Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween

In keeping with our usual MO, we waited until the last minute to find a costume for Ellie on her first Halloween. Pete found something he thought would work at Target for fairly cheap so he brought it home. I wasn't so sure about it, but since we were basically out of time to find something else, we went with it. Turns out, as an ensemble it looks pretty cute! The hat makes the outfit though. So, without further ado, some snap shots from Ellie's first Halloween.





{Ellie and PJ being twins}

Saturday, October 18, 2008

And the Oscar Goes To...

While we've been discussing whether Ellie will win the Nobel prize in physics or chemistry, turns out she's been studying acting. I guess an Oscar would be fine.

As a bit of back story, we've been telling her "no" when she heads for the dog bowls. Also, because it's fun and she thinks it's funny, I grab her by the waist of her pants and drag her backwards when she gets too close. I may be crazy, but here's what I see as her reenactment of this scenario:



Oh, the drama!

I've also left in the spinning at the end since that's what I was trying to capture when I hauled out the video camera to begin with.

The Games, Part Deux

Several weeks ago I did a post on the game that is babyproofing, I thought I would update on the score.

I moved my sewing stuff out of the little wooden sewing box about a month ago and replaced it with little toys. She discovered the sewing box several weeks ago, but just this week learned how to open the lid. One point for Mommy.


We lowered the crib on her 10 month birthday, the day she learned to sit up in her crib. She started pulling up last week and last night stood up in her crib for the first time. Score another one for Mommy.


The stairs were hard. We needed to give the cat access to her food and her litter box, both in the basement. If we put the gate right up against the stairs she wouldn't be able to jump over it without tumbling down them, but a doorway into the kitchen kept us from putting it further back on the landing. We finally decided on two gates, one to close off the little side room and one to close off the rest of the house. It seems to work pretty well. As far as I know the cat hasn't jumped the gate yet, preferring to hang out where she is until it opens. But the dog can jump it, so that's...um...good? After hemming and hawing over it for weeks, one morning Ellie decided she wanted to follow Kitty down the stairs and, while we caught her in time, it was close enough to get us to Babies 'R Us that afternoon. So, I call that one a heart attack inducing draw.


That makes the score 4:2 in Mommy's favor. Go Mommy. And Daddy, who put up the gates with minimal swearing and no broken tools, gates, or giant holes in the wall. Go Daddy.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Hi Yay So Big

A little video of Ellie's current three best tricks.



She clasps her hands together when she does "so big." I have no idea why she does this, but I love it.

This would be followed up by a video of her very latest trick, pulling up to standing, but she seems to do it when I'm not looking. As in, I look at her and she's sitting, I leave the room or turn away, come back and she's standing. Tricksy she is, yes.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Aquatots

Pete started swimming lessons with Ellie last weekend. I went this weekend to get a couple of pictures. It's meant for 1-2 year olds so most of the kids are quite a bit older than she is, but since she turns 1 during the class they let her in. She seems to be having a good time, and I think Daddy's really enjoying sharing this with her. They sure are cute together anyway.




They kick their legs, sing some songs, "jump" into the pool from the side, ride around on these giant mats, and play with beach balls and noodles. I'm a little jealous.

We also went to the National Arboretum in the afternoon because the weather was just too good to waste inside doing chores.

Friday, October 10, 2008

You CAN Take It With You

Turns out, you can take things with you where ever you want to go if you're creative enough.



Also, Mommy maybe enjoys bath time a little too much.


Thursday, October 9, 2008

A Trip

We'd put off our annual trip up to the lake and summer was almost over, so a couple weeks ago we loaded up the car and planned a nice long weekend trip up to Sodus Bay, NY.

This would be our first long car trip with the dogs and the baby. During earlier trial runs we learned that putting both dogs in the backseat on either side of the carseat doesn't work. Ilow does not like Dragnet right next to her, Dragnet does not like not being right next to Ilow, and they were constantly jumping over the baby to get next to and then away from each other. So, I rode in the back with Ilow and Ellie, and Dragnet rode in style in the front seat. It wasn't the most comfortable thing ever but it worked.


Ellie had a pretty runny nose so we were hoping it didn't turn into anything too bad. We arrived late Friday night, my dad was waiting for us. Got a good night sleep. My step-mom picked my brother and his fiance up from the airport early the next morning. By now Pete and I aren't feeling particularly spectacular, but we manage to enjoy the day.





Then the sickness set in. I haven't felt that bad in a long long long long time. Pete wasn't doing a whole lot better. Ellie seemed fine beyond a runny nose and cough, thankfully. So, Sunday was a complete black hole. And we headed back home Monday.



A quick and not particularly successful trip, although it was nice to be able to relax in a beautiful setting even if we didn't feel well. Hopefully next time we can stay longer and not feel like death.