Tuesday, October 02, 2007 6:36 PM

Hi everybody!

Ella is feeling better after her ear infection. But she has learned to play! She will tuck her little face into your chest, you say "Wheeeeere's Ella?" For however long she hides her face, then she looks up at you fast and you say, "There she is! Peekaboo I see you!" And she smiles and makes happy noises. Alas, she has a short attention span so sometimes the game sounds like this *ella hides* "Whe-" *ella peeks!* "There she i-" *ella hides* "Where's E-" *ella peeks!* "There-" *ella hides*
It's too hilarious.
She also plays with toys. She pulls and taps and shakes and puts them in her mouth. She has 2 teeth partly in on the bottom now. We wonder when the top ones will start. So, now you can sometimes hear, "Ella, no biting." Then she will lick you! Our dog Boo was next to her one day. I was petting Boo and helping Ella pet Boo. (Boo seems to like Ella more than Gus. I thought it would be the opposite.) Anyway, all of a sudden Ella leans forward and licks Boo on the face. So, of course Boo licked back. I told her no licking the baby, but turnabout is fair play.

She has also learned that making loud bizarre noises gets people's attention. So she'll go "AWAGHEEEAAAAYA" or something similar. And we'll look at her and she grins so big we have to laugh. Sometimes she makes crazy noises and you'll think she's upset. But you go and check on her, she's fine, happy... just practicing I guess.

She still likes to flirt with almost all the men she meets. She will even reach for random men she doesn't know to hold her! This could be a problem in a few years.

Holly and Bridgette are trucking along in school. Holly is busy in sports, but working hard in her classes too. I think her fondest wish would be for less heavy books.

Bridgette's birthday is today! We had tons of fun last weekend when we took her to planet x. I think she was a little disappointed in her actual birthday though. I think she was expecting rainbows and fairy dust and she just got a regular day with some wellwishes and brownies. Poor kid. But we talked and tried to focus on the positive.

Brian is working hard and still liking his job, which makes me happy.

But I am still off work, which makes me very unhappy. I went to the doc today and he said that if things go really really well then I might be able to go back to work mid-November. : P Crapola. But I asked if there were exercises or anything I could do. He said he wasn't sure they would help at all, but he gave me a few that won't hurt me. A week and a half ago I got an epidural where they shot steroids into the area that is herniated. It has really helped! My pain is less and my right foot doesn't drag now. I hated that, I felt like Igor. yeesssss masssster. But doc seems to think I'll need more than just that one. But it wasn't too bad, so I don't mind. But I'm supposed to alternate between "sitting and reclining" which makes me feel like a total dork and a total slob because there are so many things that need done around the house and Brian works hard! He's tired at the end of the day. Besides I can't lift anything "heavier than the baby". So it's frustrating, but we'll get through and it'll be all good. I just need to get fixed and get my buns back to work. It's hard to appreciate the extra time with Ella, but I am really trying! She's so special. And this time is so short. It'll be all good. It has to be.

We have a whole new month of pictures for September! http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x175/womachka/september/

Much love!
Mel