Someone's in the kitchen with Ella

When I'm in the kitchen (which has increased tenfold since her arrival), I spend a great deal of time negotiating Ella and her toys. And there are times that containing her on the kitchen counter to 'direct' me makes everyone happy.

Art and Shorties

Last night was the season finale of the Art Walk scene and the fall evening couldn't have been any nicer - a great warm breeze, a pretty sunset reflecting off the buildings.

The galleries were packed with people spilling out onto the sidewalks talking, laughing and enjoying music from various musicians (including Ella's Daddy).

Enjoy the video. Special thanks to the Z Family for their appearances and pay close attention to the hula hoops at the end. Our friends' daughter, Talia, is featured. Is she good, or what?! WOW.

Have a great weekend everyone! H, L & E

A day in the life of EML

A few videos coming at ya' highlighting Ella's busy world. There is scooting, of course; and talking on the phone, and walking, and her very first skinned knees and a dip in the kitchen sink (due to parents too exhausted to fill up the bathtub).

To market, to market to buy a fat pig...

...well maybe not a pig, folks. But we did head to our fabulous farmers' market early Saturday morning. Ella's drummin'-daddy was playing with his band.



There were scads of people. We got some locally grown produce and took in the scene. It was wonderful.

Today marks seven months that we have been a threesome! In the last few days, Ella has come up with a whole new bag of tricks. We'll try to get some video up for you soon. In the meantime, enjoy your week. Beautiful Indian Summer in our parts.

H&E

Screwball

Ella's got one nickname around here, Screwball, and it sticks like glue. She has a fabulous sense of humor. Years of waiting keep you wondering and dreaming of your child. Oh, how I hoped she'd have a little Lucy in her (if you know me, you get that reference!). And she does. She really, really does!

Just last night, I spent some time reviewing the journal we kept while waiting for our referral. All in all, there are four years of hand-written letters to Ella. It is hard - in a way that I never thought it would be - for me to read back through those entries we wrote ever-so-religiously. It reminds me of the wait, the patience that sprung up in places I didn't know existed. Because now? Now, it never crosses my mind. Gears have been switched.

I am so happy that we will be able to share that journal with Ella one day. I am so glad we were 'on the ball' and made such a conscious effort to document that part of her journey - bumps, bruises and all. And in time, the edges will blur together for me, her Mama. For now, my energy goes into feeding her screwball nature, her love for music, her ability to talk and sing every waking moment. And what a wonderful task before me...

PS - Thanks to Cousins Matthew and Nicole for a wonderful morning of playtime!

So come on, come on do the locomotion with me...*

We've written a lot about it. For those of you who haven't seen her scoot, check it out.





*Locomotion by Little Eva

An anniversary of another sort

Tuesday marked a very special day in our extended family. Our little friend Rozalyn and her parents celebrated their first familaversary. It was one year ago on September 7 that they became a threesome in China. (Check out her blog at the right side, if you haven't already!)

Larry and I met Roz's parents a few years ago through the local FCC group. Our log-in dates were only seven days apart. They traveled in September 2009 and as you know, we didn't travel until February 2010. It took that long to match children with families in the China program. It will be impossible for us to look back on our wait, our journey and not think of this family. We were in it for the long haul together.



So, I took a break from work at lunchtime and we had a celebratory picnic together. The girls are finally figuring out how to play with one another...and share too - enjoy! (Click on images to enlarge)