4 weeks old!

Ella Lorraine smiled at me! Not just a gas smile, but a true smile at her mommy smile! I'm in heaven!

We got back from the East Coast safe and sound. I traveled by myself on a flight complete with layover, with a newborn and a toddler. One flight attendant said, "wow, you're brave!" I responded, "brave or crazy!" he replied, "We'll go with brave."

In all fairness, they were both really fantastic - they both slept the entire way on both legs! Couldn't have planned it better if I had given them both benadryl!

Also people were surprisingly helpful - carrying bags for me, holding the baby, helping with luggage and carseats and double strollers. One woman even convinced her husband to carry my breast pump. (Then proceeded to keep talking about it LOUDLY until finally he asked her to be quite about it already.) I was reminded of that saying, "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." from Tennesee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire.

Here are just a couple of pics of Ella-Lorraine's first trip (and Langston's adorable little backpack!). She's already flown coast to coast at just 4 weeks old!!