In hand

It all starts like this...




...and nearly always ends up like this



Anyway, today is Ella's first day of day care. Not a great day for anyone involved. *sigh*

Little Pink Riding Hood

Bathtime Redux

Mom attempts to find out just how tasty those baby fingers are. Ella protests. Okay, not really. I think Ella was breaking into a smile.

I think she's just starting to become more aware of her body... she's just this close to laughing when mommy noisily kisses her neck.

When Babies Move Faster Than the Speed of Light

Our daughter has not yet learned to obey the laws of physics. Thus, she was moving faster than light-speed when this shot was taken. A pity, really. Lovely mom, though, don't you think?

Someone has discovered her fist

You should probably read about this tomorrow in the New York Times; I've alerted the media.

Y'know, every little new thing she does seems worth celebrating. I wonder if this particular bit of brain warping means that I'm a father.

Happiness is being surrounded by people who love you

Thanks, everyone, for a wonderful weekend!

Solo Napping Breakthrough

Today, for the first time, Ella fell asleep on her own. This might seem to you like it's not a big deal. But you would be wrong. Normally getting her to sleep usually involves music or white noise, and almost always being held and gently bopped around. Or breastfeeding (which I just plain lack the equipment for). Don't get me wrong--lulling our daughter to sleep can be a lot of fun, but there are lots of times when it would be nice *not* to have to go through this ritual.

So here's to self-initiated napping!

tummytime

I've discovered that though she isn't crawling yet, Ella is a pretty mean scooter if you give her little feet something to push off against.

Normally this is very cool, as I'm all for Ella making her first forays into mobility.

However, one place where she always has a good pushing-off surface is on the changing table. Oh boy.

splish splash, I was takin' a bath...

Ella has hit another very fun milestone... all of a sudden, baths are not an opportunity to see how loudly she can scream, or do her pterodactyl impression, or make her lower lip quiver in that way that just totally breaks your heart...

Suddenly, bathtime is fun.

Yes, you read that right. It's fun. Keep in mind that Ella hasn't really laughed yet, so it's not a giggling splashfest just yet. However, I'll take what she's giving--a pleasant, happy, daughter who coos and smiles while she's being bathed.

Mom and Dad are pitching in to provide entertainment in addition to the usual scrubbing and soaping and drying off bit. Their rendition of Splish Splash is a big hit with the young folk these days.

And the audience doesn't even seem to mind that they don't know all of the words.

Ella Grabs!

This morning, Ella officially grabbed something. Without any outside assistance. Well, actually, some things.

The first thing grabbed was a ring of plastic keys (I wonder if keys will still be baby toys long after keys as we know them are no longer used).

Apparently it went something like this:

1. Ella is empty-handed (which is her state most of the time)
2. Kristy briefly looks away
3. Kristy looks back at Ella
4. Ella has ring of keys in her hand and continues to hold on to them.

Just a coincidence, you say? Let's move on to Exhibit B:

1. Ella is empty-handed with her toy dolphin sitting in her lap.
2. This time, Kristy isn't looking away.
3. Ella grabs the dolphin by some ribbonish thingies that come out of the top of the dolphin
4. Ella tries valiantly to put the dolphin in her mouth (I think she needed some help with this part)
   

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I think Ella has officially started to use her hands!

Can you tell I'm excited?

I love it when I get calls from home like this.

Kristy and Ella

I am an incredibly lucky man.

Before The Block Party

We had a block party yesterday, so Ella was decked out in her stylish pinkish-magenta Elmo ensemble. Of course, she was the belle of the ball.

Needless to say, the hat lasted only a few minutes.

Under the Mobile

Ella is currently fascinated by the crib mobile (Cribmobile?).



She has also been showing the beginnings of an interest in her hands.

While I'm pretty jazzed about her developing this skill (go Ella go!), I'm also dreading all of the misadventures caused by a curious, grasping baby (no, Ella, no!).

Safe

Need I say more?