All these new things...

Last Sunday Ella started crawling, not just a lunge crawl, lunge crawl,but an out and out crawl. This week she's been exploring. She discovered the sliding glass door (with dogs outside) and the vertical blinds. Apparently the blinds were quite fascinating. She spent quite awhile conversing with them. Of course, the conversation was one sided and consisted of her screeching, waving and smiling while trying to chew on the end blind.

It's my party...

Actually it wasn't, but last weekend we went to a birthday party for a 2 year old. Ella sat in the kiddie pool, splashed, and stared at the other children. She had a great time.

Almost...

Ella's almost crawling. She does this thing where she lunges her hands forward and then brings her feel to meet them. It's some odd rabbit move that allows her to propel herself across the room to her favorite toys e.g., the remote control, telephone, laptop and, this weeks #1 favorite, the spring and rubber doorstop.

I would never overindulge my child

Last night I finished Ella's room and gave a HUGE sigh or relief. Looking around the room I was able to reassure myself that my daughter isn't at all overindulged. I'm sure you all will agree with me? Right?

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there. I hope your day was perfect.

Today

This morning Ella was attempting to crawl between Bailey and Jake. As Rob and I were watching Jake repositioned his head so he could use Ella's tush as a pillow. He shifted a couple of times and then relaxed completely, pinning her to the ground. She was completely unfazed as she scooted out from under him.

As far as the crawling goes, I think she isn't and my parents think she is. She's able to get where she wants to by getting up on her hands and knees and lunging herself forward. She's really good at reaching the Sony PlayStation, her favorite TV component. I don't think that's really crawling but she had one big accomplishment today. She repeatedly pulled herself up into a sitting position.


I think this is where Jake got the idea.

I guess it's safe to assume that being used as a dog pillow hasn't traumatized my daughter.

New digs or Ella exploring the front yard

Yes, that's a leaf headed for her mouth. At least it isn't the rawhide she was trying to share with Bailey a few days ago.












Yep, we've moved in... sort of. We can only get one car in the garage because of all our junk but that's part of the process. I have no idea how we had so much stuff crammed into such a small space. I keep finding things I forgot I had and the donation pile keeps growing. I figure if I focus on one room at a time I won't get overwhelmed. I'll post photos as the rooms get completed.

Last night we had five people over for dinner and they didn't have to drive an hour to get home. We watched a movie tonight and didn't have to rewind it a single time because of missed dialogue. I can't hear the child across the street crying through two sets of closed windows. A few days ago I was over at the old place wincing as the planes flew through the living room and thinking how little I'd miss it. This is such a great change for us.

A Perfect Day

Today a perfect day was had by all! Rob got up with Ella while I slept in. Around 11:00 we finally made it out of the house (30 minutes later than planned but we do have an 8 month old). We, with dogs in tow, met up with some friends and headed for an often deserted spot on the North Shore. On our arrival it was a bit overcast but quickly cleared. The water was perfect with a great sandy bottom and and almost no surf. Ella splashed to her heart's content and the dogs spent the entire 2.5 hours fetching and swimming. When we got out of the water there was a little girl who played with them for a good 45 minutes. Her only break was when a her mother insisted she come out of the water for more sunscreen and wait for "three minutes so it could set." Apparently something she took VERY seriously. Bailey almost had to be carried back to the car and Ella took a three-hour afternoon nap. I think I'll survive the next three years here.




Here's Dave, our new neighbor and one of today's beach companions, as he attempts one of Ben Stiller's "looks" from the movie Zoolander.

Trouble

Ella's been trying to crawl for the last couple of weeks. She rocks on her hands and knees, does push ups, crawls backwards, gives up, rolls onto her back, and starts to whine until I move her into a sitting position. Then, she starts all over again. I don't know which one of us gets more frustrated. Even the dogs are bothered by the "Ella Whine". The minute she starts in they start out (of the room, that is). If she would just learn to pull herself into a sitting position I could remove myself from the process and I would certainly be much happier.

I thought that, since she wasn't crawling or a sitting up, the crib was safe with the rail in the lowest position. Tonight I sat her in her crib, walked to the closet for PJs and when I turned back around this is what I found...


It's a good thing we're taking apart the crib for the move. By Saturday night the rail will be at it's highest and the mattress at it's lowest.

I'm sure this is Mommy Lesson 9,999 or somewhere around there. There have been SO many that I've lost count.

Ella knows...

Did you know, that after a good squeeze, avocados make great finger paints?

Waikiki Beach

The day was spent in Waikiki with Rob's family. We took Ella into the water with us and she LOVED it! She got quite excited and splashed around. Rob's just dying to get her on his surfboard.

Ella and Cole

Today Ella fell in love with Rob's cousin, Cole.

Family

Some of Rob's family came into town yesterday. This evening we headed into Honolulu for cocktails with them. I didn't get any great photos but we'll see them again tomorrow.

Meet Lindsay, Rob's cousin.

Excitement!