Nature walk

We visited a nature preserve this weekend and had a chance to use our jogging stroller. It was an amazing mystical place. I kept expecting a fairy to come flying by. Elia really enjoys being outside and we hope to explore some more areas around here.

Elia's first picnic

I went to a La Leche (organization that promotes breastfeeding) meeting this week and met some other moms. It was great. One of them told me about a Blue grass jam that a small suburb has in their town square. A bunch of people bring their instruments and form instant groups. Families bring picnics, hang out and listen. It was really fun.

Elia loves to look up at trees!

Elia had to get her two month shots. It was awful.

Our New home

We found a place to live here in Tennessee! There is even a place out back for Elia.

Two Months Old!

I turned two months old today! Mom and Dad can not believe how big I have gotten. They have been very busy getting our new apartment together. It has been a very exciting few weeks. I have made a lot of new discoveries. I have discovered that I can make a lot of new sounds and I think my parents are hilarious when they say Hola. It is my favorite word and makes me laugh. I can also put my whole hand in my mouth. It is really fun to suck on. My Dad does this flying thing with me that I really like but it makes mom a little mad. She worries too much.

I have become very strong and if I could figure out this balance thing, could probably stand on my legs. My Dad keeps putting me on my tummy and I really don't like it too much but since I can hold my head up and stick my neck out already, Mom and Dad think I will push up and roll over soon.

I also like what Mom has been doing with my hair.

Take a seat

Do you think we have enough seating options for Elia??

Mud Island

Josh, Elia, and I ventured into the city to see the Mississippi River. We visited this great park called Mud Island where there is a working scale model of the entire Mississippi. Kids are encouraged to wade and splash their way down until they get to the "ocean" where the water spurts out into a huge fountain.

It is right along the real roaring Mississippi. This was a beautiful steamboat called the American Queen that travel all along the river.

Packed to the gills in our little Subaru and Elia snuggled in the back seat, we made the long drive to Florida last week to see Grandparents. It was an interesting drive with a six week old infant. Elia has taught us both a lot about patience. I started out in the front seat but ended up sitting in the back the whole way. I breastfed in gas station parking lots and changed diapers on my lap, which was really interesting and hilarious. We finally made it though and stopped off in Orlando to introduce Elia to her Grandpa Erik. We were so tired I forgot to take pictures! It was nice to see my Dad, Nancy and Mancer. Then we went to St Pete to stay with Josh's Uncle Bo and Aunt Bea. Josh's Aunt Freida, visiting from Oregon, and his Mom were all there to greet us. Grandma Robin was so excited to see Elia again and could not believe how big she has gotten since she was born. The next day we were able to introduce Elia to Papi Jaime. Robin and Jaime presented Elia with two poems they had written her that reduced Josh and I to blubbering idiots.

Elia got to meet her Great Grandma Susie too, which was so special. This is her first Great Grandchild.

We made it to Memphis on Tuesday. We are staying in temporary housing for a few weeks and are exploring the city and surrounding areas. It is a pretty nice city and we hope to find a place to live close to Josh's office. We have already done some fun things, like the Botanical Gardens where we fed coy(sp?) fish and visited a small farmer's market. Today we are going to the Memphis Word Championship Barbecue Contest on the river! Josh is very excited about that. Next weekend we are going to a picnic in the park and Sunset Symphony. It is all part of Memphis' annual Memphis in May festival. So if you are planning a visit here, May seems like a good time to come. It seems there are always interesting things to do though. We look forward to it all!

Moving to Memphis

Our time here in Columbia has come to a close. Josh has finished school and the packers are coming tomorrow. We are cutting off our cable so we will not have internet for awhile unless we pick it up somewhere along the way. We will be driving to Gainesville on Thursday to see friends of Josh's and to Orlando on Friday to see Grandpa Eric and Nancy and Friday night we are off to Tampa to see Josh's family. We plan on being in Memphis on Wednesday where we will stay in a temporary apartment until we can find a place before Josh starts work June 2nd. I will try and keep you all posted on our travels and what we are up to!

Life is hard

(click on picture to see it bigger)

Happy one month!