Monday was my birthday, but I was out of town for work… so Alex and Ella sent met this video.

I have been neglecting this blog lately, and for that I apologize. See, it’s so easy now to take a quick picture with an iPhone, upload to Facebook, type in a snappy caption, and DONE! But this means that I spend less time doing proper blog posts, and for those of you who don’t use Facebook, you don’t get the great updates of Ella. And that’s really why we’re all here. So, without further ado, here is a video seen nowhere else but here! Feel better yet?

About a month ago a work friend of Alex’s was in town. While he was here they took Ella down to the DeYoung sculpture garden, and Eddie shot a few pictures. They came out amazing, and thought we’d share.

We traveled to Utah mid-October to see family, celebrate Ella’s birthday, and for a film screening for Paperback Dreams

The film screened on Thursday, October 23rd at the SLC library. It was well attended, thanks in part to our Heiner family, and SLC friends! Unfortunately, our dear one-year-old (still sounds strange!) did not have the patience to sit quietly and watch Daddy’s movie. But luckily (?) neither could Cousin Gray. So Spencer, Gray, Ella and I entertained one another in the lobby. Spencer is the best Uncle ever, and was a huge help with Elle, and I taught Gray how to hand out postcards once people left the theater. He called them his “monies.” And he’d give them out to anyone who walked by – and sometimes would demand their return!

The next day was “Hamburger Day.” On the 24th of October last year we met with A Angel Adoption to sign our adoption paperwork, in a Burger King. It was surreal to say the least. But we decided that ever after 10/24 would be Hamburger Day. (We couldn’t stomach the thought of it being BK day…). So we piled up Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Spence, Cousin Gray, Mom, Dad and Ellie. We went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Ella and Gray had a blast, mostly sharing a Caffeine Free Diet Coke (nasty).

That night when we went home Spencer and Alex decided to carve pumpkins. I thought they were a little over ambitious, but boy was I surprised! They carved 4 pumpkins – one that looked like Ella, Gray, Milo, and Dash (the latter two are our respective pups). They were so awesome lit up!

On Saturday Chris and Amanda joined us. Ella took a real shine to Amanda. Super cute.

And we had her birthday party. It was great to see so many family members and friends. Too bad we didn’t take many pictures! But here’s the 2nd birthday cake. She was still a bit freaked out when we sang to her. Maybe it’ll go better next year…

All in all it was a great trip. We got to see family, Gray and Ella had a ball together, and it was great timing for a vacation.

Okay, this is the last one for today. Here are a series of fabulous videos featuring your favorite almost-one-year-old.

Dancing with Daddy

She’s started taking a few steps on her own (sometimes up to 6-8!) But mostly, she likes a little help.

She’s also developed her own patented method of paci lifting:

And the last one is for Grandma B. She gave Ellie this doll for Christmas. Lately, she loves to give her baby kisses.

And no sign of Rocky Raccoon, except this:

Looking forward to coming home.

Alex may seem to be an absent blogger lately, but he is busily working on his latest opus, “Paperback Dreams.” More details on the film  here or here.

It is due to be completly done and delivered on the 21st. Needless to say, he’s pretty busy. But I’ve seen some of the drafts, and it’s impressive. Our friend Nate has done the music score. He’s so talented, and has done an amazing job.  This has been a labor of love for Alex.  He started this project over two years ago.  And in that time of the two bookstores he is profiling, there have been two openings and three closings.  It is slated to air on KQED in 2008.  Updates will (of course) be posted.