They're buddies!!

Last night, we had our friends Esther and Ryan over for dinner. Their little girl Rowan is 9 months old and she is sooo cute!

Here is Ellie, the 'baby mama', helping give Rowan her bottle.

They are still in the "parallel play"stage but are starting to interact with each other more.

I love how Ellie is holding Rowans foot like they were holding hands.

Welcome sign

Have you noticed??

The days are getting longer!!!

This is always a welcome sign that winter will one day turn to spring!

This photo was taken at about 5pm and it's still light outside.

Hooray!!

1 piece of big news, 1 adorable video and 1 correction

First and most importantly . . .

Ellie said her first word!!

She has been babbling for quite awhile and, yes, she did say Obama on election night but so far she hasn't been able to consistently repeat these acheivments.

But over the weekend Ellie would point to Drew and say "Dad"

Yes, it's official. Ellie's first word was dad!

Now when we walks in the door or we point to him and say "Who's that?"

she quickly responds . . . "Dad!"

Another fun stage has emerged over the weekend. Ellie has been loving to put on my shoes and walk around in them, looking quite proud of herself.

Can't wait till we can play dress up!

And finally, one correction . . . As my mum read the blog tonight she was shocked and dismayed to read the post "Where are the stripes." In that post I had written "I made these curtains when we moved in our condo"

OK, so that's not exactly true.

I am certainly not a sewer. Not only do I not have the patience and meticulous mind but did you know there is a heck of a lot of ironing involved in sewing! Yuk.

So let's give credit where credit is due . . . The fabulous curtains in our living room were designed by yours truly but sewn by my dear sweet (and very astute) mother!

Excitment is in the air!

Ellie's new trick is the best one yet!!

Just ask her how excited she is . . .

Where's the stripes??

Yes, I certainly forgot about posting on the last day of my color week. Friday came and went and it's been a very busy week.

Stripes were tough to find around my house and plaid was out of the question. But here are some great patterns . . . (both seem to be on my curtains)

Love this songbird print from Pottery Barn. I made these curtains when we moved in our condo. Drew loves to take credit for the unique curtain rod (but it was really my idea :). We hung these curtains on a long piece of stainless steel piping mounted right to the wall. Very industrial.

And these are my brand new curtains for our bedroom. Bought at full price from Pier 1!! What a splurge!!

Dear Ellie,

Did you know that in this country, just a generation ago, black children were not allowed to go to school with white children? Did you know black people were not allowed to drink from the same drinking fountains as white people or sit at the same table in restaurants? I am so glad that you were born into a world where obvious examples of racism, like these, no longer exist. Yet, racism is still present. There is a glass ceiling for minorities that we may not see but is felt by many everyday. But Ellie, today, as you played innocently on the living room floor a historic moment was taking place.

Today, Barack Obama became the first black president of the United States.

Not only is this moment historically significant to our country and to the world but I believe it will actually directly effect your life. As you grow up you will have every opportunity to become whatever you want to become.

But I believe you can not be truly free unless your neighbors are also free.

Every time one of these glass ceilings is shattered, like it was today, I believe we all become a little more free

This is how I believe this historic moment will resonate in your life . . . and in mine.

Love, Mommy

Perfectly pink

I remember when I was pregnant I would say . . . 'Just because I'm having a girl doesn't mean I'm always going to dress her in pink!'

Well, despite some minor effort Ellie seems to wear pink most every day!

She just looks so darn cute in it!

Showing off her favorite bunny.

Fabulous winter coat from Ma-Pop and Ba-Pop

One of Ellie's favorite games is to get her dirty clothes out of her laundry basket and carry them around the house. I find socks and shifts stuffed in the oddest places.

Here she is in her pink birthday outfit from Auntie Shaneen with her new pink dress from Auntie Paula.