Eleven Months

Jude is now 11 months old!

He's the chattiest, happiest, smiliest, cutest boy ever!

We are pretty sure he will be a musician, as EVERY time he hears music he starts to rock out to the beat.

And he finally seems to be getting well - no rash or cough at the moment!

He thinks his sister is hilarious. Here is she is explaining the plan for a day . . . a trip to Home Depot to buy . . . letters?

Eating and chatting.

Rough Days

It has been 7 WEEKS, yes S E V E N WEEEEEEKS of sickness in the Noble House.

It started when Ellie caught a cold on our last day in Disneyland, then Jude got sick and we had to take him to the Children's ER, again, because he couldn't breathe because of his 'reactive airway'. Then Drew got sick with bronchitis, then Ellie got sick and had to miss a week of preschool, then Jude got sick again - super sick - with a double ear infection.

We tried to treat it naturopathically but after 5 days we had to succumb to antibiotics. And last week, on day 7 of his 1 week course of drugs, while we were up in Canada, he developed the most horrible rash and once again couldn't breathe.

Thank goodness I took his Albuterol puffer with me, something I will carry with me at all times from now on.

At the Urgent Care clinic, they said he had an allergic reaction to the Amoxicillan and that it would run its course in about a week.

Poor guy can't catch a break. He was so itchy, irritable and swollen. He doesn't even LOOK like himself in this photo. You think this looks bad - this wasn't even at its worst!

Next stop, appointments with pulmonologists and allergists to make plan for his poor lungs.

I haven't slept for more than 45 minutes at a stretch for 5 days, we are all exhausted and now since I've come down with a bug you can add my name to the ongoing list of unwell Nobles.

Here's to hoping for some relief for the little guy and sleep for the rest of us!

Ellie turns 4

and Jude gets an ear infection!

Last week was a rough week in the Noble house. Poor Jude had a double ear infection. We tried to avoid anitibiotics, going the naturopathic route. When we finally succumb to the drugs, he had yucky reactions to them!

The one bright spot in the week was Ellie F O U R T H birthday!

It was a great day - spent at preschool and then a family party with all the grandparents present.

Teacher Paula leading the class in Happy Birthday to Ellie

We made candy sushi for her preschool treat! My sister gave me the idea and it was perfect this year cuz Ellie LOVES sushi.

Here is Ellie's 4 year update:

• She weighs about 34 pounds
• She loves all things princess and Disney
• Absolutely, loves preschool
• Can write her name, identify all her letters and numbers 1-10
• She can count to 20 when she's in the mood
• Sometimes she reminds me of Varuca Salt and when she first saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Varuca was her favorite character. Oh goodness!
• Her bedtime is 8pm and she gets up about 7am
• We got her Shel Silversteins "Where the Sidewalk Ends" for her birthday and she now professes "I love poetry"
• Thinks her brother is "The cutest baby who ever lived!"

I can't imagine any kid being more smart, funny and special as our Ellie girl! Can't believe she's F O U R!

Trick or *Cough*

I have to say for a person that is still scared of the dark - Halloween is one of my very favorite holidays!

I mean, really - the tradition of going to your neighbors houses and asking for candy is pretty awesome!

As you can see by the photo below - Ellie agrees.

We had our 2nd Annual Asmann/Noble neighborhood trick or treating parade. Lots of kids and champagne in plastic cups! So fun! Lil Stinker and Belle say "Happy Halloween!"

Jude, Sedona, Ellie, Livie, Rowan and Chloe

Unfortunately, this Lil Stinker spiked a temp and started pulling at his ears that evening. Ellie has never had an ear infection but I was suspicious.

Yep, I was right - a DOUBLE ear infection. Poor boy is miserable. Whimpering, high temps, sore ears!

We're taking the naturopathic route and putting garlic drops in his ears (which means he smells like foccacia bread) and giving it 24 hours before antibiotics.

Hoping for a speedy recovery!

p.s. Tomorrow my baby girl turns F O U R!!!!!!

Masquerade!

We have survived another birthday party!

This year was a 4th Birthday Princess Masquerade.

Her friends dressed up, made masks and even got to play outside on this surprisingly sunny October day.

Aria, Ellie and Alister She's F O U R!

Ellie and Aria admiring the princess cake Our friend Eric is a baker and designed this fabulous cake for Ellie. Complete with Princess Ariel in a masquerade mask. And the best part - it was delicious - chocolate ganache. Everyone said it was the best cake they EVER had. I agree!

Ellie wanted me to pretend I was like Snow White at Disneyland and pose for a picture. I had to talk in a high voice, have "pretty" hands, give all the girls a hug then wave as they walked away. She was very specific.

More birthday celebrations are on the agenda for the week. Including candy sushi for her preschool treat . . .

Carvin' and Crawlin'

This is the first year that Ellie has really been into pumpkin carving.

She loved getting her hands in the guts and thought it was pretty cool to use a 'real knife' to carve her pumpkin.

Macgruder is a crawling machine! He's getting faster even since this video was taken last week. His one legged crawl is pretty adorable!

Bubbling Bouncing Giggling Baby Boy

Our baby has entered double digits! Jude is now 10 months old!

Here is his monthly update:

• He laughs nearly constantly. He's just the happiest guy we've ever met!
• He loves being packed around by his sister. We just recently let Ellie start to carry Jude around - with our arms close, of course. Pictures of this adorable scene soon.
• He weighs over 20 pounds!
• Teeth count = EIGHT! Yep, 4 on top and 4 on bottom
• The nickname that seems to be sticking . . . MacGruder
• He pulls to standing. Especially in his crib at night.
• Maybe starting to sleep better. We have been doing some sleep training over the weekend and the last few nights he actually has had a few 4 hour stretches of sleep!
• Has Reactive Airway Disease. Which is like asthma for babies. We had another trip to the ER a couple weeks ago when he was struggling to breathe while he had a cold. Appartently, this kid didn't get the memo that breastfed babies should have a lower risk for respiratory illness!
• And most importantly . . . He's crawling! It's the funniest one-legged crawl I've ever seen but he can't sure get around. If you come to our house anytime soon don't expect to see any cute decor accents within 3 feet of the floor.