All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Hang.

These are my later adventures in t-shirt alterations. Ella's closet is already beyond full. Where did I think I was going to have room to put these? Sigh. I can never get enough fun, girly things.

Summertime.

It's official! It's summer. The beginning of our summer season is always marked by the pool at the club opening on Memorial Day weekend. On Friday night there was a grand fete with a huge spread of food and a 60-foot slide!

Here are shots of Russ eating crawfish and Ella NOT eating crawfish. (Over my dead body.)

True to form, it took Ella about 30 minutes to get used to the idea du jour. We were a little concerned when she ran away from the pool and tried to put her shoes on. She did, however, warm up to the cold water and had a blast wading, in, playing in the fountains, hanging out with friends Avery and Leyton, and playing with other kids' toys.

Aloha Kalynn!

Just sending out a big cyber aloha to Ella's cousin Kalynn who, at the time of this post, is in Hawaii. Kalynn turned 6 in May and this is her first trip to her mother Tenille's native island of Kauai. She's seeing her other grandmother, Bernie, for the 3rd time in her life. I hope she, Mom, Sherman, and Tenille all have a wonderful week and enjoy spending time with the other side of Kalynn's family tree. The little Hawaiian Hillbilly (as we call her) has gone back to her tropical roots!

The dress Ella's wearing is the one that Kalynn's grandmother Bernie sent for Ella as a baby gift. She just now grew into it and it's perfect for this summer!

Baby Goes Ballet.

The real reason I'm sewing is that there simply aren't enough ruffles on Ella's clothes as it is. T-shirt, I'd like to introduce you to tulle. Get used to each other.

These are my first two experiments in baby clothing. So far no babies have been hurt in the manufacture of these articles of clothing. No promises... there are pins involved!

Pig Goes Hog Wild.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Angel had the foresight to bestow upon us a family pass to the zoo for the year. I took Ella for the first time a couple of weeks ago on a play date with our stay at home moms group. Here's a shot of Ella sucking on pig, completely ignoring the giraffes in the background.

We really enjoyed it. An animal must meet certain criteria in order for Ella to acknowledge its existence.

1. Animal must be brightly colored.

2. Animal must be moving rapidly, but not too rapidly.

3. Animal must be no more than 10 feet away.

The zoo is a fantastic walk... decks over ponds, rivers, and waterfalls, a carousel, bamboo stretching overhead to provide shade, a snack bar (obviously! I went there, right?!) Upon our arrival back home, Russ asked where all the pictures were of the animals. Want to see the animals, dear? Go to the zoo. What am I, National Geographic?

So, to anyone out there sucker enough to read this blog, a family pass means I get a guest in for free. Kids under 2 are free. Over two $8. Let's go!

Spring Towels.

I'm learning (repeat: LEARNING) to sew and embroider. I finds that with all the hours I spend on left brain activity (numbers, charts, theories-- oh my!) I need a creative outlet.

Since scrapbooking is dead to me, I've picked up this new craft. These are linen towels that I made for myself, Mom, and Grandmother for Mother's Day. Laura got them in turquoise to match her kitchen.

105. Don't Sweat It.

Sick. Sick, sick, sick! That's what we had going on here for THREE DAYS.

It started on an ordinary, perfectly lovely Monday morning. I was mentally prepped to toss the kid on the curb at Miss Katie's house, head to the Y for cardio and weights, and back here to tackle some trading.

Ella's little viral friend had other plans. Russ got her out of bed and the moment he handed her to me I could feel steam rising off of her skin. 103.

I thought... "Okay. She's had a runny nose for a week. It's moved into her ears and she has an infection. Let's go to the doctor, get some antibiotics, and knock it out of the park."

At the doctor's office, nothing appeared to be wrong. The doctor said it might be a bladder infection, would you like to check? Well, of course I would! We need to know!

The first step was trying to get Ella to pee in the potty cup. Stripping down a small person who isn't used to potties, sitting her on a large potty, and asking her to pee is not the best idea I've ever had. She was truly upset.

Next up? Catheter. I've never seen her more traumatized in her whole little life. That didn't work either.

Lastly, a little baggy in her diaper. Still no pee.

So we left. I can safely say that that was the worst day in my darling baby's life and I felt about an inch tall for putting her through it. If they hand out a worst mother of the year award I'm surely the front runner. I think next time I will shun the safe side and assume it's a virus from the start.

That afternoon her fever reached 105. For the next three days it was Tylenol. Motrin. Tylenol. Motrin. Every three hours, even through the night. She was a trooper, but was pretty miserable.

I'm so, so glad it ended quickly-- some people fought it for 8 days. At times like that I am, once again, thankful that I am able to drop everything (which is completely unimportant) and take care of the little person who needs me most.

My Name is Cornholio...

WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU NEED ALL THIS TP FOR? When I'm taking a moment (okay fine-- 30 minutes) for a shower, I turn on some rockin' Baby Einstein music and leave Ella to her own devices in our bedroom and bathroom. One day she decided to make a little nest out of a fresh roll of TP.

We've all been there-- admit it. You did it as a kid, didn't you? I actually remember my brother and cousin telling on me when I did it and I got spanked by my Grandmother.

Ella looked so lovely and content during this little project I just couldn't ask her to stop. Hey, what's one less roll, right?

I don't think this is what the creators of the Charmin "less is more" campaign had in mind...

Farmer's Market.

Ella's first trip to the Farmer's Market happened on a playdate with some moms and kiddos. She had fun playing in the garden, but as they were "strangers," she hung pretty close to me. The jury's still out on whether she gets her personality traits from me or Russ-- we'll keep you posted. I must say, though, that it's nice taking her around strangers because I get an afternoon of snuggling out of it!

The Running of the (Topless) Bebe.

Action shot! Ella still loves all things doll. She's finally gotten to the phase of dressing and undressing . Make that undressing and then running to us (mostly Russ-- he he!) to dress them again. Here's the running part...

We're a little concerned that someone will call DCS over Ella's ill treatment of Bebe.

Street Walker.

On a bright, lovely Saturday morning in April, Russ and I took Ella down to the Main Street Festival. It was a wonderful time and I must say, quite varied... art, petting zoo (since when is a hog a "petting zoo" animal?), handmade vases, blow-up castles for kid jumping, and carnival food. The variety was surely spicy and we had a great time!

(The picture was taken before we left home. What? I can't manage a husband, stroller, child, diaper bag, purchases, AND a camera!)

Quote du Jour.

What's in the well comes up in the bucket.