Strasmas!

We've been lucky enough to see some pretty amazing events in the 8 years we've lived in D.C. - was at Obama's inauguration, saw the Pope in the Popemobile, cheered the Nationals on opening day when baseball finally returned to the city. We can now add "seeing Strasburg's MLB debut" to that list. Thanks SO SO much to Hillary and Ross for the tickets and to Aunt E for watching Harper!

Here is our photo album from the night Stephen Strasburg made his major league debut. Nationals v Pirates. Nationals Stadium. Washington, DC.

Downtown After Hours

Unending to-do lists at work and home mean that we don't get to spend near as much time with Harper as we'd like to (we'd like to spend every moment with her). But one way we've found that stretches our evening together-time is to just not go home. Instead of hitting the car after work, we've been grabbing the stroller and looking for adventures downtown. One of the lovely things about Washington in summer is that there is plenty to keep you busy in the evenings.

Playing in the grass beneath the Washington Monument.


Harper and I cheer while Daniel subs on our Mudhens softball team - which has been playing together since the year Daniel and I were born! - down along the Potomac.


Discovering a great little playground in the middle of downtown.


Harper and I stumble across a concert by The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps at the World War II Memorial. Excellent combination of patriotic marches and songs from the Broadway musical Hair.


Watching Daniel play for the Treasury Department team in the Congressional Softball League on the Mall.

Mother's Day

It's not very often that you get to pick up a new holiday that's all about you, so my first "real" (as in, post-pregnancy) Mother's Day was so special! For starters, I got to wake up next to a wild-haired, smiling, babbling, adorable baby girl. At a hotel, no less, so I didn't have to make the bed or make breakfast or anything. Had brunch with Harper, Daniel and his parents, and then we headed to the Kentucky Horse Park to pet the horsies. Well, for Harper to pet the horsies. Before long we were back at the Louisville airport - where Harper was reunited with her friend JP she met on our in-bound flight - for our trip back to Washington. Not to get all sappy on you, but being a mom is pretty much the best gig anyone could ever have. Check out the Mother's Day adventures album here.

A Bluegrass Wedding Weekend

My wonderful college friend Beth Harney married her beau Mark Rosa at a gorgeous May wedding in Georgetown, Ky. If you know Beth, it will not surprise you one bit that every detail of the wedding was impeccably planned, from the guest bags at the hotel with local drinks, eats and treats ... to the pre-wedding activities (BBQ, horse racing, golf) ... to the special (and at times, hilarious) readings during the ceremony ... to the dance-floor flip-flops in assorted sizes ... to the late-reception appearance of mini-burgers, fries and funnel cake snacks. Top to bottom, just a beautiful, wonderful wedding weekend. Got to hang out with some of my college girls. Got to see Beth start the next chapter in her and Mark's story. Got to take Harper to Churchill downs. Fun fun times. Special thanks to MaMaw and Granddad Ballard for watching Harper during the wedding! Click here to see the album from Friday and Saturday of wedding weekend.

Harper and Daniel at Churchill Downs. One week after the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

Spring is Here

This weekend the weather in D.C. was just amazing. Warm and sunny and clear the entire time. Washingtonians, who were pretty beaten down by the worst winter on record, were out in full force to take advantage of the first taste of spring. The Ballards were right there with them, spending both afternoons taking long walks on the Hill that ended with us all stretched out on a blanket at Lincoln Park. The weekend couldn't last long enough.

Brunch and Blue Jeans

Today Harper got to meet one of our favorite DC-departees. Our good buddy Brian, whom we met through softball and now lives in Denver, was in town, and we were able to meet up with him and his girlfriend, Angie, at Old Ebbitt Grille for brunch. The last time we saw them, we met up for lunch when I was waaaaaay pregnant. So it's been too long. It was a great time catching up with them! And Harper had a big day, too. It was the first time she's sat in a big kid highchair at a restaurant. Up until now she's been in her carrier or simply held by someone in our party. I think the big girl loved having the big girl chair. Plus, our server gave her a toy car. Doesn't get much better than that. Oh, and it was the first time she's worn jeans. And she looked gooooood; daddy's wallet had better get used to getting lighter by way of jeans.

White House Holiday

Some of my favorite D.C. experiences involve the White House. Our first year here, we were lucky enough to get a West Wing tour with a Secret Service agent. We were his first tour group after having been trained, so all the stories and history he learned were fresh in his mind. Add to that the first-hand stories he had of guarding two presidents, and it was certainly a night to remember.

