Rubber Ducky, You're the One

After things finished up at both of my schools, we headed North up to my parents' house. In addition to giving Ellie a new array of experiences (such as the sink bath above), I gave my first solo professional development workshop to a group of math teachers in Bellefontaine. I'm not big on public speaking, nor on listening to public speaking, so I built the day around activities and discussions. It was a wonderful group that made me eager to do similar workshops in the future.

Ellie, meanwhile, has been having a blast with her newfound laughter (of course, those around her are having just as much fun listening to her). It kind of reminds me of the "laughter disease" that Joo had while she was pregnant!

JooYeon helped Mom make some whoopie pies.

Followed by one of mom's colorful meal.

Dad was excited to introduce Ellie to ball, Rook, and basketball games.

I helped Dad act as one of the three wise men in a church's children story on finding water.

Mom was tireless at finding new ways to entertain Ellie, even allowing Ellie to help her pack.

Ellie was excited to unite with one of the two Ellies that she was named after.

Grandma Showalter was still as alert as ever, cleaning up the family Skipbo table with some amazing hands (at one point, holding nothing but Skipbos in her hand).

After returning from Virginia, we turned right around and boarded a flight for New Mexico - as before, Ellie showed her incredible travelling skills (even tolerating my bumbling attempts to change her poopy diaper in the tiny airplane bathroom- an ordeal that drew out much longer than it should have).

She was even wide awake when we arrived, and offered to drive our rental car out to Heather's place.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times

Now, at the seven-month mark, Ellie is becoming more expressive... both through laughter and through crying. The laughter started on her plane ride home from Oregon when this random lady pictured below started poking Ellie and Ellie apparently burst out laughing (I wasn't there).

We struggle with the issue of how much to expose her to technology in her early years. On one hand, we want her to develop a longer attention span to relationships and a love of nature, but on the other hand, technology will be essential for her generation's survival and thrival in school/career.

So we try to balance it out with lots of books; sometimes she listens, sometimes she just smacks them or tries to eat them, but at least she enjoys them.

Solids has been the biggest stress point of the recent months, and the second-biggest since she was born (next to figuring out breastfeeding). Part of it is that she doesn't seem really interested in more than a few spoonfuls, and part of it is the message imbued around us that not enough solids means not enough iron means delayed brain development. I doubt how crucial this actually is, but it's one of those things that you don't want to err on the wrong side.

My favorite new move is when she grabs both sides of my (or someone else's) face and then plants a big sloppy kiss.

Back from Portland

Ellie met her cousins TeoGeom and HyeRin for the first time out in Portland. Jusu was trying to handle the new flood of responsibilities arising from a second child.

But she still had plenty of time to show some loving for her niece Ellie!

The ladies put vinegar on TeoGeom's pacifier so that he would stop sucking on it so much. I'm not quite sure what they put on Ellie's...

For both JooYeon and me, the biggest worry about her solo trip with Ellie was how she would handle the flights. As it turned out, she must be a traveller at heart because she loved it.

And had a family of hugs waiting for her upon her return to Ohio.

As soon as JooYeon and Ellie returned, we tried feeding her solids for the first time. One month later, it still seems to be something that she tolerates rather than enjoys, but she is getting some in her now.

Back in Athens, Ellie was doing more socializing than her daddy.

Her daddy, meanwhile, having wrapped up the semester, was catching up on some yard work. The task below was to uproot a bush that nearly took Ellie's eye out.

Smiley Girl

Ellie's been a bundle of smiles lately- from when she gets up to (almost) when she goes to bed!

That is, when she's not putting on her serious zoning face...

It's been wonderful to have more interaction with her, even if it isn't verbal yet.

Pete came and visited for awhile.

As did Jamie- it was like an EMU reunion! I bought 20 lbs. of green coffee beans off of Jaime and Evelyn that they had grown on their farm in Nicaragua (http://5tucanes.wordpress.com/). Jaime was still as upbeat and energetic as always- it makes my morning cup of coffee so much more valuable to have been grown and brought by an old friend.

The Castles came over and we gave everyone instruments!

Another lovely sunset walk with my ladies :)