First time in the Drift Boat

A couple weekends ago, we ventured out on Lake Washington with Elle Belle in the drift boat. Note: for those of you who aren't familiar with a drift boat, they really belong on the river and don't have a motor; they are powered by oars (aka Daddy). But it was a sunny day and thought we should get Elle Belle in her life jacket before the summer slips away.

Boat: check
Picnic: check
Life jackets: check
Plugs for the boat: check
Beer: check
Car seat, Ergo, Baby Bjorn, Elle Belle's food: check
Nap for Elle Belle in the boat: not to save our lives

Not a huge fan of the life jacket (and we possibly overdressed her!)

7 Months

Yesterday was Eliana's 7 month birthday. I know everyone says this, but I don't know where the time has gone. I look back at her newborn pictures and don't even remember those days and it's hard to believe she's the same baby. Those early 8-week unhappy hour days have turned into an early bed time (6:00 pm), but we have nothing to complain about. Happy baby, happy life!

No stats to report since our next check-up is at 9 months (barring no visits to the doc in between now and then, knock on wood!), but she is up to her ears in rolls and it is so dang cute and hard to not touch them!

Her new favorites: *vegetables: zucchini, avocado, sweet potato & carrots, *fruit: mango & pear mix, *watching for Daddy to come home, *waiting for Mom and Dad to pat the duvet while she lies on our bed making it sound like foot steps (the sound really makes her giggle) , *swimming class, *hammock time, *changes in facial expressions (going from smiling to straight-face), *catch with the ball, and *still loving her feet and toes.

New skills: sitting up, grabbing and switching toys between hands, rolling over and over (the length of the living room rug), showing us when she's excited by flapping her arms like she's going to fly.















Thanks Cyd, for my cute AK onesie!


Why do you suppose it's so fun to play with Daddy?




Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa for my Steamboat garb





First time sitting in the grocery cart




Entertaining us at Canal Coffee













We took one of our old cell phones and removed the battery - what a hit!

First Time Backpacking

On Labor Day weekend, we took Eliana on her first overnight backpacking trip. We hiked 5 miles in on the Necklace Valley trail (just off Hwy 2, northeast of Seattle) and set up camp along a beautiful stretch of the river. The weather was perfect on Saturday and she did great in the backpack, taking a nap and then watching all the greenery as we hiked through the forest.

We got her to fall asleep in our 2-man backpacking tent alone and we were feeling great. Nate and I sat by the fire enjoying being in the woods and then we started to feel raindrops. Well, let's just say after that point, the night was very long, the rain steady and we vow to car camp until we are strong enough to backpack with a 20-lb, 8-man tent where Eliana can sleep in a 'crib-like' situation. We managed to hike out the next day, Eliana completely dry and mom and dad not; glad we tried it once, but will re-think the backpacking thing until we buy a pack-mule or get someone else to go along and carry the big ole tent:)


Heading out in the sun


Dad definitely got the heaviest load (65 lbs!!)








Our campsite for the night








A key piece of gear: picnic blanket (vinyl one side; fleece on the other) so Elle Belle could play and stretch out


My anniversary present from Nate; the ultra-light backpacking hammock


Hammocking with the punkin'






Drying out the cloth diapers





Ready to hike out in the rain


Could there be anything worse than packing up wet camping gear??





We made it out!!


Still a happy camper (no pun intended)