Family reunion, what?

The Martinez clan is in da house! Kenny and Karen’s house, that is. Approximately 14 adults, young and not so young descended on Chez Platis/Martinez for a whirlwind, impromptu family reunion with our Miss E as the draw.

The weekend began with a solo trip from Spokane with me looking like a Sherpa making her way down the jetway. Elianna was strapped on my front, on my back was a car seat carrier, stuffed with extra contraband that was too much weight for the luggage tucked inside, on my shoulder was a diaper bag stuffed to the gills and I had my largest purse filled with jackets, food and oh yeah, my wallet. Elianna was a champ on the flight with only a few squawks of protest when I wouldn’t let her toddle down the aisle during takeoff but she contented herself with moving back and forth from seat to seat in our row that we had to ourselves (heaven!).

The reunion itself was wonderful. While I know Elianna was the excuse it was fantastic that almost everyone was able to arrange their schedule to get together for a few hours (which is really all it was!). Elianna took to all the new people with her usual aplomb. After a few minutes of sober study of the situation, she allowed herself to be passed from person to person with nary a peep. She learned new words (Nana, Poppa) and tried to learn others (GG for my Grandma Mary), ate new food, and gained several new admirers (Christina, Corinne!).

The trip back was relatively easy. Despite being tired, Elianna was only slightly cranky and she tried to make friends with all around her. After meeting 13 or so new people, she appeared to think everyone was family; all newcomers were greeted with a, “haaaaaaah” (Hi) and a wave. I've also discovered she knows how to flirt; she was doing it all during the trip with the boys in the seat behind us!

So we are back home, getting over a cold that I'm sure we contracted on the airplane but it was totally, totally worth it. Our family isn't the best at keeping in touch, at following each others' lives but we did this time and I'm proud of us.

What we have heah, is a faylyuh to cuhmmunicayte

For sure! Elianna is talking up a storm these days. To the uneducated ear, much of it sounds like 'dada' and some uninformed souls will finish her sentences assuming she's looking for Mike. But if one hears these sounds day in and out there are subtle but distinct differences. 'Dedn' is a popular sound but I have no idea what it's supposed to be. 'Desses' is possibly 'glasses' but could be 'circles'. Dahndahn is another unknown and the list goes on. She's very emphatic about what she's telling us so you know *she* understands what she's saying and thus far, seems content to have merely passed the information on; it seems to be *our* problem that we don't understand.

Another issue is that she will sign words to us and immediately sign the opposite ('all done' and 'more' being notable examples). Kind of makes us wonder if she really does understand what she's signing or if she's just messing with us: Hmmm, how can I make Mommy and Daddy spin around like a top? Heeeee!

Walking is coming along swimmingly; sometimes she even looks like she's trying to break into a run. Stairs are an issue again; she refuses to go down backwards, will instead scoot to the very edge, do a squat until she's sitting on the next one down, and repeat. Alternatively, she'll reach for our hands and just walk down, one giant step at at time. Either way makes Mommy very nervous!

She's always blowing kisses and sometimes drops these wet, open mouthed besos on us...so cute! She's also so sweet; she'll give a kiss and then snuggle her head on my shoulder. Way to turn me into a big puddle of goo, kiddo!

But I still want to know what 'dedn' means.

Yeah, so?

Had to the be title of this post, if only because the picture screamed it. I should get used to this expression because I'm sure it will live on her face when she's a teenager.

So it's all just happening too, too fast. She does something new every. single. day. and it all shows how smart she is. I had a friend and her 9 month old daughter over yesterday, was talking about what signs Elianna did and didn't know and as I was saying them she was doing them. All of them. Even the ones I said she didn't do or know. Maybe it's not showing how smart she is but more that she's been paying attention. Remember last post (a week ago) when she had to crawl over to a wall to stand up? No longer, she stands up on her own. Still a bit tippy but getting more and more stable as the days...no, hours go by.

So this is supposed to be slightly food related as well so I'll talk about what we had for dinner. Now Mike and I are hardly vegetarian; we will eff up a steak in good fashion like nobody's business. One of our favorite restaurants in Vegas is Cut and although their pretzel bread *is* to die for we do actually go for the beef. That being said, we have been embracing our inner vegetarian and tonight's Ethiopian lentil stew was one of our forays. Red onions, red lentils, garlic, ginger all served over brown rice with cilantro and Greek yogurt....you're all jealous aren't you? It was really good though. The merlot we had with it was awfully decent as well.

Okay, who am I kidding, you all just want more Elianna, right? Now that she's a year old there's a whole shelf of books I get to pack away until the next (theoretical) one. What to expect the first year, Baby 411...all those are no longer applicable. We've got ourselves a toddler We are also having quite the Martinez family reunion coming up and we can't wait to see you all. Hasta next post!