September 16, 2012: The Giant's Race

Imagine my surprise when Grant indicated that he wanted to sign up for the Giant's Half Marathon this year!  And with Heather signed up too, and Megan living locally and able to cheer us on, it made for another great family event.  The Giant's Race is a great San Francisco course:  it starts out in front of AT&T Ballpark, and continues along the Embarcadero and past Fisherman's Wharf, along the Marina and past Chrissy Field, and to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, then winds back to the starting point at the stadium.  The cool part about the finish is that you actually cross the finish line inside the stadium and on the field!  It was an absolutely beautiful day in the City that day, and we had so much fun.

 

September 4, 2012: 11 Months Old!

How big is Ellie?!?!?  Sooooo big!

It is true - we have a "big" 11 month old.  And she is just so much fun.  Some of Ellie's favorite things include:

• eating as many blueberries as we will allow;
• dancing to music (she loves Pandora, and so do we!);
• splashing around the bathtub;
• "helping" mommy get ready in the morning by taking cosmetics out of the bathroom vanity (pictured below); and
• sticking her fingers inside the dogs mouths, then laughing hard when they lick her.

We love playing with her and watching her grow!

 

September 1, 2012: Tia Megan is a NorCal Resident!

On September 1, 2012, Tia Megan officially became a Northern California girl!  She signed her lease and moved in to her new apartment in Mountain View (just 10 minutes away).  This means two AMAZING and WONDERFUL things:  1) Ellie gets to see her Tia Megan ALL THE TIME; and 2) Grant and I have a new babysitter!  Yahooo!  We love you, Megan, and are so glad to have you so close!

August 19, 2012: Ellie's First Haircut

It's not all giggles and grins in the Gaudette household.  Occasionally, there are tears too.  And that's precisely what we saw when we took Ellie to get her first haircut and the trendy new barber shop for kids in town, Snip-Its.  There could not be a cooler place than Snip-Its to get your first haircut.  There are toys in the waiting area, TVs at each haircutting station playing programs like Thomas the Train and Curious George, lollipops and cookies for good boys and girls, and - at the end of the cut - kids trade in little bits of their chopped hair for a toy.  Nonetheless, Ellie was not fooled by all of the fancy gizmos.  As the pictures so clearly depict, what started as curious tolerance for this new adventure turned into a tortured, fear-for-your-life, completely heartbreaking wail.  Despite Grant, Tia Megan and my encouragement, and reluctant nibbles at an animal cracker, Ellie was UPSET!  In the end, the haircut turned out great, and Ellie no longer has her bangs covering her eyes.  And, when the barber gave her a cute little rubber ducky bath toy as a prize, we're pretty sure that she even cracked a smile.