Quick update on us

We've all been quite busy lately - Elle is smiling, "talking" and growing like a weed (11 pounds, 9 ounces on her two-month birthday!). Tim is working a lot, following the MLB postseason closely and living and dying with the Bengals. And I'm running around trying to get oodles of stuff done before my maternity leave ends :(

My sports editor's mom knitted Elle a beautiful hat and blanket (photo at left). Elle was thoroughly confused as to what I was putting on her head (she really hasn't been one for headbands or hats yet) and why I thought she needed it in Florida, but hey, the weather *is* starting to cool off, and she totally looks cute in it!

My sister came to visit last week, and Elle had a great time meeting her aunt. We gave Elle a good dose of outlet shopping one day, ate a picnic on the beach in near-stormy weather, went to one of my mommy-baby groups, had some yummy food, and Marti helped me run a lot of errands and finish up projects. I was also able to get to the gym a few times and leave the baby for quality aunt time.

On Marti's first night in town, we left Elle with a sitter for the first time (this sitter will also be watching her a few hours a week when I go back to work). Tim, Marti and I went to St. Pete to meet up with my friend Traci and attend a Rays game ... and a Bret Michaels concert! I've been looking forward to this concert since it was announced in May, and I feared that Bret would cancel or be ill. I was more excited about the concert than the game (which we missed half of, anyway). It was nice to get out for a little bit and know that Elle was in good hands, and the concert was pretty cool, too. It was the second time I'd seen Bret in concert :)

This week is full of family and friends for Elle - she's meeting lots of important people! Next week will be significantly less happy for both of us - she has her two-month well-baby visit, which means her first vaccinations :( And then I return to work at the end of the week - I was trying to arrange it so that I would ease in to things with a half-week, but my days off changed and now I'm going to be slammed with a full-time return. To say I'm not looking forward to the transition would be an understatement :(