Grocery Shopping in Style

Eleanor was very excited to drive her very own shopping cart car in Massena on Saturday

Buckets of Fun

We've stopped in Erie, PA on our way home to Potsdam after a wonderful week in Ohio with the Becks. We had to eat dinner somewhere, and Dave spotted an old favorite: Quaker Steak and Lube. While mommy watched President Obama make a last-ditch effort to pass the health-care bill, Daddy ate a massive bucket of chicken wings with his fellow Americans.

Mommy thinks that in this picture Eleanor looks like the spitting image of the munchkin that guarded the entrance to Oz.

Buckets of Fun!

Eleanor Goes for a Walk

On this beautiful, sunny day, Eleanor lead us all out into nature on a fabulous walk down the Farm's lane. We enjoyed seeing the horses, and birds, and the old barn.

Eleanor puts her new shoes to work

Eleanor is in good hands with Grammy and Papa

Eleanor at the farm: 12 mo. and 14 days

Eleanor at the farm: 2 months

Farm Girl

Eleanor and a miniature pony have a stare-down. Eleanor thinks, 'Don't you belong in my children's books?'

New Shoes for First Steps

Today we continued a Dayton, OH and Beck family tradition. We brought Eleanor to Roderer's Shoe Center for her first shoe fitting. Eleanor walked off (though unsteadily) 30 minutes later with a brand new pair of size 5.5 Stride Rite 'First Steps,' and another pair of fancy purple iridescent Stride Rite Mary Janes in size 6. We're all set for a wild, walking spring and summer.

'Does the pointed toe lengthen my leg?'

Eleanor's toes are in there somewhere

Eleanor stretches her hamstrings for some big stepping

And she's off!

Hooray Roderer's!

First Steps!

Eleanor had a banner day today. Not only did she get to see her Great Grandmother, Great Aunt and Uncle, multiple generations of cousins and her Grandparents, but she also took her first steps in front of them all!

Eleanor had been the center of attention all day during her visit to her Great Grandmother's house at Friendship Circle, but she saved her greatest trick until just before everyone had to leave. Eleanor's timing and flare for the dramatic earned her shouts and claps and cheers and hugs. Hooray Eleanor!

She'd like to say 'thank you' to all her wonderful and loving relatives for encouraging this latest stage of development. She'd also like to thank her agent (mom) and her stylist (Cousin Julie).

Eleanor and her G.G.

Eleanor is enchanted by everything Julie and Tiffany

'Does it come in my size?'

Focal Point by contrast

Cousin Greg, Great Aunt Suzy and Squishy-face Eleanor

Eleanor and cousin Alex

Cousin Nate offers a delighted Eleanor treats

Eleanor was so happy to be surrounded by so many people that love her.

Eleanor's Storybook Birthday

Once upon a time, a little baby named Eleanor prepared for her very first birthday. She spent weeks trying on her very best pink dresses. . .

and her very best jewelry (Great-Grandma Rochelle's jewelry).

She waited patiently for her Grammy and Papa Beck to visit. And one day, they finally arrived!

For her first birthday, she had all sorts of activities planned to share with her grandparents. In the early morning, she daintily posed with her 'digger' cake (see earlier entry).

Next on the schedule was her Music Class at SUNY Potsdam. Eleanor dressed in her very best birthday dress and hat and purse. . .

and sang to her heart's content with Papa,

and flirted with all the little boys. . .

and hit sticks with Grammy. . .

and watched all the little kids sing and sway.

You may be surprised to hear that Eleanor was the most stylishly dressed at music class.

Then it was time for Eleanor to open voluminous amounts of birthday gifts. Eleanor's adored her new Olivia doll from Grammy and Papa, and gave it a spontaneous hug.

She expressed shock and awe at Andrew and Christina's silky bell dress.

Eleanor caressed her pretty pink corduroy dress from the Murrs and adored all the attention she was given as she opened all her new things.

Then after a delicious meal of pizza, we all sat down to share Eleanor's beautiful pink birthday cake. . .

and Eleanor contemplated all that had happened in her first year of life.

She pointed to her new dress to be sure we all admired its loveliness. . .

she ate lots and lots of cake, and rubbed the buttery frosting all over her chubby little face, and then she began to feel very tired. And so Eleanor had a bath and went right to sleep.

The (ruffle-bottomed) End.

Ever the Lady

Eleanor is one year old today! To celebrate her first birthday, Eleanor was given her very own 'digger' cake. We thought she'd dive into it, sit on it, and shampoo and condition her hair with it, but she mostly just looked at it. We think she didn't realize it was food. Whatever the reason, she acted with extreme self-composure when presented with a pile of refined-sugar frosting and cake. Obviously she didn't inherit that restraint from her parents.

Grammy and Papa have come all the way from Hilton Head to spend this special day with their granddaughter. I'll post more pictures of their visit soon, but for now, enjoy the photo series from this morning.