On the Field at Fenway

Last Saturday was Contractor's Night at Fenway Park. Before the Red Sox game myself (and a co-worker) went on the field to represent our company. I met Larry Lucchino and got my picture on the scoreboard jumbotron. The Voice even announced my name! Those few minutes were truly awesome.

However, the weather and the score made the rest of the time at Fenway not so awesome. But we didn't feel so bad leaving early as our seats were comped by the Red Sox as a Thank You for our hard work during the off-season.

That's me, the short one second from the left

Stop and smell the roses.. er.. tulips.

I showed Ellie how I smell the flowers, and exaggerated my reaction about how they smelled. That made her excited to try it, too.

She started by trying to grab the flower, but after saying, "No, Ellie. You smell it, don't touch it," then demonstrating how to smell the flower again she got the hang of it.

Now.. I'm not sure if she actually inhaled or exhaled or anything like that, but I do know she didn't think she was kissing the flower like she kisses people or her toys (or Mallie) because her mouth was closed.

(These are the tulips in our back yard, by the way.)









-Nick

-- Post From My iPhone

Location:School St,Boston,United States

Happy Easter!

Yesterday Ellie participated in an Easter egg hunt, it took a little while but she soon caught on! This is the same event we went to last year, but, this year Ellie was able to join in (and the weather was much nicer!). We even ran into some friends from school!

This is the field from Ellie's prospective. There were quite a few kids there, but they separated everyone by age (0-2, 3-4, and 5+)

Here is Ellie hunting. It took a while for her to figure out whatt she was supposed to do, and then it was easier to wait for the little boy to open the egg take the sticker, and toss the egg. Ellie would then pick up what he left and give it to me.

She had a little Easter bag that she put her eggs in. Her total collection was about 5 eggs.

Here is Ellie giving and receiving kisses from her friend from school. It was so cute when they saw each other, they ran for each other, arms open and gave each other hugs!

It was such a nice day, Aunt Susie came over and then we all went downown to go shopping! Ellie was tired of the stroller and insisted on walking a little bit...

Save the Charlestown Library!

So, like every city, Boston has some budget problems and the library is thinking about cutting branches and/or drastically cutting hours. Today the Charlestown Mothers Association organized a march to the state house to help save our library. Ellie and I participated and had a great time!

It was too bad that we had to compete with the President being in town for press!

Ellie clapped along to the chants "Save our Library!"

The group in front of the State House (another portion went down to City Hall too)

Ellie sitting on the steps of the State House

She did not want to sit for the picture!

If you would like to help save our library you can write a note here on the Boston Public Library website (http://www.bpl.com/)

Ellie's Kind of Town!

Last week we spent jaunting around Chicago and Chicagoland. I was in town for a conference and Nick and Ellie came along for the ride. Ellie was finally able to visit downtown Chicago which included some deep dish pizza, shopping on Michigan Ave, views of the skyline, and trips to the Shedd Aquarium and the Lincoln Park Zoo. We also took time to hang out with good friends and family.

Ellie loved the zoo, except for the apes and monkeys, they totally freaked her out. She got so excited to see real ducks and blew kisses at the snow leopard (we learned how to blow kisses on this trip).

The Great Communicator

We think its official, Ellie has her first word. Drumroll please...duck. Pretty exciting huh? Well, for her, the sight of a rubber duck whether it is green, yellow, pink or orange, (we don't discriminate in our household) gets the biggest smile and her saying duck over and over.

However, although Nick and I may not fully understand her, she has developed a language all to herself. The other day apparently we had a coversation that lasted 10 minutes. It ended when I didn't react or say what she was expecting and she got angry with me. However she does communicate with a couple sign language signs. She knows milk/juice and uses that to ask for something to drink. And she has her own sign for duck. Not technically ASL, but if it works for her...
Ellie really does understand English though. She knows the following body parts: ear, head, nose, toes/feet and belly (we don't do that one in public as she will lift up her dress/shirt and show off her stomach). She also is fully aware how big she is (see photo below). She knows the names of her toys, ball, block, "baby", etc. She also follows our instructions such as, Ellie can you drink some more milk, or Ellie, please hand me the phone. Its really amazing to me how much she comprehends.

And now some photos of our rapidly growing, toddling, communicating little girl:

The photos above are from Ellie's birthday party with some family and friends. She was angry Nick wouldn't let her touch the flame. And then she was pretty sly about eating the frosting from her cake!

Grandparentals V visited last week (Happy 60th Birthday Mom!) and to celebrate we went to the all-chocolate-buffet brunch at a hotel in Boston. I am such a great mom, I shared my chocolate covered strawberries! See here for more info.

"Don't think about touching my baby!"

Most adorable sweater and hat courtesy of Grandma V's knitting talents.

"Mom, I found where you keep my favorite food...black beans" Weird kid.

"How big is Ellie?" "soooo big"

And our messy eater. yummmm...pasta with red sauce, black beans and asparagus!  (really, she LOVES black beans, she will pick them out and eat them first)

Ellie Walks!

She had been capable, but afraid of walking for more than 1-2 steps unsupported for a while (holding a hand, or a piece of furniture). However, this week, she overcame her fear and started walking all by herself. She's a little wobbly and still a little tentative, but she's walking! At daycare I found her chasing a classmate who had a toy she wanted to play with. At home she likes to follow Mallie.

This video is from the first day she started walking. Enjoy!



We also had her 1 year well visit. The doctor was very impressed with her capacity to understand and her curiousity. She is in the 10% percentile for height, and the 50% for weight (good to know she's related to me and Nick!). Ellie also had her first dentist appointment this week, for a cleaning of her two teeth. That was exciting, she screamed the whole time!