For Today

Outside my window...the sun is trying to poke through the clouds.

I am thinking...about what this week will hold. What do I need to do? What do I choose to let go?

I am thankful for....talking with a friend on the phone just before lunch.

From the kitchen...leftovers for lunch.

I am wearing...comfy clothes and wool slippers.

I am creating...a video of Ellie's 1st year.

I am going...to make myself a cup of coffee.

I am hoping...that my sister and Dad have safe travels today.

I am reading...Classroom Instruction that Works.

I am hearing...Ellie talking to herself as she settles down for a nap.

Around the house...there is lots to do to get ready for company and Ellie's birthday party on Saturday.

One of my favorite things....quiet Sunday afternoons.

A few plans for the rest of the week...catching up on housework, preparing for school and teaching, grocery shopping, making birthday cupcakes.

A picture to share...taken around this time last year and now our El is here!

Sunday's Seven

It's been a while since I've done a "Sunday's Seven" post so I thought today would be an appropriate day to begin again.

Thanksgiving is...
Harvest
Abundant blessings
Napkins and full plates
Keeping family traditions
Sleeps and afternoon naps
Gratefulness
Inviting
Visiting family
Inside warmth
Neighbors and friends
God's goodness

Where's Ellie?

Many people stop and ask me, "How old is she?" It is an "ah-ha" moment each time I answer as I realize that she is 11 months old today and next month she will be 1! Ellie is growing and changing so quickly and each day is about learning something new. It's amazing!

At 11 months, Ellie...

* is on the move and is crawling on her hands and knees.
* is by no means walking yet but she has figured out how to walk with assistance! She pulls herself up on everything and has started reaching toward the next piece of furniture as if she's contemplating how to get there.
* magazines, books, Tupperware, the pantry, and the pots and pans cupboard are her favorite things to get into.
* loves her food and aside from cereal in the morning, applesauce, and yogurt, doesn't want us spooning it into her mouth mashed up or pureed. Just bite size on my tray please ;)!
* has two teeth and weighs about 22 lbs.
* is back to drinking 3% milk from her sippy cup. She took a break and wasn't keen on drinking anything. Period. Many thanks to the help and encouragement from my Mom, I persevered and kept offering her the sippy cup...first with soy milk, then with half soy milk and half 3%, and now we are only drinking 3%. But, warmed up please!
* is determined and persistent when she sees something she wants.
* wears 12-18 month clothing but the jeans are almost too tight.
* loves going for walks and meeting new people along the way. She gets so excited when we meet a walker and their puppy.
* loves to sit on the floor or on your lap and look at books.
* plays peek-a-boo with her hands and her blankets.

At 10 months, Ellie...

* battled her first real cold and eye infection. Many runny noses and goopy eyes to wipe!

* hasn't been sleeping the greatest. Her naps and sleeps have been interupted and at times choppy. We think it's because she's been so stuffy and because she's teething.

* has started pulling herself up in her crib. This means that she doesn't have the bumper pads on her crib anymore and the mattress is at a new height :).

* is sleeping on her tummy. We'll go in to check on her at night and she'll have turned around in her crib to a new position.

* is a confident mover!

* is still doing the "army" crawl. Sometimes she'll get up on her hands and knees and rock back and forth.

* has successfully rolled over from tummy to back and back to tummy and is SO quick!

* gets excited when she sees herself in the mirror

* spent back-to-school week with Bestemor.

For Today

Outside my window...the sun has set and it's dark and cloudy out.

I am thinking...about a Nooma video by Rob Bell I watched tonight.

I am thankful for...a hardworking husband.

From the kitchen...BBQ chicken, baby potatoes from the garden, romaine and mandarin orange salad

with toasted almonds, corn, and icecream with berries

I am wearing...denim, Old Navy bermuda shorts and a t-shirt.

I am creating...editing pictures of Ellie to print at London Drugs.

I am going...to bed soon.

I am hoping...to see a good friend from University days soon.

I am reading...My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

I am hearing...the sound of the train going through Lacombe.

Around the house...there are lots of piles of school things as I gear up to go back at the end of August.

One of my favorite things...watching Ellie sleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week...going into Red Deer to run errands and check out new stores at the mall; picking raspberries, saskatoons, and strawberries; moving our office to the family room.

A picture to share...Ellie at the beach this last weekend :).

At 9 months, Ellie...

* has quite the personality! We've noticed that she is a detailed person. She loves to investigate new things and play with ribbons, tags, and other small things. She is so expressive and loves to spend time talking with people.

* gets quite excited when she sees her Daddy come home.

* is no longer in her newborn, baby carseat. We bought her a bigger carseat as she outgrew the new and improved bucket seat in height and weight.

* started drinking milk and water from a Nuby sippy cup.

* still has no teeth but chews and chomps on cold teethers.

* loves spending time outside on the grass, in the sand, or out for a walk. We enjoy watching her feet feel the new textures and her eyes take in the new sights.

* has quite the sandle tan. She has her Daddy's skin :)!

* does not like it when sunscreen is applied or wearing hats. She will pull on the hat until she gets it off.

* started raising her hands above her head when she's happy, clapping, and waving.

* has started to spin around in circles on her tummy and will motor backwards. She will pull herself forward if she grabs our hands.

* gets excited when she hears the water running for bathtime. She's quite the little fish and will splash in the water for a long time!

* had her first Canada Day BBQ and Westerner Days parade.