She's a trooper...

These past two weeks have been kind of hectic for the Eicholtz family with crazy times at work...after work...and before work if we're counting. That's not to say that we haven't found time for fun with our girl. With the weeks seeming to fly by, the weekends are like hallowed ground. Last weekend, we took a trip in to the city (sort of) to meet up with mom-to-be Neighbor (Celeste Buehler) for some quality time at Babies R Us. Allie was pumped to get to show her the ropes of the aisles she knows so well, and after, we headed in to Ballston for lunch where dad-to-be Shawn and a long-awaited-Nat joined us.

We also managed to squeeze in time for a double-ear infection. That's right, below is the face of a girl who needs antibiotics. No fever, no fussies, just some ear-flapping and synus goop that didn't go away and made it hard for her to breath out of her nose for a good two weeks. I called the doctor thinking I'd be the joke of the Saturday lunch-break, but it turns out we just have a little trooper who now has a prescription for amoxicillin and will probably be keeping us on our toes with her pain threshold until she can actually tell us what's going on.

Someone's clearly warming up to her carrots. (By the way, her tooth-count is 3 and 1/2 since her top teeth started joining the party.)

Nat!!! Finally! I need a closer look, is it really you?!

The three Buehlers, Nat, and our girl, getting cozy at Cosi.

I've graduated to 'big girl toys.' That's right, I'm typing while playing the piano...genius.

Dad, I got this.

Practicing the Hokie-Pokey with her pup.

Living Up to Her Name

We picked Allie's middle name (Kathleen) because it was my Grandma Kathleen 'Kass' Wintrode's and this past Saturday, Allie got to meet her second cousins, cousins once-removed, and more on her Great Grandma Kathleen Wintrode's side. The first annual 'Descendants of Kathleen Wintrode Reunion' was a definite success (nice work Aunt Jeannette and Uncle Dwight)! This side of the family would gather for Christmas or Thanksgiving in the past, but it has gotten more difficult to get everyone together in the same place as the 'kids' have gotten older and the 'kids' kids' have grown in number. The second weekend in August 2011 seemed the perfect time to start a tradition; and so it begins. Of course that means Suz was ready and waiting with the camera while Allie lived up to her (middle) name, all smiles as she clearly inherited her Great-Grandmother's love for this family and joy of being in the midst of 'all the kids getting along so well'  as Grandma used to love to comment. We're fairly certain that Grandma Wintrode was quite pleased with the gathering.

Allison Kathleen...ready for her close-up!

Allie and Lukas, clearly well-versed in sitting pretty (and studly) for the paparazzi.

Lukas: Allie, over here...focus.(Second Cousins.)

They decided to let the Grand-kids/cousins join their kids for this one.

The original 'kids' and spouses have their turn.

We felt that nothing capped off a fabulous weekend and a half-birthday (that's right, we have a 6 month old) like a first bath in the big-girl's tub. Watch out, Al, your parents are party-animals...

I was born to bathe.

Oh hey, guys! When did you get here?

Such a big girl!

These past two weeks, Allie has continued to let us know how big she is these days. She keeps us posted on her progress by continuous dialogue in the form of squawking and babbling in the upper register for long stretches at a time, breaking skin with her new teeth (ours, that is, when she gets our fingers), and pulling our shoulders out of socket when we foolishly attempt to lug our not-so-little load around in her carseat. She decided she was big enough to finally meet her mom's college roommate, Regan and her two sons, Loki and Caleb. She was an excellent hostess, which is much more than I can say for our four-legged friend who gave Loki a bit too enthusiastic of a greeting and earned herself an afternoon in the office playing secretary for her dad. Fortunately, Loki is used to large, happy dogs and shook it off like a pro, after all, he is the big 0-2, officially.

See? Even my belly's bigger.

We're not sure what they're looking at, but Caleb and Allie are clearly mesmerized by something.

Woah! Hands off the madras, Al!

The Smyth boys are trying to show Allie what relaxing/napping looks like. She's not having it.

Sure am glad you guys came to see me, Regan.

And, to top it all off, she convinced us that she's big enough to start 'school' now, thank you very much. I started back to work on Wednesday, and Allie started daycare on Monday so we could all get used to the routine. Christopher does the morning drop off, during which he has declared that they take her from him too quickly, and he doesn't like it. I do the afternoon pick-up (I think I scored the better end of that deal). I decided that I deserved a reward for cutting the cord, and walked over to go see the last Harry Potter movie on the big screen with three other people who apparently also had nothing to do at 11:10am on a Monday so that I didn't sit at home pouting. Allie loves her teachers and I feel very comfortable that she's in good hands, so we're all surviving, although Chris is having to adjust to the shock of not having her available for mid-day hugs and kisses since this is the first that he's not had her home with him while he's working. The first day I picked her up, I heard her squawking joyfully from outside the closed classroom door, so I think we've found a good fit :o).

I'm so ready for my first day of 'school!' Now, if only Mama let's me out of this death grip...that's it...easy does it.

Pre-first-day cuddle time with Daddy. (Why yes, we did dress her in an 'Introducing Me!' onesie for the occasion.)

Saturday, we had a bonus cousin-sighting at Walney Park where Allie and I met up with Jonathan, Brenda and the kids along with friends from church (from my brother's age- bracket...which....is now mine too) whom we hadn't seen in a long time. It was an awesome afternoon and who doesn't like Saturday picnics with hotdogs and hamburgers on a camping grill?

Old Skool CUMC-Rocky Run Crew (the expanded version!)

Alice, you're so sweet, I could eat you right up. In fact...

So....sweet...

Wait, what just happened?

Hah! Just joking, guys...it was just a joke.

Speaking of camping, our girl was not the happiest camper on Sunday thanks to her two very-soon-to-arrive-top teeth. She's a trooper, but even troopers can have an off day, and today was hers. Feel free to make your appearance anytime, guys. Hopefully the worst is over soon! On an up-note, we've officially entered the wonderful world of veggies and solids! First stop, sweet potatoes. As Rachel Ray would say, 'Yum-o.'