Where's Ellie?

Playing with infants can sometimes be tiring since their favorite game is repetition!

But with this grin, who could resist?

Inspiration

Tonight was a historic night in our country and in the Noble home.

I have always loved politics and government. Maybe it's because when I was growing up, family dinners would consist of political debates. My dad would play the role of the devils advocate and we would hash out our beliefs, political issues and current events.

Unfortunately, I have felt that my generation has missed out on the excitement and passion that past generations felt about politics. We haven't had many moments to truly be inspired.

UNTIL TONIGHT!

How beautiful that the first moment that I felt so moved and inspired by a political candidate was exactly 45 years after Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

Finally, a candidate willing to rise above partisan political tactics. Finally, a candidate my generation can be inspired by. Finally, a president that will unite our country!

Obama's speech was not only inspirational but it spoke to the role I believe our government should play.

My favorite part was when he spoke about how Democrats and Republicans may disagree on the issue of abortion but we should be able to agree on the need to decrease the amount the unwanted pregnancies in this country . . . we may disagree on gay marriage but we should be able to agree on the fact that gay and lesbian couples should be able to visit their partners in the hospital.

Our government policies should reflect the rights of its citizen not the moral values of its politicians.

One day, I hope Ellie will ask "Where was I when the first black man was nominated president?"

I will say you were 10 months old, watching his speech on TV with your mommy and daddy.

Finally, a night in politics I will remember for the rest of my life!

More, More, More

Mealtime is a very happy time in our house. Ellie absolutly loves to eat. She has never turned up her nose at anything!

Last night at dinner, I was taking a video because she was enjoying her quinoa so much she kept squeezing her hands so tight and grinning.

What I caught on video was even cooler . . .

We started signing to Ellie around 6 months but we're not incredibly consistent. The sign we use most is definitely 'more'. I was so shocked to see her use the sign for the first time at an appropriate moment.

Wow!

Missing my sis

Unfortunatly, we have all returned to life without Michelle and Jules. It seems a lot quieter without a 3 year old running around (also unfortunate).

It made me sad today when I took off my toenail polish from the pedcure we got together. I so wish we lived close enough so we could have weekly pedicure dates, I have no doubt Ma-Pop would happily babysit her 2 favorite grandchildren!

Just found out some sad news . . .

Sad new today. Leroi Moore, saxophonist of Dave Matthews Band, died yesterday. To say how shocked and saddened I am by this news is a huge understatement! As many of you know, Dave Matthews Band is one of my very favorite bands. I even have a tattoo commemorating the years that I lived and breathed DMB. My heart goes out to those closest to him.

http://www.davematthewsband.com/

She sips, she stands, she's cute!

Ellie had her 9 month pediatrician check up today. She is gaining and growing as expected and meeting all her milestones.

She weighs nearly 18 pounds now. No wonder my arm is getting sore!

She seems to be acquiring a new skill almost daily . . .

like sipping from a straw.

Doesn't it look like she's saying "Ta-da!"

She loves to stand and hold onto the deck railings but we're always worried she will slip down between the bottom rail and the deck . . . I love Drew's solution of putting her in a box

The fact that's she the cutest babe ever hasn't changed though!

Up She Goes!

So I'm pretty sure Ellie has decided to bypass crawling and go straight to walking. She is toddling around the house, holding on to furniture and her favorite game is for mommy and daddy to hold her hands up and walk her around!

I was shocked when, yesterday, she reached for the toybox and proceeded to pull herself up to standing! Wow!

Teeth & Sleep

Notice the happy baby below . . .

Ellie has been sleeping much better!!!

Drew and I had a sleep consultation with Ann Keppler a few weeks ago. Ann is a wonderful nurse who is the author of my favorite birth and baby book, Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn. She also does sleep consultations, teaches classes and facilitates baby groups at the Community Birth and Family Center in Seattle.

She was amazing and helped us make a great gentle sleep plan for our family!

Ellie is now sleeping a least one longer stretch every night of at least 4 hours and sometimes, 5,6 or 7 hours!! She is much easier to put down for sleep also!

The best part is . . . we never had to let her scream it out.

The other big news is Ellie now has 7 teeth! She got the first 2 when she was about 4 months old and she got 5 new ones in the last month.

Happy Baby!

Good times had by all!

Michelle and Jules' visit came to an end earlier this week. It is always so hard to say goodbye when we know it will most likely be another year before we see eachother again!

We sure did have a good time though!

No family gathering is complete without a few John Prine songs! These songs are such a part of our family I used to think my dad wrote them all!

Jules playing the official family instrument . . . the kazoo

Yes, little Ellie, you will be a kazoo player someday too!

Jules added a new word to his vocabulary this trip also . . . the FORT! Drew showed him the cool space underneath Ma-Pop's maple tree. It was the highlight of the evening.

It's an alien, it's a monster, it's a crazy women . . . NO it's Ma-Pop in my art creation from Creation Station. Drew and I took Jules to this cool store where you make art out of all kids of recycled materials. Jules described it as . . . 'a store where you get to touch stuff.' We had a blast. If you live near us you should check it out at: http://creationstationinc.com

The art of sharing

Here is one of those moments that you would probably forget if it wasn't for photos!

Jules wanted to give Ellie her applesauce . . .

One for you . . .

One for me . . .

The best bath yet . . .

Some of my favorite photos from my childhood are the ones of me and my big brother in the bath together, we just look like family. Since Ellie will be the older sibling someday, I hope she will look back on these photos and know she's so lucky to have a big cousin.

Summertime is the best

The fun continues . . . Jules is a waterbaby just like Ellie! He's not afraid of the water at all! When we got to the pool he jumped right in the deep end!

Paul was tossing him and we all thought he would get water in his nose and say "no more." But each time he'd come up, catch his breath and say "again!"

I just had to post this photo . . . if this isn't a poster for reasons to breastfeed then I don't know what is!! :) One warm day last week we went to the arboretum at the University of Washington to rent canoes.

We beached our boats in the arboretum and had a picnic snack. Here's Jules picking the M&M's out of the trailmix

It was a great day!

Did you know . . .

that my sister is a photographer??? Well, here is the proof, beautiful pictures of our week together.

Last Sunday, we spent the day at Drew's parents house at the beach. Here is Jules with the old family Conch shell . . . Laura used to blow on the shell to call Drew home for dinner when he was out playing in the neighborhood. Delicious strawberries from Jon and Laura's garden. Jules said the kelp on the beach looked like "salad"

Beautiful summer day!

Jon took Jules and Paul out on his sailboat. They were only going to go for a quick ride but the current took them down the beach and then the wind died down. They were out on the water for almost 2 hours! We were worried Jules would be tired of the boat ride, but he arrived back on land a very happy little sailor!

2 years . . .

Drew and I celebrated our 2 YEAR wedding anniversary yesterday!

We splurged and went to our favorite fancy restaurant . . . Daniels Broiler on Lake Union. It was a beautiful evening, we had view of the sail-boats on Lake Union, and the BEST food and service. We always feel like VIP when we go there.

Drew and I decided our wedding day was the best day of our life . . . yes, Ellie's birthday was amazing but since the first half of that day included LABOR, the wedding day was better (Ellie's birth was the best moment ever, though!)

Cousins!

Super Happy Family Fun Time has arrived! My sister, Michelle, brother-in-law, Paul and my favorite nephew, Jules arrived from NYC last week. We have been having a blast. Last time I saw Jules he was nearly 2 . . . now he is 3 and definitely a BIG boy!

Ellie is enthralled with watching her cousin.