Getting bigger

Hello friends and family!! Just a quick update on our lives...Ellie turned 19 months recently. She's still at the 90th percentile for height and weight, so we've gotten used to the giant that roams our house. She is super busy these days, making huge messes, tormenting the pets, and reminding us constantly that life is so sweet. Joe successfully defended his dissertation this month, so that is a huge burden off his shoulders. Next up...job market...even bigger burden now upon us. He recently presented a paper in Edinburgh, Scotland...unfortunately, we couldn't join him, but I'm sure there will be other opportunities down the road. My job is going very well...the new duty hour restrictions have made life almost feel normal! We recently ran our fourth marathon here in Sioux Falls. It was a nice comeback run for me. Joe was pretty banged up going into it, so it was kind of a rough day for him. He says a retribution run is necessary. I say ok!! Happy fall, everyone!!

The Lakes 2011

We took a full week vacation to the Lakes in Minnesota. We hung out with family, we swam in the lake, we read books that weren't work-related, we explored Itasca State Park, and we had a wonderful time doing it all!

Play Date with Susie

Thanks for having me over, Kevin and Whitney!! I love playing with Susie so much! And I had a lot of fun splashing around in your big tub...I hope I didn't scare Susie! She's my best friend, and I hope I get to play with her again very soon.

Love,

Eleanor

Happy Mother's Day!!

We celebrated Mom's Day a day early as Jen had to work a 24-hour shift on the labor and delivery floor on Sunday (helping make new moms!) Saturday was a great day...sunny and almost 70 degrees! We started the morning off with a chance meeting of Kevin, Whitney, and Susie at QCB. After a yummy breakfast, we headed to Great Bear for some nature walking (can't quite call it hiking out there). Then, we came home and Jen went for a 4-mile run with Ellie. While she was doing that, Joe picked up pizza from New York Express Pizza...GOOD STUFF! After lunch, we did an arts and crafts project that resulted in an immediate bath for the little one. Nap time ensued. We had dinner at Wild Sage Grille (can you see how things revolve around food in this family?) and then Jen headed to the symphony with her mom, grandma, and aunt. It was a perfect day...we just wish it had lasted longer.

Ellie walks...kind of

Long video, but you'll get the idea within the first minute. She loves to move...if only we could start doing it for real.

Chair Dancing

Enjoy this little video of Ellie highchair dancing to the Foo Fighters...in the middle of eating a

ginormous meal, of course!!

Ellie Turns One

Let's get this party started!! Apparently, the birthday girl gets whatever she wants because this is not her bottle. She stole it from her cousin, Lainey. Sorry, sweetheart!!

We were very excited that Joe's entire family could make the trip down to Sioux Falls. The roads were once again crap, but they all made it safely. Most of Jen's family made it, too. Add in some of Ellie's bestest friends (Stellan and Susie) and their parents and you've got a party!!

We ordered cupcakes from Oh My Cupcake in Sioux Falls. We would have ordered from our favorite, QCB, but they were expecting a baby of their own right around this time and Joe didn't want to burden the very pregnant Kristine.

Rosemary finally gets to eat her cupcake...she was ooogling over them all night long!

Ellie's turn for her birthday cupcake!!

As you can see, she very much enjoyed it. She probably gets that sweet-tooth from her mom. Bummer.

Ben is tuckered out from a day of swimming and a night full of family fun.

And as the song goes, "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."

No afternoon nap + lots of activity/attention + a severe sugar shock = a very tired one-year old.

Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated our daughter's first birthday. We and Ellie send our love and thanks!!

So Big!!

Ellie had her 12-month check-up last week and she now weighs 23.5 lbs. That's just above the 75th percentile! Holy smokes! She's also right at the 75th percentile for height and head circumference. She's a well-proportioned (and well-portioned) kid!!

An ill-fated trip to Boston (aka Chicago)

As many of you know, our trip to Boston was thwarted by the Nor'easter that hit the East Coast. We ended up spending two nights of our vacation in Chicago while our suitcases somehow made it to Boston without us. We made do with what little we had in the diaper bag and attempted to explore Chicago. Ellie was especially grateful for the grocery store next to our hotel as she could then eat and have dry diapers. We were especially grateful for the warm chocolate chip cookies that we got at our hotel...I suppose we were also grateful for the clean and dry diapers!

Our sweet little girl is all smiles in the Chicago airport

Eventually, the 4:30 am wake-up got to her and she crashed.

Ellie on her first subway ride (true Chicagoans would slap me...it's the El, not subway)

Making the most of our first night in Chicago with deep-dish pizza

We tried to have fun in Chicago, but poor Ellie froze!!! No snowsuit + no boots = really cold feet.

This was the better way to spend our time...relaxing in the hotel.

We eventually did make it to Boston (after a 6:00 am flight that required us to wake up at 3:45 am) and we had the most wonderful time!! We always seem to forget just how charming and walkable Boston is. During our first night there, we wandered into a Barnes and Noble and she saw a stuffed animal that she immediately reacted to...me being the pushover mom that I am, bought it for her. I'm so glad I did, though, because it is seriously her new best friend. She sleeps with George every night and he definitely gets more hugs and kisses than we do!!

Having some dinner in Boston...Ellie had her first taste of hamburgers and fries that night and she LOVED them!

Walking through the Central Gardens and Boston Commons

Just some cute pictures

Visiting my old place of employment

Look at this!! The Big Dig project was completed and we could walk freely to the North End. It was never like this when we lived there, so this was quite exciting to us!

How cute is this city?!?

How cute is this girl?! Ellie is geared up for her first swimming adventure.

And this was Ellie the night we got back...she was exhausted!! It was New Year's Eve and we were all sleeping before midnight. What a trip it was!!