Tag: Ellie

Thank You Nancy!

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I want to say a special thanks to Nancy Mason! She is the lovely mother of my dear friend Mackenzie. If you have followed my blog for a while now you probably recognize the name Mackenzie, although we generally call her Auntie Kenzi. She, along with Tommie and Kelli, are honorary Aunties to Abby and Ellie.

After my sister left to head home, Mackenzie came over several days in a row to help me with Abby so that I could have a little more time to recover. On one of those visits, Nancy came along to visit and take some pictures of Ellie. She loves photography and loves to photograph babies and in my oppinion she had an adorable subject to work with. Her pictures were adorable and I wish I could post all of them on here, but that takes time. Time is something I don’t have a lot of. Instead, here are four of my favorites. I will try and post more when I can. Thank you again Nancy!



Relaxing the Weekend Away

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This past weekend was busy but relaxing. You might be thinking to yourself, “Is that even possible?” Well it is, at least I think so. The 9th of September was grandpa Patrick’s birthday, so on Saturday we went over to their house for a birthday dinner and some time to hang out. We had a great time! Abby had the chance to play with Uncles James and his girlfriend Sammy, Shaun and I got a break while grandpa snuggled and held Ellie and we all had a great time just talking and watching Abby play. Fiona even has me addicted to the Bubble Burst game on my phone now. Don’t worry everyone, I haven’t touched my phone to play that game since yesterday afternoon. I don’t need an addiction help group yet. Stay tuned on that though! I was finally able to snap a picture of Ellie that didn’t involve her sleeping in her stroller/carrier or her bouncer. Yay!

Beautiful Ellie

Uncle James and Abby, and Grandpa Patrick and Ellie just hanging out in the back yard.

Grandpa Pat’s birthday cake from Porto’s. Yummy!!

Abby couldn’t resist putting her finger in the cake… it was too yummy looking and she couldnt wait for her own piece to taste it!

Abby finally gets a piece of her own… and boy did she love it!

On Sunday we decided just to take a drive and enjoy the day out. It was a beautiful but hot day. Luckily we didn’t have any plans of getting out of our nicely air conditioned car. Ellie definitely had a better time in the car. She didn’t cry much, if at all. We were literally down the street from our house when she started to scream and that was really because it was time to eat. Once she had been fed, life was better again. That is, as long as she is in someones arms.

Ever since the hospital its been impossible to put her down, but I have to. I have Abby and myself to care for as well as things that need to be done around the house. So most of the time she has to cry it out. Lately the crying fits have only lasted a few minutes and then she either falls asleep or calms down for a bit. All of that being held, snuggled and worried over at the hospital (and rightfully so) spoiled her a bit. I also think she hates laying down. I love her and dont want to rush this time along, but I cant wait until she is strong enough to sit in her Bumbo chair and see the world around her. I have a feeling that she will be a happier baby then. At least for now, my fingers are crossed.

Labor Day Weekend 2010

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Our Labor Day weekend was extremely mild. I think we were still trying to decompress and get back into a normal pattern. Rest and relaxation were the key words for the weekend. And we certainly did try to stick with it.

On Saturday we slept in and all snuggled in bed watching a movie. It was nice to just be there together as a family. Around 11 or so we decided to get up and out of the house… take a drive and get away. I think we really would have enjoyed taking Abby to the park again, but the 100 degree heat made that nearly impossible. Oh well, there are many other weekends.
We decided to drive out to Montrose, La Canada/Flintridge and then Pasadena. I got the chance to see where Shaun spent time as a kid with his dad and Fiona, before they moved into their house in Reseda. From there we drove through La Canada/Flintridge and into Pasadena admiring all of the beautiful homes along the way. Boy would I love to live in one of those homes! Maybe one day… although if I had that kind of money I would have a home in Santa Barbara or Montecito. When then visited with Grandpa and Nana for a bit and then headed home. Like I said, it was a quiet weekend.




On Sunday we decided to head up to Santa Barbara. We didn’t have much planned up there, but figured we could enjoy the drive up, stop by the zoo to renew our memberships and maybe hang out for a bit. However, before we headed up the coast I was able to stop by and visit my dear friend Allyson who had just given birth to her first baby… a handsome little boy!

