Yet another fun month has passed.  We are now in a routine with school and the cooler weather means we’re outside running around quite a bit.  

 

Ellie continues to love books and trains, and she’s starting to love buses and to be able to name some colors and the kids in her class.  We’ve pretty much gotten the pacifier use down to just at nap and bedtime and we’re having more family dinners as opposed to giving her a special meal of her own.  It has become common for Ellie to have strong opinions about what she wants and where things should go, so it is our tough job as her parents to figure out when to give in and when to assert a little authority.  She is definitely growing up.  

 

We survived our trip away.  Wes and I had a fabulous time visiting Napa Valley and San Francisco.  Everything went very smoothly and we enjoyed every moment.  The report from my parents while we were gone was that Ellie did fine.  She only became a little clingy and requested her pacifier the last two days.  When we returned, we made perhaps our only scheduling mistake in that my parents put Ellie to bed on Saturday night, we flew in late that night, and my parents flew out early Sunday morning before Ellie woke up.  I think it caused her a bit of confusion and she seemed irritated most of the day Sunday.  I had expected to be welcomed with open arms, but that was not the case.  Now, a few days later, we are almost back to our usual groove.  We are incredibly grateful to Mimi and Papa for being here and for making it possible for us to go away.  We are so lucky.  And, I think Mimi, Papa, and Ellie now have some special memories and a new bond.