Grandma C. Comes to Visit!

With another glorious week of weather, Ella spent plenty of time at the play ground, including discovering the sandbox for the first time. I think she could sit in there for hours! And on Friday, Grandma C. came to visit! We had a girl's day on Saturday with Aunt Erin, and Ella was an excellent shopper. And on Sunday we went for lots of walks and Grandma got her share of chasing her around the park. Today, the weather turned cooler, so we ran a bunch of errands and took care of a few things around the house. It was a great visit, and we're going to miss Grandma C. when she leaves tomorrow!

Ella eating lunch with Grandma C., and learning to use her spoon.

Ready for an outing!

Chatting on her phones.

Best. Photo. Ever.

A climbing fool lately!

Eating Kringla (a Norwegian pastry) from Great Grandma P!

Tunnel time with Aunt Erin.

Helping Grandma C. clean the floor.

Ella and Adele

Ice Cream Weather!

What a week! Summer has come early to Chicago, and we have thoroughly enjoyed the amazing weather with plenty of walks, multiple trips to the park each day, and Scooters! Our favorite neighborhood ice cream (technically, frozen custard) joint has reopened for the spring/summer, and Ella got her first taste this week. They give toddlers and dogs mini cones for free, and they're the perfect size for a little fist. As suspected, she loved it! Other fun activities this week included a swimming play date on Friday morning (she's turning into a little fish, with lots of kicking and splashing), and celebrating St. Patrick's Day with friends. Ella also received a haircut with the help of Aunt Erin. She could hardly see, and wouldn't tolerate a pony tail or barrette any longer, so she's now sporting a little bob.   

First ice cream cone at Scooters!

Running at the park.

Baby buns!

Getting ready to swim.

Before her haircut. 

After her haircut.

Doing a little magazine reading.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with her friend, Mia.

Ella's First Flight

This past week Ella and I traveled to Kansas to visit our good friends Allison, Tim, and their baby boy, Everett. The trip involved Ella's first flight, and despite my anxiety about going solo, it went really well. We had a wonderful time getting to know Everett, and Ella made a great new friend - Rusty the dog. Although he wasn't sure what to think about the two-foot bundle of energy that was making messes all over his house, including dumping his bowls of water and food on the floor, they were buddies by the end of the week. On Saturday we met my cousin, Lori, and her husband, Shawn, for lunch, in Dixon, Illinois (they were staying in Davenport), and had a great time catching up. What a good week!

Watching the planes take off in the airport.

Trying to squeeze into Everett's infant seat.

A trip to the park to enjoy the fantastic weather.

Baby Everett!

Ella and her new friend, Kiara, tested out Everett's wagon.

Allison, me, and our babies.

She was so pooped from traveling that she fell asleep in her high chair on Friday!

Pig tails!

Meeting cousin Lori for lunch. 

A Tupperware Party!

I just thought you'd all like to see what our kitchen looks like on a daily basis.

Alas, She Has Returned

Last week, if you recall, I mentioned how Ella hadn't quite been herself - tired, snuggly, quiet, still, and not very interested in food (even cheese). Well, this week has been a very different story. Her appetite and energy have returned with a vengeance. On Tuesday, she managed to consume toilet paper (off the roll, thankfully), belly balm (don't worry, it's an all-natural product I used during pregnancy), and a schmear of dirt from the washing machine trap - all before 9 a.m. Please don't assume that I'm letting her run amok while catching up on Real Housewives drama. The girl simply gets into everything, and is on to the next exploration before I can clean up the first. And with all of that action, Ella worked up quite an appetite. The wailing began as soon as I stuck her pasta in the microwave and she could hardly wait the 30 seconds before literally devouring it with both little hands. Yet she still gagged on the mashed potatoes I made for dinner. I may not be Paula Deen, but I'm pretty sure they taste better than belly balm.  

Helping me transfer our wine corks. One. By. One.

And she only chewed on a few.

'What'd I do?'

There is no mess that this smile can't make up for.

The endless Tupperware entertainment.