ROCK ON

Grandpa Michael has been hard at work for the past few months, crafting a rocking horse for the grandchildren.  So far, Annie E. (or Molly B. as he likes to call her) is the only grandchild to-date, however I am sure many other future Ellis/Caruana kids will get to enjoy the fruits of his labor.  He has been capturing his progress in photos and emailing them to us.  We are truly impressed with his wood working skills and can't wait to see the finished project.  From what I can tell from the pics, this rocking horse is definitely an Arabian.  Annabelle is certainly in for a treat. 

 

OUT OF THE DARK

Can I just say I LOVE Day Light Savings!  Nothing screams spring like turning the clocks forward.  Today when I left the window-less abyss of an office that I spend most my day in, it was not only light out, but I was slightly HOT in my turtleneck sweater and trench coat!  Hmmm...  I think we may have turned a corner and (knock on wood) put winter behind us.  From the revolving door at the office, I happily made my way down 5th Ave., glancing at the floral sundresses in the store windows, and pining for a spring/summer wardrobe.  Mind you, last year this time, I was severely pregnant, so it will have been quite awhile since I sported my normal "non-maternity" spring clothes.  As I cut through Bryant Park I spotted the beginnings of daffodils making there way out of the ground!  We are just weeks away from daffodils, cherry blossoms and tulips galore!  Can't wait.  I love New York flowered and greened.  There is something so fresh and new about spring that it just inspires change.  I have never been big on New Year's resolutions, but spring makes one consider - what is it that really make me happy?  What do I need to do to get there?  This past week the Ellis family has been inspired and have begun scheming new adventures that are just on the horizon.  Cheers to warmer days, dreaming big, and coming out of the dark.

NANI AND GRAN

Last week we had two very special visitors.  Nani and Gran stayed for a full seven days to get some quality time with their first granddaughter.  We had such a good time and Annabelle loved getting to know her two grandmas.  I took Thursday and Friday off work, which was wonderful.  We spent the days off on walks, cooking delicious dinners, going the park, shopping at the Chelsea Market, and even hit up my favorite mom and baby yoga class.  Mostly, though, we all just enjoyed hanging out with A.  On the weekend Nathan joined us for a beautiful day in Central Park, and then a not so lovely, completely rainy day, at the American Folk Art Museum (just to clarify - the Museum was lovely - just not the weather!)  Monday was back to work for Nate and I.  Gran and Nani took over nanny duties.  They enjoyed some special grandparent time just to themselves.  When we got home at the end of the work day they were full of stories of their adventures, filling me in on what they did, what Annabelle ate, read, and babbled about.  I loved hearing the play-by-play and seeing Annabelle light up at the sound of her grandmas voices.  Some of my favorite granny/Annie moments were Diane and Annabelle singing and dancing to her International Food Songs CD, and Nani cracking her up about raspberries (see below).  A. was quite taken with them both and we all hope they will come again soon to visit.  Perhaps bring Gramps and Papa John, too!  Missing you already!  XO

SO BIG

Yesterday was Annabelle's 9 month doctor appointment and I can't believe how big she is getting.  When we were walking back to see the doctor, we passed a brand new little baby, that could have been no more than a week old.  It is so hard for me to believe Annabelle was ever that small.  Even in looking at pictures of her from those first couple weeks it is hard for me to remember.  It is as if those early days we existed in a fog of new mommy-hood.  These days Annabelle is a very busy girl.  She is extremely aware of voices and people.  She loves to read and will spend much of her playtime opening and closing the pages of her board books feeling textures and analyzing colors.  She still loves to stand and jump - and all the better if there is music on for her to sing to - ahhhhh!  She continues to babble with lots of dada's, mama's, baba's.  Smiles come easily for her and nothing makes me happier than hearing her little belly laugh.  Speaking of bellies, she finally has grown one, thanks to a large array of solid foods.  So far there are no foods she doesn't like with her favorites being bananas, greek yogurt, prunes, and carrots.  What she does not like is when people eat or drink in front of her, so we have been giving her a sippy cup to experiment with while we drink our morning coffee.  She hasn't quite figured out how to use it, but likes to shake it up and down and chew on the nossel.  A. has two teeth on the bottom that appeared quite abruptly at around 8.5 months.  White Fang Ellis loves to test them out biting down on her spoon at meals or on our fingers if we dare try to feel them.  She is still a good sleeper for the most part (provided new teeth aren't coming in).  She now sleeps on her stomach and loves to launch herself around the crib.  She also has made a game out of taking her pacifier in and out of her mouth - something she seems very proud to be able to do herself.  Yesterday she weighed in at 16 lbs 14 oz. Everyday I am more and more amazed at our little person.