The Eleanors

Ella's namesake, Great Grandma Eleanor Martinson (Diana's mom).

Partying in Havasu!

Erin and Ella went with Oma and Grandma Eleanor to visit her Aunt Marcy and Uncle Tom, and Uncle Richard.

Djembe lessons

Ella is playing djembe with Isaac (who she loves). We are encouraging her musical talents. Just click on the blank box.

Ella's sitting

She still needs her hands, like a little chimpanzee, but she is starting to sit for more than 30 seconds! How exciting! Our baby's growing so fast.

Tia and Ella

Tia's mother-in-law knitted a beautiful shawl and hat for Ella.

Auntie Pam!

My Aunt Pam came down from Seattle to visit, we always enjoy spending time with her. She is awesome.

Cute kids

One of the reasons I think we started thinking about having children were the large number of extremely cute kids at our church.

Grammie and Ella. We had fun visiting the Moorpark Bats a few weekends ago.

1st video try

"Sorry the video is a little dark and long, this is our first try. Listen for her hiccups."

Cool baby toys!

ok, so maybe we enjoy her toys more than she does... But those things are dang cool!And actually, she does find them pretty fascinating too.

Erin's Latest Obsession: Parenting books

ok, so does anyone else find themselves addicted to parenting books? I think it is a problem. Last semester I didn't even do all my reading for my class - instead I spent all my spare time trying to find out exactly what Ella was doing and why she was doing it. I needed to know what normal, developmentally regular babies are supposed to do at each stage - and then I panicked if Ella wasn't doing it.
Pathetic? Well, maybe. But what do you do when you feel completely clueless about what to do with this helpless infant entrusted to you and totally dependent upon YOU to make the right decisions? You read every book you can get your hands on, that's what you do. And each new book promises to be THE ANSWER to all your problems. But, then, it isn't. And it is so annoying because the experts totally don't even agree. So, how is a clueless mom like me supposed to know what to do?
How, you ask, have I managed to function with such insane expectations and thoughts in my weird little head? It hasn't been easy. Prayer (lots of it, that goes something like: God, help my baby go to sleep) and talking to my much calmer, more grounded husband. He reminds me that there is not just one way to raise a child well, that every child is different and won't follow the books all the time, and that I have to stop being afraid of making mistakes. When all's said and done, I might as well accept that she will need a therapist someday, anyway. ;)

Back to School...

Well, we had a lovely 3 weeks off, but now it is back to school for Ian, and Ella and I are back to hanging out together all day. Normally, I enjoy being with her, but I got spoiled letting daddy do much of the work - like changing diapers. :) Don't I got a great man?! Anyway, last night Ella woke up at like 2 in the morning, and I'm the one to do night duty when daddy has to work the next day. She cried until I gave her a pacifier and changed her diaper and gave me huge lovely smiles. But as soon as I tried to get her back to sleep...wahhhhh!!! That did not work. Three times she almost dropped off, but all to no avail. I heard cries and screams I hadn't heard before. What is going on? I finally gave up and fed her, which, as my friend calls it, is basically "nursing her into submission". She didn't sleep as well today, until I tried putting her back to bed really quickly so she wouldn't get overtired. So, any advice out there? Is she just crazy tired from all the crazy things we've been doing while on vacation? Is she teething? Did a dog next door wake her up? Is she now scared of the dark? Is 4 1/2 months a time for sudden night anxiety? Or was she just unusually hungry? I already miss the times when Ian is the one with night duty...

I'm standing up

Ella is now standing with help. She loves locking her legs and pretending to be tall.

Separate but equal

Erin is joining now as a separate identity.

Great Grandpa and 1st great grandaughter

Don't they look alike?

sleeping beauties

Opa and Ella.

halloween pics

We had to put some pictures up from halloween. Ella was a tortuga. Or an Infant Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Mom's pics

We received a bunch of great pictures from Mom Olson (Oma). That's her to the left.

I'm cute

Ella is already learning to be cute, coy and demure (is that the right use of that word?). She smiles at everyone and turns her head away like she's pretending to be bashful. Scary.

Teaching

This year I (Ian) am teaching at Vanguard Learning Center in Compton, part of Compton Unified School District. I am doing 7th grade World History for the second year now. Although I love the subject matter, it has been a very difficult 11/2 years so far. Please pray for my classroom management skills, and my ability to stay sane. I also am praying to be able to go into high school next year (my first love in teaching). Erin is taking this year off of school to raise our child, and will probably go back to work in some capacity next year.

Birth

Here is one of the 1st good pictures of Ella at the hospital, she was 9 lbs 3 oz, and made her mother go through 40 hrs of labor and a C-section.





This is me (Ian) the nervous yet excited father about to go into the C-section room.







And finally the hardworking mother with her prize. Born August 21, 2005. We were very relieved when she came.

Attack of the killer babies

Ella has really started to chew on things. She's not old enough to hold a chew toy so we hold it for her. Yesterday she attacked Erin's nose. She's pretty violent.