Bitter fruit

A couple of days ago I was preparing dinner and Ella, a.k.a. Little Miss Grabby-Hands, was in her usual seat on the counter. After interrupting her reach for my knife, pulling the soap dispenser from her mouth, and watching her drop all her toys on the floor I gave up. I figured a lime couldn't hurt all that much. It was clean!

Don't feel too bad for her, these are in order.

A muddy walk

Yesterday afternoon Rob and I looked at each other and realized we were bored. We ran some errands and didn't want to go back home so we headed for Waikiki. Rob got inspired on the way there and suggested we go to Manoa Falls instead.

As we headed in that direction our conversation went something like this...

Rob: "Are you up for a short hike?"

Me: "Are flip-flops OK?" (After my many years in Girl Scouts I know how important it is to be prepared.)

Rob: "Sure, it's only ten minutes." (Being the military man that he is, he knows how important it is to have the right gear.)

The parking attendant: "Do you all want a walking stick and bug spray"

Me: (thinking) "That's a little odd for a ten minute hike you can do in flip-flops."

Well, 45 minutes later we reach the falls with mud splattered to our knees and numerous bug bits. I had 22! Ella had all of ZERO! Yes, I counted them. No, we didn't take the offer of bug spray. The view was beautiful! The hike was slippery but 100% worth it. It felt like Hawaii, very tropical. Come visit, bring some hiking boots, and we'll take you.

Yesterday

Ella waved for the first time yesterday. She was having lunch while we ichated with my parents and I waved at her. Low and behold... she waved back! It's funny how the little things are so exciting.

As it should be

Sunday Rob decided to start playing with his new computer a bit more. He created his own website complete with a variety of photos and some video of Ella. I was reading the site and I noticed that he calls Ella "the love of his life." It looks like I've been replaced. I wonder if he'll still feel the same way in 17 years when she wrecks his car.
Rob's Place

There's something about fathers and their children...

Over the years I've watched various friends interact with their children and I've noticed that oftentimes (but not all) fathers tend to be a little rougher during play. They seem to be a little more likely to toss their baby in the air, wrestle with them on the ground, and encourage risk taking behavior. That's certainly the case in our home.

I was watching Rob and Ella play a few days ago. He held her by her waist and dangled her upside down between his legs. I watched in horror and waited for the tears to flow. Ella's face turned red and then she broke into a smile. It shows you how well I know my daughter!

Happiness!

Joy!

Mischievousness!

Doesn't she look like she's up to something?

The park

Yesterday evening Rob and I walked down the street to one of our neighborhood parks where there's an infant/toddler swing. Initially she wasn't sure what to think of the swing but after a few minutes she was smiling.

Another milestone... The pincer grasp

Yesterday Ella successfully fed herself for the first time, something she took great delight in.

Good news... We're moving!

Thursday night we got the call! We have housing! I'm so thrilled! It's got the requisite central air, fenced yard and no airplanes. To top it off, the landlords aren't NUTS! I'll miss having the beach so close but we live in Hawaii. A beach is never far away.

It isn't exactly what we were hoping for but I'd move into a shack if it had the above mentioned things. It's a 1,700sq ft townhouse that's going to feel like a mansion after our 1,100sq feet. There's a two car garage so no one will be mailing pictures of my car parked in the neighbor's space. The community center with pools, gym, and kids play area is supposed to be done by next April and will be a short walk. Of course, I shouldn't hold my breath since they won't finish the housing we were supposed to move into next month for another year.

We'll be closer to Honolulu and we'll have room for lots of hint visitors hint.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Playing in the grass

This evening Ella sat outside on a blanket while I played fetch with Bailey, and Rob, brave man that he is, took Jake rollerblading. She was quite happy to stare at the dogs and screech at Rob when he returned. After a bit she rolled into the grass, something she enjoyed and Rob freaked out about a bit. He seemed to think she was going to be carted away by some of Hawaii's gargantuan insects. It might not have been such a stretch, given their size, but I felt she was fairly safe with both of us watching her.

My new toy...

Apparently Bailey found a day with Ella's toys quite exhausting. As you all can see, she crashed out on Squishy Turtle and Friends. It's tough work reading a book if you're a Labrador!

