San Antonio Get-Away

After Ryan's graduation weekend, we made the 4 hour drive north with Ryan's parents to spend a few days in San Antonio.  We didn't have a time schedule, just going for relaxation.  We had plans to eat lunch on the Riverwalk, walk around the Alamo, eat dinner at Culvers :), and spend the following day at Sea World.  Everytime we go to San Antonio, I am so happy with all there is to do in the city.  It's just 4 hours from our house but we don't make it up there often enough.

Playing in the grass on the Alamo grounds

Lunch and walking around the Riverwalk, even though it is a touristy thing to do, is always on our list when we go to San Antonio.  The first year we lived in Texas, I think we went up to San Antonio about 5-6 times! The Riverwalk is so unique and truly its own little world under the hustle of the city streets. We have previously taken the river boat tours and there is so much history in the city and the trees are so old!

As previously mentioned, this trip was Ellianna's first night in a hotel.  Even though she was still sick, she had a ball.  This was her first time to crawl in the bath tub and she ate breakfast the next morning just sitting on the couch like a big girl. We have been strict about her eating in her high chair and this was the first time she was allowed to move while eating her meal.  She sat still for most of her bagel and started crawling around as she got filled up.

Onto Sea World.  We were surprised when we got there that the Budweiser horses are no longer there.  Apparently Anheiser-Busch is no longer partners with Sea World.  Ellianna will have to wait til we get up to her great-aunt's farm in Michigan to see horses up close. Ryan and I were disappointed with the new Shamu show.  Because the trainers are no longer allowed to get into the water with the whales, the show was limited on the ooohhh and aaahhh factor.  But that didn't slow Ellianna's interest in watching...

After Shamu, we headed to Ryan's and my favorite show, Azul.  It has the Beluga whales, dolphins, and synchronized swimmers.  It has lots of action, high dives from the performers and flips and jumps from the animals.  Unfortunately, it was timed for when Elli was past due for her nap.

Ellianna waiting patiently for the show to start.  While fighting off a nap...she finally gave in to her nap about 10 minutes into the show.



This child has never been good at falling asleep, has always fought naps and sleep for fear she might miss something...fell asleep while outdoors!  She and I left the show and waited just outside the arena and next thing I knew, she was sleeping.  Ryan and I were so proud of her that she was able to fall asleep despite the noise.  She proceeded to sleep a solid hour that afternoon.

The drive home also went well.  All that fresh air does a baby good!  She napped for about 1 1/2 hours on the drive home.

It's always so nice to escape from the everyday.  Even though our trip was short and sweet, it was just what we needed to forget about stresses at work and school.

Family Vacation

I just wanted to get some pictures up quick from our family vacation.  We had a wonderful time, lots of hiking and sight seeing, Ellianna did great on the 18-hour drive, and we'd love to go back someday.  There is so much to share and write about that one of these days, I need to sit down and write about all we did and saw.  Until then, that day when work and life slows down, I offer these pictures... Can you guess where we went? :)

Ryan's Graduation

The weekend of May 18-19, 2013 was one we had been looking forward to for two years!  Ryan was graduating :) Lots of sacrifices were made over the past two years and we were excited to finish what he started.  It wasn't easy going back to school full time, and I don't think it is something Ryan ever thought he would be doing in his 30s.  I give him a lot of credit for following through and reaching his goal.  Changing mindsets from working for 10 years and relaxing in the evenings to going to school all day and needing to study at night is something I don't know if I could do. We're all proud of you!
  

Ryan receiving his diploma.

Sunday, May 19 was Ryan's pinning ceremony where all the graduates received their PTA pins.  Poor Ellianna was not feeling good at all that day, had a 101 fever and congestion, but she took a 90 minute nap before the pinning ceremony so we hoped that would be enough to get her through.  She was somewhat fussy throughout but she hung in there.  In the picture below you can see all 13 graduates in Ryan's class.  Its interesting that in his class there was only 5 girls however in my class of 24, there was only 5 guys.  I wonder why the different ratios?...maybe based on geographic areas.

 Now we are looking forward to July when he will take his boards exam and then he'll really be able to relax!

10 month letter

Oh Ellianna!  There is a reason why I need to sit down and write your letters on time, even though I have my notes of important things that happened during your 10th month, it's hard to remember everything because you have changed so much these past two weeks.  Completing this letter is priority this weekend because you are already turning 11 months in one week!

We have had such a busy month, lots of traveling and lots of spending time with family.  You have put up with all the craziness.

You had 3 teeth arrive this past month!  Your top right tooth on April 24, top left tooth on April 30, and another bottom tooth on the left side arrived May 19.  You now have 3 teeth on bottom and 2 teeth on top making a gummy smile a thing of the past.

