A little bit of Hawaii...

A friend of mine was showing some visitors around the island and they came across this...

Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to work we go!

Today was my first day and I think Ella knew. She woke up at 5 am and wanted to lie on me, in my bed. I got up to leave her with Rob and she followed me downstairs, in tears, while I was drying my hair. Rob dropped her off at our temporary babysitters @ 8:30 and she didn't even notice we were missing until I walked in the door at 1:30. Work was great but Kim, the awesome at home daycare provider, quit yesterday. It seems that there is some sort of family emergency and her sister is shipping out Kim's niece. That will put her at the max allowable number of toddlers, three. So, until her niece leaves, we are without a permanent solution.

My first day of work was great. It looks like I'll be learning a TON of new things and they're willing to train me to do whatever I'm comfortable with. I'm quite excited to be going back to work and I think Ella is going to survive without me. If only we could find someone to take care of her. Are there any takers? You can live in Hawaii for free.

How can you resist a child creative enough to say "Bye, Daddy" into her banana without any prompting?

Nolan gets a bath, Ella style!

Isn't he lucky?

Brum, brum, brum, brum, brum...

Ella's off to the beach with her 'uck on Daddy's brum, brum (her response whenever she hears the word motorcycle).

Rough night...

It seems that something viral going around here in Hawaii. Last night Ella threw up on her favorite bear. Then she woke at 3 am hungry and wide awake so we were up for a couple of hours. I checked my email and found my daycare provider cancelled on me. The good thing about the night is that I got some things done and spoke to a friend in Charleston at 10 am her time. I'm still in search of a nanny if anyone is interested. It would be @ 4 hours of childcare a day and the rest of the time you can play to your heart's content.

The bear's drying after a couple of spins in the wash, it's now almost 11 am, and I need to go wake Ella.


Aunt Nancy's bear (pre yesterday)

Ella's svelte figure...

I came into the living room the other evening and Rob had bathed and dressed Ella for bed. He explained that he didn't like her new PJs because the weren't very flattering. I have no idea what he was talking about. Do you?

DWN (Driving While Naked)

Happy Easter!

More dressing

As you all saw earlier, Ella is quite fascinated with dressing. That usually means that she's wearing my panties around her neck, draping my bras across her shoulder, stacking multiple "'ats" on her head, or placing various articles of clothing on the dogs.

Nolan gets a bath.

A friend came over with her 6 month-old son. Apparently Jake felt he was in need of a good cleaning.

Getting dressed...

Ella enjoys dressing herself... in my underwear! When she's quiet I often find her in my closet, pulling panties off the shelf and putting them on. The stack seems to grow as the evening progresses.

Hiding II

ISO Live in Nanny!

Yep, we're ISO (in search of, for the not so computer savvy) any form of childcare for Ella. I go back to work the first week in April. For those of you wincing and thinking I'm nuts because Rob's going to be gone the better part of the next eight months, it's only part time. I'll be working five days a week, four hour days with the potential to work more when Rob returns. I thought we'd do full-time day care and just keep her in 5-6 hours a day. She enjoys other children so much I think it will be a positive experience for her. I am having a bit of trouble finding someone I feel comfortable with. So, if you know of anyone who would be willing to provide childcare for @ 25 hours a week in exchange for room and board then I'm willing to interview. Erika S., if you want to take the job we can forgo the interview process.

Who needs another baby!

Hiding

Ella trying to crate train Jake

Here is a VERY long video of Ella playing in Jake's crate . It was taken by "Uncle Will" during a video chat. You probably want to fast forward it to about five minutes in. The last two minutes are pretty funny.

Update

Earlier today Ella handed me a photo of my mother and said "Gigi."
Crackers and cookies are called "cookies."
All cats and small dogs are "Gidget."
Some cats are also "kitty."
Some babies are "Gidget."
Bailey and Jake are "dog"s.
Jake is "Jakey."
Any random item (i.e. toy computer) can be hurled with both hands overhead at any living creature (i.e. baby) with the word "catch."
Self can be hurled off jungle gym steps in Daddy's direction with the word "catch."
"Hey" and "bye" are interchangeable.
"Bye bye, Daddy" is the way you say goodbye to anyone leaving.
The tub is the perfect place to practice "kick, kick."
"Eye, eye" is said while trying to remove Bailey's.

Gotta love that child labor!

This is SOOO exciting!






















Hard at work...
















You can't be serious?

Who needs a playhouse?

Ella has found that the crate works just fine. Jake has gotten so accustomed to her company that he'll follow her in.