Chattanooga

We took a day trip to Chattanooga with my parents. I don't think I've ever been there an we loved it. Our first stop was to the Creative Discovery Museum. With my Boston children's museum pass we got half off admission!



Elinor jumped right in there. She loved the separate water table for smaller little ones.






The 0-4 yr old room was awesome. There was only 2 other children in there at the time but I could see it getting wild on a crowded day. I like that the infant section was 0-18 months. Sometimes in rooms with 3 and 4 year olds they get too rough and Ellie gets intimidated.











This nice quiet reading area was great for a little break.

















After the museum we walked around a bit trying to find something to eat. I said we could go anywhere and I would just get a salad but my parents insisted on finding a vegan place.


They found a small place called Green Thumb Vegetarian Cafe. The people were so friendly and the food was amazing. So many options that in not used to having. If we ever end up back there, we will be going back.

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Tennessee part 2

 My parents told me about a barn where you can ride horses. They also have hay rides followed by a fire where they roast hot dogs and make s'mores. How fun! Too bad we could never do that unless we bring our own.

 Elinor loved it there. I really think she may be a country girl. She loved looking at the horses and playing with the barn cats. We found out later that the cat is actually not very friendly. A man told us to watch out for her after Elinor had been rubbing and pulling on it. The cat didn't seem to mind one bit.

 I had to nurse Elinor before we left. While we sat in the car I snapped this cute picture of my parents waiting. How adorable are they?!

We came home and Elinor and toby played. It was so hard to get pictures of them since neither of them will sit still.

Tennessee

Dave had to go to Russia to play some shows so Elinor and I went to Tennessee to visit my parents. They had bought a house there awhile ago but finally retired and made the move.

My dad picked us up from the airport. He held Elinor and she snuggled up on his shoulder right away. We facetime with them just about everyday but I didn't think she would make the connection. Their house is amazing. It's something that I wish we can find, big and open. They are in the mountains with nothing but woods all around them. When we got out of the car and I looked up, the sky was full of stars. I forgot that the night sky can even look like that! I didn't bring our real camera since I already had so many things with me. I wish I did but hopefully Dave can get some free time and we can go back.

Our first day there my parents showed us around. There are trails that go everywhere. They have access to the lake, pools, community center for the indoor pool and basketball court, playgrounds, golf courses and more. Everything is so close unless you need to go to a grocery store.

Elinor and their new puppy Toby became buddies right away. He was so good with her but as the days went on my sneaky daughter would push her toys or food into his mouth and then look at her papa to yell at him. Then she would laugh and laugh. Oh that little girl!

She loves her "papa" and "mum". I wish we could be close enough for weekend trips.

moving on

I was thinking today that I might just give up on blogging. I've been so busy and having a hard time finding a free moment. But I love having this place to look through old pictures and even to see what we were doing last year this time or even a few years ago. Yes, I have all the pictures saved but here there is a story with the pictures.

 We are moving to Philadelphia in a month! We started thinking about moving a year ago and now it is almost time. I'm so excited and nervous. I love love love living here. I would love to raise Elinor here, where I know where all the parks, museums, farms, and everything kid friendly is, where we are down the street from the ocean! But I know the best thing to do for us is to be closer to family. We will find new mommy and nanny friends and eventually find all the fun places to go.

A few weeks ago is when the nerves started coming in. When I moved here, I was completely over where I was. It was only me and I was ready for anything. Now with our whole little family, making a move is scary. Even though Elinor is little, the move will matter to her. She won't have her little friends, we will be in a new house that she will have to get used to. I know she will adjust and we will find new little friends (it won't be the same as her Henri though!).

I have so much going on/running through my mind and I'm not sure how often I will be around here before we move. I hope to squeeze in all of our favorite things to do here in the next few weeks and maybe get some pictures along the way.


These pictures are from a few days ago at the beach. Some kids were playing in the water and I am SO surprised Elinor didn't try to. She just wanted to run in the grass and point to every dog. 

HOOD

My dad said that when Elinor sees me this is what she sees...

I can't hold her close to me without her frantically signing milk. She is not a snuggly baby. The only time I get to hold her for more than a second is when I'm nursing her. But I wouldn't change it for anything.

The name of the boat behind us is Eleanor

Elinor and flowers

While in Philly a few weeks ago, we made a trip with Grandmom to Longwood Gardens. I love coming here and right now I would like to look at pretty flowers and Elinor rather than read the news.

I love this one of Elinor giving Grandmom a big hug