Mental Problem

Yes, I seem to have developed a mental issue - I just signed up, again at Kim's urging, for another run this weekend - this time only 4 miles, but it is going to be COLD out. I should commit myself to some sort of program I think.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble Gobble!

Haven't written in a while, so I will give a few quick updates on this past weekend:

1) Friday night, Lenny, Jared and I went into the city to meet my friend from vet school Charlotte and her friends Claire and Ane. We ate at a BBQ Restaurant/Bar and then went to a couple of bars/pubs in the meatpacking district. A good time was had by all, was really great seeing Charlotte again - it had been over 3 years!

2) Saturday I had to work, but Angela's dad (Alan) and his wife (Arlene) came to visit along with her aunt (Mavis) and uncle (Terry). Ella got to meet and greet everyone and had a lovely time! I only got to see them for an hour before they left, but it was very nice to see them!

3) Today was the Long Beach 10K Turkey Trot that my old high school friend Kim talked me into signing up for. It was FREEZING out, especially along the boardwalk, and while we waited to start the race, I felt like I was going to die. It was SO COLD. But once we started, I felt fine. I was happy with how the race went, although I didn't reach my goal of finishing in under an hour, I got pretty close (which isn't bad for a first time!) with a time of 1:00:54. I felt astonishingly fine after I finished, better than I had felt after either of my previous 5k runs, so I guess I must be getting better at this running thing than I had thought. However, once I got home, my nose started running and the congestion set in, so the cold that I thought I was kicking has come back to kick me a bit. I'll live...and here's some pics!

Ella in a cute little baseball cap.

(Left-Right) Uncle Terry, Aunt Mavis, Ella, Arlene and Alan.

Me posing like an idiot pre-race (Angela told me to do it, I swear!).

Coming towards the finish...

At the finish!

Back home with Ella!

The Best Medicine

After Ella's diaper was changed earlier today, I accidentally discovered a spot on her chest which caused her to squeal with laughter like never before. Angela was astute enough to grab the video camera and capture the moment...which is now on YouTube for your viewing pleasure! Please pardon my cheesy grin and baby-talk - I was just thrilled to hear my little girl cracking up as if she just saw the Borat movie!

Ella's First Flight

Saturday we took Ella on her first ever flight to Florida to see Nanny and Poppy. She did SO well for the entire trip - so much so that I really don't have much to write about! The day after we arrived, Nanny and Poppy hosted a small get-together for all of their friends to meet Ella. Our friends Carl and Rachel came along as well. It was very nice. Last night, Carl, Rach, Angela and I went to dinner at a haunted pub (which was shipped over from London, UK!) called the Blue Anchor - had some real british fare...but, sadly, no ghosts appeared. Even though it was Halloween. LAME. But the food was good. Anyway, Ella was extremely pleasant for the entire journey to FLA, the whole time we were there, and the trip home as well...a few hours after arriving home, she had a screaming fit that we couldn't stop, however, so we gave her some Tylenol (thinking that maybe she had a headache or an earache from the flight), and she seemed to settle down. She is now fast asleep, so I figured I would post some photos! Here ya go:

Ella, Nanny and Poppy

All of us!

Look at this - already drinking from a cup!! (Not really - it was empty)

Photo taken during one of her now infamous rants.

Ella's first piggie-back-shoulder-ride thingy

Yes, she is.

Best Onesie EVER. She is SO a monkey.

My lovely ladies!

Yeah, baby, YEAH!