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!