tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22655028401373556092012-02-17T15:33:42.904-06:00Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.comBlogger2301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-45248380719835299432012-02-14T20:25:00.000-06:002012-02-15T20:35:39.513-06:00

Day one of my job search included updating my profile on USAJOBS.gov and doing general searches in the Philadelphia area.  No I have not lost my job (imagine - happy Valentine's Steph; I'm unemployed) but as you may or may not know, my job is a term appointment and my exit clock is slowly ticking down. We are also moving to New Jersey very soon and what I hoped would be more flexibility for me

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13648941814047572239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-17105879384167918842012-02-13T18:54:00.003-06:002012-02-13T21:25:58.847-06:00

Yay! Our NJ house now has drywall up and new tile floors in the kitchen and bathroom! Ryan and Ellie took a trip there this past weekend, and I of course made Ryan snap a bunch of photos. As you can see from the pics below (some are from a few weeks ago, and some are from last weekend), there is still A LOT to do before our first floor living space is complete (namely refinish the hardwood floors

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-31930389896991397752012-02-08T19:36:00.000-06:002012-02-08T19:36:53.231-06:00

Holy crap! My baby is five months old today! Where did the time go? Zoey's almost a half a year old but it feels like yesterday that I was taking her tiny, squirmy, screaming self home from the hospital.  Happy five month birthday to me! I am happy to report that Zoey has blossomed into quite the sweet, smiley baby (unless she's tired, and then she reverts to the squirmy, screaming version

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-89379942461080267662012-02-05T21:29:00.001-06:002012-02-05T21:29:30.746-06:00

We discovered Zoey's first tooth this morning! She has been chewing on things like crazy lately (well, for at least a month now) so we suspected she was working on a tooth, and this morning I felt a little sharp one coming through on the bottom right side. Sure enough, when she actually let us catch a glimpse inside her mouth, there was the beginning of a little tooth, her very first! When I

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-34508356066845029022012-01-25T19:38:00.003-06:002012-01-25T19:38:49.252-06:00

Nope, there's not much that makes this mamma happier than seeing Elliott enjoying books. Except maybe Elliott enjoying books with a friend. This is what I walked in on today during a play date with the uber-adorable Lily: Ellie reads Hop on Pop while Lily speed reads behind her!

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-25603336717022222312012-01-21T18:22:00.000-06:002012-01-21T18:22:09.912-06:00

Let's see, where did we leave off? Things are just the same around here, except for our two rapidly growing children and an apartment that is now void of pictures, books, and other odds and ends we could pack up ahead of our move, scheduled for the end of February (thanks for the temporary garage space, Mom and Dad!) In the past week I shot some really cute pictures and videos of Ellie and Zoey

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-61208463966036287802012-01-08T18:15:00.001-06:002012-01-08T18:47:56.788-06:00

My littlest munchkin turned 4 months old today! She tires me out (actually, her sister tires me out more!), but I could just eat her up, she's so darn cute! She is always ready with a big smile (and an accompanying snort), and though she doesn't do too much babbling, she does like to make various grunting noises while "talking" to us. She laughed once or twice at the beginning of the month, but

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-5542541660035162022012-01-01T20:38:00.006-06:002012-01-01T20:40:55.647-06:00

As you've probably gathered from previous posts, our house is well into the demo phase. Just wanted to post the latest photos we took. We try to describe what's going on in the captions, so hopefully these will make sense to anybody who hasn't actually seen the place (that's most of you.) Remember, all of these changes are being made to the 2nd and 3rd (and now 4th!) floors, where we will be

S.R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17001699252578050922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-39676753439028279122011-12-31T12:35:00.005-06:002011-12-31T22:01:42.133-06:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas this year! Though I was having a super rough day in terms of dizziness, we were lucky to spend the holiday at my parents' house with my dear sister, who flew in from Cali for the week to spend some quality time with her two nieces. This was the first time she met baby Zoey, and the first time she hung out with Elliott when Ellie could actually talk! We also

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-66942127972687036872011-12-17T19:59:00.000-06:002011-12-17T19:59:30.067-06:00

Zoey was fussing this evening while we were getting dinner ready, and I heard Elliott trying to comfort her (awwww!) She said something along the lines of - "Baby Zoey, I'll sing you a Christmas song!" and then proceeded with this rendition of Jingle Bells. We didn't even know she knew how to sing Jingle Bells, but apparently she had been paying close attention when Ryan sings it to her at

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-50589098548498058722011-12-16T15:57:00.000-06:002011-12-16T15:57:48.732-06:00

I've officially, finally given up. Ellie has refused to take a single nap for a few weeks now, and prior to that, it was once in a very rare while. But she's only two years and seven months old. The so-called "experts" say that kids should nap until they're at least four. Four! I wonder how they recommend getting the defiant kid-in-question down to sleep. Tranquilizers? Chloroform? Here's what

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-32780528585591932112011-12-08T17:48:00.000-06:002011-12-08T17:48:12.838-06:00

I can't believe it - Zoey Elizabeth is THREE months old today! How in the world did 1/4 of a year go by so quickly? I must say, she is a delightful little baby, despite the fact that she is able to turn on a dime from happy to PISSED just like that and has the loudest, most desperate cry on the face of the earth. But these crying spells are getting fewer and farther between, and the nighttime

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-42691193185943245152011-12-05T19:54:00.005-06:002011-12-31T22:05:19.741-06:00