Since then, we've also been lucky enough to have been invited guests of friends who work in the Executive Office of the President to go see holiday decorations in the East Wing of the White House. This year was extra special, since we got to take our little girl with us. (She actually went in 2008 as well, but only Daniel and I knew she existed at the time.)

Thanksgiving

Harper's first Thanksgiving weekend was a fabulous and relaxing one here in D.C. The holiday weekend photo journal begins on Thanksgiving Day, where we stayed at home, and I made a scaled down Thanksgiving dinner for Daniel and me.




In the evening, our friends Matt and Lindsay came over for dessert, and brought a fabulous champagne cocktail with them. As you can see, Harper was clearly a big fan of Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Matt!



Thanksgiving Friday, Harper got to meet Uncle Lee, in from Boston where he's in medical school. Harper tried to talk him into specializing in pediatrics and coming here to be her doctor. Mommy and daddy LOVE that idea.


On Saturday morning, my "Aunt 'Nette" and her husband Jim stopped by to meet Harper as they were passing through on the way to the airport.



On Sunday we got outside for some fresh air along the Potomac near Mount Vernon. As an ode to some of the hilarious outfits Daniel dressed Harper in while they were home together, I bundled Harper up for the outdoors using the most ridiculous combination of patterns and colors I had at my disposal. A fun photo to end the weekend.

Francis Thanksgiving

Getting together for holidays takes a bit of choreography now that the kids and our significant others' families are scattered throughout the country. So this year the Francis family gathered a week and a half before Thanksgiving, at Doug and Kim's house in Columbus, to celebrate Turkey day. We got all the fun of the holiday gathering, without the crowded and expensive travel arrangements. This trip marked Harper's second round trip flight in as many months. It also marked her first stay at a hotel (patting myself on the back for the brilliant room redecoration I did to turn the well-lit, cheery-wood business desk into a well-lit, cherry-wood changing station). Since the weather was so great, we even got to spend a day outside at the Columbus Zoo. And cousin Logan had a big audience - and a pool to himself - to display his jumping abilities. Here is an album from the weekend's adventures.

Paternity Leave

Two peas in a pod. That is what Daniel and Harper became during Daniel's paternity leave. Those two were on adventures just about every day, visiting parks, taking walks, running errands, snoozing on the couch, wearing ridiculous outfits, you name it. And since Daniel sent me photos at work every day, we have a lot of the adventures on camera. Here are just a few of them - you can imagine how much these brightened my day when they came through my inbox with witty captions.

Homeward Bound

In early October, the three DC Ballards trekked back to the Midwest/South on our first big family trip. For a full week we visited relatives and introduced Harper to Daniel's and my hometowns. And it was a fun and busy week! Below is a slideshow/album photo-documenting the entire trip (about 100 shots per city; be forewarned); and below that is a recap of the week's events.



First order of business was Harper's first plane ride. And she was a trooper. Ate on the way up, slept most of the flight, was an angel when she was awake, ate on the way down, then fell asleep as we taxied to the gate. Couldn't ask for anything more. We flew my fave airline, Southwest, and Harper of course made friends with the flight attendants. She even got little Southwest wings.

We flew into St. Louis, picked up baby gear from my mom and sister (thanks, guys!) and headed to Owensboro. Harper was excited to finally meet her Granddad. (NOTE: all four grandparents now have unique names and spellings! Granddad is Dave Ballard. MaMaw (first syllable A sounds like MAP) is Kay Ballard. PawPaw is Terry Francis. MawMaw (first syllable A sounds like LAW) is Karen Francis. Got it?) Harper also met Aunt Rachel and Uncle Evan, though they weren't too thrilled to meet her, the little attention-grabber that she is! Harper got to meet her only living Great-Grandparents, her Great Aunt Elaine, tour the Ballard Estate and Gardens (as I like to call it), and in general get some fresh country air. It was a fun few days!

Next we packed up the car and headed back to St. Louis. Harper met all sorts of relatives, including Uncle Luke, Great Aunt Denise and GUS (Great Uncle Steve), Great Aunt Kathy and Great Uncle Kenny, my cousin Dani and little girl Lily, Great Aunt Vicky and great-Great Aunt Nellie. She also made her first trip to the Hill in St. Louis (the Italian neighborhood) to eat at Favazza's. It was more great family time!

