First Halloween (Part 1)

I love Halloween! It's so much fun and this year with Eliana makes it even more fun. We had a big day today. First stop was Dad's office (downtown Seattle) and next stop was the trick-or-treat at the Magnolia village where the main street shuts down and all the little ones get to have a blast. Our little pumpkin was a perfect little trick-or-treater; well, she didn't really trick-or-treat, but we took her around to see people and that was a very big treat for us (and dad, especially, since he got out of work early!). But, she did manage to slightly bust open a mini Snickers that we had given her as a teething toy; we still don't know if she got any chocolate, but if she did, Happy 1st Halloween, pumpkin!


Our little pumpkin is working on some more teeth!











On the road to Dad's work


Feeling a little sleepy


Lots of firsts for Elle Belle; first Halloween work party and first time meeting MJ!



At Magnolia Village with Katherine Newman

Nap?

15 minutes into Eliana's nap this morning, I heard this. I'm not sure if you can hear it in the video, but the clanging is the zipper on Eliana's sleep sack hitting the sides of the crib. I guess she wasn't tired:)

Pumpkin Patch

While my parents were here, we hit up the Jubilee Farm pumpkin patch in Carnation. Nate and I used to ride our bikes out in that area a lot, so it was fun to wander through the Snoqualmie River Road area again. We were blessed with wonderful weather and it was so fun to have my parents there. This farm even had a huge life-size pumpkin catapult. Eliana couldn't quite get into that, but she did love crawling around in the gazebo and sitting on the tractor with Grandpa. Can't wait for Elle Belle's first Halloween!!


This pumpkin is bigger than me!


Selecting a mini pumpkin for our lil' punkin'


Grandma and Grandpa


Our family

Grandma and Grandpa Dahlgren's Visit

Last week, my parents came to visit for a long weekend. I think they brought the Colorado sunshine with as we had a beautiful fall weekend. With Grandma and Grandpa in town, Elle Belle got to have some fun adventures: coffee time, the Seattle Pie Company stop (apple pie, yummy!), the pumpkin patch, lunch with Dad at the Met, park time and home-made hammock time (not pictured, but confessed by Dad and Grandpa when Mom and Grandma came home from an afternoon away).

One fun memory to note: We were grabbing coffee at Starbucks on Magnolia and there was a small white poodle barking like crazy. I thought Elle Belle would be scared of the incessant barking, but instead, she erupted in laughter; she was laughing so hard that it gave her the hiccups. Grandma, Grandpa and I could not stop laughing as well; baby laughter is truly contagious. I wish I had the video camera to capture her sounds, but I will never forget that. So precious.


Peekaboo with Grandpa's CSU hat








Lunch at the Fisherman's Terminal


Grandma trying to help ice Elle Belle's teeth








Morning play time on Grandma and Grandpa's plush guest bed:)


Elle Belle does not enjoy getting her coat on, but Grandma was trying to make the process less painful


Thanks for my new coat, Grandma and Grandpa!


All ready to go!





I love it when we have visitors, it means fun new chew toys for me!


This is how Elle Belle was dressed when I got done taking a shower; Grandpa may not have the stylistic touches, but at least Eliana stays warm

8 Months

Eliana turned 8 months last week. She's a very busy baby now, on the move and exploring everything, including the bathroom floors, kitchen, carpets and mom and dad's room. Sadly, with all this movement, she's losing her great 'Michelin tire' legs. But, she's so excited to get stuck under the coffee table or the Exersaucer, crawl into the kitchen and explore the bathroom - all places she's never really ventured before - that we soon get over the fat rolls disappearing! And, it's a joy to watch her.

New tricks: *crawling - a combination of army and worm; *moving from sitting up to crawling without bashing her head; *teeth - two on bottom (as of this weekend); *communicating very clearly what she wants and does not want - by grunting, making owl noises, or crying; *reading stories with Mom and Dad - with minimal eating of the books; *taking baths sitting up; *posing for the camera (that was Grandpa Dahlgren's observation last week)


New/old favorites: *lights - always and forever; *butterflies above her crib - after every nap (and we're still on the 30-min nap schedule) I hold her up to them so she can see them closer and her smile melts my heart; *mom and dad's bed - she loves the textures, feeling and crawling on the big pillows; *Dad coming home from work























Curly cue


Working hard on pigeon pose


This crawling stuff is tiring!








One of the daily stops - Ella Blaine park (only a couple blocks away)


Thanks for my new clothes, Auntie Amy


Mom's little helper


Exploring new territories


Our turn to host PEPS


I love hanging out on mom and dad's bed


Q: What will you do to prevent a baby from waking up? A: Take the blender outside and use the patio outlet to make the baby food


Enjoying a beautiful October day at Golden Gardens with the Schlameus family

Bath talk

Our little worm

No more face plants