9 month update

Yesterday, the Juder turned 9 months old

Here are some of his latest accomplishments

• This boy has 7 teeth - yep - SEVEN!
• He is so very very close to crawling. He lunges forward and rocks back and forth. If Ellie didn't always get his toys for him - I bet he'd make more of an effort :)
• He loves food! Apple sauce, kale, pears, squash, zucchini and even avocado.
• His favorite way to drink water is to lap it from a shot glass - don't judge
• He's extremely ticklish. Most kids love to be tickled and take cues from their parents' smiling faces - but I think Jude is truly the most ticklish kid ever!
• He doesn't sleep! The last 2 weeks he has been up every 2 hours A L L night long!

• Has laugh attacks! But he just doesn't laugh . . . he cackles!

p.s. 2 more sleeps 'til Disneyland

First Day

This week marked another milestone in Ellie's preschool career.

On Monday, she started the Ladybugs Class.

This class meets 3 times a week and is filled with 18 giggling 3 and 4 year olds.

Last year, preschool was just 2 days per week and much shorter. Now, Ellie goes twice a week by herself and stays for almost 3 hours!!

She had a bit of trouble with drop-off at the end of last year so I was a bit nervous but of course she surprised me.

Mommy - Ellie date

Before dropping her off at school I took her out for a donut. (of which, she only eats the icing!) Can't believe we started this preschool before she could even talk and now she's a big almost 4 year old!

So confident walking 'the rose way' into school

Showing Teacher Paula her 'Allison' doll she brought for show-and-tell.

(Yes, she calls this doll 'Allison' - as in - Alice IN wonderland)

So happy to be back at school!

Sister Week Part Two

We just finished up a week of more sisterly love.

Drew's big sister Shaneen, her husband Anthony and baby Stella Marie started their trip with a nightmare travel experience that lasted 2 days!

But we were so glad they toughed it out and made it to Seattle.

The fam

Noble women doing what Noble women do . . . Breastfeed their babies!

Babies in backpacks

This was the first time we had met Stella (unbelievable since she is 6 months old!). She is such a doll and Jude loved pinching her.

Cousins! Ellie was very tolerant during the photo shoot - just smiling and smiling while waiting for 2 babies to look in the same direction!

Fun spent in the sand with family. Life is good!

Sister Week Part One

Drew and I have it rough.

NONE of our beloved siblings live within even a 3 state radius!

Shaneen in Georgia

Devin in DC

and Michelle in NYC.

Sometimes we imagine what it would be like to have our siblings close.

And, for 1 week each year we get to live it!

Champagne and play dates!

This week was my sister, Michelle's visit with her baby (now 6 YEAR OLD) Jules.

And THIS is the best thing about family. Even though we only see them once per year there is always an amazing connection between cousins! Posing in downtown Seattle It was truly amazing how sweet these cousins were together. Ellie and Jules seemed to really enjoy each others company and realize how brief these visits are. Jules loving the backyard rope swing My favorite part about summer:

the sister visit!

Saying goodbye is always so tough because I know it will be another YEAR before I get to see them again.

But when that week comes it will be like we've never been apart!

xoxoxoo to my sis and nephew!

6 blue eyes

Cousins!

Sweet cousins with 3 pairs of brilliant blue eyes!

More sister/nephew visit posts to follow . . .

At 8 months

Jude is

*Sitting up like a champ! No pillows needed.

*Starting to think about crawling. It's almost as if you can see the thought cross his mind as he rocks forward.

*Loving food! Especially anything he can pick up with his fingers.

*Teething! To add to his 2 bottoms, he got 4 on top this week! Yep, 4 new teeth in 1 week. It's been fun.

*Talking up a storm. His babbling is so cute and it's starting to sound a little recognizable. Mamamama . . . . Dadadadada

*Tolerating his very loving sister amazingly well. Her hugs and love are very intense and he never seems to mind getting a bit squished in the process.

*Loving to stand. Sitting has been mastered and now it's on to standing! Preferably ALL the time!

Big BIG news!

Last weekend, we took a mini-break to Twisp in Northeast WA.

It's an annual tradition to float down the river with friends but this year it was a family affair. MaMop and BaPop came out to watch the kids while we floated . . . and we all stayed in a 500 sq. ft cabin.

Since we all had a great time, even in such close quarters, we decided to tell Ellie about the next family holiday we have planned . . .

D i s n e y l a n d !

She was definitely excited! Even though it took another 24 hours for the realization to hit her that we really are going to Disneyland in a mere 6 weeks!!!

Listen for the cute line at the end. Ellie is really into being "married" to all her family members lately.