Siblings!

So far, most everyone who has meets baby Jude thinks he looks just like his sister.

Ellie at 10 days old

Jude at 10 days old.

What do you think?

Joy

Merry Christmas everyone!

We had a lovely day at my parents house (the first time I've been out of the house since Jude was born!). Drew's parents came over and we opened presents for about 6 hours straight!

Jude was in heaven - being passed from one set of loving arms to another.

Ellie loved her pillow pet - she named Lulu

The Nobles - a family of FOUR!

All season, Ellie has been saying - (and I quote)

"Dear Santa, what do I want for Christmas you ask?

I want a train set and a dolly.

I've been a very good girl.

Love, Ellie" Well, she was ecstatic to wake up Christmas morning to find a Thomas train set puttering around the tree. She's been playing with it all day.

We had fun starting traditions this year. We left reindeer food (oatmeal and sprinkles) on the front lawn and, of course, cookies for Santa.

Merry Christmas Eve!

A little bit of reality is setting in everyday.

For example, our mellow little guy seems to have found his voice and has lost his patience a few times when the breast isn't in close enough proximity!

And he must be having a growth spurt because he nursed from about midnight to 5 am straight last night.

But of course, he's sleeping very soundly today :)

He's just so sweet, who could be annoyed? Even if I'm measuring my sleep in minutes instead of hours.

Ellie seems to have moved on to playing with the cat since Baby Jude really doesn't interact very much.

Kids! I can't believe I have kidS!

Big Sis loves to hold him all the time and does such a good job holding his head and staying *relatively* still.

We have decided BaPop is the baby whisperer. When he holds Baby Jude he just relaxes and immediately falls asleep. The excitement is building around here as Christmas Eve approaches. I think Ellie is going to finally "get" Christmas when she realizes there are really cool toys inside those wrapped packages!

So Merry Christmas to all and to us a good nights sleep!

Slow motion

"What day is it?" doesn't even cover it!

DADT was repealed! A war narrowly averted in North Korea!

I know Christmas is right around the corner but I have no idea if it's tomorrow or next week!

I haven't left the house since last Friday and our days consist of nursing, naps and visitors so it's been hard to imagine there is any world outside our living room.

So far, Jude is proving to be a very mellow guy! He literally has ONLY cries during diaper changes! And is already sleeping better than Ellie did!

It's amazing that this time last week we didn't know what he looked like and yet I feel like I've known this face forever!

Sleep, what sleep?

Too tired to write any funny anecdotes about the first few days with a newborn.

Maybe, next week :)

Welcome . . .

Jude Owen Noble Jude has finally made his arrival after being 8 days overdue!

He was born at home on December 18th, 2010 at 9:26am.

He weighs 8lbs and is 21 inches long!

Much bigger than Ellie who was a mere 6lb 9oz and 19 inches.

My labor was much longer and tougher than I expected, probably because he was so big!!

But I'm so happy he's here, healthy and that I never have to do that again! ;)

Ellie has amazed me with how tender and sweet she has been to her new baby brother.

Here are a few pics.

Birth story and millions more photos to follow.

Ellie thought is was pretty cool that he was holding on to her finger.

All cozy after his first bath.

Student Midwife, Christine, and Midwife Extraordinaire, Val Having a home birth was the best experience! I was so supported and comfortable. He was born in our living room!!!

We've decided he really looks like Drew! Drew even shaved off his goatee this morning to find he has the same little cleft in his chin.

We're very, very thankful for grandparents right now!

Tis the Season . . .

FOR WAITING!!!

Still waiting for this baby to be born and going crazy! I'm such a planner and it's so hard not to know when our lives will change so drastically.

I could be in labor tonight . . . or not for 2 more weeks.

Ahhhhhh!!!!!

Luckily, it's also the season of special outings and Ellie had her first trip to the Ballet on Sunday.

BaPop and Ellie went on a date to The Nutcracker at the local performing arts center. We have been listening to the music and she was so excited to get dressed up in her Christmas dress and fancy cape!

I was totally surprised her attention span lasted the entire play - being able to dance in front of her seat and licorice helped!

Thank you to BaPop for planning such a fun outing! What a lucky girl!

Ellie has been loving Christmas music. Here is a special Ellie-style mash-up!

In my future . . .

Sometimes when I have these Braxton-Hicks contractions and I'm reminded of how painful labor really is I start to wonder "WHAT AM I THINKING?"

Why would I plan a natural birth - at home no less, where there is no option for pain medications.

I remember saying just a few minutes before this photo was taken "I don't want to do this"

And Ellie was born just a few minutes later.

But the truth is - I DO want to do this!

How many times in life do we experience something that will be remembered forever?

And I know I will feel so supported and empowered.

It's pretty amazing to be on the brink of something so powerful.

