Griffin John Elhardt

Born September 19, 2010

7.6 pounds

21 inches long

Welcome to our family. We love you so much!

Sitting & Waiting

We can't really go anywhere...

who knows when the baby is going to get here.

We sure hope it is sooner than later!

Baby boy's official due date is September 28th so he isn't late but Matt leaves for his week long UW residency on the 26th. It would sure be nice have the baby before he leaves... either that or baby needs to wait until Daddy Matthew returns on the 30th. I just wish we knew... this sitting, waiting, and wondering is getting difficult. Anyone have any good tricks to bring on the labor?

Home-maid Chicken Noodle Soup

I don't know about you...

but this weather is making me crave soup for dinner.

My sister Steph makes chicken noodle soup from scratch all the time for her family so I thought I would give it a try. I roasted my own chicken using The Barefoot Contessa's recipe. Matt informed me that I roasted it upside down (oops, I am still learning).

Then the next day I used Tyler Florence's recipe for chicken stock.

Addy helped me make the noodles.

BTW I found this great blog that showed me how to make the noodles.

I can't wait to make lots more of her recipes.

Then I added carrots, onions, celery, chicken, noodles, and lots of yummy seasoning.

It tasted perfect on a cold, wet, fall evening.

Some Elhardt Updates

The contractors are done for now in the basement. Matt is going to do the electrical work and then they will be back to drywall.

The crib and dresser have been moved into baby's room and I've washed and put away all his clothes.

We got a new car... well new to us... but it's still kind of fun.

Finally and definitely the most exciting news, Addy has slept two nights in a row with out a binky! She has a slight case of pneumonia and sucking on the binky was making her cough worse so I convinced her she did not need it anymore. So far so good... let's hope it lasts even when she starts feeling better.

Sunriver 2010

I have so many fond memories of Sunriver. We used to go as a family almost every summer growing up as a child. My parents would pack all four kids into the Vanagon, load up the bike rack, and have a week of nonstop fun. My parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this September so to honor them we decided to do an old fashioned family Sunriver vacation. We found a five bedroom house that was big enough to hold the whole family and we spent 6 days making memories.

There was lots of bike riding (except if you are 8 mo. pregnant).

Playing at the park.

Relaxing and enjoying the pool.

We loved the hot tub at our house.

But most of all just enjoying each other's company.

Happy 40th wedding anniversary Mom and Dad.

We look forward to more Sunriver memories soon!

Celebrations

We love weekends where there is a celebration that allows both Matt and I get to see our college friends.

We spent Saturday celebrating this happy couple over in Yakima.

Matt got to spend some quality time with the Sigma Nu boys

and I loved catching up with their wives (The Sigma Du's).

Then on Sunday we drove back through Seattle to celebrate Rothie and the upcoming arrival of her twin girls.

And nothing makes me more happy then spending the afternoon with my college girls. So fun to get to see so many great friends in one weekend. Thanks for all the fun celebrations.

We're Making Progress

The contractors have been here for a week working on the basement.

They installed a bigger window to let more light in.

They are also finishing up framing, rebuilding the stairs, and knocking down a wall in the dining room.

We've been working upstairs on baby brother's room.

We still need to move the crib over from Addy's room and purchase a dresser but things are moving right along...

{Only 8 more weeks until my due date}