Au revoir, mi amor

High-fiving eachother

Following the leader

Tandem jumping

Good-bye kiss

Ella and Aidan had their last romp together at Gymboree yesterday. He and his mom Adriana are our dear friends here~ we will miss them and our beach and gymboree dates terribly in Arizona.

Recovered treasures

Granny and Grandpa Franklin bought this little getup for Ella in Hawaii long ago and we discovered it in her closet this morning. She's finally big enough to model it! She was not too sure about it...basically she chased me around the apartment, tugging at the lei while I tried to get her to pose.

Almost happy in this frame...

Finally, I couldn't resist her plea for rescue...look at that lip!

For Granny and Grandpa

Happy Birthday to me

We celebrated on Friday because Greg is working this weekend. I made an orange cake this year: orange juice and zest in the cake, and a cream cheese frosting with zest~Super good!

And, my presents from the family this morning

Ella at play

Fun times with tupperware

But, Mom, I'm not tired!

Reading her Mother Goose book from G. Aunt Lizzy~It has beautiful paintings that she loves to page through.

One year ago, today

Um...where has the time gone? And now she toddles around, sippy-cup in hand, saying "hi" to anyone that passes by, and understanding [almost] everything that is said to her. Huh.

Car Seat Safety

I don't have any new, cute photos to post from the weekend, so I thought I'd post some clear guidelines for proper carseat use. If they aren't used correctly, they can not be expected to protect our children.

Infant Carseats and Carriers:

Use rear-facing up to 20-22 pounds or higher on some models. A 5-point harness is preferred, keep chest clip at armpit level and not on the neck or tummy Harness strap slots should be at or below the shoulders A front adjuster to tighten the harness makes it easy to use Newborns and infants should have a 45 degree maximum recline Built-in angle indicators and adjusters may help get the correct recline Manufacturers have differing instructions on where handle should be while traveling. Read the instruction manual to learn if it should be up or down in the vehicle. A rear-facing tether, rebound bar and impact foam found on some models may improve safety Infant seats may fit newborns better than convertible models Some models include a complete stroller and base system, while others may include just the convenient base that installs in the car

Baby Trend LATCH Loc™ Chicco KeyFit™

Convertible Carseats:

Rear-Facing is SAFEST! Select a model with a 30, 33 or 35 pound rear-facing weight limit and keep your child rear-facing as long as possible Your child should be turned front-facing at the 30, 33 or 35 pound rear-facing limit, or if the top of their head is within an inch of the top of the shell Models with a 5-point harness and front harness adjuster are preferred Keep the harness straps at or below the shoulders while rear-facing Keep the harness straps at or above the shoulders while front-facing Some models require the use of TOP slots while front-facing (Check your manual) Keep chest clip at armpit level, not on the neck or tummy Make sure you use the correct seat belt path or LATCH hooks intended for front-facing or rear-facing A 45 degree maximum recline is needed for newborns and young infants while rear-facing. Older babies with good head support can have less recline while rear-facing. Upright with no recline is best for front-facing Some models feature tethers that can also be used rear-facing and impact foam for added safety. Some also have built-in locking clips for convenience.

Blackberries anyone?

The blackberries are in season (read: on sale) here in Florida and Ella has found a new favorite: to eat, poke her finger into the dimple on top, squish and watch the dark red juice drip down her arm, onto the chair, and eventually the carpet.

Finally caught in the act...convenient that Hailey hangs out on the other side of the table from where I sit. These two together are t-r-o-u-b-l-e!

Progress

Today marks a monumental day: Ella braved the world on two feet of her own will!
A trip to Michael's and Barnes and Noble was a wake up call to what mothering a bonafide toddler entails. The product placement in those places is amazing...she must have gotten her hands on FIVE different preschool-aged non-book items between the children's section and check-out. Look at knee level next time you find yourself in a bookstore; its a whole new world down there!

After all my hard work chasing her around, she rewarded me with a 3 1/2 hour nap...aaaahhhh...