This has been a long time coming.  Over a year actually.  We found this house a long time ago in New Jersey but couldn't buy it because we weren't ready to move in.  FHA considers that mortgage fraud which was probably not worth the risk, and I couldn't afford the 25% down for the other option of an investment mortgage.  So about a year later we started looking again because I got approved to

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13648941814047572239noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-56442264588930502262011-11-26T08:40:00.000-06:002011-11-26T08:40:13.449-06:00

I know this comes a few days late, but it just so happens that we "postponed" Thanksgiving until today.  Ryan is about to make us a huge turkey dinner (and I know from experience that it'll be delicioso!)  I've been very grumbly lately due to feeling crappy, but I have so much to be thankful for - much more than I have to complain about! Mainly I am thankful that my loved ones are in good health

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-51397985316026842332011-11-23T13:38:00.001-06:002011-11-23T16:56:26.199-06:00

Those of you who know me well know that I've had my fair share of bizarre health issues (and you also know I like to vent about them!) Some have come and gone (though it pains me to remember them) and some are here to stay. But now, it looks like I get to add a new one to the list: postpartum thyroiditis, or PPT. I've had hypothyroidism for many years, and have been on thryoid replacement

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-86355221686891221792011-11-20T08:50:00.000-06:002011-11-20T08:50:09.207-06:00

I often find myself wondering what my daughters will decide to be when they grow up. Their current behavior does offer me some clues. For instance, perhaps Zoey will be an airline pilot... She's teaching herself how to fly! Ellie is really into music and has good rhythm, so maybe she'll be a drummer... But we may have to get her some ear plugs since it's "too loud!" Now I just have to

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-88292609157242440892011-11-09T13:43:00.005-06:002011-11-09T13:49:51.160-06:00

Well, Ryan's parents finally got to meet their newest grandbaby last week. They flew here from Texas and we were sure glad to have their company and to introduce them to Zoey. We were super happy to see how quickly Elliott warmed up to them, since it had been many months since she'd last seen them. However, about 2 seconds after they walked through the door, she was cuddling with her Granny and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-58306086385894905922011-11-01T15:21:00.000-05:002011-11-01T15:21:30.200-05:00

We had a wonderful time trick or treating in our neighborhood last night, and Ellie the witch really enjoyed picking out candy and telling everyone she saw to have a "Happy Halloween!" This was the first year she decided what she would be, and I'm glad she went with a witch, as we had everything we needed but the hat.  I was too lazy and cheap to dress up Zoey, but she slept through most of the

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-70822951161100667792011-10-30T17:04:00.004-05:002011-10-31T14:00:00.128-05:00

I think I've taken about one baby Zoey video to every ten baby Elliott videos, but alas, thus is the fate of the poor second born.  Anyway, I got a cute one of 7-week-old Zoey "playing" this morning - she discovered that she could make noise by kicking her rattle, so she started kicking her little feet like crazy.  She sure is a cutie-pie during those few precious moments of the day when she's

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-18148116952537347772011-10-19T12:46:00.001-05:002011-10-19T12:48:07.963-05:00

Awwww...nothing's sweeter than Ellie and Zoey hanging out together.  When I say "hanging out," I mean Ellie literally smothering Zoey with kisses, hugs, and sweet words of love (and an occasional, accidental, elbow to the head) while Zoey gets progressively freaked out by her big sister's imposing presence (possibly due to that elbow to the head thing.)  The following video displays a typical

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-72671952929857938142011-10-10T13:34:00.001-05:002011-10-10T14:11:16.444-05:00

I am about to cram way too much into one blog post, but that's what I get for taking forever to get on the computer!  Here goes... Two weekends ago, we visited friends who had a baby a week or so before Zoey arrived.  He is a handsome little man named Miles, and we couldn't resist taking some newborn baby pictures of the two of them.  Too bad neither of them will remember their first date, since

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-89746468120221194422011-10-03T13:13:00.001-05:002011-10-03T13:15:11.373-05:00

to have a baby whisperer as a husband... to have a two-year-old daughter who sings to herself when she plays... and to have a (sometimes) snugly new baby girl... Just some things to keep in mind when I'm overwhelmed, overtired, and just about ready to tear my hair out. :)

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-43120113378506572262011-09-22T14:33:00.007-05:002011-11-09T13:46:33.250-06:00

Shortly after we brought Zoey home, Elliott declared that her nickname should be "Poopy."  So we compromised and have taken to calling her Zoey-Poo.  Has a nice ring to it, methinks.  Don't let Elliott's nickname for the baby fool you; she is being a great big sis, much better than I could have ever imagined.  She constantly says how cute she is and gives her kisses.  She worries when she cries

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-38889428133200401412011-09-13T14:31:00.001-05:002011-09-14T09:40:42.686-05:00

At 3:59 am Thursday morning, the 8th of September (my due date was the 7th), we welcomed baby Zoey Elizabeth into the world.  She was born a tiny little thing at 6 lbs. 13 oz. and 19 in. long.  Labor was extremely quick and ended up being what I both feared and expected - happening in the middle of the night with hardly any warning at all.  Whereas with Elliott I labored peacefully at home for a

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-51848821912100924262011-09-01T15:36:00.000-05:002011-09-01T15:36:43.413-05:00

I'm 39 weeks along and feeling sooooo gross.  I managed to score myself a sweet sinus infection and am also undergoing a nasty resurgence of morning sickness.  As much as I wanted Zoey to come a bit early, now I'm just hoping she holds off until close to her due date so I can treat the infection that is really wearing me down and making me feel so awful.  Anyway, here's my latest picture.  I have

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-49353819385261232542011-08-17T13:42:00.000-05:002011-08-17T13:42:18.287-05:00

Only 3 weeks to go (or maybe a little sooner??)  So.  Hard.  To.  Breathe.  I feel really bad for people with asthma. 37 weeks and 20 lbs. heavier (last time I checked!)

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-29168111028411710182011-08-16T16:57:00.000-05:002011-08-16T16:57:49.411-05:00

I should probably be concerned that my daughter's favorite song is a subversive rock anthem titled "Uprising" off of Muse's album The Resistance.  I first noticed her passion for the song a few months ago while driving around in the car and catching a glimpse of her in the rear-view mirror - brows knit, head shaking side to side, hands clapping, and singing along to the chorus: "They will not

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-17344695779716183472011-08-09T14:24:00.000-05:002011-08-09T14:24:57.975-05:00

I know, I know, I just can't seem to shut up about my little Elliott Rose.  Never would I have believed that I'd end up with such a sweet, adorable, smart, and quirky little girl for a daughter.  As a newborn and infant, Ellie was such a moody little thing with a ridiculously strong set of lungs that were mainly used for wailing and crying.  I thought we would be done for once the toddler years

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-16490974873600266542011-08-08T13:36:00.000-05:002011-08-08T13:36:40.108-05:00

This past weekend, my mom and dad were awesome enough to trek down to DC just so Ryan and I could go see the eighth and final Harry Potter movie.  For those who know me, you're probably aware that I have a wee bit of a Harry Potter obsession.  I was determined to see the last movie in theaters before it was "too late" (meaning, before I had a newborn strapped to my boob and was suffering from the

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-31565137640606170892011-07-24T19:42:00.001-05:002011-07-24T19:43:18.242-05:00

We've been somewhat MIA lately, and for good reason.  A few weeks ago we had some family visitors here in the form of Ryan's sister Becky and our ten year-old niece Skyler, who flew in from TX to see DC for the very first time.  Of course, it was hot as hell the entire time they were here, but who better to actually appreciate temperatures in the upper 90's/low 100's than two ladies who have been

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-60456316744128705512011-07-09T19:59:00.001-05:002011-07-09T20:00:41.542-05:00

Apparently, this is our 200th post...yay for us!  If you are reading this, thanks for the ongoing love and support, and for giving us a reason to document our lives on here. So, in order to balance out the incessant complaining I've been using this blog for, I will offer up some Elliott updates for family and friends (I know that's why you're really here!)  I'm enjoying my little tyke more and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-79480161767235480402011-07-03T13:38:00.001-05:002011-07-24T19:47:59.118-05:00

Let this post serve as a reminder to my future self to NOT GET PREGNANT EVER AGAIN!  Nature will trick you, make you forget.  Through some evil biological miracle, you will be deceived into believing your last two pregnancies were nothing but sunshine, rainbows, and dancing garden gnomes.  Or at the very least, you will be lulled into thinking that "this time around will be better."  If and when

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-60995157316055575112011-06-29T13:40:00.001-05:002011-06-29T13:42:02.156-05:00

 And, as promised, here is your bonus video:  Note the "I did it!" at the end.  She says this ALL THE TIME!

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-21637159313165798642011-06-21T19:37:00.002-05:002011-06-21T19:38:16.471-05:00

Here's a video of the performance art I was privileged to witness earlier this evening.  She had been going for a while before I pulled out the camera, so this was actually a bit subdued in comparison to what was going on at the start of the show: Also, I am officially deeming Elliott a musical genius.  No, not because of the above display of obvious musical talent (ha ha!) but because of

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-8378533748966235392011-06-20T20:47:00.000-05:002011-06-20T20:47:32.410-05:00

Elliott has this new quirky habit, and it's just too cute not to share... Ask her a question of just about any nature, such as "What book would you like to read?" or "What number is that?" and she will audibly draw in her breath (like she's excited or surprised), then say "I know!" before answering you. Take the following scenes, for instance. Me: Ellie, what do you want to drink? Ellie: (Sucks

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-7027712461281800532011-06-18T11:01:00.002-05:002011-07-24T19:47:41.242-05:00

As much as this title could be applied to our little one, I'm talking about me here, people.  Just be forewarned, I need to vent.  But really, what pregnant woman with a two-year-old doesn't? Some days I just feel so overwhelmed.  Like today.  Starting off the morning with a mini-pukefest thanks to morning sickness that's still around at 28 weeks definitely doesn't help.  Especially when your 25

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-24049330134258689422011-06-12T20:29:00.000-05:002011-06-12T20:29:49.727-05:00

So, Ryan and I decided to just bite the bullet and transition Elliott out of her crib this weekend.  The reasoning behind doing it so early was that a) I just read an article that once a kid is 35" tall, she can climb out of her crib and get hurt, b) we were anti buying a second crib, so Zoey would be forced to sleep in a play yard all the time, and c) technically, our crib was a recalled death

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-88230815238275623872011-06-09T13:42:00.007-05:002011-06-12T19:34:07.909-05:00

Hello, folks! So, we've basically been taking it easy since our recent trip to see family in Texas. Unfortunately, I didn't get many pictures on our travels, but Elliott had a blast seeing lots of family and some of her little friends.  She especially loved hanging out with her (almost) 4-year-old cousin Rylan, riding the carousel at our old mall in Frisco, and playing with the dogs at Becky's

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-17885636391275139842011-05-26T12:43:00.000-05:002011-05-26T12:43:41.451-05:00

Ellie painted for the very first time last week.  For her birthday, I had bought her a set of paints, a smock, and these awesome jumbo toddler paintbrushes.  Ellie was super excited to paint, and I was equally psyched - if not a little nervous about the inevitable mess -  to lend her a hand. I laugh now at how naive I was to set up a water cup for cleaning the brush between colors.  As if!  I

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-10270862812998411032011-05-18T12:18:00.004-05:002011-05-18T12:37:41.698-05:00

Last weekend, Gramma and Pop-pop came down to celebrate Ellie's second birthday.  Even though we canceled our little outdoor shindig due to supposed really awful weather (that never came), I went ahead and made cupcakes anyway.  Ellie really enjoyed her special two year birthday cupcake, as you can see: Since it ended up being gorgeous out on the day we were supposed to have the party, we

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-90848547090535157122011-05-13T16:20:00.001-05:002011-05-13T16:20:45.098-05:00

Wow!  Elliott is two today!  Ryan and I just can't believe how fast two years flew by.  Our daughter has grown from an adorable (if not cranky) little baby into a beautiful, joyful, and hilarious little kid.  I just love her more and more by the day! Today has been really special so far. Months ago we bought her a little kitchen, and last night while Ellie was sleeping, Ryan assembled it and we

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-24553231293023776762011-05-11T06:21:00.001-05:002011-05-13T14:55:37.671-05:00

I caught Elliott making a series of business calls from my "home office" the other day.  Hopefully none of the conversation I caught on film is considered confidential: But don't worry; she's not a complete workaholic.  After a long day at the office, Ellie just wants to unwind - particularly with a relaxing carousel, or "carousef," ride.  Since our last carousel ride a few weeks ago (back

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-28506536153800030482011-05-08T19:49:00.000-05:002011-05-08T19:49:31.664-05:00

I have been feeling sooooooo gross lately.  So gross!  I came down with a cold last Monday, and it was like a downward spiral of nastiness from there.  I know there are those stoic souls out there who shrug off the common cold as "just a cold," but I am a big baby and just can't handle the old rhinovirus with either grace or dignity.  I whine, I complain, I refuse to leave the house if at all

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-32768347668639610932011-05-01T18:14:00.000-05:002011-05-01T18:14:44.484-05:00

Elliott is definitely a fan of the great outdoors.  She can often be found climbing into her stroller, or banging on the door to get out, or shouting with glee the words "walk!" or "outside!"  When she's stuck inside for too long, the dramatic, whiny behavior rears its ugly head and drives her mama up the wall.  She also starts exhibiting some, uh, interesting behavior when cooped up for too long

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-71002472779024630682011-04-26T13:08:00.000-05:002011-04-26T13:08:02.674-05:00

We had a nice little trip to Gramma and Pop-pop's house for Easter this year.  The ride was long (six excruciating hours from DC to NJ!) and the stay was short, but I did get to see a few friends and of course some family while home.  Best of all, Ellie got to go on an Easter egg hunt and play with a life-sized fake chocolate bunny while at my parents' house.  Brace yourself if you aren't an

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-64894174703267965232011-04-25T16:04:00.002-05:002011-07-24T19:47:10.332-05:00

And, because I said I would post a picture and I don't like to go back on my word, here is little Zoey chillin' out in the womb last Friday: Our 20 week old fetus, Zoey Elizabeth

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-58860297277386097412011-04-23T08:07:00.002-05:002011-07-24T19:46:42.359-05:00

...GIRL!!!  OK, I am obviously excited, mainly because a) I can't imagine having grown up without the bond of sisterhood, and therefore want Ellie to experience the same, and b) we don't have to buy/beg for all new clothes, gear, toys, etc. to suit a boy.  Of course, Ryan and I would be thrilled to have a son for many other obvious reasons, but unless we adopt, I guess that's not in the cards for

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-64662443574286916222011-04-21T19:16:00.002-05:002011-04-21T19:18:10.845-05:00

Earlier this week, we had some guests stay over at our apartment for a few days so they could enjoy seeing Washington, DC for Spring Break.  Our house guests included my oldest friend Sandy, who I've known since nursery school, her husband, and their two sons, ages 3 and (almost) 7.  I was a little nervous to put up a family of four since our apartment is on the tiny side and we have a psycho cat

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-40496727990423195012011-04-13T12:41:00.001-05:002011-04-13T12:41:50.903-05:00

A long time ago, my sister Kristen visited us and, being girls, we went shopping at the mall.  Kristen, though completely lacking in funds at the time, wanted to buy something special for "the love of her life," her little niece Elliott.  She ended up purchasing a few gifts for her, one of them being an adorable argyle sweater dress from Gymboree.  Ellie wore it for Thanksgiving this year (sadly,

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-58415526230920915642011-04-04T13:10:00.003-05:002011-04-04T13:23:31.970-05:00

OK, that may be pushing it, but this weekend we did take Elliott to her very first play!  It was based on the book If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, which is one of her favorites (she also sleeps with "Kitty," who came with the book that Granny gave her.)  The play was being performed at Adventure Theatre, located at Glen Echo Park - an old amusement park area harking back to the 1890's and dying out

