Many many years ago Alex and I got married. Thirteen to be exact. At the time, when we decided on the wedding date, there were so many people to consider, and in the end, we ended up getting married on my 21st birthday. So, forever hence, it’s been the Birthversary. This year, as we have for the last 4 years, we went to Chez Panisse for our anniversary dinner. Betsy and Steve were amazing, and took on babysitting duties in exchange for laundry privileges. We so got the better end of the deal! Dinner was delicious, as always. And now that we have a small child, being able to spend a few hours of undistracted time together is that much more precious.

On Sunday Ella and I took my coworker Laura and her daughter Bella to the Academy of Sciences. Because of the Bay to Breakers race, it was completely empty! We had total run of the house. The girls had a great time running from room to room. As usual, I think the penguins were the favorite. We met Alex for lunch and then took one parting photo (of two very tired girls) before they went back to the East Bay.



After naps (for everyone) we packed up Ella and Milo and took them to Crissy Field. It was so hot on Sunday – over 95 degrees, which is crazy in San Francisco. We didn’t get there until almost 5pm, so most people were leaving, and the fog was blowing in cooling everything off. Both Ella and Milo had a blast. Milo even took a dive into the water! Here are a few pictures and a couple videos of Ella in her new bathing suit playing in the waves.

The other recent news is how well Ella is doing at her potty training. She loves to have a sit, and read all her books. We mostly credit Ana, our nanny. But she seems to be picking up this new skill quite well!

Mom had so much fun (and tasty food) atFarmer Brown this morning:



Now she’s getting the best Mothers’ Day present of all:



Ella and I love you, Momma Heather!

And while we’re on the subject, we’re also feeling love for our moms today (Meme and Grandma Debbi) and for Tiffany, Ella’s birth mom. Our family couldn’t exist without all of you. Thank you for all your love and all the ways you show it to us!

So Ella reached the 18 month mark a few weeks back.  She’s a whopping 26lbs, and 31″ tall.  Her weight is perfect, but her height is starting to slip down the charts.  So she won’t be much taller than me, which is just fine.  She runs everywhere, and her vocabulary grows by the day.  Lately she’s added “love you;” calling Milo by his name, instead of Dado; “I got you;” and finding the remote control and saying ever so sweetly “yo gabba?”

A few weeks ago I brought her to Sears to get her 18 month pictures done.  I had no idea what an adventure I had attempted.  She wouldn’t stand, sit, or be still – at all.  The only decent pictures she’s obviously looking at me, not the camera.  Then about halfway through she decided she was DONE, and started bawling — serious crying, eyes turning red, snot running down her face to her dress, meltdown.  I told the photographer that we were done, but she wouldn’t let us go!  She said she had to get her seven poses, and we cannot leave until she does.  Oh my.  So I tried all the tricks in my bag, including treats, and asking perfect strangers to attempt to entertain her.  The last shot had to be on her back (um, whaaaa?) and she’s screaming.  Lovely.  I was able to find 2 shots that I didn’t hate.  This is one of them.  I know she’s not looking at the camera, but that smile and laugh is all Elle.

Our family Saturday morning ritual is the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market. This morning it looked like rain and we were groggy from an early Ella wake-up. But this is why we went anyway. We feel really lucky to live where this is a second of May local harvest.

I hope Ella likes it as much as we do. She definitely was happy with the peas and fish we had tonight, but I’m not sure she’s making the connection. But then again, maybe she is, given this response to these apple sculptures in the garden of the De Young Museum on our afternoon walk: