noah&katie

 I found these pictures of us all and was amazed to see the similarities! When you look at the first picture of Ellie, it totally looks like me. Then you look at the second, and she looks like Noah. What do you think?

BONUS: A cute picture from our trip to the zoo a few weeks ago. Can't beat weather in the 70s and 80s for the month of March! <1 month until her birthday. WOW!

{Katie}

It's 75* today, and amazingly beautiful. A perfect spring day, no doubt! Of course Ellie is deciding to take REALLY long naps today. I'm not complaining, but I am eager to get back outside :) The changing season means new weather, new things to do (park, swing, walk) but it also means NEW CLOTHES! Oh Ellie, what a rough life:)

Yeah, this was last week when it was colder (and windy!)  HAHAHA!!!

Our sweet craigslist find! YEAH for having a jogging stroller. Now we're ready for Spring Hill!! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day Week!!! Ellie says, "Kiss me, I'm Irish!" 

Ellie didn't really want to smile this morning, but a new tennis dress, how adorable is that? 

I told my mom last week that I have been leaving the "First Spring" section in Ellie's baby book open. I'm not sure if last year was her first Spring (She was born at the end of April) or if this is her first Spring? I think I've decided I'll make it be this spring. We have lots more fun things going on than we did last spring!! :)

Happy Spring!
{Katie}

Ellie's personality is coming out more and more. We LOVE the way she sucks her finger and holds her blanket. Just had to show her off, as we (of course) think she is absolutely precious! Note her crazy hair. Once we take out her "spout" ponytail, it looks kinda wild :) She's getting smart and smiling for the camera, so it's hard to capture her with her finger in her mouth :) Oh, so cute!

{Katie}

Ah, so precious! We love you Ellie!!!!

I haven't posted much lately, and while it isn't intentional, it might just be a result of the fact that I'm in hibernation.  Not exactly, but after my first semester of being both mom and Navs staff, I needed a break. The last two weeks at home have been incredible. Noah has been able to work "normal" hours and be home more in the evenings. He traveled last weekend for a conference, but Ellie and I have stayed put. It's been much needed and greatly appreciated. Ellie continues to love her sleep and her food. She plays in her johnny jump-up a lot! She can sit up very well, but often prefers to just lay down.  She's starting to make strange a bit, and preferring mom or dad over "strangers."  She LOVES Gerber Puffs and is proud of herself for getting them in her mouth. She's learning to smile for the camera and show off for grandma and grandpa on skype. 

Yesterday was my official "Hibernation Day" -- I didn't even leave the house! We even got snow, so it was perfect! Our life will pick up full speed very soon as Saturday our regional leader is coming to visit and Monday we have a meeting with student leaders. Classes start up on Tuesday, Noah is speaking at our first Nav Night is Thursday and our welcome-back social is Friday. :)  While I am excited, I don't know if I'm ready but is anyone every ready to come out of Hibernation? :) 

Oh, and Ellie FINALLY got to "play" in the snow. :)  
Happy 2012!

I haven't gotten a chance to update on Christmas yet... We celebrated just the three of us at home before Christmas then we spent time at both of our parents houses in Wisconsin! Highlights of the last month include seeing all of our siblings (even Brady in China via skype), time with Ellie's only cousin Claire, enjoying one more "Rogers Christmas" making a gingerbread house, doing Advent as a family each night, celebrating Ellie's 8 month birthday on Christmas day, time with the Buchmanns,  and as you can see... lots and lots of pictures (and presents too!)

is my two front teeth! Last week Noah was out of town and I was 'flying-solo' for the first time with Ellie. Of course, this is when her two front teeth decided to work their way through. She was in a lot of pain last weekend and definitely not herself, but I can now feel the tips of some sharp pearly whites and my guess is they'll be here by Christmas! 

Who knew we could be more excited for Christmas than we have EVER been thanks to little Ms. Ellie. Noah and I are looking for to our gingerbread house tradition this week... I don't think Ellie will be able to contribute much yet, but that's okay! I've been sooo eager to wrap her presents (and we finally did yesterday!). We're doing our best not to spoil her, but in my enthusiasm I wanted to fill her stocking... so she's getting a hairbrush, hair bows, Gerber Puffs, batteries, etc in her stocking. Anything she needs that will fit :)

The tree is up, the presents are wrapped, we've been enjoying a family advent devotional time each night before bed.... all we need is some SNOW! (We're hoping we can find that in Wisconsin!)

Time continues to fly-- it's hard to believe Ellie will be 8 months old on Christmas day! y. She is starting to roll over (without being coaxed) :) She continues to love her cereal, and hasn't turned down any of the baby food we've offered her :) She's generally very happy and laid back, but is starting to get a bit nervous around familiar places or unfamiliar people.  I tease Noah that we're just playing house as she continues to be a pretty laid back baby. 

P.S. For those of you who are wondering if you have been taken off of our Christmas Card list-- no worries! You'll still be getting your Christmas card, we're just more behind than we've ever been. Here's a "sneak peek" of the beautiful pictures you'll be seeing :)

It's been a very crazy month for us.... We started off October by flying to MN for my cousin's wedding. We then took a last minute road trip to Platteville to be with my dear friend Lindsey whose husband (of a few months, he is also a childhood friend) was severely wounded in Afghanistan. We then packed up and headed over to Indiana for Fall Conference. Then my parents came down for a few days and then Noah's parents came down for a few days (they overlapped for 24 hours). Now this week we head to Kentucky for a Navs National Staff Conference. WHEW!

Ellie got used to having someone new here every time she woke up from a nap :) I think I'm more tired than she is! We also had a very fun month of milestones (sitting up, rolling over, eating baby food, first Halloween, multiple trips to the pumpkin patch, etc. etc.) Here's a few pictures :)

Such a big girl!

This book was purchased at the Champaign Library in the honor of her birth (Her name is inside the cover!)

Talk about learning to sit in a chair ;)

Our sweet pea!

Happy Halloween Ellie! (Hard to see but the smile says Ellie)

Have I mentioned that this girl loves her thumb? And her blanket? And her crib? :)

This is a bonus... just for fun... and because I think Ellie gets more beautiful every day!

Hard to believe how quickly time has flown! I remember thinking and planning and preparing for this fall since before Ellie was even born! We were so grateful for the timing of her arrival, knowing that I could take the summer off to adjust to life with a baby, and then by the time students returned Ellie would be almost 4 months old. Well, this time came way sooner than I anticipated!! I'm so grateful that we had the summer to adjust. Ellie is on a great schedule, sleeping through the night, taking some good naps, and really making it possible for me to still be involved in ministry to some degree. We're so grateful and we love her SO much!!