 
You and I traveled home to Indiana for a long weekend May 2-7 and it was during this weekend that you began fist bumping your Uncle Jason.  This quickly became your way to greet everyone.  You would raise your arm straight out, lift it high with your hand fisted and smile with delight when they return your greeting.  This fist bump turned into an actual wave on May 13.  We had been practicing waving to yourself in the mirror for some time and although you are much quicker to wave to 'Baby Elli' in the mirror than to people, you are now able to wave and its so cute.

Grandma and Grandpa Larson came down for Daddy's graduation and much to our relief, you greeted them with smiles.  You had been starting to show stranger anxiety while out shopping with us, quickly clinging to us and/or crying when someone would talk to you but that seems to be a phase that lasted about 1 week. Daddy's graduation ceremony was at 10 a.m. May 18, which would've been timed okay but of course that morning, you decided you didn't need to nap at home.  Thankfully, you waited until Daddy walked across the stage before you and I left to find a quieter place to nap.

Unfortunately, you caught another cold this past month.  Wisconsin viruses are different than those in Texas.  It started May 17, seemed slightly better on the 18th, worse on the 19th with fever, better again during the day on May 20, but that night...ooh, you didn't sleep and cried throughout the night.  It started as just a runny nose and cough, then your right eye had ugly discharge.  Your fever had come back so we took you to the doctor to get checked out.  Turns out it had progressed to strep throat again :(  Doc prescribed an antibiotic to help clean out all your drainage and within a few days, you were returning to normal.  At the appointment, we were able to get your official height and weight just 2 days before your 10 month birthday.  You weighed in at exactly 18 pounds and height of 29.5 inches!  With those stats, you are still wearing size 6 month onesies, size 9 month pants, and size 3 diapers.

This past month, you made your first trip to San Antonio for an overnight trip!  You spent the day of your 10 month birthday at Sea World :) and we enjoyed watching how intently you studied the animals.  You also spent the night in a hotel for the first time and that night was the first time we let you crawl around in the bathtub.  You thought you were hot stuff!  Exploring the tub, pulling to stand on everything, splashing the water.  This bath experience made me nervous but you are ready to be out of the bath seat we have been using.

Developmentally this past month, you have perfected pull to stand.  Anything and everything you can get your hands on becomes a tool to help you stand.  We just need to practice sitting back down.  You started cruising on May 18 but this is a new skill and will require more practice.  You continue to crawl on your belly all over the house.  I've decided that in your mind, this is the most efficient way to move and you don't have time to mess with crawling on your hands and knees.  We have seen you crawl occasionally on your hands and knees, but no more than 2 steps and you are back to your belly.  I wish you would do more hands and knees crawling because you are rubbing skin off your big toes with your preferred method of belly crawling, pulling with your arms and pushing with your feet.  You continue to say 'ba ba ba' all the time.  You are more interested in reading books and peek-a-boo.  You bang toys and blocks together  but aren't clapping your hands yet.  You love the ability to feed yourself finger foods.  New solids that were introduced last month include whole wheat pasta noodles, toasted bread, millet cereal, shredded cheese, blueberries, grilled cheese, french toast, and homemade pancakes.  Your favorite addition...cheese.

Sleep.  Some nights we do good, other nights are rough.  But this past month there were more good nights than bad nights.  You slept amazing while we were in Indiana.  I remember looking at my clock in shock that it had been a 4 hour stretch!  And you also napped 90 minutes at a time while there.  Return to Texas and your old habits surfaced.  However, we have been doing good with a nap routine.  You are consistently taking 3 naps during the day, totaling 2-3 hours total day sleep time!  You definitely know when it is bedtime.  By 8:30 p.m., you are beyond ready for your bath and bed.  You usually wake for the day between 7:30 and 8 a.m. with your morning nap about 1 1/2 - 2 hours after your wake up.  Subsequent naps occur about every 3 hours from when the last nap ended.

Ellianna, each month that goes by we see more of your personality emerge.  You are a fun loving baby, a happy baby, and a baby who loves to move and play.  You are interacting more with noises and sounds.  This has been such a fun month, I can't wait to see what the next month brings!  We love you little one :)

May Madness

The month of May 2013 flew by and looking back now, seems like a blur.  Between flying home to Indiana with Ellianna for a long weekend, Ryan's graduation, Ryan's parents visiting, driving to San Antonio to visit Sea World, and finally ending the month with our family vacation to Colorado...the month was crazy with busyness.  I apologize for being absent from blogging for so long, it seems whenever a free moment came about, it was quickly snatched away by something work related or Elli wanting her mama.

So, these next several posts will be long overdue but I'm hoping to get everything caught up in the next week or so...well, that's the plan...let's see what reality brings.

Until the real posts are written, here are some pictures for the meantime :)