July 31st- First Cold

It's official Ella has her first cold. Last night the snoring and snorting and overall sounds of snot dominated the bedroom. At about 2am it got worse, we cleared her nose, she nursed and went back to sleep. I held her so her head was a little up for a few hours and that seemed to help. Today we spent the day with her sleeping on me or next to me. When she is awake she is happy just snotty. She seems better this evening so hopefully a good nights sleep will help and she will beat this thing.

Sleeping little girl

 The snoring.......

July 30th- Cabbage Patch Kids

Today Miss Ella woke up with the sniffles and a little cough. She is still a mostly happy camper. We aren't sure if it is allergies, teething or a cold but the littlest cough is almost cute. No fever and she is still eating so we aren't worried. We ran some errands and then hung out at GiGi's to help get the back room in order. Part of getting that room in order was going though an old toy box. There were 5 Cabbage Patch Kids in the box. Four were mine and one was Ross'. Ella started playing with them already.

July 29th- Growing Fast

Ella grows more and more everyday. She has gotten so heavy that Matt and I often look to the other to take a turn carrying her. I bought her some clothes right before we went on vacation 4 weeks ago. Below is one of the outfits. It was a little big the first time we put it on her. Today will be the last day she wears it, because you can barely snap it.

July 28th- Waking Up

As I start to think more and more about going to work I start to realize how many things I am going to miss. Waking up with Ella is one of those things. Right now she wakes up at 5 or 6 nurses, snuggles in with Matt and I and we all go back to sleep. Matt's alarm wakes us most morning but a little more nursing and Ella and I typically snuggle until about 8. This morning Beaker went crazy barking and woke me up. Ella slept right through it.  Here she is sleeping through the barking and her smiling face a little while later.

July 27th- Tara and Gabrielle get Married

Tara and Gabrielle got married today. It was a beautiful ceremony in a lovely setting.  It was Ella's second wedding but Matt and Ella's first gay wedding.  Tara loves ties and bow ties so I made a Ella a tie onsie to wear to the wedding. Matt commented yesterday that it would be awesome if he had a matching tie. I had extra fabric from Ella's so I made Matt a tie too. They looked great.

July 26th- 5 months old

WOW has it been a big month. The changes that we have seen since we left for Erie are amazing. Ella grew 1.5 inches or more this month. Clothes we took on vacation didn't fit her at the end of vacation. She started rolling over and sitting up. She chats and smiles and flirts with everyone. We are still working on sleeping in her crib but she is at least hanging out in it.

These are the official 5 month photo shoot pictures, but we didn't take too many because the outfit we are planning on wearing tomorrow is the cutest.

July 25th- Work with Daddy

Friday! Where did that week go? Where is summer going?? Ella and I decided that we needed to finally go and visit Daddy for lunch like we had been planning all summer.  First we visited Matt's co-workers and Robert was missing so Matt took this picture and later sent him this email.

Robert,

I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but you’ve been replaced by someone younger. There’s simply no way you can compete with someone who

·        Is a touch expert (she’s been touching stuff for months)

·        Has extensive experience with sensing (e.g. sight AND sound)

·        Doesn’t waste time sending email

·        Doesn’t mind being awake at all hours of the night

·        Accepts payment in milk

See attached for more details.

-Matt

Eating lunch in the cafeteria. (Not a great picture of Matt but the only one I took.)

Ella was a big hit at the office and chatted up all Matt's co-workers. 

July 24th- Concert in the Park

Ella is almost 5 months old (where did that time go???) and since we have finished most of our summer travels we are working on sleep routines. With all the traveling there was a ton of bed sharing going on and Ella has been reaching out and grabbing me in her sleep as well as when she wakes up. We are attempting to replace the grabbing of me with the grabbing of Tucker her giraffe. After three days of this she is doing really well. She also started taking the pacifier so that has helped too. She likes to sleep on her side mostly and it ends up making some great poses because she hasn't quite figured out where she likes her arms. This is her morning nap. Yes she is on the floor, she was in my arms until Beaker had a barking fit (another thing we are working on) and I had to put her down. (The yellow thing is Tucker)

After that nap we went swimming at GiGi's and came home and took another nap. (It was a super nap day.) This evening we went to San Mateo Central Park for the Thursday Summer Concert. We had dinner and there was a Celtic Rock Band. We were there with the Rosen's and Nitsa and Dave and GiGi. And don't forget Beaker and Olie.

Red glow from the parasol that is keeping her cool. 

The pink head phones help keep the noise to a safe level. She doesn't mind them at all. 

 Hanging out with Kate and Daddy and Beaker 

On the dance floor with Daddy.

We left at about 7:45 and Ella fell asleep in the car. She did an easy transition into her sidecar and snuggled up with Tucker for the night. (Well hopefully a few hours at least.) We are going to rock concerts every night because that was the easiest bedtime this week. 

July 23- Will and Ella

Today we woke up with two babies in the house. Ella and Will hung out on the sofa together. He had warmed up to her and started whacking her back. Good job, Will!

After Will, Caitlin, and Bob had left, we went over to Gigi's to do some repair work. Ella took a nap. Isn't she the cutest?

July 22nd- Ellis Family Visit

Today we were visited by the Ellis' and Baby Will and Baby Ella got to meet. We did take pictures of them playing naked together so we can harass them when they are in high school. But here are some more internet appropriate pictures.

Ella is one month older than Will and this could be the only time she will be bigger than him (she also grabs and he does not). She took advantage of this by grabbing his shirt, his ear, and a few attempts on his eyes.

July 21st- Command Center

Happy to be home and not on vacation. Chilling in her bouncy chair that is way more fun than it use to be.

July 20th- Kayak Master

Hanging out in Tahoe City before we head back to San Mateo

Ella is an expert kayaker.

 Saying goodbye to Uncle Doug

July 19th - RACE DAY!

Todays blog post is produced by me, Ella, written by UnDoug, and may have made use of a tape delay and been edited for content and time.

Today is Race Day!

I got up BRIGHT and early at 5:30 to wish my team luck. A good Co-Captain always provides a radiant smiling face to make up for the lack of sun in the early morning hours. My grumbly team members perked right up!

I didn't get to join my team members on the boat. Instead Daddy and I took a nap back at the lodge, then went out and hit the beach! My team was good and provided me with plenty of updates of their progress. They knocked it out of the park.

Here's a clip of Mommy swimming in the water. She had wonderful form! I'm very proud of her. 

Here's a picture of UnDoug keeping up with his nutrition between legs. I advised he use milk, I think it's delicious. 

After the race everyone enjoyed some fun in the sun with Daddy and me on the beach. Then we headed back to the casa, I oversaw my team as they took showers and napped. It was just a smidge warm so we chilled with all the windows and doors open and I hung out on the couch in my casual wear. I WAS SO PROUD OF THE TEAM I COULDN'T STOP SMILING!

At the end of the day, Henry and Lai made us some delicious salmon, greens, and plenty of wine to go around. It was so sweet of them to cook for us! I helped with the dishes.

Afterwards we watched The Lego Movie. It was funny. I want to play with Legos, but my mommy says I have to wait until I'm a little older and prove myself with Duplos. My favorite character in the movie was Wyldstyle, she dyed a purple streak in her hair!