Scenes from the spring ...

Back after a long break with lots of pictures, including some taken by Uncle Ron during our recent Oregon trip. We're having a nice spring and I can honestly say the kids have changed a ton just since the last time we posted pictures of them!

Nate hasn't hit the scales in a while, but he must be in the high 20s at least. He loves bopping up and down to music, watching Metro buses go by, getting a hold of our phones (he's called me at work on Karin's phone twice), playing outside and the occasional taste of chocolate pudding (he really likes that), and rasslin' with Daddy.

Ella has also been in a growth spurt, keeping pace with Nate on height and catching up on weight. Her speaking continues to amaze us, as she's stringing together lots of phrases as well as saying new words. She loves cuddling Stampy her stuffed elephant, watching "Super Why" (a reading show on PBS), dancing, giving hugs and going to the park.

Here's a video and a few pictures from recent weeks:

Ella gives a hip hip hooray cheer. Nate chimes in with "Hop ... hop ... hop ..."


Aunt Karen reads to Nate:













Uncle Ron reads to Ella and Nate:















Happy Nate:















Ella smiles with cousin Jess:



















Ella hits the swings:













Mommy and Ella:















Nate on one of our walks:



















Ella with a gift given to her and Nate by Uncle Kevin -- a Seattle Sounders soccer ball!

Can I have a bite of that Cwhippard bar?

Nate and Ella say some pretty funny things. The other morning I was eating a Cliff Bar and Ella shouted, "Clifford Bar! Clifford Bar!" (pronounced "Cwhippard" in her Ella dialect). Of course, it has totally stuck.

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone is doing well! We got Nate and Ella to church this morning, and though we spent most of Mass outside the church, it was nice to be there. Yesterday we attended the first birthday party of our good friend Harper, which was a great time. Nate and Ella enjoyed hunting eggs and it is always great to see all of our friends.

The best Easter portrait of the two of them together we could get:















Nate and Daddy ended up wearing the same thing to church. I will call him "Mini-Me":
















Ella dressed up for church:



















After the hunt at Harper's, Nate on the move at home:



















Ella doubles up on baskets:

Caught on film: Ella walking, a tender moment for Nate & more ...

Hello everyone, we're back after a few-week absence from the blog. Here are some recent videos and pictures of Nate and Ella.

They are getting harder and harder to film due to increased mobility and a strong desire to grab the camera as soon as they see it. But here is some rare footage of Ella walking. She is gaining confidence and walking more each day.



In this video, I meant to capture Ella's latest recital of family names. But I wound up with a cute Nate video instead:



And here are a few other shots:
Ella enchanted:



















A smiling Natey:



















Ella with ponytail:



















Nate and building block:



















Ella enjoys good pal Lilly's 2nd birthday party:



















Nate at same party:



















Happy Ella:

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: