Dave is our breaking news reporter in the family (I wish I could get MSN's nice red BREAKING NEWS bulletin on here) but I just had to stop my blogging drought to make this announcement.

BREAKING NEWS

Tonight Ella walked across the living room! For all you who know Ella well, she has always been quite the talker, and now we can say she is a walker as well. FINALLY. Dave and I have been encouraging, praising, urging (begging!) her to walk for weeks (months!). Last week she told me, "No walking Mama". Well, she has had a change of heart. And she is very very proud. Dave is determined to shoot a video....

Ella walks! Plus, adventures in the backyard & more

Ella had been stuck on just standing for a while, but in the last few days she has broken through and taken a few steps! No pictures or video yet, but we'll try to get some. She is very proud!

Mommy is back after a couple of nights away on a girls' weekend. Daddy did fine flying solo with the kids, but we are all glad to have Mommy back after her well-deserved break. And she is glad to be back (it was her first time away from the kids for two nights.)

Here are a few shots from the weekend:

Wow, We're 18 Months Old!

And, very overdo for a blog update. Thanks for bearing with us; it has been a busy time with Olympics coverage for Daddy and various other things ...

Nate and Ella are doing fine, still fighting colds on and off, but overall good. They had a nice visit with Grandma T., who helped out for a few days during Daddy's particularly busy work time.

Nate has cranked it up on his speaking lately and added some words to his vocabulary. He loves to grab two items (especially sippy cups) and make laps around the living room with one in each hand. He and Ella both love their "Signing Times" videos and have been learning to sign for words like "more," "baby," "cracker" and "cat" (even though we don't own a cat). His favorite foods these days include brocolli (we'll see how long that lasts), berries and pancakes.

Ella loves airplanes and can often spot them in the sky faster than Mommy and Daddy can. She continues to talk up a storm. A couple of days ago she said, "Look an airplane," and she also says "More ______" (insert her desired item, "More cheese," "More Grandma," "More Times" for her video. She loves her toy elephant (Stampy) and being up on the couch (with adult supervision of course.) She loves any fruit ("fwooot") and had a nice helping of pasta tonight.
Here are a few shots:

Reading with Grandma T.:














Nate tries a puzzle:














Ella P. says hello:














Nate, Ella and Stampy:



















And here is a video of Nate on the loose:

Swinging at Maple Leaf Playground

17 months old; Ella stands; general cuteness; catching up with Dave and Karin

Hello everyone and hope you are well. Nate and Ella turned 17 months old today and seemed to be fine moods. Nate has been waking up often at night, so we're working on that. They got their first juice boxes today and Ella in particular loved it. Here are a few recent family shots:

Ella stands up! She now gets up on her feet on her own, without pulling up on anything. And she loves it! Those first steps can't be too far away:



















Nate peruses "Good Night Gorilla," one of his favorite books. He also really likes "I Am a Bunny" and "Big Red Barn":



















Here's a shot of Karin and I before heading out to a great party our friends Kym and Aaron throw every January:

Ella Tries Out Family Names

Not bad for a little Roo not quite 17 months old: