Home Sweet Home

Eleanora and I braved the winter weather and headed to PA for a wonderful week of family fun. Ella was a charming traveler, flirting her way through the friendly skies. She loved-loved-loved time with her adoring family (Gibsons, Petris, Hoffmans and Bentons!) and being an especially cuddly caretaker to Mena after her surgery.

Enjoying a "sip" of water

Hanging with her buddies Isabelle and Georgia

We are so glad to be home with Ben but are certainly suffering family-withdrawal. Thank goodness Natalie, UB and AJ are all coming in the next week!!

Growing and Growing

I know it's cliche', but I honestly can't believe how fast Eleanora is growing. She seems to be making new discoveries every day - grabbing, holding onto and throwing toys, reaching for Charlie's soft fur, and talking to her stuffed animals. There is nothing better than seeing her break into a big grin when either of us enter her room to "rescue" her from her crib. She loves being around people whether is charming them at the grocery store, staying up too late when we have friends over, or miserably crying in her car seat because she can't see the action. Her latest trick is to "pray along" in church. She's quiet as a mouse during worship, but then starts talking as loud as she can as soon as the pastor begins praying sending me on a mad dash to the cry room.

Her favorite time of the day continues to be bath and story time. No matter how unhappy she is after struggling against getting her pj's on (this girl loves to be naked), she quiets down as soon as Ben begins reading her favorite stories. She is completely mesmerized!

Every day brings new challenges (teething!) and new joys and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Laughing at Charlie


Laughing at her personal paparazzi!

Loving bath time (as always!)

Delicious toes!


Not so sure about sitting up on her own...

Much happier with help!

Fabulous Family

Last week we were visited by a couple of glorious Gibsons. My Dad and Mena braved the long flight to Arizona for a wonderful visit with us. We jam-packed in the fun with visits to the Desert Museum, Gates Pass, San Xavier Mission, St. Philip's Farmer's Market, and Mt. Lemmon. Miss Eleanora loved-loved-loved time with her Opa and Mena and is certainly missing their constant attention!

More photos from Dad and Mena's Trip

Missing Poppy

A kiss from Poppy

It is unfathomable to me that it has been one year since Poppy passed away. I can still hear his booming laugh, see his twinkling eyes and feel his scratchy whiskers as he put his famous "bear claw" on me. I am at a loss for words to describe this giant of a man and so I will defer to the words I spoke at his funeral...

When I was about 4 years old, I helped Poppy plant his garden. He dug the holes and asked me to put one seed in each. We paused at one point and Grandma took a picture of us: him leaning on his hoe, and me looking up at him, waiting for my next job. That is a photo I will always treasure, of my gentle giant of a Poppy lovingly directing me and including me in his world.

Poppy's love for his family was as organic as his love for the earth. He joyfully and lovingly attended to the needs of his family. He sowed unconditional love in each of us. He carefully removed any weeds of bitterness and resentment from his own heart. He fertilized with joy, gratitude, laughter and a heavy sprinkling of his favorite stories. He tended the seedlings with compassion, devotion and his sweet, easy way. He reaped a harvest of abounding love from a family who can't bear to let him go.

My Mom had a beautiful relationship with her Dad. She looked for and found the same qualities she loves so in her father in my Dad. It was those same qualities that I saw modeled in my Poppy and Dad that first drew me to my husband, Benjamin. It's clear to me that these are all gifts from Poppy, the man who modeled all that is good and honorable. For this and for the many gifts Poppy has given, I am thankful. I can see his sweet eyes, wet with emotion telling me how much he loves me and for that I am most grateful.

I love you Poppy.

On this day I will cherish the memories that are never far from my mind. I will look at his picture in Eleanora's room and tell her once again of the amazing man her Poppy was.

Big Girl!

Stylin' for her first dinner at Guadalajara's

Eleanora is growing in leaps and bounds. She loves to talk while we read her a story (we are sure she is reading along!) or sing along to any tune (her favorites are the Beatles and "Rubber Duckie"). Last week she rolled over from her back to her side for the first time in order to snuggle up to her Daddy.

Exhausted after "tummy time"

Of course the big news in the Hoffman household was the Steelers Superbowl victory. Eleanora cheered for the black and gold at her very first Campbell party. The food was glorious and the company fabulous as always.

Happy Inauguration Day!

Regardless of how you feel about President Obama's policies, today was undoubtedly a huge step forward for racial equality in America. It makes me very proud to be an American!

I spent most of the day to soaking in the momentous occasion. Thanks to Erin, Eleanora was dressed appropriately for the day's events!

New Year!

It's been a busy time in the Hoffman Household. We're adjusting to life at home after a glorious visit to PA for the holidays. After a very smooth flight, the first order of business was the baptism of Eleanora on 12/21. She was an angel for the service and even let out a little yawn as the water was trickled on her head. We were blessed to have her baptized at the wonderful, sweet little church my grandparents helped to found. As a part of the service, a funeral pall was dedicated in Poppy's honor. The entire sermon was about Poppy and Eleanora. It so beautiful and we are thrilled that Poppy's memory was a significant part of this special event.

Eleanora's first Christmas was wonderful. She even gave us a wonderful gift - sleeping for 8 hours straight on Christmas Eve! It was a wonderful time with the Gibson/Petri clan with lots of 1st time meetings...loving great Aunts and Uncles, great-grandparents, and Uncle Joel! Our long-standing traditions continued to be tweaked and adjusted to include our little bundle of joy and fun!

Natalie getting tips on the accordion from Aunt Michelle - our family expert!

Our time with the Hoffman/Benton clan was also wonderful. We spent lots of time at Grandma Eleanor's house where Eleanora got to meet Aunt Erin, Aunt Kay and cousins Mark and Laura. It was great to spend time with family!

Eleanora also got to meet some new friends in both Pittsburgh and Erie. She hung out with Isabelle, Georgia, Keegan (who has made us seriously consider arranged marriage for our girl!), and her newest cousin Avery.
Ella also had several "firsts" during our time at home. She rolled over at Mena's twice and once at Grandma B's. She also found her voice! She had been cooing occasionally before, but now is singing/talking all the time! We love to hear her sweet little noises along with her happy, drooly smile!

We miss our family and friends so much already - the time really did fly by! The only consolation is we are enjoying the warmer weather in Tucson. Eleanora wasn't such a big fan of her snowsuit!