A Thanksgiving Anthem: He's Always Been Faithful

Big Sister, Little Brother

Before Joel was born, Marco and I wondered how Ellie would take to being a big sister.  How would she show her love to this new little person that she had only heard us talk about? Ellie was Joel's first visitor at the hospital and I think it was love-at-first-hug-and-snuggle.  My Mom told me later that when she came out of the hospital room, she put both hands in the air and with excitement in her big brown eyes exclaimed, "The baby is here!"  

Ellie loves her little brother!  She loves to hold him, kiss his head, hold his hand, lay on the bed next to him, and read to him.  If she hears him crying, she'll run to where he is at and will say, "It's okay my boy...Ellie's here."

 It fills my heart to see them together. 

You

You have fairer skin, lighter hair, and blue-hazel eyes but when you go like this we see bits of your sister in you.  Some say it's the lips, or the cheeks, or the nose.  Sometimes it's hard to say which side of the family and which grandfather you look more a like.  We are so glad you are here and a part of our family.  We know you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are knit together well.

Joel at 2 1/2 weeks

Ellie at 2 months

After church...

...Sunday afternoons are for snoozing.  All four of us.

Introducing...

On the morning you were born, the sun smiled with such wonder...

that the birds peeked in to see you...  

and the morning breeze whispered, "Life will never be the same."

Because there had never been anyone like you...ever in the world.

 

On September 10, 2011, at 1:20 pm, we welcomed with much joy, Joel Christian de Andrade, into our family.  He weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz. and measured 21.5".

* words adapted from Nancy Tillman's children's book On the Night You Were Born *

A gentle reminder...

...for my heart today where perfectionism and to-do lists often overwhelm.

Follow some encouraging thoughts here.

Let us adore the Son of glory...

+ from http://www.littleredhearts.blogspot.com/ +

I remind myself of all that you have done...

Starting a Dress-up Box

Did you have a dress-up box growing up?  We did.  I remember many cold winter days spent in the basement with sister and friends putting on fancy dresses and high-heels that were way too big.  Sometimes we opted for a tie and Dad's tool belt.  Well, El found the tickle-trunk the other day and came up stairs saying, "Mommy...look...me!"  I think the tickle-trunk is a hit already!  We'll have fun filling it with home closet finds and thrift store treasures to imagine and play with.

A toast...

Happy New Year! 
(* found at Blueprint Bliss and wanted to share)

Boxing Day...

definition: [a Canadian Holiday the day after Christmas, perfect for spending outside on a hockey rink learning to skate and play hockey.]

Celebrating Christmas

Celebrating Norwegian Christmas a few weeks before...

Eager to wash...to rinse...to play :)!

Sharing a story with Oldemor.

Christmas Eve...

Too tuckered to open presents.  So we waited for...

Christmas morning!

 

Listening to Daddy read about the birth of Baby Jesus but also asking..."Presents time?"

Adventing & Anticipating

Going to find a Christmas tree on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

It's hard work...just getting there!

Looking for just the right one.

Here I come...

 What advent looked like for our family this year:

 

Thinking of my Mom as I hung ornaments on the tree. 
Longing for her to be nearer!

Baking Sour-Cream cookies with my sister.

Making Julekake: Norwegian Christmas bread.

Saturday Snoozes

I peaked in on Ellie this morning during her nap and this is what I saw:

Her tiny toes, chubby diaper bum, and little snores brought a smile to my face. I snuck out quietly before she woke up.

For Today

Outside my window...winter is definitely here! I hear the wind howling and the snow blowing around the house. It is cold out there and warm in here!

I am thankful for...having my Mom and Dad here since Wednesday, meals and coffee together, and our conversations around the supper table. They are on the highway tonight so I pray they make it home safely!
I am also praying for...sick and hurting loved ones and friends.

From the kitchen...warm Beef Stew.

I am creating...Christmas projects for my Grandmas.

I am celebrating...Advent and old and new Christmas traditions.

I am going...to change the load of laundry, make myself a cup of tea, and keep blogging.

I am reading...Matthew and Watch for the Light.

I am hoping...we can go out to find our Christmas tree tomorrow...weather permitting.
I am hearing...Sarah MacLachlan's Wintersong album playing.

Around the house...it's a relaxing Saturday.

A few plans for next week...a trip to Costco, some Christmas shopping, cleaning, and maybe some baking.

A picture to share...of our El-Bear last December-rrr.

At 12 months, Ellie...
* can crawl quickly and confidently up any flight of stairs.
* wants to walk and holds tightly to our fingers.
* loves to play peek-a-boo around the kitchen island or through the afghan at naptime.
* crawls toward us and starts laughing when she hears us say "Going to get you!"
* enjoys helping unload the dishwasher or cupboards that she can reach.
* is getting very persistent when she sees something she wants.
* waves bye-bye and blows kisses.
* is starting to say her first words...hi...mama...dadee...pa (for the puppies next door). Her intonation for words is incredible!
* reads books from her toy basket every morning for a good chunk of time. She is totally engaged with the pictures, the touch 'n' feel swatches, and turning the pages.
* spends Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays, and Fridays with her Daddy (and sometimes her Bestemor and Bestefar) while her Mommy goes to work.
* has the most beautiful smile I know. She has dimples in her cheeks and her eyes light up!

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!

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.