FLORIDA!

Ellis and I went to Florida to visit my parents--we decided we're never vacationing without Gabe again---but we did have a GREAT time!!!

Ft.Myers Beach---a couple minutes walk from my dad's new house.

Grandma Shelly took Ellis on LOOOOOTS of walks. Here is Ellis after returning from a long one (also her best impression of her mama for the first three days of the trip---seriously. I slept from 10-12 hours at night along with 1-2 hour naps in the daytime).

Grandpa Peter inspiring lots of laughs:

First beach experience. Verdict: Ellis is not a fan.

More recap!

These are completely out of order, but here we go!

Ellis and SWEET cousin, Sammy checkin each other out:

October 11, 2009: After Ellis' dedication (and prior to that, her first trip to the ER due to a weird rash all over her torso). Tylenol was a big favorite that day.

During Ellis' dedication:

Talking to Janae on Skype:

On the way from the ER to Ellis' dedication--sweet girl who wasn't feeling too great:

We celebrated Gabe's birthday while Tim, Kristi and Sammy were visiting. The candles caused the balloon to pop and Michigan lost, but otherwise it was a nice celebration.

The introduction :)

Some end of September pictures:

These dahlias are the same color I carried in my wedding bouquet---Gabe gave me a bunch for our anniversary. Well done, Gabe. Well done.

zzzzzzzzzzzz...

Our three year anniversary dinner at the Bent Noodle---where we had our first date, our wedding rehearsal dinner, and every anniversary dinner since----first anniversary we were joined by a third.

I'm not avoiding you!

Me to my mom recently: "Have you gotten my messages lately???"

My mom in response: "Yes! Have YOU gotten MY messages lately???"

Me: "No."

Mom: "I've left a few."

Me: "Where?"

Mom: "On your home phone."

I thought Gabe cancelled our home phone service awhile ago (it turns out he tried a few times, but because of one thing or another on Qwest's end of things, was unable to)----so I stopped checking our messages long ago. So, people (my mom, for sure) may or may not have been calling and leaving us countless messages of supreme importance because unbeknownst to me, we actually did have a home phone/voicemail. Well, then Gabe really did cancel our phone and now I can't check our messages.

SOOO, if you called and left us a message, we weren't avoiding you; Gabe and I just got our lines of communication crossed, as it were.

Our first trip to the zoo

Ready to explore the ZOO!

It was perfect weather for spending the day outside...

Our friends Amy, Amelie and new little Finley spent the day with us---some of our favorite ladies to be with.

The peacocks roam around like they own the place.

Ellis thoroughly enjoyed our picnic by the carousel.

Number of people in our little family who can sit up by themselves: 3.

Ellis has become a drool factory. If I could sell bottles of her drool, I would be richer than Oprah. But still no teeth...

Ellis and Amelie are quite fond of each other, which is very sweet to watch.

A day well spent.

Seven months and chewing...

Peek!

Chewing on placemats...

...on Auntie Janae's cat, Champ...

...and anything else that comes within reach.

Here is a picture from our send-off dinner with Janae, who is now in Indiana at Taylor University, starting off her freshman year of college! We miss Janae. (And note that once again, Ellis is chewing on something :)