Dear World's Biggest Cockroach,

I'd be lying if I said I missed you or that I'm sorry you are dead.

So why am I writing?

Well, I thought you should know that even months after your departure from this cruel world, I still think of you.  I shiver as I recall our encounter.  I thought it might bring you some peace to know that though you are gone, you are never forgotten.

You fought bravely - you were clever and fast.  Your will to live was admirable.  But in the end, I was the bigger contender.    You should know that your last few moments of life made and indelible impression on me.  I was too distraught to record the whole fight, but I did make a video of the first few moments I saw you.  

I hope you will consider it my tribute.

Respectfully yours,

Whitney

Cockroach Encounter from Whitney Hardie on Vimeo.

Ellie at 9 months

Would you like to see some photos of Ellie when she was 9 months old?

OK, but I have to warn you that 9 month Ellie was very different from any younger version of Ellie.

9 month Ellie was no longer enjoying formal photo shoots - dang it!

9 month Ellie had more energy than all the other months combined.

9 month Ellie loved pop-up books for all the wrong reasons.

9 month Ellie rebelled against all fashion advice and wore fleece polka dot pants with stripey socks and dress shoes.

She also broke cleanliness protocol by sitting on the ground in NYC, but that's not really new.

9 month Ellie was still the cutest, climbing-est, happiest baby around.

And no, she doesn't actually have clown feet - just a lot of time to grow into her shoes.

9 month old Ellie also grew some longer hair, which means I need to learn how to style it.

She's already got a love for photography and photography gear.  Warms my heart.

I am so blessed to have this sweet girl in my life.  She challenges me every day to be better, more patient, more creative, more positive.  I learn so much as I try to teach her and I know my life is fuller because she is my daughter.  9 month Ellie was pretty great, but so far, 11 month Ellie is the best!

Who needs a super when you have a super man?

That's what I said to him right after I kissed him on the mouth.

Which is what I did right after he fixed the previously non-existent water pressure in the kitchen.

Seriously, it was amazing and I don't know what I'd ever do without this guy.

Halloween Wrap-Up

Joe told me the world needs my blogging, so I am back with a vengeance!

It's nice being married to someone who not only validates you, but even makes up little things to help you feel really good about yourself.

This Halloween lasted for days!  Friday, Saturday, Sunday....we're a little Halloweened out.  Luckily for you, I only had the energy to capture one of those days on camera.  On Friday I took Ellie to Chelsea Market for some trick-or-treating.

 She was dressed as the world's cutest strawberry.

The strawberry fell in love with an equally adorable penguin in squeaky-shoes.

It seems everyone loves a little strawberry love.

The marketplace was decked out with Halloween decor and they had all kinds of cool stuff - a super tall woman, Mrs. Frankenstein the face painter, and a pirate DJ.

OK, so maybe he's talking on his cell phone, but I like to pretend he's listening to the beat - making sure he mixes the music just right for the toddler dance party happening right in front of him.

Of course, Eleanor was there for one reason only...the stores were giving out candy!

Ellie's no fool.  She knows exactly what this holiday is all about.

I personally loved meeting all the adorable creatures who came out to play.

Watch out for the baby-eating pumpkin!  Bea tried to feed the beast an apprehensive Ellie...

While frightened at first, the strawberry eventually resigned herself to her fate and the pumpkin lost interest.

The high point of the event was just being seen with the cutest strawberry in the patch.

The low point was the display of flesh eating infants.

Seriously, who thought this was a good idea?

After we took Chelsea Market for all the candy they had, we headed down to Trinity Church on Wall Street to meet up with Joe.  Kids were romping through the graveyard, there was apple cider and a photo booth.  That's my kind of Halloween!

We just love our little strawberry girl!

Oh yeah, here's the whole reason Ellie was dressed as a strawberry this year.

Yep, we know we're cool.