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-33155510158704843212011-03-27T15:08:00.001-05:002011-03-27T15:09:35.221-05:00

Elliott has a best buddy, and we are very lucky that he lives in our very own apartment building.  I've posted videos of her and Dominic before, but these three movies take the cake in cuteness.  Look how excited Elliott is just to be in his presence!!  And don't let his calm demeanor suggest indifference - he's been known to chant her name, "Elleee, Elleee!" whenever he's in the mood to see his

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-49438117103428385652011-03-20T19:24:00.000-05:002011-03-20T19:24:06.335-05:00

Today we met up with my parents (otherwise known as Gramma and Pop-pop) in Baltimore, where we visited the National Aquarium.  I hadn't been there since high school, so I was really excited.  Ellie was also excited about seeing all the "shish," as we had been talking about and revving ourselves up for the trip all week. Well, the aquarium did not disappoint.  We got there pretty early so we

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-19995582054641347152011-03-19T18:08:00.000-05:002011-03-19T18:08:20.268-05:00

One thing I just love about living in DC is all the fun free stuff there is to do.  Today we took advantage of the lovely weather and headed out for a picnic on the National Mall.  We ate tuna sandwiches and PB&J, watched people fly kites, took a ride on the carousel, and visited the Museum of Natural History (we are completing it in phases and probably have about one more trip there to go.) 

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-18148580632541913632011-03-17T13:08:00.000-05:002011-03-17T13:08:10.140-05:00

Our nephew Alex recently visited from TX, and he sure had us running around town! Fortunately the weather warmed up a little bit so we could enjoy our sightseeing adventures. Some notable places we visited this time around that we haven't seen before were the United States Botanic Gardens (I would live there if I could - and if someone gardened for me!) and the National Museum of American History

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-28891426411600546582011-03-10T12:32:00.001-06:002011-03-10T12:33:41.089-06:00

I just can't get enough of my Ellie lately.  I've always loved toddlers, but when it's your own kid, it's even more entertaining (and exhausting, if you want to get technical about it.)  Elliott - at just about 22 months - is learning more and more everyday, at what seems like an exponential rate.  She knows more words than I can count, has been putting tons of little phrases together, knows all

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-8184498353333733552011-03-07T18:48:00.006-06:002011-03-10T12:43:43.678-06:00

This is ridiculously late, but better now than never, right?  Ellie has been very demanding lately (we're finally entering our "terrible two's" stage) and I have still been feeling sick and fatigued, so blogging has sadly taken a backseat to mere survival!  Anyway, a few weeks ago, Ryan took Elliott to Texas, while I stayed behind to wallow in my grossness - I mean, to relax and enjoy some peace

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-19610883551961341272011-02-18T14:02:00.001-06:002011-02-18T14:03:27.986-06:00

Since I've already told most people who read this blog, I suppose there's no harm in divulging the big news here (even though I was determined to wait): I am 11 and a half weeks pregnant!!  Baby #2 is due on September 7, when Ellie will be two years and almost 4 months old. We are very, very excited, as this was something we were really hoping for. Today I saw the little guy (or gal) and he was

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-6081664928815595512011-02-11T13:53:00.001-06:002011-02-11T13:53:43.051-06:00

Thought I'd jump on the Valentine's season wagon and get a bit festive with this splashy pink background.  Enjoy!

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-41315239026303659282011-02-08T12:17:00.003-06:002011-03-27T15:14:50.756-05:00

Nothing too exciting going on around here.  We've all been a bit sick and it's still too cold to go out and play much.  Ellie has been spending a lot of time with her little friend Dominic, who lives in the building.  They are such cute playmates!  Here's a video of them making some music together last week: Ellie's also been finding alternative means of entertainment, like putting on

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-3166990721732375242011-01-21T19:06:00.001-06:002011-01-21T19:09:58.458-06:00

Elliott has been getting cuter and cuter by the day, I swear.  On the 12th, she turned a whopping 20 months old, which is inconceivable!  I just can't believe in four months time my wee one is going to be 2 years old.  It simply boggles the mind! As you might have guessed from the title of this post, Ellie made a bit of progress on the potty front.  Not only is she sitting in it facing the right

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-59329340464108076452011-01-02T13:21:00.001-06:002011-07-25T12:24:33.045-05:00

Happy New Year, everyone! Our New Year's Eve was quite eventful, even though we didn't go out on the town partying until 4 am or anything wild like that. Instead, we gave Elliott her first potty, complete with some potty-themed books to get her psyched, and then we gave her a much needed haircut. Just so you know, we aren't actually potty-training yet; we know she's not developmentally ready, as

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-32708040683003750622010-12-30T12:35:00.003-06:002010-12-30T19:19:21.991-06:00

Well, we made it back to DC yesterday after a nice, low-key Christmas at my parents' house in NJ. It was especially low-key because we were all sick with a cold and didn't feel like doing much of anything except for laying around. It also snowed about a foot the day after Christmas, so that kept us hole up in the house as well. But as you can see from the pictures, we still got to see lots of

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-28962788065940297952010-12-23T21:12:00.003-06:002010-12-23T21:14:00.652-06:00

Merry Christmas (a few days early) to all our friends and family! We love you very much! (Oh, click on the card to see it play!)

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-37365867945814855982010-12-20T13:10:00.001-06:002010-12-20T13:11:43.565-06:00

Elliott is almost as obsessed with Aunt Kristen as Aunt Kristen is obsessed with her, which is saying a lot! We get to keep Kristen here with us in DC until we all drive up to NJ on Christmas Eve day. It is so sweet seeing the two of them together. Of course, Elliott had to get another cold (she got her last one when Kristen was here in September - just our luck!) Ellie is pretty miserable

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-37215470504042189412010-12-15T13:24:00.005-06:002011-07-25T12:26:52.562-05:00

Elliott and I have been trying to keep busy in this Arctic-like weather. It stinks not being able to play outdoors, but the cold noses and numb fingers are just not worth it! But we have been playing a lot with friends when possible. Elliott has a good buddy in the building named Dominic, who's about to be two, and we also have some little girlfriends who live in a building across the street. We

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-3792133765713644832010-12-11T09:42:00.003-06:002011-07-25T12:18:45.176-05:00

I wanted to share pictures of the finished product of our first house.  Thanks Dad for all your hard work and Stephanie for being the most understanding wife on the planet.  I had never done plumbing, drywall, built cabinets, or actually most of what we ended up doing.  I definitely didn't know what I was getting myself into, but it ended up being a very rewarding experience and at some point in

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13648941814047572239noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-36247964095535211182010-12-05T13:27:00.000-06:002010-12-05T13:27:15.835-06:00

It's gotten COLD out there, baby!  So cold, in fact, that we broke down and bought Elliott a proper winter coat (or, as she likes to say, "coke") - as well as a hat and mittens. She sure is warm in her winter get-up, but maybe not so happy.  Dressing her in her coat usually results in whines and tears.  Here is a funny video of Elliott in her new coat before heading out to the playground this

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-20009999457770198622010-11-29T20:53:00.004-06:002011-07-25T12:25:51.295-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving, which was made all the more wonderful by my parents traveling here for the holiday and giving us a break from the horrid parking lot that is I-95. With my dad's nifty navigating skills, they were able to take a detour that got them here in a reasonable three or so hours. We had yummy food, thanks to Ryan's amazing cooking abilities, and even I contributed with a "

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-50119632849723760982010-11-18T12:28:00.000-06:002010-11-18T12:28:21.659-06:00

Elliott caught me sneaking one of her Christmas presents into my bedroom the other morning, and when she saw what it was, she was beyond excited.  I tried to shut it behind the door, thinking "out of sight, out of mind" might apply here, but the ensuing tears told me otherwise.  I caved and decided it wouldn't hurt to just give it to her now as an early present.  I think her huge smiles say it

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-86377875126074443122010-11-13T18:15:00.001-06:002010-11-15T09:40:16.256-06:00

I truly cannot believe that my little baby is now an 18 month old toddler! Because 18 months was the official transition from baby to toddler storytime at good old Frisco Public Library, this has always seemed like a huge landmark to me in terms of little ones growing up and out of babyhood. In my head, Ellie and I would now be having mini-conversations together and spending cozy days working

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-85295472000982216302010-11-02T13:46:00.008-05:002010-11-03T13:16:36.639-05:00

We spent last Thursday through Monday in Texas, our first trip back there since we moved. The short of it? Both flights went really well (Elliott slept a lot), we got to see family and friends whom we had missed dearly, and the kiddos (and us adults) had a great time trick-or-treating together on Halloween night. Here are a ton of photos from our little Texas getaway: And a few videos,

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-7519427992853199452010-10-27T16:00:00.007-05:002010-10-27T16:20:28.222-05:00

I dressed Ellie up in festive Halloween gear yesterday for storytime. We happened to have some cute hand-me-downs from Rylan that I just couldn't let go to waste. Plus, I'm a big sucker for Halloween! Here are some pictures of my little cutie all decked out for the holiday:At the playground outside the library -by the way, she is fearless on this equipment!Love these little shoes we bought for

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-72383512998394455942010-10-25T19:33:00.012-05:002010-10-25T20:04:03.242-05:00

Ryan is a superb Dad, the ultimate "Dadda," as Elliott would say. Take a look at these pictures featuring Ryan with his baby girl. The two of them together just make my heart melt!Rehabbing the table and chairs my parents saved from when I was a kid.They had seen better days!Now it's the perfect place to color......and have tea with Dadda and Froggy!Exploring Rock Creek Park this past

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13648941814047572239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-30473925267612349942010-10-21T19:31:00.014-05:002010-10-22T07:59:47.073-05:00

So what's been going on with us? Well, Ellie's been on the whiny side of late because of a cold - her first! - but overall she's been in good spirits. For some reason though (probably because of the cold) as of last week she decided to replace her usual 8:00am wake up time with a much earlier one around 6:00, which has Mommy running on empty. I keep telling myself that it's a short-term phase

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-28715406085584067382010-10-12T13:22:00.009-05:002010-10-12T19:37:32.581-05:00

Last week, before Ryan returned from his business trip, Ellie and I had been listening to a new CD that has the old school song How Much is That Doggie in the Window on it. After dinner that same night, I caught myself singing the song, and next thing I knew, Elliott was yapping in a high pitched bark at all the right places. It was so funny! After about 5 minutes of this, I finally thought to

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-69345111316043504622010-10-06T19:56:00.007-05:002010-10-06T20:09:11.954-05:00

Alas, Ryan is on another business trip this week, so it's been just us girls. We've kept busy though, going to storytime and the playground, shopping a bit, and meeting up with our new friends, one who just happens to be Ellie's exact age! I took a few videos of my little buddy from our week together thus far. In the first one, she's "talking" on the phone (she usually pretends to be talking

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-1729279838580923582010-09-30T09:10:00.011-05:002010-09-30T12:36:25.963-05:00

My baby girl started using a spoon out of the blue last night! We had done a little practicing for a couple of weeks during breakfast time, but I didn't even think she was paying attention as I would occasionally stand behind her and guide the spoon she was holding into her cereal and then into her mouth. But, as usual, Elliott surprised me by busting out her messy new skill at dinnertime. I was

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-82889841611867059652010-09-25T12:27:00.015-05:002010-10-25T20:04:42.964-05:00

I know, I know. I haven't posted a thing in weeks. You must be thinking I have feverishly been writing my novel or diligently practicing piano. But no! In fact I haven't done anything of the sort, because I've been very, very busy...First my little sister Kristen came to visit from San Diego. This was a long time coming, as we hadn't seen each other since Christmas last year. She missed

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13648941814047572239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-82610972116612735412010-09-07T14:19:00.017-05:002011-07-25T12:21:41.298-05:00

This is a rare post in that it's all about me and not everyone's favorite blog subject, Ellie - although I will sneak in a picture of her to avoid getting hate mail from the likes of my sister. First off, my hair has finally reached a turning point in its tumultuous growing out process. It still wants to stand up on end, but now I am able to tame it some with a bit of a gummy-like product. Ryan

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-11607078529858819522010-08-30T12:08:00.012-05:002010-08-30T19:22:46.311-05:00

Elliott Rose had a lot of fun at the new playground we visited last weekend. See?Cool sandbox! (8/28) Great fun on the slide and swingsWeird thing about Ellie - she won't tolerate having a barrette in her hair, but she'll pile on as many headbands as she possibly can. I helped her with this stunning look (at her whiny request) just this morning: What can I say? She has a unique fashion

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-87485383934480181672010-08-26T19:32:00.014-05:002010-08-26T21:04:56.477-05:00

Let's see...last week our nephew Chas was here, keeping us busy and proving us not very physically fit as we traipsed all over Washington DC. On Thursday, Ryan took him and Elliott to the beach for the day (since I have a bum eye and also had a doctor's appointment, I stayed behind for a day of much needed me time - a day I haven't really had since Ellie was born!) Well, Ellie LOVED the ocean

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-42178809579576501032010-08-17T12:25:00.015-05:002010-08-17T15:31:36.042-05:00

Last Thursday, Elliott turned 15 months old, meaning she is one and a quarter years old already! I have to say, so far this is my favorite phase of her's. She is so interactive now, saying a few words like "hi," "yum," "duck," "Fffffu" (for Fudge), "this," "that," "Jack" (her favorite show), and her old standby, "Dadda" - but she hardly ever says Mamma, unless she is really pissed off. She's

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-79969579535677928422010-08-10T06:16:00.019-05:002011-07-25T12:27:42.862-05:00

I was so happy to have my mom and dad here over the weekend. Not only was it wonderful to see them, but they also volunteered to give Ryan and I an official "night out" to celebrate our second wedding anniversary (it was yesterday.) We enjoyed a relaxing evening out, eating way too many tapas at La Tasca, and watching the rather hilarious movie Dinner for Schmucks. It has been far too long

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-82755749544187185702010-08-04T13:56:00.014-05:002010-08-04T14:39:40.570-05:00

So much has happened in the last week that a numbered list is necessary:1) Ellie is off the bottle! There were no tears or any sign that she actually misses her bottles, but we now face the struggle of making sure she drinks/eats enough whole milk dairy products throughout the day. She only takes occasional sips of milk from her cup, so it was much easier when she would down a 6 oz. bottle and

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-9016732535531954182010-07-28T13:36:00.010-05:002010-07-28T14:11:55.648-05:00

Here is a video of my (now healthy) little angel sporting Ryan's hat after he came home from work the other evening. She is totally into putting things on her head these days, like headbands and hats, and checking herself out with great delight in the mirror. That huge hat on her little noggin just cracks me up. I don't think Elliott can get any cuter (but then, she never ceases to surprise me

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-24586478682131230072010-07-24T18:24:00.006-05:002010-07-24T19:10:30.348-05:00

Elliott is an official sicko, but she should be feeling better soon. She fought a 102-103 degree fever all day Thursday and Friday, and though she woke up today without the fever, she instead had a huge red rash covering her body, including her face! We wanted to make sure she didn't have anything too serious, so to the doctor we went. Turns out she has something mild and quite classic for a

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-75069477678315920502010-07-21T19:41:00.009-05:002010-07-22T19:42:48.118-05:00

Poor Little Miss Elliott. She felt really crappy today, smiling a bit one minute and bawling in the most pitiful way the next. She has a runny nose, a hoarse voice, and a mild fever. First I thought she was just teething and suffering from allergies, but she started feeling warm and ended up having a fever of about 101. We have been really lucky thus far with germs; she was only sick once her

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-27471291611588768802010-07-19T14:06:00.010-05:002010-07-19T19:34:45.437-05:00

OK, Kristen, here you go. A whole lotta Elliott to make up for the last Ellie-free post. Enjoy! Rocking chair & pillow fun! (Today) Playing piano & showing off her new shoes (7/9)Cool hat! (7/18)Lots of teeth (7/18)Living it up at Ikea (7/11)

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-45583866887099933272010-07-14T09:49:00.007-05:002010-07-14T10:03:20.028-05:00

Let's just get it out there. I shaved my head. Again. Yes, ten years ago in a fit of boredom/hair loathing, my friend Donna and I buzzed our hair off to 1/4". My mom cried. My friends thought I was crazy (even though most of them had a hand in the event). Strangers often stared. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.Donna and I, a few weeks after our joint head shaveNot only

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-43608511395475332502010-07-09T10:02:00.003-05:002010-10-04T21:00:20.387-05:00

So, I finally got my butt around to taking Elliott to a photo studio to have professional pictures taken. My mom came with me and, being the crazy Gramma she is, shelled out the dough to buy some portraits for us and the family. Thanks Mom!The shoot went pretty much exactly as I expected, with not a smile in sight (despite the sweet photographer's energetic efforts.) Don't get me wrong,

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-16660565090791709142010-07-05T08:50:00.024-05:002010-07-06T20:49:22.826-05:00

Thanks to Ryan's sneaky video skills, we finally captured Elliott walking this morning. Her knees are still her preferred mode of transportation, but she's walking more and more every day. Here she is trying to find Fudge, who had sneaked into her closet: Walking!Speaking of Fudge, I thought it was time to post some photos of her, since she's been left out of the blogosphere long enough!

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-83677550345809756212010-06-28T13:30:00.026-05:002010-06-28T20:21:30.646-05:00

Allow me to go off on a tangent. Some of you may have heard me complain in the past about this hiatal hernia thing I have. For those of you who haven't, here's the short of it: many months ago I start exhibiting all these upper digestive symptoms like heartburn, bloating, and constant nausea, end up seeing two doctors and trying four different kinds of acid reflux meds (to finally settle on

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-70863336380170570432010-06-21T20:09:00.025-05:002010-06-21T21:19:15.959-05:00

We had such a great weekend! On Friday, we bought ourselves a little round kitchen table and three chairs that totaled a whopping $30 (gotta love Craigslist!) We went to lunch in Dupont Circle at the little 50's throwback joint Johnny Rockets, where Elliott received her very first balloon - and a red one at that! Look at the pure balloon joy that ensued: Loving her first balloon (6/19)On

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-14752872443969969092010-06-16T09:59:00.009-05:002010-06-16T10:19:21.144-05:00

Even though we're out of TX and 100+ degree weather, it's so darn humid here that we've been staying mostly indoors. When we do go outside for a quick errand, even early in the morning during the "coolest" time of day, we're so sweaty and nasty within mere minutes that I swear we're not going to venture out again until the humidity goes away. Yeah, right. This is Washington, D.C., where

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-37925142032194646422010-06-14T21:31:00.002-05:002010-06-14T21:36:46.101-05:00

Just wanted to post really quickly that Elliott took her first steps this afternoon! It was about the cutest thing I've ever seen, and I was so proud (though I was trying to keep low key, as she is obviously self conscious about the whole walking thing.)At precisely 1:49pm, as I was sitting at my desk and Elliott was practicing her tentative no-hands standing near my filing cabinet, she turned

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-30133061455853123482010-06-10T20:47:00.005-05:002010-06-10T21:08:35.888-05:00

This is only the cutest video in the history of videos. As you can see, Ellie still likes to dance, and do you hear that moaning sound? That's her singing!! The flapping is a sure sign of baby happiness, and the nod is really quick and easily missed, occurring toward the end when I say, "I'll take that as a yes." Enjoy! Cutest video in the history of videos (6/8)

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-43559284754422556142010-06-07T20:37:00.014-05:002010-06-08T14:50:39.448-05:00

We are now here in DC, and after just a few days, almost every box has been unpacked and every household item organized. Phew! I love my husband for being just as anal as me (yet much more driven and calm), and I love his brother Steve and my mother for helping us out so much with unpacking, cleaning, and entertaining Elliott. Now all our helpers have left and it's just the three of us here,

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-14416012381809378512010-05-24T15:40:00.009-05:002010-05-24T16:03:06.385-05:00

My dad is my absolute savior. There is no way I would have been able to drive from Texas to New Jersey with Elliott all by myself. Even following Ryan would have been a challenge. I sat in the backseat with her while my Dad, always a driver and never a passenger, took over the steering wheel. Four days and three Hampton Inns later, we landed at my parents house where I completely crashed

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-59201265027378626032010-05-16T21:45:00.015-05:002010-10-04T21:09:30.145-05:00

Elliott, Ryan, and I are officially birthday-celebrated out, and have consumed far too much sugar in the past week. In this video, Ellie gets her first taste of brownie at Christina's, where we (along with Ryan's parents) chowed down on Mexican food for birthday celebration #1. She sure seemed to enjoy the chocolate! Tasty chocolate birthday brownie! (5/12)And here she is yesterday during

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2265502840137355609.post-68521705852731452232010-05-11T09:47:00.016-05:002010-10-04T21:14:06.547-05:00

This humongous beach ball sure is cool! (Today)Today is Elliott's FIRST birthday!!! This means Ellie has survived her first year as a human, and Ryan and I have survived our first year as parents. Go us! Elliott has changed so much since one year ago, when I held this beautiful, screaming, squirmy little newborn in my arms for the very first time. She is blossoming into quite a unique

Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06879029104997481806noreply@blogger.com2