Baby wrangling

We've been doing a lot of Ellen-chasing these days. She isn't quite walking, but seems so close. She also has some new circus tricks that we are trying to capture on camera, but so far, no success.

In the mean time ...

I tried to get a picture for our Christmas card and got a lot of this.

We finally had to install a baby gate on our stairs last night. Ellen had expressed very little interest in the stairs until this weekend when she constantly wanted to climb them. She is very sure-footed and can go all the way up (with spotting), but you can't leave her for a second. She was very perplexed this morning to find an obstacle in her way!

So ... no stairs? On to curtains!!

It's Monday already?

We broke in the deck with our first al fresco meal ... good food and better friends! We also introduced Brian and Natalie to dominos - a bonus!
The dinner was tasty enough that Erik and I had a re-do on Saturday - grilled shrimp cocktail, crusty bread, salad with lemon dressing and good parm. Life is good.

Ellen would like to participate in the cooking next time...

Doesn't she look like the princess and the pea here? (Dad and daughter camera time while mom was away).

Finally ... we broke out the Jumpster this weekend. It got crazy!

Fun new toy!

We got a new camera! After months of research, and debate, and price comparison, we bit the bullet on the Canon Rebel XS camera. It is a digital SLR and it is GREAT!

We finally were getting to the point that Ellen was fast enough that we couldn't get good pictures and the quality wasn't as good as I wanted. There still is a lot to learn, and a good camera does not a good photographer make, but I'll get better with some practice.

Erik especially likes the "continuous shooting" mode on the camera.

TGIF

We had picture time outside today on this beautiful day!


Grammy Lund was nice enough to come sit with Ellen today and she brought the CUTEST sun hat!

Ellen's Sophie toy arrived in the mail today - she loves it!