More White House Pics II

Here is the Rose Garden sans roses. There is a basket ball court, golf course, tennis court and running track in the background -- can you find them??
The press area outside of the West Wing was once referred to as "Pebble Beach." In response to the press constantly tracking in mud into the White House, pebbles were laid on this press spot in 1998. However, in the summer of 2005 concrete replaced the pebbles, and this area is now coined "Stonehenge."

By the end of the tour, Ellie told us she had had enough!

More White House Pics I

Here are the windows (above) and walkway (below) right outside the Oval Office.

This is the Press Pool in the West Wing. Apparently this room was originally a swimming pool during FDR's term -- thus the term press "pool." Swimming was the only form of exercise that he could manage with his polio.

[Future] Press Secretary Elinore Grace

White House Tour

Yesterday, our friend (who works in the Executive Office Building) gave us a personal tour of the White House. It was really interesting, and we had a great time! Of course, we could only take pictures in select areas. Here are a few:

Seal in the press pool

Front view of the White House

Entrance to the West Wing

Apparently, Ellie found something very captivating overhead...

"I love my Daddy!"

Friend or Foe?

There is certain cow in our house about which Ellie seems to have mixed feelings. Some days, he is cuddled (and eaten -- this is a display of high praise from Ellie); other days he is screamed and squawked at, and then violently thrown onto the floor. Either way, he always gets the utmost attention with big eyes and sharp breathing from the little miss.

The Cow.

"I see you, my little pretty..."

"I am just going to taste him..."

"Okay, I'm really going to eat him!"

The "What 'chu lookin' at?" montage thru the ages...

5 minutes old

2 weeks old

1 month old

1 1/2 months old

3 months old

"Thank goodness it's Friday!"

Rolly Polly

Ellie is having a blast rolling about. (So much so that I had to actually hold her on her stomach to get the first shot in this sequence. The moment she was propped on her tummy, she would lean to the side and off she went!). Ellie is still working out the kinks on getting from her back to her tummy...one skill that mom and dad aren't too eager to see her master yet!

"This..."
"...is..."
"...soooo..."

"...FUN!!!"

Princess Elinore

Perhaps when you think of the term "princess," you think of someone like this:



A soft-spoken, demure little creature that is gentle in her demeanor and dainty in her build. Well...when we say Ellie is a "princess," we are thinking more along the lines of this:

She is a little Xena, the Warrior Princess. Case in point -- last night we put her in her crib for some Quiet Time, which is recommended by many child experts. The idea is that they will quietly play in their crib. This is to not only give them some down time in the day, but to also encourage them to see that their crib is not just a sleep-prison. Well, we dimmed the lights, and put Little E in her crib with a soft teddy and her crib mirror last night. When we came back later to check how her Quiet Time was going, we found her trying to rip the mirror of the side rail, kicking her crib to the point that it was shaking, and squealing in delight at the racket she was making! [*sigh*] Needless to say, it was a long night for mom and dad to get her settled and down for good.

Ellie: The Outdoors-woman

Well, not really. While Ellie does go outdoors, it is apparent that she is very much like her mom: If she must leave The Cave (a.k.a. our apartment) she wants to be toasty warm.



But, of course, being warm comes at a cost...

Shake, shake, shake...shake those booties!

"It's 2008 already??!"

Christmas 2007

This year was our first Christmas as a new family -- how special it was to be able to finish one year and begin another with our new little girl!

On Christmas morning, we had breakfast with dear friends of our, Jamie and Joan Dunlop (who, BTW, just had their little boy a week ago: Christopher James, 7 lbs., 13 oz.). They also invited two of their neighbors, and we all had a lovely morning together over food, coffee and good conversation.


Then the Peterson clan went home and opened some presents (well, actually, Ellie opened most of them since most of them were for her!). Here she is with her new dolly.

Lastly, we trekked over to some more dear friends of ours, Barbara and Jeff Girdler. Their son Tim, daughter-in-law Bonnie, and new granddaughter Katelyn were also in town, and it was wonderful to meet them. Barb made an amazing dinner (turkey and the works!), and we spent the rest of the evening hanging out and enjoying one another's company. After dinner, Tim and Jeremy played trumpet duets, and Bonnie and I "talked shop" about various aspects of mommy-life. Elinore and Katelyn became fast friends between feeds and diaper changes.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

Love,

The Peterson Clan