Living...Listen to live music in the park.

This summer has been filled with so many wonderful adventures.  I have been blessed to share Ella's first summer with so many people who love her, and as her first birthday approaches, I feel both excitement and apprehension.  She is not my petite enfant any longer.  My little bundle has turned into a social butterfly.  My parents, my Uncle, Joe, Ella, and I attended the Bite of Salem this year and where other years it has been disappointing, this year was a blast. 

There was food:

Shopping:

Some really beautiful Peruvian bags and sweaters, I loved the colors and the fabrics.

And of course, live music.  They were a couple of jazz bands that were pretty awesome, not to mention a couple of drunk people who were really getting down.

I took a picture of this girl because I thought her outfit was beautiful and unique.  An interesting specimen.

My dad danced with Ella

Joe and I danced.
And my mom socialized.

It was good fun.  We'll see about next year.

Ella's new friend Miley couldn't stop kissing her, it was too cute. 

Introduce Ella to as many animals as possible.

So Ella has met exotic animals at the zoo, become all too familiar with domestic animals, a la Cosmo and the dog park, and yesterday she learned about animals with wings. 

There is this incredible little place in Central Salem, where hundreds of geese, ducks, and pigeons hang out, and people can feed them. 

I have to say, I was slightly intimidated by the 20 or so geese circling me, to receive a bit of bread.

Even so, I found it appropriate to get down to eye level.

There were a few geese brave enough to eat from my hand.

I pointed out the baby geese to Ella.  They were so adorable.  There soft down, had not yet turned into the feathers of the adults.

This goose gave Joe a nice hiss when he got too close to one of the babies.

It was truly inspiring to see all the birds living together in harmony.  It gives me faith that one day, humans may be able to live similarly. 

I really hope Ella enjoyed herself.  I want to go back and just watch their behavior, it is so fascinating.

Laugh

How could I not, with this silly little girl as my daughter?  She climbs my face, it makes her giggle, and I can't help laughing myself.  She is just so cute.  What a personality.  If this is not living, I don't know what is.

Show Ella the ocean.

This past Thursday, the family stayed at the beach, where Ella experienced the ocean (which is on my live list), the sand, and her first over-night trip. 

Cosmo joined us and just happened to find a seal carcass to rub all over himself.  That was fun to clean up.

We had him run in and out of the ocean to wash off, then I sanitized him, then Joe gave him a bath.  He stunk, it was glorious.

Ella loves when to chase Cosmo, already.
I found some wild strawberries and thought my spirit fit seamlessly in with them.

We stayed at the cutest little place, The Historic Anchor Inn, in Lincoln City.

We plan on staying there, whenever we go to coast, from now on.

It's owned by a husband and wife, who also run it.  It only has about 10 cabins, making it a quiet and quaint environment. 

In the morning, they serve a free breakfast: not a buffet, but a sit down and you are served.  We were shocked with the quality of the place in comparison with the price.

It's a simple place, filled with antiques, and rustic charm. 
Ella slept the best she has in months: waking up once and sleeping a whole six hours in a row, without waking to be fed.  Joe and I were thrilled to sleep in until 9am. 

Maybe it was her new jammies. 

(She's eating a fortune cookie.)

We went through three one-sies and two pairs of pants in one day.  We went out to eat and she had a massive blowout.  She not only pooped all over herself and through her pants, she pooped all over daddy as well.  So, we had to improvise as we only had one outfit left.  Voila, a small t-shirt. 

I would have to say, that for an unplanned, first overnight trip with a baby, Joe and I did pretty good.  I'm proud of us.  We both needed a night away from home.  But in the end, we were both glad to get home as..."there's no place like home."

Saturday in the park with Grandma.

Better late than never, I guess.  We had a wonderful adventure with my mom last Saturday.  Joe, grandma, Ella, Cosmo and I walked to a nearby park where Ella experienced some of her firsts.

First time down a slide:

(well, maybe third time, but the first time it was caught on camera.)

First time climbing a rock wall:

I know she's looking at the camera thinking, "look what I am doing mom!"  I'm sure I was beaming, " I am so proud of you honey."  What an adventurous spirit, just like her mom.

We all joined in on the rock climbing experience.

My mom, what a cutie.

Joe, showing off his mad skills.
I climbed it also, but really enjoyed the spider web, jungle gym looking thingy.

I hadn't done this in years.  It's nice to know I've still got made jungle gymmin skills.
Cosmo joined us on the excursion but unfortunately spent some of his time like this:

That morning, he thought it was a good idea to eat some of the jewels I was using for my mosaics.  I guess that showed him. 
It was a beautiful sunny day.  I love my mother, I hope that when I am her age, I can join Ella and her family for a day in the park, and still play on the playground, and look good doing it.

It truly is the simple things.