THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Dearest Annabelle,
Today you are 2!  I can't believe how the time flown by.  This was a year of firsts and year of big changes.  There were first steps, first words, first falls, first friends.  You have brought us so much joy in the last two years.  You never cease to amaze us with your enthusiasm for life.  I cherish every "wow", "oh yeah", ohhh and ahhh, and especially your signature teradacto move that you so generously use to express yourself.  I love the way your voice gets high when you greet animals and babies and the way you hold your hand out to signal being gentle.  I love the way you can break into dance at the first hint of music playing and the way you put your finger on your mouth to shush when you think it is time to be quiet.  I love your slapstick sense of humor and your laughter that rings out without hesitation.  I love your snuggles, your monkey hugs, and froggy smiles.  Everyday there are new words, new expressions, and new things to learn.  My life is so much brighter with you in it.  So much love to you, my beautiful bright girl. 

July - 13 Months

August - 14 Months

September - 15 Months

October - 16 Months

November - 17 Months

December - 18 Months

January - 19 Months

February - 20 Months

 

March - 21 Months

April - 22 Months

May - 23 Months

JUICING

Last weekend, Nathan had Karim and his son, Hamilton, over for a play date while I was supposedly "working".  While Annabelle finished up her nap, the guys gave Hamilton a little lesson in fresh squeezed OJ from the oranges from our tree.  Yum.  Hamilton, who loves to help, enjoyed the juicing as much as the juice itself.  I did not get much work done, but I did manage to snap a few photos of the juice session.

SHE'S HERE!

This evening, Emerson Elizabeth decided to make her grand entrance to the world.  Adrienne had a long labor, but is doing well and was overjoyed to be holding her new baby girl in her arms.   Amazingly beautiful.  Emerson is a perfect little sweet pea from her tiny blinking eyes, to her little yawns and itty-bity fingers peeking through her swaddle.  We are so excited for the newest member of our family.  Congratulations Ade and Josh!  She is a little miracle and made this particular Memorial Day exceptionally memorable.

Emerson Elizabeth 7.0 lbs 20 in

BROTHERS & SISTER-IN-LAWS

This was a big week for the Ellis and Bell brothers.  We learned on Monday that Jamie and Katherine, took an impromptu trip to City Hall to officially get married!  Then on Friday we learned that Nathan's brother, Bryan, proposed to his long-time girlfriend, Colleen!  Such great news.  We are so happy for both of our brothers and I am so thrilled to have acquired such amazing sister-in-laws.  Cheers to both couples.  We love you very much and are looking forward to much celebration in the coming year!

James & Katherine

Bryan & Colleen

TOMALES BAY

Inspired by Los Angeles Magazine's 52 Great Weekends, Nathan and I decided to check out #19, Point Reyes, CA.  Just a half hour drive west from Diane and Michael's this pristine bay proved to be the perfect day trip for the three of us.  First we headed north to where the Russian River meets the Pacific at Goat Rock.  We bundled up to explore the windy beaches socked in with morning fog.  We then drove south to Tomales Bay where the wind had calmed and we watched as the fog lifted into a picturesque afternoon accompanied by oysters, lunch at Nick's Cove and a walk down the pier.  The drive was spectacular and I hope to return soon!  Here are some pics from our day...

TRANSMISSION LA

This week the Ellis family was under the weather.  Annie picked up a cold at a birthday party and we all ended up catching it.  It was snot-city over here, so we kept a low profile.  By the weekend, we were antsy to get out and about.  We heard about a fabulous exhibit at the MOCA called Transmission LA and decided to check it out.  Not really knowing what to expect, we arrived to find an array of pieces all with a common theme of relating movement to sound.  The exhibit was, for the most part, kid-friendly, and Annabelle loved moving from room to room checking out the art, often stopping to listen by pointing to her ear, and then breaking into one of her signature dance moves.  The darker rooms with lasers and moving pictures were her favorite.   Aside from exhibit itself, we had a nice picnic lunch, walked through Little Tokyo on the way (which I had never been too), and even got to see a hip hop video being filmed at a sneaker store.  Pretty cool.  We finished off the afternoon with some Pinkberry.  What's not to love (aside from still having a raspy voice and a small case left of the sniffles.)

 

FRIDAY IN THE YARD

HOME SWEET

Getting settled and having fun exploring the new hood...

OH! EASTER!

SHOWERED

Adrienne is very quickly reaching the final weeks of her pregnancy, and so this past weekend friends and family came together to shower her with love and of course darling little baby things for tiny baby Emerson.  Carolyn, Jill, Liz and Katherine hosted a beautiful luncheon for all of the ladies with no detail left unpaid.  Here are just a few pics from the day captured on my iPhone.

DINNER DATE

Jagger and Annie - Dinner Date at the new pad