligator (alligator shaped box containing the library's vast collection of board books).  I sat El on the floor and she immediately pulled herself up on the box and proceeded to pull every book from her section out of the gator and onto the floor.  She and I played a "fun" and exciting game of Put-the-baby-back-on-the-floor-and-get-all-the-books-back-in-the-box-before-she-stands-back-up.  She won several times before I finally caught up.  The pictures were snapped before the game began. 

Whiskers did not come off until bath time.  Our little kitten enjoyed her dinner of yogurt and finger foods.