ELLA WALKS!!!

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate the video, but this is Ella taking her first steps!!! I really didn't need anything else for my birthday.

SO YES, I FINALLY POSTED

I just posted 3 enteries, so read from the bottom up please!! Miss all of you.

A Very Special Side Note

A couple of weeks ago, I got to travel to NYC to visit my aunt and introduced Ella to her for the first time. My aunt is 80 years old and came from Panama to raise me in NY for 9 years. I really can't say enough nice things about my Titi Nena. If there is a heaven, I'm positive that she's the first one allowed in. It was really the most wonderful thing seeing Ella spend time with her. She will probably not remember the greatest hands she got to hold. No worries I'll remind her.

Setting up Shop in Philly

We've been here for more than 30 days, and I have to say, Philly isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's actually not as cold as NYC or Boston (tomorrow its supposed to be 65, but its usually around 45). We've pretty much unpacked and I have officially taken my position as housewife (cue the laughter). I am not much of a housewife, but I am trying to take this time with Ella and make it as fun as possible. We sing a lot of Disney songs (even though Oli is a bit anti-Disney, okay very-not just a bit), practice walking, and lots of reading. I am trying to be positive about this time, since it will not be forever. I have even joined some mommy groups, that go out and do things with their kids around the city-let you guys know how that goes. I'm only doing it because I would like Ella to be socialized before daycare. Speaking of, the UPENN daycare has us on a waiting list, which they said maybe (MAYBE) when Ella is 18 months, she'll have a better chance of getting in. The nanny situation here is a little silly. Truthfully, I can't see myself inviting a stranger in my home (ofcourse rigged with CIA-grade nanny-cams) and then coming home from a long day, and having to sit and watch those videos, and then the possiblity of jail time if I see anything on those videos. So I am going to stick with the state observed daycare with teachers with Master's degrees at the helm. Ella and I have been exploring our neighborhood a bit. There is everything within walking distance. We go to the farmer's market on the weekend. Oli is settling into his new position. Its difficult suddenly being the boss, but he's handling it and I hope to help him more from home. Oli does try to make it home to spend some time with Ella, and she does say "Da, Da" pretty much all day. We both feel that she is growing into a toddler so quickly. She says, "Ma Ma, Da Da, and Dog" pretty well. Everything is Dog!!! Anything on 4 legs in books or real life is Dog. She took a couple of steps by herself on Jan. 25, but nothing since. Oli has been having Ella practice walking with this harness (see pic below) and it has helped, but now she just gets down and crawls if gets hard. AND FINALLY THIS CHILD HAS STARTED EATING!!! And all you hear is "Mmm" and "num num" from her. She is very cute and beginning to show some personality (okay more of it). If I tell her no, she yells at me, "Ah!" It really does take everything I have not to laugh. So I admit that maybe life in Philly isn't just about me adjusting like I thought it would be, its about my little family adjusting and it has been good because we're doing it together. I guess Ella isn't the only one whose grown.

Its FEB and I am now just posting?!? I KNOW! I KNOW!

We've been getting settled here in Philly, and I didn't have internet for awhile. I know I forever have an excuse. Anyways, SO we made it back from Europe in one piece. All I will say is that it was an interesting trip. I know that I am the only person that can complain about a 6 week trip to Europe, but we all got sick, TWICE. It was cold, gloomy, and I'm pretty sure that everyone in that whole country had a cold (and they were still kissing each other on the cheek--okay maybe thats just my germaphobia). It was nice that Ella got to spend her first Christmas with Olivier's family. So we got back on New Year's Eve (Ella did well on the plane), and spent the first day in 2008 in Philadelphia. But first lets revisit the trip to France in pictures. Oh there was one highlight-Olivier got nominated to dress up as Santa for the kids at Christmas. Enjoy!

Briefly Noted: Our trip to Pau

Hi All! So we went to see Olivier's brother in Pau, and though we were very glad to see them and the Pyrenees, we all got very sick and decided to come back to Bordeaux and not go on a road trip. Ella is okay, but she got her very first bad cold and saw the doctor twice. But all is well now. Here are some pics of Ella and her cousins, and with her daddy.

Postcards from Bordeaux

Bonjour from Bordeaux, Olivier's hometown. It's been kind of gloomy and rainy everyday, but Ella has been bonding with her Mami and Papi. They love her even though she looks nothing like their son, and despite her being brown like me. Kidding... they have been absolutely great with her, and of course with me as they have always been. And no worries, I'm not loosing weight, Oli's mom makes sure I am eating well and is constantly cooking especially for me since I'm so picky. Speaking of being picky, Ella is already turning into a 'pickytarian' as Oli calls me. We are having the hardest time getting her to eat the simplest foods that she started eating months ago. She not even that much of fan of fruit. She makes this face like she's eating a bitter lemon and then she gags. But I was told to just keep trying (thanks Jo). I'm sure Amber is eating 4 course meals by now (don't know Amber? Check our my Halloween post). Not that I'm comparing, because I love Amber and her family (shout out to the Renthals!) but I wish my baby would advance a little. Speaking of advancing, Ella is going forward on the mobility front. She has no interest in crawling or really turning over and over, but all she really wants to do is stand up and is trying to walk. We have her walking with us holding just one of her hands. She's just learning and looses her balance sometimes. I guess inheriting mostly from my gene pool isn't so bad, she has my spanish bottom so she has some cushioning when she falls=0) Here are some pics of Ella during her first visit. We are off to visit Oli's brother in Pau. !