how about that

Hello, our loyal ME fans!

Yup, still here. The trip out south and west was wonderful, albeit short. Saw

new cousin Quinn,

her big sister Ryan,

here they are, dueling riders at breakfast

her awesome folkses/my cousin-sister Jenni & Hubs-Waide. Don't forget Porter! (who made E giggle when he licked HER paws) And that was just one household! Uncle Joe was kind enough to find Gram and I with E at the airport. oof. That plane ride went well, btw as ME didn't sleep the night before...neither did I. Then we hunkered down and hung out, and ate, and did the aquarium

(with Aunt Lor & Uncle Joe), and had pedicures (just Jenni & I wow was fun and I forgot to take photos--my toes became purple :) )

None of the above is in order btw.

Then on Saturday the 15th, everyone came over to the Stockhill home and we swam!! YAY ME loved it!! Miss Ryan was kind enough to practice her mad big-girl swim skills so ME could wear her wings. Uncle Jamie was a riot (and there are Aunt Michelle's feet!!)

with Jen, Paul, Rachel, Brady

with Uncle Joe

I lost track of how long we were in that pool but it was great. Getting out, we got a bit cold, but it was worth it!

Saw Jenny & Steph (eager to see them again this weekend). Played with wee cousins Rachel and Brady, and big cousins Michelle, Jamie, Paul, and Jeanne.

Jenny n Ryan

Basically, it was great.

Then off we went to invade the Thedakers' again (thanks, ya'll!!) Playing with Drew & Josh was a bonus to seeing Nana for two days.

E got all sunned out with Nana in the park, and tore up Nana's place in general. It was good to see her for some needed bonding. I also snuck in a lavendar latte trip-NUM.

HIHI

at the park

nappin' with kitty toy at Nana's

with Auntie Shell

a sticker from Nana

The flight home was not as great. E had had enough of this thing you may call "fun", and had a few crying episodes. Either that, or she just didn't want to go to Chicago! But Daddy was there waiting for us, and ME couldn't be happier to see him! (nor I)

another week passed, and now school began anew last week for me. This is the last time I am in classes full time. EVER!!!11 It's a full schedule, and I still have a year left of learning, but oof it will be worth it.

ME has hit some new milestones in the past few weeks:

word= jooo (juice), Peekaboo (didn't hear that, but Julia/sitter said it's true), Papa for Grampa, and she's mouthing sounds allll the time now such that I've lost track. I'm working on "boom".

ME finally got the whole ball-thing, throwing and rolling is now old hat (at like maybe 10 days now?) And loves to bounce with us on the body ball--she runs from it and pushes it too hee!

Better at drinking from a glass on her own. Getting better at toof-ish brushing. Tries to brush her hair.

clingy = ME

dog or daughter?

She also started climbing the stairs--feet only! She grabbed onto my shirt last week Thursday, and up up one foot at a time (holding on of course). We're just now working on the down and holding onto the wall as well.

Now my least favorite--E figured out how to climb up onto the couch 2 days ago. Not a fan, but as a future OT I'm all helpful and encouraging her to meet her goals (ack). So we're working on how to be safe on the couch. Trying. sighs.

having a fever of 102? Teething is hilarious.
headbands rule
at the zoo on our anniversary

The crib thing is still a work in progress. I promise (Hi Ma!!) that she won't be cosleeping at 18 (mmm what lovely lady taught me this perspective? :) thanks, Bleen my dear)

ok, back to studying!

xo

can I be fired for this?

8-1
Sorry for the ultra long delay in posting, folks/fans/family of Miss E!!1 Don't fire me yet!

8-2 w/ Grands

Ok, so tomorrow we are embarking on a journey. One so massive the world may shake and tremble off of its axis!

7-29

Yes, I am flying across country with ME. Alone. Halp halp!

Did I mention the molars?

Did I mention the wonderful way she wants to runs amok at all times?

Did I mention I'm crazy?

7-27 :"Um" is a word

wearing my headbands

It's all going to be worth it, though, even as we'll miss D so very muchly. Missing family that I haven't seen in years, and to meet wee cousins that are yet unmet.

AND hopefully E will get her first time in some pools!!

heh.

So to get on the repacking (OMG everything is so super duper stupid heavy) and dinner and all that noise that must happen today...but first, some pix for yous allz.

To summarize the last few weeks: 7-30

I've finished my first OT fieldwork (yay!) and watched E learn new things. She's starting to climb now, yet can't figure out how to get the heck down from the 2" - high chair! She's getting even better at eating. Last night, she even slept until 6.30am in her crib!! One waking at 1.30, but I got her back to sleep (happy dance).

biking practice--the helmet part 8-9

ahhhh!!1

We got to see Ms. Murphy aka Lori, and friend Tim (local! missed Betsy booo who was working). The Grands invaded again, pretty much to celebrate 43 years together and to whisk E to parks (pix on my cell phone sorry).

8-` enjoying our new-barely used carpet (thanks, Cindy for nabbing it!!)

8-1 loves to hang backwards on stuff. Hi Aunt Kristy :)

dancing w/ Gram (doing up-down!)

8-1

We saw Ezra celebrate his 1st bday on the 1st (whoot!) and play with his family and friends.

mmm what else?

words..."up" used for many things.

