Etta's Journal

Home

We made it home yesterday afternoon after a long day of travel. Mommy got a few cute pictures of me on the airplane (which she'll post later). Daddy met us at baggage claim and was very happy to see us! I was a little grumpy, though. Mostly tired. A very nice man came up to us while we were waiting on our luggage. He has a 10-year-old daughter with Down syndrome and he wanted to say hello and tell us how beautiful I am! It was so sweet, it made me blush. Oh, wait, my cheeks were already flushed before that! Sometime during the day, my cheeks flushed. They got pretty red and sensitive when Mommy or Daddy touched them. It's like the drier air gave me a sort of "wind burn". They seem better this morning. Not as RED, just like I have a little blush on. Mommy's keeping an eye on it though.

I didn't sleep well last night. Which was frustrating for Mommy. She was SO tired and I kept waking up. She eventually put me in bed with them and we all slept happily ever after! Until 5:30am or so. That's when I started stirring. Mommy dragged herself out of bed and made my medicine and my bottle. Yum, slurp, gobble... I was ready to EAT!

The Beach: Take Two

We went back up to the beach house this weekend. Penny and Vince Canamas came with us! They are so sweet and easy to be around. I didn't go back down to the beach this trip because low tide always fell around noon during the heat of the day, but I did get in the pool. The weather (generally) did not seem as sticky and unbearable this time and the dip in the pool helped make it even better! Lita had some cute little animal shaped sun visors and I picked out the one shaped like a tortuga (that's "turtle" for those non-Spanish linguists out there). I liked that it REALLY helped shade my eyes from the sun. Much better than my little sun bonnet.

I also worked on sitting up this weekend! I'm getting better and better at "tripod sitting" (using my hands to help prop me up). Mommy got some really good photos of me doing this for a VERY long time this afternoon before we left the beach house.

When we got back from the beach this evening, we decided to go visit my Great-Grandfather, Bill Homa's, grave site. We took our little stones to leave on the tombstone (as a symbol of our commitment to uphold his memory) and we took a photo to help remember. Mommy spent time thinking back to her last visit with "Sweetie" in July of 2006 when the family gathered for his 90th birthday celebration and she thought about being newly pregnant while standing under a tent in that cemetery just over a year ago.

I have pretty earrings now!

Mommy and Lita and Great Aunt Donna took me to get my ears pierced today. First we went to the jewelry store and got some pretty little faux diamond earrings with gold stems. Then, they took me to the maternity ward in the same hospital where Mommy was born and paid a nurse to do the deed. Mommy's not really sure what went down because she gave me to the nurse who took me back into a top secret room for about 15 minutes. Lita and Great Aunt Donna said that they wish they had a camera handy to document Mommy's face as the nurse took me away. I emerged from the secret room with pretty sparkles in my ears and some remnants of tears in my eyes. Then, I passed out in the car and slept all the way home.

We are heading to the beach again this evening for the weekend. We'll be back Sunday and I'm certain that Mommy will have more photos to upload! ;)

Happy Friday, Everyone!

I'm in Panama!

Mommy and I spent ALL day on Thursday traveling to Panama to to visit with Lito and Lita and the rest of my Panama family!

My first plane ride from Nashville to Atlanta was interesting... I was fussy as we taxied down the runway. Mommy was worried for the other passengers because it seemed like I would never calm down. But as we lifted off the ground, I broke into a fit of giggles. Mommy thinks I did this because it was a little bumpy and that might have given me butterflies in my tummy. It was smooth sailing from there. I ate and then took a little nap.

When we arrived in Atlanta, Mommy and I got to meet Ms. Lori and Natalie and Alyssa (there are links to their websites on the front page of my journal). We had really been looking forward to this get-together! Alyssa and I were so cute staring at eachother and Natalie had fun pointing out my features (eyes, nose, mouth...). She also liked rubbing me with her arm. It was cute. They hung out with us until it was time to go back through security.

The flight to Panama actually left Atlanta on time! Mommy couldn't believe it! No take-off giggles this time. It was a long flight (four hours), but I ate and slept much of the way. No fussing! One of our row-mates even commented on what a good flier I was. Mommy hopes things go as smoothly on the way back!

The next day (Friday), we slept in a little and went with Lita to the mall and the grocery store before we headed up to the beach house for the long holiday weekend (one of Panama's many independence days was on Monday).

We spent much of our time at the beach indoors. It was really bright outside. I don't think I LOVE the beach house as much as Mommy does. It was hot and bright and sticky and Mommy made me wear sunscreen which made me even stickier! We went down to the beach one evening when the sun wasn't as hot (or as bright). Lito dipped my toes in the Pacific Ocean and Mommy put my toes in the sand.

Lito and Lita's dog, Moka, has taken on the roll of nanny. She checks on me ALL the time and everyone was surprised when Nanny Moka came over to check on me while Lito was dipping my toes in the ocean. We think she was worried I might be in danger.

We came back to the city today (Monday). We're planning a trip back to the beach next weeked.

We miss Daddy and hope he is having a good time being a bachelor while we are away. ;)

Five Months Old!

Yesterday, I turned five months old! To help me celebrate, Daddy gave me my first taste of chocolate! He let me lick on the end of a candy bar when Mommy wasn't looking (thank you, left-over Halloween candy!). After Mommy got over being mad about it, she actually thought it was kind of funny. She got a cute picture of me with chocolate on my lip.

Daddy promised not to do it again. awww.. man!!! :(