Firsts

July 18-21
Ella was attacked by coxsackieviruses. or as more commonly known, "Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease", (not to be confused with the hoof and mouth disease. which happens to cows. that have hoofs.)
seems like she didn't have it too hard, she only had fever for one day and she was back to herself within a few days. there's nothing to do - just wait it out and help with pain medication. hooray for first childhood disease and a good workout for the immune system!

First time at the beach - on the second day of being at home with Ima, after exhausting all of Ima's entertaining techniques, we went to the beach. it was pretty late in the afternoon so not too hot (but still pretty hot). i brought the little $5-kiddie-pool, inflated it, and filled it up with lake water. Ella didn't want to go in of course, but she was pretty happy to be able to sit next to it (on Ima) and splash a bit.
people looked at us and laughed at our kiddie pool, but we didn't care. the best attraction of the beach: people playing with a ball in the water. lots of "it's a ball!" (or maybe she said "beachball"??)


we also had the first Popsicle!!



Aba joined us after coming back from work



Ella wouldn't walk on the sand yet. she thinks it's a field of molten lava. she's also suspicious of the water in the pool, but at the end of the day she put both feet in the water. next time maybe she'll even sit there :)