My Mother's Day gift was a Nikon camera, quite the toy, I tell you. I think Rob was feeling guilty about the new computer and his new 47" LCD TV. Well, it arrived Monday and I still haven't had the chance to read the manual. If Ella sees the camera or the manual she attempts to eat them so it's put a bit of a damper in my learning. I have taken a few photos and I think it's going to be a ton of fun to play with. My next project is to find a class to take.

I was taking photos of Ella earlier today and Jake came over and gave the lens a quick swipe with his tongue. GREAT!! Nothing like dog saliva on your new camera lens.

Happy Mother's Day!

I woke up this morning, rolled over, opened my eyes, looked up, saw the above, and broke into a HUGE grin.

It was a wonderful day. We lazed around eventually meandering to the beach that's a block away. When I say we, I mean WE, Ella, Rob, Bailey, Jake and I. The only one missing was Gidget. It was a gorgeous day, cool in the shade and warm in the sun. The dogs chased sticks and swam while Ella contentedly played with her balls. Right before we left Rob dipped her feet in the surf for the first time. She kicked her in delight and excitement. It was great fun to watch.


Ella having a ball


















The happy dogs





(that's Diamond Head behind the dogs)


Getting her feet wet

















The low point was when I made brownie peanut butter bars. The peanut butter mixture called for flour. I grabbed what I thought was wholewheat flour but NO, it was cornmeal. I have no idea why I have cornmeal but, according to Rob, the bars take like peanut butter and chocolate flavored cornbread. I have a feeling they won't be catching on. As far as low points go this wasn't much of one, was it?

Finally!

Ella's been quite bald since she was born and we've seen a plethora of baby mohawk photos from friends and family. It's made us both quite envious so last night in the tub...













It's not much but it's a start.

Ella's Taggie

One of my gifts while pregnant was a Taggie. I'd been told by a few people that babies love them so I was pretty excited. I remember unwrapping it and thinking "this is a really cute idea but SERIOUSLY, how can this be entertaining?" I've pulled it out a few time over the last few months and Ella has been less than interested. Well, yesterday I could barely pry one of her soft books from her mouth because of her fascination with the tag and I thought "TAGGIE!" I pulled it out and it was an immediate hit. She's sucked on every single tag but, the funny thing is, the care tag's her favorite. She always goes back to that one.












Thanks J.J.!

Happier times

Well, Ella's better. It's amazing what some fluids and a couple of days will do to an infant. She's, once again, putting anything she can get her hands on into her mouth.

Another first!!

It's been another eventful day filled with firsts. Ella had her first ER visit, and her first IV, and her first IV Zofran (a medication for vomiting) and her first urinary catheter. Lucky girl!! Just think, there are many people who go years without experiencing any of the above and Ella got to experience them all in a single day.

It started on Sunday with some vomiting followed by some diarrhea. The vomiting got better but the diarrhea didn't. Yesterday she perked up and we thought she'd turned the corner but today she took 5 naps, ate very little, and only smiled TWICE. Her MD thought she had a urinary tract infection but we couldn't get a urine sample so off to the ER we went. After the first 150ml of IV fluid her eyes looked brighter and she was grinning at ANYONE who glanced her way. It was the best she'd looked in days, poor baby.

Well, Rob just got off the phone with the MD and it's not a urinary tract infection it's rotavirus . Some people go to Canada and bring back a lousy t-shirt but no, not us. A t-shirt wasn't nearly good enough for us!

For the medical people out there... her CO2 was all of 14. Maybe, just a little acidotic, maybe? Yes, that was sarcasm.

More Ben and Ella...

Korri's "expecting," as someone on the ferry to Victoria loudly stated to a companion. She's due this August and she and Rob have been trying to prepare Ben. At our arrival he seemed excited at the idea of having a little sister. The morning of our departure he announced to his parents that he didn't want a sister any more. How do you explain to a three and a half year old that it's too late to put the baby back where it came from?

We're back!!!

We just returned from our trip to Vancouver to visit Korri, Rob, and Ben. Ben jumped into big brother mode. As soon as we arrived at the house he wanted to feed Ella her bottle. He was wonderful!