Butt-kicking busy

Wow! I was archiving photos this morning (hold the dork comments please), and noticed that another month has flown by. I remember writing a while ago about a busy August....hah! I don't think Clay and I understood or imagined how much work we'd be putting into our little family.
Both of us have just finished up a very busy first month of teaching, organizing classrooms, and learning about content. We've also managed to keep the house at a liveable level of clean and see friends and family this month. And of course the best part, spending every spare minute available hanging out with Ella J. All this has filled up just about every second of the day. It's wonderful, rewarding work that we both enjoy doing, but it has left us pretty pooped out lately.
I've also continued to grow in appreciation for how my parents. It's amazing how having a kid brings everything full circle and leaves you with a deeper understanding of your own parents.
I imagine as we continue to learn and experience things as parents we will get even more efficient at the working part and less sleepy. For now, we are still all smiles, just with half-opened eyes!
If Ella J's smile is an indicator as to how we're doing as a family, then we have nothing to worry about. She is one happy baby (and well rested :). The other evening she was in her swing that Clay hung in the house and well... I'll stop typing and you can just watch the video.

2009-09-08

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ella j's big weekend

This was Ella J's first true 'weekend' after spending all this week workin' with her dad.

She is doing great with her dad at 'school' (that's what we call it). She spends the day riding around in the Bjorn on Clay's chest, in the bouncy seat being loved on by her 5 older boyfriends, or in Aunt Autie's arms being soothed by a mama. The transition has gone really well. Clay really enjoys having her near him all day and I'm very happy to spend the evenings with her after a long day of work. We've relaxed a little this week about the independent sleeper thing as now the night isn't just about sleeping but making up lost cuddle time!
AND, Ella j is enjoying practicing her latest baby skill: rolling over from back to front! She is getting really good at it, but doesn't want us to take her picture quite yet :). We'll update you when she lets us.

The weekend after our family's first official work week was very relaxing. We went to this great pool in Austin at Reed Park and swam for Friday happy hour-much better than a hot crowded bar!
Saturday was spent sleeping and bbq-ing at a friend's house. Our friends Nicki and Gavin found a baby yoga class on Sundays so Ella J and I aren't missing out on those! We were very happy to spend sunday afternoon together at yoga. Check out the picture of Ella J in her first skirt!
Our little family is very busy these days but having a wonderful time together.

Ella J's first skirt!

In her new jumperoo!

Relaxin with dad in the backyard pond

Busy August

Ella J at Yoga Class

Things have been busy for our little family around here lately. Dad is getting ready to start his Little Feats day school for all the kiddo's and preparing for Ella J to join the group. Mom has been busy preparing for the transition to teaching 5th grade science this year and studying for the 4-8th grade teacher certification test. And Ella J has been consumed with learning how to be even cuter than she was the day before (she's quite good at it!)!
Ella J and I took some time today to go to our last Mom and Baby yoga class before I go back to work. She loves the class so much! She's all smiles and loves the baby massage and baby yoga moves. The picture above was taken by me laying on my back with knees tucked into my chest and her laying across my shins. She loves going for rides!
Ella J is growing faster than ever these days. She's smiling, cooing, rolling over a bit, bouncing, and drooling big time. It's hard to catch all these little milestones on video as they happen, but I managed to catch a really good one today....

Ella J's first raspberry:

Movie Date!

Yesterday, Ella J and I went to the movie theaters to see the movie (500) Days of Summer. You must be thinking, "What??!!! You took a baby to a movie"! Yup. And, two other baby friends came too!
In Austin, we have this great movie theater called Alamo Drafthouse. On Tuesdays they have BABY DAY! All babies are welcome to shows and you don't have to leave if they're crying, you can get up and rock your baby, nurse your baby, etc. all while watching an adult movie.
Ella J, whose recent favorite thing in the world is the TV, was in hog heaven. She loved watching the movie and can probably summarize it better than I can because she wasn't trying to hold a baby, monitor the pacifier, and eat a burger simultaneously.
I'm really enjoying these baby/mom dates we have together. Can't wait for Friday baby and mom yoga!

Ella J and baby friends at the movie theater!

Mom and Dad get a break

Mom and Dad out on the town

Saturday, Clay was the best man in his friend Aaron's wedding in Dallas. We dropped off Ella J at her Grandma and Grandpa's house and headed to town all dolled up. Ella J did great over at Grandpa George's and Grandma Liz's. This was the longest we were away from Ella J and I was very nervous before hand but everyone did great. The dogs loved her!
Ella J had so much fun and so did Clay and I at the wedding. It was really nice to get away with Clay for awhile and act like big kids. The wedding was really nice and the reception was super fancy with yummy food. We got home around 11 and Ella J had such a great time with the relatives that she slept the whole night without waking up (which was great because Clay and I were very, very tired after the road trip and the partying)!
On Sunday Ella J met her soon to be favorite Great Aunt, Aunt Diane. We had a great brunch with everyone, went swimming in the pool, kissed the dogs good-bye and headed back to Austin. Ella J had a wonderful time and slept most of the way back to Austin, catching up on all the rest she missed because she had so much fun in Mansfield and not because of the champagne Mom drank the night before :).

Ella J in Mansfield

Ella J and Aunt Diane

The 4th!

We had a great holiday this weekend.
We celebrated over at the Pratt's house. Clay and Michael cooked up the food and drank beers at the house while the girls and kids swam over at Gigi's.
Ella J went on her first swim and loved it! Later we had some burgers and spent time with our Austin family. We were home by 6 and in bed before the fireworks even began...we had some much needed resting to get to this weekend.
On Sunday Clay and I took Ella J for a second swim at the pool near our house. Here's some pics of her second swim (which she loved as much as her first). Ella J was so pooped from swimming she fell asleep around 6pm and slept until this morning! We're going swimming every day!