Personality Takes Shape

Just when you vow you can't handle the sleep deprivation and the exhaustion has you by the throat in a choke hold...a personality starts to take shape in a new baby. It's God's little wink of encouragement to new moms. Airlie Jane has started smiling...and suddenly I'm renewed. Although lots of caffeine is still in order!

Green Toes and Fingers

As Matt headed back on the road for work I called in backups. My mom and brother came over to help with the girls while I assumed solo parent duty for much of the past two weeks.

I took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy so Mommy and Ella time. My girlfriends tell me this is essential for defraying the jealousy factor created by a new sibling.

We headed to the nail salon. The ladies were very sweet and attentive to Ella. She got to sit in a special chair just for kids...hers had a bunny headrest. Next time she says she wants the panda bear chair. A light in the water tub changed colors as the technician washed and massaged Miss Ella's feet. She was ecstatic to have so much attention, and to have mommy at her side. She chose a lime green paint color, which would not have been my choice for her, and the nice nail lady painted flowers and hearts on her fingers and toes. I have to admit...it is cute.

Housekeeping Items

Our camera crapped out right about the time Airlie Jane arrived, so my apologies for the grainy photos. I'm using the still capture feature on my digital camcorder and the quality is poor. I'm hoping for a new camera for my birthday!

And...the blog has changed names. Since it's no longer just "Ella's World" I've changed the name to Daughter Diaries. I went through a few other ideas before settling upon this one but I think this title suits the purpose of this blog most appropriately. Any other suggestions are always welcome.

Enjoy!

Friends and Their Kids

Two of my best friends brought their kids to visit the baby. It's a surreal thing when you look at friends you've known since you were a kid and see them married with their own children. Anyway...I love this picture of all of our offspring gathered around AJ.

Abby, the blond, daughter of my friend, Gerin came in and asked directly, "is it a girl baby or a boy baby?" I answered girl. She then said, "then why is her name AJ, it sounds like a boy!" I explained her name is Airlie Jane and her nickname is AJ. "Oh, that's a pretty name." I'm sure we'll be getting a lot of that throughout her life. Sorry little one!!

Free Fishing Day

A local park held a free fishing day for kids recently. The fishing experts (rangers of some sort) were on hand to teach the kids. It was a Kiwanis Club sponsored event so there were a ton of people...many of them there seemingly for the free food and prizes.

At any rate...we went sans fishing pole in the hopes of borrowing one from the organizers. We registered Ella and waited for her name to be called for a loaner fishing rod. But we wandered down to the water and missed the call. So Ella didn't actually get to fish but she had a great time playing in the Chattahoochee and watching other kids catch fish. There's a hatchery near our house and I'm betting we'll be paying it a visit, WITH a fishing pole, sometime this summer.

Poolside

As the temps reach scorching mid to upper 90's here in Hot-lanta we have been venturing out to our neighborhood pool quite a bit. It's also a great way to burn off some Ella energy while baby AJ naps in the shade.

We're proud to report Ella is using her swimmies (arm floats) with great success so far this summer. She is jumping in on her own and shows great confidence in the water. Our goal is to have her solo swimming by next summer when Airlie will likely be up and about and in need of lots more attention around the water.

But so far...this is working out nicely.

Pony Riding

Ella loves creatures...everything from the tiniest bug to the biggest animal her imagination conjures up. So when her Godfather, Miles offered an invitation to go for a pony ride at his father's farm she was more than happy to oblige.

Here's a quick video of her trotting along on the little pony. She enjoyed watching them eat and play but as it turns out she didn't really like riding the pony. Nonetheless she returned home equally excited to tell me all about it.

Fernbank

Ella loves Dinosaurs, primarily because of the book, Danny and the Dinosaur so we thought a trip to Fernbank's Dinosaur exhibit would be a great family outing.

As it turns out...it was awesome but a bit too mature for Ella. In other words, an older child might have gleaned more from the interactive learning displays and such.

But...she did enjoy herself. In the naturalist exhibit she got to touch a real snake...twice. Fortunately I was nursing AJ and missed the entire slithering event.

I might be wrong...but I do think she's very science-minded. It's exciting to think of where her mind might take her and what she might be when she grows up.

Ella Tracks

A recent playdate with our friend Caela turned artistic...on my carpet.

No more than ten minutes had passed after checking in on the girls, playing quietly in the playroom, when Caela came running downstairs, hands coated in something dark and slimey. I quickly ran upstairs to the playroom to find this mess...blue and green paint, complete with footprint tracks, all over the upstairs carpet.

Next call...the carpet guy. Fortunately he removed all of it but a tiny spot in the playroom.

Ahh...thank goodness for Crayola washable!!