Our Pop Culture Diva

Ella has asked that we post a quick shout out to Grandpa Steve and Gamma Sharon who are traveling (without her and her parents, she wanted me to say) in Europe and a welcome back to Grandfran and Pops who just got back from Europe (without her and her parents again) and whom she cannot wait to see! She requests that her grandparents no longer leave her for long periods of time and thinks that she and her parents should accompany them whenever they travel abroad. Hey, I am just the messenger...

We are posting some new photos. We actually captured her "pooping" face. We have a very polite child who informs us of her happenings by her face. While it is not the most attractive face, it serves its purpose. The peeing face is cuter, we'll try to get a photo soon. We also have photos in her ballerina outfit from Aunt Jill (Thank you Aunt Jill for keeping Ella fashionable!). Here's the link... http://www.flickr.com/photos/7822160@N02/sets/72157600422042557/

This week Ella has discovered her new favorite thing... TV! She cannot stop staring at it when it is on. Both Mommy and the ceiling fan are no longer intriguing. She particularly enjoys Dawson's Creek and loved Staying Alive the movie. She kept cooing at John Travolta who maybe was hot in his day but a little cheesy back then. I have deduced that she either likes retro music, is hoping for a polyester bodysuit, or wants to be a dancer. I'll have to look into tot ballet. The issue with the TV is that we had her friend Shira Polikoff over who wanted to hang with her and grab her head and but since One Tree Hill started, she didn't feel the need to entertain. This habit will have to be broken as we need to chose live people over actors and the TV screen (although Dad disagrees and plans on introducing her to his weird non-ficition shows about sea creatures and planets soon).

We also hold conversations together now which constitute her babbling and my babbling back. Often I am left holding the conversations as she gets more interested in smiling at me (see photo above for example) that talking in the middle of our chats. Luckily I have alot to say to her. She did mention the other day that she loves her new shampoo we switched her to (Noodle and Boo) and enjoys smelling so yummy.

That's about it. We have plans this weekend to see some of Ella's little friends and their parents which will make more photo ops. Have a great weekend everyone!

Obsessed Parents

Hey All,

Ok, so it seems we are obsessed with our child based on the blog so far. Yes, its true but in our defense we also have obsessive grandparents who look for photos all the time and this is our means of showing them Ella as she grows and develops before our eyes. She is like a new toy. Now that she is over 2 months, she smiles alot especially when I greet her in the morning and when she does her baby exercises with me. Mike recently discovered she loves her head massaged. One things she seems not to like is Neiman Marcus'. Everytime we go for lunch and meet folks she cries. Silly girl needs to be taught the joys of Neimans. She also has a new routine - smiling, eating a bit, passing out in the middle of feeding for a nap (takes after dad who loves to sleep), crying when waking up and then smiling. Sometimes she cries for quite a while but then smiles again and my heart melts. I have become the biggest sucker.

I am also trying to get into more of a routine myself. We are lucky - Ella sleeps around 6-8 hours a night but sometimes we go back to bed. When I do this, we don't get moving until 11ish which is late. I am now trying to go for a walk with her in the mornings when she first wakes up. That way she gets fresh air before it gets too hot (did I mention we live in an oven?) and I get exercise. Oh, and conveniently we walk right by a Starbucks. Daily coffee makes mommy very happy. Routines seems to be really important for getting things done when a little one comes around.

Other than that, all is good. I am taking Professional Responsibilities in law school which teaches us how to be ethical while yielding our legal power (oxymoron?, you decide!). In case anyone needs legal advice, I can now give it and know my boundaries. It is interesting how professional conduct fluctuates between elliciting info for the sake as ethics and confidentiality that protects clients and allows them to the space to disclose everything for proper legal representation.

Happy Fathers Day to all our favorite family and friend dads. Here are the latest photos of Smushie.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/7822160@N02/sets/72157600366145267/

I'm Too Sexy for My Play n Pack

Ella had her two month check up yesterday. Here is her vital stats for those keeping track at home - She is almost 10 lbs (25% for weight), 22 1/4 inches (75% for height) and her head is in the 25% percentile. As if we didn't know already, our little gal is destined for modeling or some sort of athletics with her skinny and tall bod and pinhead. She did very well getting her shots - better than Mommy did who had to close her eyes through the whole thing.

She is starting to smile alot too - especially during the four am feeding and when she sees her friend the Bug and favorite site, the ceiling fan. Ella has been on many adventures with us - dinner and lunches with friends and even to an Areas 51 baseball game (vegas' minor league team named for a secret test place where aliens landed in the 1950's and with an even scarier mascot that looks like a cross between Jar-Jar binks from Star Wars and a donkey). While Ella used to just sit in her seat and sleep, she now loves to sit on our laps and look at everything. She is turning from a newborn into a little baby girl.

Other than that, all is well. Mommy is back in classes, working and balancing it all with staying home with Ella and Daddy is working hard.

To see more photos of the newest Murdock, click here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/7822160@N02/sets/72157600333334242/

We tried to showcase her personality in this one... check out the smiles!