Bring it on!

Snow and Sniffles!

What a week it has been!

I found out on Monday's midwife appointment that all these Braxton-Hicks contractions are actually doing something and I'm starting to dialate.

That doesn't mean the baby will be born today but it certainly makes me want to be prepared!

So, in perfect good luck style, it immediately began to snow!

Snow in Seattle is a big pain in the butt. At first it looks pretty and serene but the Northwest is FULL of hills and people are not used to driving in it.

Just a few inches of snow on the ground caused major traffic snarls for Drew's Monday night commute home. It took him 3 HOURS on the bus to make it!

My mind was swirling with worries - If I go into labor, will the midwives be able to make it up the hill or will Drew be delivering the baby??

And then to add more joy to our stressful lives - both Ellie and I have come down with a rotten cold.

Ellie has NEVER had a cold that causes more than just a sniffle but with a newborn due any day, she and I are coughing up a storm. And today MaMop has come down with it too!

Luckily, the snow has melted and Ellie seems to be coughing a bit less.

Now if MaMop can recover quickly we will be back on track to have this baby any moment!

We were able to make it out yesterday for our annual Christmas tree hunt. Ellie was pretty listless but still enjoyed her candy cane!

Drew and Ellie enjoyed the snow for a few minutes and Ellie made 5 snow angels

So let's hope the snow stays away and our home gets healthy!

We've got things to do!!!

Family Visits

Last week, Ellie and I made a trip up to Canada to visit family.

There are lots of new babies in the family and Ellie had a blast meeting them.

My cousin, Owen, with his new baby girl - Lucie! Sweet baby girl

Great Auntie Colleen with Lucie

Ellie comparing her belly with mine.

Auntie Loreen, mum and me

Happy birthday to Auntie Dena! And since Ellie's birthday was just a few days before, she got ANOTHER birthday cake - made by Uncle Karl!

Baby Mila! She is soooo cute! And smiling up a storm.

The best part about Auntie Nana's house is the sweets!

Auntie Nana even Ellie lick some brown sugar off her hand.

This girl was in heaven!

This is Talent!

No traditional instruments for this kid!

Here she is playing Nani's accordian.

3 for Tea

Another post is needed to show off Ellie's birthday tea.

MaMop and BaPop set a pretty table, put out dress up clothes and even made tea sandwiches with M&M's in them!

Ellie thought it was great!

This girl sure has a sweet tooth. And with Halloween just days before her birthday who can blame her!!

She said she wished for "A Boat - not a real one like grampy's, but one I can float in the tub." I appreciate how specific she is with her wishes. Maybe a boat for Christmas :) We all talked in English accents and Ellie thought that was pretty funny. Tea may be good but special Birthday juice in fancy glasses is the best!

Thank you MaMop and BaPop for a divine birthday tea party!

Halloween & Birthday Madness

It's been a crazy couple of weeks!

What I wouldn't give to move my kids' birthdays to the spring!!!

In the span of 6 days we celebrated Halloween, Ellie's 3rd birthday and I put on a fundraising auction for her preschool! (We raised $10,000 in 3 hours)

Whew! I'm exhausted but have lots of good photos to show for my efforts!

A new tradition. Trick-or-Treating with the neighborhood kids.

Ellie still talks about how a 'monster' jumped out at her last year so she was a little trepidacious about the whole thing. But with the bigger kids at the head of the pack she quickly got into the idea of random neighbors giving her candy! We had a Halloween/birthday party complete with costumes, pumpkin crafts and presents, of course. 22 adults and 12 kids under age 7. Wowzers!

This year Ellie was a PUNK ROCKER for Halloween! She loved her crazy skirt but her favorite part was getting to paint her hair hot pink!! We had many more celebrations on her birthDAY but we'll save those for another post.

Fall Smattering

It's a very busy time of year in the Noble household!

Lots of birthdays, planning Ellie's preschool auction and 3rd trimester pains and excitement!

Here is a sampling of what we've been up to . . .

Alisa and I (and our husbands) have been friends since junior high. This photo was taken just 2 days before baby Sedona Rose was born!

Ellie and her friend "baby Dylan." Even though Dylan is well over a year old, I think Ellie will always refer to him as baby Dylan. She's constantly talking about having a baby brother. But I suspect she thinks he's going to born a toddler because she has been listing all the things she's going to teach him - like how to ride a bike, go pee in the potty and wear big girl panties. Poor baby brother ;) Drew is 30!!! I can't believe I'm married to such an old man!

We had a fabulous birthday celebration weekend starting with a delicious dinner at a Moroccan restaurant in Seattle called Marrakesh. We sat on the floor, ate with our hands and Drew even got to dance with the beautiful belly dancer.

I think this was his favorite birthday moment.