"row" for row yer boat is still a popular item.

crayons. cool addition 8-7

and her comprehension is getting so awesome. We just have to get her to stop doing annoying baby stuff like 'painting' the furniture and floors with her sippy cup. oof, and dumping her glass of beverage (much better at fork/spoon/real cup use).

8-9 one of Jason & Miku's kitties. Both were sooo good with her

As of yesterday, she's started to take my hand to lead me where she wants to go, specifically to get something or play with something! Good communication step, methinks. she just babbles and sings most of the time, pretending to play with all of her toys interactively which is fun to watch. She kissed all of them, and us! hee hee

xo!

Lula's w/ The Kinnears 8-9 (movie somewhere)

StreetFighter ticks her off just like Daddy! 8-8

let's see what else she does next!!

8-11 biking fer realz!! she likes to hold on the bar. Was laughing ... but hates the helmet and it distracts her. We just went yesterday for a few blocks. V. Cool!!

one of many dancing videos I took this night. Not even sure which it is!! 8-1 with Gramma

with A. Penny & U. Dave (Jason's folks) 8-9

woops

Happy Birthday to D, my hubs, my love, my bestfriend....and often the only person who thinks I'm being funny.

-smooches, Sweetie-

wordz

goggles RULE

the too-big-ultra-cute-dress from A. Caroline/sitter/buddy

methinks molars are acometh...

LOVES her skirts

I have to share this one--

E has said some new words in just the past coupla days!

for D--"book"

almost "morn" for morning

figuring out how boxes work

for me--"row" (row row row yer boat)

and "who who" for the owl :)

Exciting stuff. Other than that, it's been a hectic week. Much ado about working with E trying to avoid sleeping. She's right now sitting with her Einstein dragon, repeatedly pushing its belly to keep up a steady stream of Twinkle Twinkle. We're going on 10 minutes now... me smash Daddy!!

Eating mostly better, understanding more, climbing the stairs, carrying full pints of water, holding her fork, trying to brush her hair...just don't try to get her in the shower. omgz Hate.

have a great weekend xo

Dinner with Ezra and his folks last week, Ashley and Gabe (not in pic this time!) Ashley was kind enough to read for us all after dinner

letters!

so fast it's crazy

Not that E is fast. Well, she can get from point A to point-I-said-not-to-touch-that in .3 seconds, but that's not what I mean.

I mean the time. E is growing growing growing and her personality is developing into such a neat-o little (high maintenance) person it's super cool sauce.

I'm about to head to bed, but as I sat there rocking her for the 2nd time tonight, so many of these thoughts went through my head. Bed head.

So on my trip to dreamland, just posting some pics from the week, then I hope to chat more about it all in another post.

lady godiva...

I'm so fired...up

bear rug snoring

can you hear the giggles?

reading to us? herself? the cats?
jammin'

bacon!! o the joy!! D coulda sworn teh angels sang when E went "MMM!" for bacon last week.

Hi all, sorry there's been a delay. You see, D and I had 3 entire days off at the SAME time last week! Craziness.

Not that we did anything. But that was actually super nice too. Except the laundry part. eh, it'll come around again, don't say I didn't warn you!

ME hasn't really done much in the word department--got the word "yes" down which is hilarious as it is preceeding 'no' so far. She just bust it out last week in response to something I said. D was my witness!

She walks backwards for mmm at least 2 weeks now, I can't recall if I mentioned that! She'll even do it on request like a good little one-gloved popstar. Without the glove.

E has been pretty consistent in her inconsistency towards sleeping--some nights & naps are gloriously easy: still takes a good holding to fall asleep. She'll go in the crib after snoring, then varies on 3 seconds to 4 hours before she wakes.In that time, I tend to surf the net and then lay supine in my lumbar spine's favor for a while.

(she stacks and puts things INTO other things now)

Nursing is down to nightfall only, and I try to keep it to a minimum...she has this initially cute (aren't all habits?) thing where she'll hum with increasing intensity when she's on the pacifier and wants teh boobsauce. Fretfulness follows. Can't find a way to shake this. So I guess it's up to time and patience. ew.

She does play by herfself for spats of time, then will run up for hugs. Chews on the furniture and everything--I think she's getting molars? weird.

Lessee what else? She's obnoxious, spitting out food one moment and throwing it, to eating it up and going mmmmm!!! for food and milk. She wants to play, bulldozing us and knocking us over. ME will imitate her daddy, doing a "softshoe"pairing that I'm not allowed to tape (boo!). a visit to Auntie Kristy's new office was cool

She can find her bellybutton, but still often points to her noggin in general when asked eyes/ears/nose! (sometimes she gets those right)

And tonight! She figured out the accordian doors in the bedroom (cue future screams of being stuck).

Everyday, it's something :)

I started fieldwork today which is 4 weeks of observation/interning. It's ok, at a mental ward...and should prove interesting in the longer run. Today? just super long geez wow.

ME did not approve of my absence, I've been informed.

which makes it harder. sigh. ok tears now for bedtime, perhaps more photos later!

(added afterwards:)

guided tour as requested by Gram! South Loop Acupuncture soon to be opening! yup, shameless plug for my seester. deal. no reason...just she LOVES the skirts that go foof

hee

in brief...

flying high with Caroline Friday

the zoo with Cindy yesterday

ME indeed! (clicky for giggles)
Tonight, we ended up clicking on links and having fun with the ole Muppets :) My paper turns out to not be due until Wednesday, so that gives me another night to angst about it and time right now to play with ME!
woo hoo!! (last night)