After a full week, we headed back home to Washington with a few new fall outfits, a few hundred (seriously) photos and a whole bunch of memories of our first family trip.

Harrisburg

We kicked off October by venturing north to the Pennsylvania capital to visit my Aunt Wendy and Uncle Pete, who are now officially our closest relatives. Some key points from the trip: it was Harper's third state, the farthest she's been from home, she was on her first outdoor swing, and she had her diaper changed on the floor of the bathroom of an Italian restaurant (mommy had to make do ... and used lots and lots of paper towels as a buffer between the changing pad and the floor). We're looking forward to seeing lots more of the Stratils now that we're back on the same coast! We had such a fun time with them -- yahoo for adopted nearby grandparents!

Last Nationals Home Game

Racking up her second MLB game in four days, Harper took her mom and dad to the Nationals' final home game of the season. It was a chilly one (we got fleece Nationals blankets as giveaways!) but our little fan didn't mind a bit ... especially once dad bought her a little Nationals cap.

Daddy's Home

Eight weeks without a necktie, starting with today. That is what Daniel has stretched out before him. Having smartly stockpiled leave at work over the past few years - and because he has a fantastic, family-friendly boss - Daniel is embarking on eight full weeks at home with his little girl. If he wasn't wrapped around her finger before now, I promise you he's going to be a goner after these two months. He gets some excellent quality daddy-daughter time; I get the tiny consolation when I go back to work that I'm giving Harper a chance to bond with her dad; and before I go back to work we have time for some family adventures!

We kicked off this family adventure time on Friday: Daniel's last day in the office. Our friend Smee and some of his co-workers were in town from Murray State, so we all met at Old Ebbitt Grill for lunch.

Then Daniel took Harper up to his office to show her off; one look at her and his colleagues completely understood why he needed to leave for eight weeks. (Here Harper helps her dad send some e-mails.)


Then Daniel showed Harper and me his roof deck. Gotta say, it has the most amazing view. You can see onto the White House lawn! Literally you can see the Obama girls' jungle gym in the backyard! Too, too cool.




So today for his first non-working workday, we let Daniel sleep in. Then we went out for breakfast, ran errands, cuddled with Harper, watched a movie, grilled a steak dinner ... just an amazing first day together. We're looking forward to a whole bunch of adventures during this short but precious time we have as a family. Stay tuned!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

There's no better way to spend a sunny Sunday September afternoon than at the ballpark. Today Harper attended her first Major League baseball game in person (as opposed to in utero, where she attended and enjoyed several games!), seeing the Washington Nationals take on the Atlanta Braves.

Though the Nationals wound up losing, we had a great time. First, today's giveaway was a Build-a-Bear Screech for kids. It's no secret that I heart Screech (at least I did before this season when they changed from my cuddly fat Screech mascot to a skinny one - boo), so I was so thrilled for Harper to add a stuffed Screech to her collection! Second, during her first inning she saw back-to-back homers by Zimmerman and Willingham - wewhoo! And finally, Harper's adorableness scored us some special treatment from fans and ushers, with folks offering us better seats (easier to get to and in a less crowded section) and offering to take family photos for us.

A smashing success for what is sure to be the first of many family baseball days.

Apple Picking

Nothing says fall like apple picking. On Saturday we took Harper out to Homestead Farms to get some fresh fall air and pick some apples!
Here we are in the Empire apple orchard. Good for snacking and baking!
Apparently also attractive to stinging insects because moments before I took this photo, Daniel was stung by something and it swelled up and got red immediately. But he was a trooper! (Note to self: must add first aid kit to diaper bag).


Health risks were abundant at the farm. Mad cow. Bird flu. Swine flu. But we tried to keep Harper at a safe distance.



The goats were a hoot. They had a raised goat walk to which (human) kids could send food up by pulley. Too cute. Just had to beware of the poop possibilities.















We finished off at the farm store, picking up some corn, peppers, and apple and pumpkin butters. A great day! And I gotta say the homemade apple crisp I made with my Empire apples was to die for. Next fall activity will have to be getting Harper some fall clothes. She has tons of cute short-sleeved onesies and summer outfits, but no cooler-weather clothes (i.e., her adorable apple-picking outfit was a sleeper with matching pants to go over it). So that's another family adventure on the horizon!