Time to catch up!

So much has happened since our last full picture posting. This latest video is actually her at her most recent, but we wanted to back up and share what has been going on this summer. Enjoy the pictures!

She loves, loves, loves bath time! (part of the reason we started swim lessons this summer but more about that later). She could sit in the bath tub and splash for hours!

We had taken this picture with the intention of posting right away to show her first two teeth which came in almost simultaneously. Now, not only are those two teeth getting bigger but any day now she will also have her top two teeth poking through! She's been a tro0per through what I'm sure has been a pretty uncomfortable process for her.

This is a picture of Mary Ann and Ella. Mary Ann was one of Ella's nannies who was just here temporarily as her other nanny Teresa was finishing up school for the year. We loved Mary Ann and miss her lots!

I thought this was a good shot to include to show one of Ellas most favorite past times- sitting out side and pulling (and eating) grass! She loves to be out doors (as do we all) and usually sits in her Bumbo (chair) in the grass while dad takes care of the garden (for me :). A lot of the time Puma will throw her the ball in hopes of her picking it up and throwing back.... one of these days she will!

4th of July- she's definitely a daddy's girl!

A hot July day at the Mississippi Street Fair

She loves to drink out of (regular adult) cups- we've tried sippie cups but she doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with them... she'd rather drink out of a big cup (and let half of the water soak she and I both :) ).

Getting ready for a walk with the dog :) There's more and more resemblance that shows up every day between Ryan and Ella!

She loves her books! Normally she's usually eating them though

A little swim in the backyard- Puma was kind enough to share his pool ;)

Splashing around, again soaking both mom and baby but having so much fun!

That only takes us through the middle of July, we have lot's more pictures that we will post by the weeks end. She's almost 9 months old! She is developing more and more personality each day (as witnessed by the video :) and we are really loving being parents!

Ella at the Symphony!

Ella Enjoying the Symphony!! from Ryan Nowell on Vimeo.

With no prompting from us at all, she started to listen to the music with interest and was moved to clap on her own.

The Portland Festival Symphony was playing at Cathedral Park tonight. Had to leave a little early to get home for bedtime but it was still fun.

Oh and we have a bunch of pictures since May that we will start posting tomorrow!

Talking and Blowing

Ella Talking and Blowing from Ryan Nowell on Vimeo.

Ella's Piano PLay

Ella's Piano Play from Ryan Nowell on Vimeo.

She's sitting on her own!

She's apparently not too excited about avocado!

I'll sit her on the kitchen counter and give her something to play with :)

Ella's first playdate (first of many :). Sammuel was holding her shirt and at first Ella was ok with it but after a few seconds she changed her mind!

And she sits on her own!

Getting ready for a walk in the sun :)

Of course we had to get more pictures of her sitting!

Thanks to Kristen for such a cute skirt!

Skyping with the grandparents :) Before we know it she'll be calling grandma and grandpa on skype without us knowing :)

Trying her hat on for grandma.

Ella's front two teeth are starting to poke through! She's growing so much by the day!

Rolling Over (Slowly)

So Ella rolled over for the first time yesterday. I laid her down on her back and after a short while she managed to get on her side and then completely rolled over. Of course it's a VERY SLOW roll but she did it!! Emma didn't even notice it when I showed her the video for the first time!!

Since then she has done it 2 more times.

Ella Rolling Over from Ryan Nowell on Vimeo.

Also, last night was Ella's first night spent sleeping in her crib in her room!!! She did great and only woke up once during the night.

Worth the wait

Sorry to those of you who have been waiting for new pictures, but we've posted a ton and they are worth the wait! She's transitioned to Mom going back to work really well and has really been enjoying her time with her nannies- we have found some special people who care about our daughter which means so much to us. Ryan is still at home with her quite a bit and I come home at night to stories of how happy and content she had been during the day. She's starting to laugh when tickled which is fun to see her react more to us. She loves being outside, whether it's on a walk with Puma or in the garden while I've been starting our summer garden (after all of Ryan's hard work prepping the boxes for me!). I have a feeling this is going to be a great summer filled with picnics, mornings in the garden, hikes with the dog...

I love when she sits on the couch with Dad, she's so content to be in his arms doing whatever it is he is doing!

The quintessential chubby baby smiling picture :) I think we were playing peek a boo!

Normally she takes showers with me, but that week everyone was improvising in the kitchen sink as we were having our tub refinished...

This picture was just too cute not to post...

Here she is in her cute pink fleece vest!

Here she is at Easter, we're on the edge of the kitchen at Kristen's and she's watching all the action- one of her favorite places? The kitchen! She takes after her mama :)

A photo shoot with dad while I was at work

This is a little hard to see, but Ryan had her outside in the bumbo chair and ran in to get the camera, and this is what he saw from the window... she's sitting in the chair with her hands crossed just looking straight ahead!

Such a little human!

She's not short on personality!

Tummy Talk Time! from Ryan Nowell on Vimeo.

I'm on my second day back at work and dearly miss my baby! So Ryan took this video for me today- and for you all (grandmas and grandpa especially)! We have more pictures to post but wanted to share this for now :).

All sorts of firsts!

Ella went for her 4 month check up and everything looks great, she's right where she should be. The doctor said we could start to try to give Ella solid foods... so we tried some rice cereal, and as you can see below, it didn't go over very well! We're going to wait a while and try again...






On Sunday and Monday we went to an infant massage class that was a test run for some students working towards a certification in teaching infant massage... it was free for us and we got some great techniques to use. Both days were the same class, and the repetition was welcomed and needed. Turns out for the students to complete their certification, they each independently need to teach the full 5 week coarse (again free of charge), not a bad deal! So we will be able to continue to work on our technique. Ella LOVED it! She was a star baby for both days she went a long with everything and seemed to enjoy and respond to it all and by the end of each session she was completely relaxed and smiley!


She's really getting better and enjoying tummy time as you can see above and then also down below! I'm sure it helped that I was rubbing her back :)

On our way out for our walk, I loved her little hat!

After our shower, she loves the water!

We just noticed today how long her hair is getting, but it's not quite long enough to lay down yet

I only have a week and a half left before I go back to work, I'm going to miss her so much!