Nathan Dean Vargas was born Saturday September 4th at 3:25am. He was 5 pounds 12 ounces and 18 inches long. Allyson did a great job and when I came to visit looked great! She was tired, as every mom who just went through labor would be, but there was definitely a glow to her. I could tell through the sleepiness that she was so excited and in love with her little boy. Andy was holding him when I came in and I could certainly tell he was a proud daddy. Such a cute family. Thank you Allyson for letting me come to visit! It meant so much!



The drive up to Santa Barbara after my visit with Allyson was eventful. It was Labor Day weekend and who could have a holiday weekend without traffic?! I knew there would be some, but good grief! Despite the frustration of traffic we made the best of it and enjoyed the drive up. When we finally made it up to Santa Barbara we headed straight for the zoo. We renewed our memberships and then spent the next hour and a half hitting up the favorite spots. When we asked Abby what she wanted to see, her immediate response was “Monkeys!” So we headed over to see the Gibbons first. From there we walked past the elephants, who can miss them, and over to see the Gorillas. Lucky for Abby one of them walked right past the glass! After the Gorillas we headed straight to the giraffes, Abby’s other favorite animal at the zoo. She loves watching them and really did not want to leave. That was made very clear by the near meltdown.





When we left we decided to go for a drive through Hope Ranch. This area was once owned by Fess Parker (Disney’s Davey Crockett) who just recently passed away. It now is a secluded area of homes that are beyond amazing… if only I was filthy rich. Its nice to look though. I had hoped to enjoy a cone of soft serve ice cream from a nearby Foster’s Freeze as we drove through, but it was gone. That place had been there since I was a kid and I am sure before that… and now its gone! I hate change… I really do.

We drove all over Santa Barbara and Montecito mostly to enjoy the scenery but also to get around traffic on our way home. Our drive home once we ran out of alternate routes was a mess. Traffic was a nightmare and Ellie was fussy beyond belief. She was great up until that point but then as we hit traffic and just wanted to get home, she turned up the volume. From Ventura to Westlake Village she screamed and howled. I tried to feed her but nothing. She just wanted to cry and cry and cry and… you get my point. By the time we got home we were exhausted and went to bed right away.

Because of the long ride home, Monday was completely uneventful. We literally did nothing all day. Had breakfast, slept, watched movies with Abby and Ellie, napped while the girls napped. Ran to Target to get some needed supplies and then got dinner on the way home.

Like I said… easy going holiday weekend =)

Two Months and One Month Shy of Two…

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And another month has passed by quickly, although August flew even faster due to Ellie’s time in the hospital. It has barely been a week since she left, but she is doing very well. She continues to cough but they are shorter episodes and she never seems to have a problem catching her breath. At night she will cough in her sleep and it never seems to wake her up. That is a huge deal not just for her but for us.

Ellie, with the exception of a few nights here and there, is starting to sleep completely through the night. Often times she sleeps about 9 hours which is heavenly for us. It feels like those nights of barely two hour stretches are so far behind us. She is growing an changing each and every day. She smiles a lot now and is trying to coo and talk to us. She even tries to mimic Shaun when he sticks his tongue out at her. Its pretty funny if you ask me.

Ellie’s 2 month check up was today. Dr. Calig checked her lungs and so far so good… they sound clear. She is definitely on the mend. Everything else checked out with flying colors. Once again, she is a healthy baby. She received her DTaP vaccine as well as two others, so there was some crying involved and I am sure some crankiness to follow, but I am prepared. Its al worth it for a happy and healthy little girl.

Two Month Stats
Weight: 11 Pounds 4 Ounces
Length: 24 Inches
(Ellie has gained nearly 2 pounds since her last check up and grown almost 3 inches in length. She has now hit the 95th percentile for length… There must be miracle grow in my milk.)

This month also brings something special for Abby as well… Her LAST month as a one year old! This I really cannot believe and almost feel as though I am in a bit of denial. Next month Abby turns 2! Has it really been a year already?! Looking back at pictures from her first birthday and even from this past spring makes me realize how much she has grown and changed. She has changed more from one to two then she did from birth to one. Her looks, features, personality, mannerisms, and more. Abby can speak in nearly full sentences, she learns and understands things even without mommy or daddy teaching them, she is a parrot and says anything she hears and she definitely knows how to test our patience. Its those terrible twos! She isn’t too bad though and most tantrums only last a minute or two when she actually has them.

Abby has adapted well to having a sister and while there are moments of jealousy, they are short lived and Abby is on to kissing and loving her little sister. She tells mommy when Ellie is crying, gets concerned when Ellie is upset, laughs at her when she has the hiccups and likes to play with Ellie’s little toes. Ellie seems enamored with Abby too and often calms down and talks when she sees Abby. They have a bond already and that makes Shaun and I so very proud. Even though it can be tough at times having two little ones, watching them and knowing the special bond sisters can have makes all the difficult times melt away.

A Relaxing Saturday… Just What We Needed!

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There isnt much to say about our relaxing Saturday, other then we needed it. After the time spent in the hospital and all of the worry that surrounded Ellie and of course how all of this would effect Abby, left us feeling a bit stressed and worn out. So when we felt it was ok to do so, we got out of the house and headed for the park. The day was perfect, in the high 70’s, sunny and a cool breeze coming in from the Pacific. Thanks to Erika and Harrison’s birthday party we now have a great new park to go to.

When we got there Abby wanted to head directly to the swings and there she stayed for nearly 45 minutes. Shaun was finally able to get her to move on, but it took some persuasion. From there she ran around the toddler sized play area, hit the slide a few times, and had herself a wonderful time. She even had a little friend to play with, until that child started pushing her and her parents where nowhere to be found to prevent it. Who leaves their child unattended at a busy park?!(I wont get myself started on that one) Abby had a wonderful time and Ellie slept peacefully in the stroller.








After a few hours at the park, Shaun thought that we should take off and head down to the beach. Of course, I agreed! It was a perfect day. We didnt stay long, but Abby enjoyed playing in the sand and chasing the seagulls. Ellie, of course, was asleep or hungry and fussy during her first trip to the beach. But thats ok… we still enjoyed our time. I love that I was able to snap some great pictures too.








One Very Big Reason to Vaccinate…

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Just after Harrison’s birthday party, Ellie started to get a little cough. It wasn’t much, more of a nuisance to Ellie then anything else. At first we thought it was a little cold or allergic reaction but over a day or two it progressed to something worse and that little voice started to work inside my head… This just doesn’t seem right. The Wednesday following his party, Ellie and I headed to the doctors office to get her checked out, just to be safe, and try to silence that voice. Our usual pediatrician was away on vacation, but we saw the other pediatrician in his practice. She listened to Ellie’s chest and it sounded clear as a bell. She felt it was just an irritation or slight reaction to something and it was nothing to be concerned about. I left feeling glad it wasn’t anything big to worry about.

By the time we reached the following Monday, Ellie was coughing hard and barely able to breath. That little voice wasnt so little anymore and it was now screaming at me… “Something is definitely wrong with our little girl!” After a call to our doctors service and a chat with his fabulous PA Susie, we were up bright and early the following morning for walk-in hours to see her and have Ellie checked out… AGAIN. Luckily this time Ellie went into a coughing fit right there in front of Susie and that’s when things changed.

Before we knew it she was calling the ER at Providence Tarzana to let them know we were on our way. From there we spoke with an ER doctor (who had a very, “Holy-er than Thou” attitude) who ran tests for RSV, Influenza, Pneumonia and Pertussis. Ellie also had chest x-rays done just to make sure that she didn’t have any fluid in her lungs. The results for Pertussis and RSV take several days to get back but he didn’t feel it was either. The chest x-rays showed a small spot of fluid but nothing to be concerned about. He felt it was either bacterial or viral pneumonia and from there he sent us home with the final words of “a cough has never done serious damage to anyone.”

Later that night, after we visited with Zoe and said goodbye before she left for a 10 day trip to Belgium, Ellie had another coughing episode. This time, however, she could not breath and after a few moments started turning blue. Just before panic turned into chaos, she was able to catch a breath. That was the point where I knew something was very wrong and that come hell or high water I would get some answers and I would not leave the ER or that hospital until I knew Ellie was ok. So from there we sped off to Patrick and Fiona’s house to drop Abby off and then went to the ER. This time someone listened.

The ER doctor felt Ellie’s situation was a bit of gray area. Her lungs sounded clear but the cough was a concern. He left the decision of what to do for us. Without hesitation we decided to have her admitted for 24 hour observation. The process began and it certainly was something I could have done without. I am proud of myself for being so strong but I was dying inside. Watching them take blood and start her on an IV was probably the hardest thing we have done as parents thus far. Ellie was scared and hurting and I couldn’t do anything to comfort her. She didn’t understand what was happening. Shaun and I felt helpless and honestly I think that is the worst feeling as a parent. After two hours of preparation, tests and paperwork we were finally admitted to Tarzana’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

By the time we were moved up to PICU, it was almost 1:30am on Wednesday August 18th. Shaun and I were already exhausted from several nights of interrupted sleep worrying about Ellie’s cough and breathing. Luckily the night nurse, Ed, was amazing and kept us focused but also took our mind off of things. He got Ellie settled in to her hospital crib and tried to make her as comfortable as possible, swaddling her tight and showing us what we needed to do and how they would help her during each coughing episode. From there we also learned that another baby with pertussis had been there 10 days already and showed no sign of heading home. I had a gut feeling that we wouldn’t be there for just a 24 hour observation anymore. And as for the ER doc that said “a cough has never done serious damage to anyone”, he should have been there when our nurse had to rush to the bedside of another infant to give her chest compressions to get her to start breathing again during a coughing episode.

Ellie with her IV board resting peacefully. At this point she had gone several hours without a coughing episode. Things were looking better for our precious little girl.

I stayed with Ellie around the clock, most of the time, because she relies on me to eat and trying to introduce formula wasn’t a good idea. We didn’t need to add anymore issues to the mix. Luckily I had some frozen milk at home, which allowed me to escape for a few hours to go home, shower, sleep and stop by Grandpa and Nana’s house to visit with Abby. This lasted for 8 days, but with a few visits and an amazing staff of nurses and doctors, the time spent in a dark PICU room was bearable. Ellie was the hit of the PICU though and most of the nurses had no problem holding her and watching her so that I could take a break. They were amazed at how much she smiled and giggled for a 7 week old baby. Ed, Jaimie, Rosie, Sandy, Val, Esmer, and more were smitten with Ellie. Even though they were happy to see her healthy enough to be discharged, I know they were sad to see her go. On Wednesday August 25th, Dr Lee the Pediatric Doctor, gave u the all clear to go home.

Ellie is going home! No more IV board, monitors, cannula, and hospital shirts!

Ellie is doing well thus far. She still has coughing episodes that last a bit but she can breathe and regain a normal breathing pattern on her own. Whooping cough can take up to a few months to get rid of, but we are over the worst. She went in for a follow up with Dr. Calig today and he says other then the nasty cough, she looks great. We go back next week for her 2 month check up, where she will have received her first DTaP vaccine.

While I am not generally a preachy person, I can say that I have a strong opinion about childhood vaccines. I know there are some concerns and I dont judge those people who have their opinions either, but the end result of people not vaccinating their children can be deadly. While we were in the PICU, 5 other cases of Pertussis came through. In the last few months there have been 5 confirmed deaths from Pertussis in Los Angeles County alone. Dr. Calig told me that up until this year he had only seen a handful of Pertussis cases during his 30+ years in practice. Shaun and I were both vaccinated and we kept Ellie away from most people while we were out. Its becoming an epidemic and I feel lucky that Ellie will come out of this just fine. Its something she will never remember but its also something we will never forget. The sad thing is that this infectious disease had basically been eradicated in the U.S. Now its yet another worry for parents of children under the age of 1.

Hau`oli Lā Hānau Emily!

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The Wharton’s were invited to another fun birthday party this weekend. Well, its more like Abby is the popular one. You know, come to think of it… She isnt even two yet and she has been invited to more parties then Shaun and I have. Not sure what to say about that. Today was Emily’s 2nd birthday and Abby was definitely ready to get her hula on.

From what I have been told, Emily is obsessed with Lilo and Stitch and after a trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, where she saw hula dancers, she loves to hula as well. As if this isnt cute enough, Jackie and Emerson have taught her to dance and sing Don Ho’s “Tiny Bubbles”. What a crack up. Therefore it only seemed fitting for her birthday party to have a luau theme! Even better, her birthday cake looked exactly like the cake from Lilo and Stitch!

The party was a blast and despite the heat, Abby played until she couldnt play anymore. As I thought, the girls spent a lot of their time near the “refreshment pool” trying to eat the ice when mommy and daddy werent looking. They were inside and out, haveing a blast. The icing on the cake though, were the dancers that came to perform. They were great and really… it was the birthday girl that stole the show. Emily got right up there and danced with them! Abby somewhat followed suit, although she was very interested in showing everyone a deflated balloon she found too. Harrison came over as well and he had fun playing with one of their dolphin pool toys. He was so cute because to him, it looked like a shark and he kept calling him Bruce from Finding Nemo. As things calmed down, Emily, Abby and Harrison all played together. It was such a fun day!

Abby and Emily “chatting it up” as we first arrive. Love her little hula outfit!

Emily with the dancers who are dressed in their Tahitian costumes. She was ready to dance!

Emily is born to hula! Someone get this girl to the Big Island already!

Oh boy… two two year olds armed with wooden sticks. This could either be really funny or a tad bit scary. Maybe a little of both perhaps?

Keeping cool on a very hot August day with some popsicles… yummy!

Lost in balloons… This kept him happy for quite some time!

Abby is ready for candy combat. Let the sugar rush commence!

Happy Birthday Harrison!

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Happy 2nd Birthday Harrison!
Today was a gorgeous day to celebrate a birthday! Harrison’s 2nd Birthday. Abby was very excited to go because it meant she got to play at the park and the park means swings. She also had the chance to play with Emily and Harrison and let me tell ya its been a while since they have been able to do that! I had a feeling it was going to be a great day.

Boy was I right! Abby had a blast and let me tell you the nap that she took after this fun filled day was a good one. That party was fun and relaxed, which allowed the kids to play and do what they wanted. I love parties like this! Emily and Abby ran around like they were old friends, talking in a language no adult knows, spending a lot of time playing in the little pool where all the ice and drinks were and chasing bubbles produced by the coolest bubble machine ever. Abby, as usual, spent a lot of time on the swings and finally learned to let go of the sides of the slide. In all of this we were introduced to a new park that I know we will be spending a lot of time at in the future. Ellie enjoyed the day as well, sleeping and being fed in the shade of a beautiful tree. It was a glorious day and a wonderful birthday party!

Enjoying the party the only way she knows how… by sleeping

Abby loves the swings… not sure you can tell though.

The handsome birthday boy!

Marching around… these two were a riot!

Taking a much needed hydration break… She is such a character!

Finally… NO HANDS!

One Month and Two Months Shy of Two…

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Ellie is now a month old and Abby is now one year and 10 months old, only two months away from from her second birthday. Both girls are changing so quickly… Is there any way to make time stop?

Today we celebrated those milestones with Grandma Zoe, who also celebrated a birthday as well. As I have sworn to live by the girl code, I will not reveal a ladies age. But we celebrated her 25th birthday… *wink*. The evening was relaxed. Shaun had planned to cook but because of the vaccine he received on Friday ( gotta keep Ellie protected from Pertussis, AKA Whooping Cough) he was not feeling all that great. Instead we ordered from Maria’s Kitchen, yummy and celebrated with an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins… even yummier! We had a very lovely evening.

Ellie has been growing stronger and bigger with each and every day that passes. She is smiling now too! No, its not gas. They are actual smiles which are a result of an action.. generally mommy or daddy acting super ridiculous. I have been trying to catch a picture of her for the last few days now, but haven’t been successful. Luckily she cooperated today and I was able to capture it! She is going to have a beautiful smile just like her sister.

Ellie went in for her doctors appointment on Friday and passed with flying colors. Susie, the PA, was amazed at how strong Ellie is. While testing her strength, Susie had Ellie grab her fingers and at this point she usually pulls the little up a bit. Instead, Ellie pulled herself up. We have a another strong one on our hands! Ellie has gained plenty of weight and grown in length. As a nursing mother, this is music to my ears. Just when it seems as though I am not providing enough for my child, I receive confirmation that I am doing well and she is getting what she needs. That certainly makes my day.

One Month Stats
Weight: 9 Pounds 5 Ounces
Length: 21 1/2 Inches
(Ellie has gained almost a pound and grown half an inch in two weeks)
Finally captured that adorable little smile. What a beautiful girl…. I am a bit biased.

Playing on her monkey mat, trying to figure out how she can get to the monkey swinging above her.

Still thinking about how to get that monkey…

Abby has grown so much too. I swear that in the 5 days I was in the hospital she changed into a whole new person. When Shaun wheeled her in to our room in her stroller the night before we were discharged, there was something different. She held on tightly to her new Woody toy and had a new sparkle in her eye. The sparkle of a little girl who was now a big sister and her mommies little helper. She has been a wonderful help to mommy and has learned her first chore, laundry! Ok so its not a lot, but its so sweet. Abby helps me put the clothes into the washing machine, making sure to separate each item before she puts them in and with a little guidance, presses the start button. Before I know it… she will be doing her own laundry. Until then I will relish in the little moments like this.

My sweet and beautiful little girl… She always makes me smile. How could a face like that not make you smile?

Our pretty, pretty princess… love those big baby blues!

Three Weeks Old….

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Ellie turns 3 Weeks Old today! Another week down and little changes are occurring. Ellie has been a very strong baby… even before birth, but now she is holding her head up on her own and starting to turn it from one side to the other. The news to report however, is that she is sleeping in nearly 4 hour periods! This gives mom and dad a little more time to rest and hopefully start to regain our sanity.

Over the last two days, Auntie Kenzi has spent time with Abby, Ellie and myself. Mackenzie has been a great help as well and of course I love spending time with her. Especially before heading off on an awesome vacation to Africa! Today Nancy, Mackenzie’s mom came over and did a mini photo shoot with Ellie. I cant wait to see those pictures. I am sure they will turn out great, especially with such an adorable subject! I took a few pictures myself, but I am sure they don’t look nearly as great as Nancy’s!

My sweet little peanut at exactly 3 weeks old. Love this girl!

Daddy giving Ellie kisses. I have to say that spiky hair could give Ellie the nickname of Sonic… If so, she is one adorable little hedgehog!

“Oh Grandpa… you’re silly!”

Happy bath time! Ellie loves the bath… No Joke! She cries when I undress her but the minute we started bathing her she is happy. Both of my girls love to take a bath… yay!

Settling Back Into Reality

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Jillian left to go home today… really if you know me well enough I don’t have to say much more. My sister and best friend was leaving and I was a wreck. I had such a wonderful time with Jillian and she had been so helpful during a good portion of my recovery process. She had also become a wonderful playmate to her niece and I truly feel she helped a great deal with the transition Abby was having to make from only child to sibling. It was a blast and something I have appreciated very much.

I held it together on the trip to the airport, talking and laughing as best I could. When we pulled up to the curb and said our goodbyes I still managed to hang on. But when Abby began to cry and scream as Auntie J said goodbye to her and closed the door, I lost it. Thank goodness for sunglasses! It was hard to see Jillian go, but even harder to see my little girl sad and upset that her Auntie and playmate for the past 3 weeks was leaving and she didn’t understand that we would see her again soon. Talk about ripping my heart out slowly. I think I cried quietly most of the way home and Shaun held my hand as best he could while driving. I did recover and so did Abby, but it was definitely a rough morning.

Now its back to reality and as they say “The Honeymoon is Over!”

Auntie J and Ellie strike a pose before we pack up and head to the airport. I definitely was not ready to say goodbye and I don’t think Jillian was either.

I tried to get a picture of Jillian, Abby and Ellie before we left but Abby didn’t want to. This was as close as I got to a picture together. What a memory… nothing but the back of Abby’s head. It is a cute head though, isn’t it?