Since summer officially arrived last week, we decided it was about time to purchase a pool for the backyard.
(This was later in the day following our morning at the beach... when we eventually gave up on braving the cold ocean water and opted for lounging and cocktails by the pool instead!) We have a few more photos, but Peter and I decided that we are just too vain (and blubbery!) to post any of the ones that actually show evidence of said blubber! Anyway, she wasn't too sure about this whole pool idea at first, but she seemed to dig it after a while. We're keeping it up for a few days so Lindsay and Beckett can come play in it on Wednesday! Hooray!
Here is Elizabeth getting all lathered up with Water Babies lotion for her big day at the beach! (And by "the beach" I mean El Porto...just south of Tower 42 in front of Alfredo's Snack Stand, of course!) After circling the parking lot FOUR times for a parking spot, (why do surfers have to take an hour and a half to strip out of their wet suits, load up their boards, and pack up their gear?!?) Peter, Elizabeth, and I met up with the J's (sans Julia) for a couple of hours in the sun. Elizabeth was not super-fond of the ocean water (we just dipped her feet in), but she was fascinated by it and she seemed to enjoy the sun and sand.
She is just plain BUSY! She's checking out her toys, grabbing at anything within reach, talking to her little caterpillar,...and generally just caught up in her own little world that is busy, busy, busy!
(Don't you love the expression..."Do I have to smile again?!?!")
We were just having a good time rolling around on the floor this morning! So I took these cute little snapshots! 
For those who have not seen the latest commercials (which I guess reveals to you that we are one of the few who still do not have Tivo or any of those other fancy commercial-skipping devices), "Harvest Surprise" appears to be a form of liquid trickery...a concoction by the folks at Juicy Juice designed to sneak vegetables into the fruit juice that kids already love. The theory, I suppose, is that they will hardly notice that they are drinking carrots mixed in with their apple juice?? As one who was never successfully fooled into developing an appreciation for the veggies, I am skeptical. However, since Elizabeth seems to LOVE the taste of carrots (no fooling...I think it might be her favorite food so far!), I am thinking that we just skip the "surprise" and head straight to V-8! But first, we have to master the art of the sippy cup!
I'm pretty sure you've all seen the cheesy corporate plaques that display profound words of motivation beneath a soaring eagle, a flock of geese, or some lone ladybug that is supposedly displaying a trait worth emulating in the professional world. (Er...Grandpa, do you have one of these in your office?? ;-)) Anyway, after watching Elizabeth put forth all of her effort into reaching, pulling, and standing to get her hands into anything and everything inside that ding-dang diaper basket--I am convinced that none of those winged creatures have anything on her! 
Now THIS is what I call inspirational!
and Peter's Dad (Pop-Pop)!
Every once in a while, the onset of Elizabeth's "sleep window" appears out of nowhere. One minute it seems she is happily and busily rolling around, grabbing and chewing on everything in sight, playing with her feet, etc.
Elizabeth wore a pretty sunhat and some spf 50 Water Babies lotion and seemed to enjoy herself immensely. 
Not surprisingly, however, Mommy seemed to forget to cover HERSELF in suntan lotion OR wear a hat, so she came back with a pretty little sunburn! OUCH!
For those of you whose households are not besieged by daily episodes of The Simpsons...(which, by the way, is on 3 times a day for your viewing pleasure...who knew!?)... that quote is from Homer in an episode where he naively decides to adopt some possums as pets. Anyway..."Auntie P" was visiting us the other day when Elizabeth (not unlike "Bitey") decided to take a little chunk right out of her cheek! She must have liked it...because she returned for seconds, not once, but several times! Auntie P was
just holding her and nuzzling her and all of a sudden "arrrghhh"--Elizabeth leaned in close and eagerly attacked her face! Since Elizabeth doesn't have any teeth yet (thankfully!),we were all rolling on the floor laughing! It was quite a sight to see! And, since she did it again and again, we were able to get some pictures of it! Mommy plans to be on the lookout for "Auntie P-flavored" teething rings!
...but always very curious! ;-)
And here is a picture to prove it! Basically, that means that she sits up for about 30-45 seconds at a time all by herself—and we think that's a pretty long time!—before toppling over! WOOHOO! This picture was taken just after bathtime (note the pink hooded bath towel behind her) on her changing table. She seems to like just hanging out and sitting there--who knows, maybe it's the nice cushy landing when she topples! Anyway, it's hard to believe how much she changes from day to day!
