back in the school grind

Emelia and the monkey nt MLE brought over! She loves him, and enjoys her Annie and Ganny Bunny too. Wacky.

First week, first assignments, first groups set up...first bit of anxiety. I really hope to enjoy this term more. The classes we are having are more cohesive and some even will be (perhaps?) fun. A bit. My new goal is to juggle school with family and knitting to keep more ... me this time around. I think that will be good for all of us.

Emelia did ok with the week, eating ok, playing with Auntie Tabitha, Daddy time...and then some teething. Not sure where we're going with that. She's making some progress in other areas, eating better a little at a time. I won't say more, as I think D may be posting about her development and fun stuff.
This week was full of below-zero temps, but E did ok in the Ergo and the train...I feared frostbite enough to not want to risk it Friday to Libby's again. Meanwhile, it's been about 90F inside. Gotta love radiators. D drove a lot for safety too this week; back on the bike today. Awesome car!

Here is a scattering of photos, with more to come.
snippets of the past week (demands from Grands, I obey)
Sunday, I think--new carrier an "Ergo"
Tuesday

Wed: not sure what she's eating

Thursday

From Friday: Retiring these! They make great capris...
today!
D said "another photo of her in the bath???!" Of course. It's cute, and since I don't do the bathing (unless poo goes everywhere) I have to document it!

not even sure, I just grab the camera a lot wee!

snow omgz

WHAT is this???

Not quite an Aerosmith video...
Today, we bundled up Miss E and placed her in the snow. It's the most we've had at one time, getting quite a bit really.
<--our neighbor, Raul is shoveling for the apartment this winter. Hola!
Not sure she liked it, or just wanted to nap! D had to go to work, and it was getting chilly, so 5 minutes topped it (this time)!
new (used) car, btw. 2007 Chevy! -->

We're still battling the crib/packnplay/couch/blanket/ANYthing-but-holding as a nap time regimen. Not liking it. We're also still in battle mode for non-boob food. Getting closer. She seemed to almost like the banana-prune-rice concoction that we broke down and bought. And enjoys crunching on apple slices (under complete supervision yes).
On the purchasing note, we picked up her "big girl" carseat. This one will face rear until 35lbs., then hold her mightiness until 50lbs. Cool. Got the wee one as part of the stroller still and for Uncle transport.
E pulls herself up CONSTANTLY, has finally perfected crawl now that she can walk with help, and next week will plan to research partcile physics. Well, not sure what she's saying. So who knows...
Other news? Nah, not really. Getting ready, trying to clean and start reading ahead for Monday.
hugs, all

languishing

Dancing with Daddy, aka E's favorite person

not much time

blurry, but I prefer this one. As we left, Gramp took a quick photo by the purty tree!

so pics only tonight (again)

oops

As you can see, Miss E gots more time with Gram and Grampa. This included immediate bestowage of gifts, kisses, and hugs, and o sooooo much attention!!

We trained it to Milford, but we took a car home.
It's a nice little red coche, and has been used then came to us via convolutions...and getting it titled is tricky. It drives so nice, so SAFELY.
Still, driving with a baby sucks. For 6+ hours!! She didn't cry the whole way, just the parts where she was awake. I'll say just over half.
But we made it. Had such a nice break from life here, playing with the grands, not changing any diapers ourselves, laundry easily accessible--lots of good things.

NOW my teachers send in stuff for readings next week. Would've been nice for the car and train, eh? Oh well, such is. I probably wouldn't have done it all anyway.
Tomorrow? Well, we're going out in the car to BRU to do some exchanges and pickups. Ugh. Don't wanna, but gotta!
(ps More pics to follow)

zomg grandparentz

We're here in Milford, MI enjoying a nice retreat from nasty ol' Chi-Town. All are in a state of afternoon food coma (E is in a milk induced stupor... siempre.). K and I will leave the little one in good hands and escape to dinner this evening. Destination: Unknown.

Gerry made some kick ass lamb last evening, with a little help from Mario Battali. Roast Lamb w/ prunes, olives and shallots. Roar. Add to that some eggplant cannolis (take the gun), and wine, and we were set. SOMEBODY forgot the camera cord, otherwise I'd have posted some piksurez.

More later. This blog thing... still undecided. I'll use it as a personal stomping ground to thwart and abolish my enemies, or just never use it at all. There is no middle ground.

-D

A New Year

Hello!
Thought it was time that we could read both sides of the story...Darrell and myself.

Since we are on different times, and have different experiences, yet raising the same kid, figured it was only fair.

Enjoy, family and friends
hugs, love, and drool

Happy New Year

now what?

Well wow. 2008 was a lot of things, both good and bad. We ended it by feeling pretty lucky in the whole deal. We're not affected much by the economic crisis, since I'm in school and Darrell works in the restaurant industry, we rent, and we have zero investments. So I guess when you're living low on the scale anyway, you notice, but not as much.
Back to baby news...
Emelia has gotten better at crawling, now that she is trying to walk more. Go figure. She's also still in the throes of teething, which comes and goes daily in its intensity. Nary a white nubbin has yet to protrude, but she's drooling in full force and whiny anticipation. She's also babbling more, playing by herself quite a bit, and trying to get into things. Basically, kinda fun stuff when it's not annoying!

We're still doing cloth diapers, for better or worse, and she's still not a fan of non-boob nourishment. Got her second vaccination shot on Monday, this one was polio, and still barely noticed the 2" needle. Impressed the doc with her "alertness" and remains basically a healthy kid. So far, so good, cross fingers.
Last Sunday, we went to visit Ann and Zoe, Zach was there but in typical pre-teen style was less interested (E loved him, of course).
Pegasus was very good with the excited burblings and pokings of the inquisitive mini-person, and kept vigilance. A really nice afternoon, relaxing and fun.
Last night, for the New Year, D had it off from work for the first time in several years. So I asked him to cook for our friends. I am evil.
Eva and Rob joined us, we ate and stuff, and that too was nice. Hope they had as much fun as we did in having them over. They came bearing gifts, 2 cute outfits for E to grow into!

us at midnight

Today, D is back to the grind, but only for a day. He'll be taking a much-needed week off, and we will sandwich in a quick trip to Michigan to get away and see the Grands for the holidays.

We return, and school will start all over again. bah humbug. At least *I* got new socks!

(handmade for me by Cookie!!xo) and E can finally wear the sweater knit for her by Erika (thanks again!)

bathing time is more fun now

added later because, well, I can. A treat for the rest of you after finally washing my kitchen floor. My joys are simple. and no, not a single relation to anything. I just want to share her laughing. Teething mode in full force atm...