Movie Monday - More Flashback

We're continuing to visit the archive of  videos.  This one goes way back to October of last year.  As the countdown to Ellie's first birthday continues (just one more week), it's fun to recall where the year started and how far she has come.

Just to note, Ellie was never big on tummy time.  Maybe why she didn't start crawling until month 9.  So we don't have many pictures or videos of her on the belly which is why I chose this one for today's post.

Tough Love

Living with a growing human being isn't always the joy I write about. Recently Ellie has discovered the emotions of frustration and anger. And what does a non-verbal person do to express themselves when they don't have the words? Fling their little arm into your general direction. When holding little frustrated person this means putting your precious head in harms way. As poor Grandma found out (Ellie just received holes in her ears... I decided to go for it and have her ears pierced so she was sensitive about those earlobes.  The cute picture of Grandma and Ellie is found in the post below).

So work has begun to teach that striking people is not the most effective long term solution to communicating. But until her words come, I'd suggest everyone keep their heads at a distance.

Bling Bling

Today was a big day - I got my ears pierced!!!
Don't the look pretty?  I feel like a big girl now.

Movie Monday Flashback

 

Per Fan request, I'll be working to add more video.  There's lots of old footage (smile) I have't posted.  This clip takes us back to January 30.  Ellie is almost 5 months old.

Car Sleep Gene

This weekend we had to drive up to Boyne, Mi for a family event on Braden's side.  It's a 4 hour drive one way. That's a loonnnggg time for a 11 month old.  Fortunately Ellie appears to have gotten the car sleeping gene.  But you gotta admit the chair rivals an adult Lazyboy (big smiles).

Baby No More

Something changed for Ellie last week.  Thursday was different than all her previous days.  Her actions were very intentional and she was aware of herself and surroundings in a way I have never seen before.  She knew what things (food, toys) she wanted and which ones she didn't.  She explored the household landscape and picked up non-toys that she never noticed to that point.

I say it's the day she left babyhood.  She looks, acts the part of a toddler now. 

I see the walking legs coming online.  Yesterday she stood unsupported and balanced for at least 20 seconds.  So I know the skill is there.  But Ellie is not someone to be rushed.  She likes to do things on her own timeline.  And shows quite a bit of resistance to being pushed.

Only one more month until the big ONE (haha, the first birthday that is)!

Movie Monday

I've been meaning to capture the advancements of Ellie's mobility.  She's cruising using things like walkers and push toys.  Balancing on two feet isn't there but otherwise all other elements of walking are ready to go!  The countdown to the big birthday is starting...only 5 more weeks.

I understand!

I get it!  I understand what you're trying to tell me.  You tell me to sit and I sit down.  You tell me to open the lid on my toy box and I open the lid.  This learning a language stuff isn't easy but I'm starting to understand more and more words every day.  I've also started to call for Mama when I need something and Dada when I want to play.  Or I choose to use those words when one parent isn't doing something I like and I want the other parent to "do something" about it.  I'm smart like that you know ;)

Other words that I can understand include "down, up, open, close, sit down, fan, ball".  I'm sure there are more but I can't think of the others just now.  I'll save those for another post.

More fun with JD, Kim and Maddy

Everybody is getting so big!!!

Huron River Day

Gotta love summer!
Today was a day in Gallup Park. Picnic and sun. Doesn't get any better.

Kisses...Sweet Kisses

I received my first Ellie smooch on Tuesday.  Although it was the baby kind (open mouth and licking you kind), it was such a nice reciprocation of love.  After all these months (10 today to be exact), you wonder if they have any kind of affection for you as much as you have for them.

And the best part, was that it was at our last minute doctors appointment to check out a potential ear infection.  It almost felt like she was saying "Thanks Mom for taking me to the dr's because I'm not feeling well."  I think this because we've been trying to get kisses from her for awhile to no avail (remember the crawling thing... same deal).  But out of no where, while waiting to be seen by the dr, I asked for a kiss... and got one!!!!

We're behind in our monthly pictures.  We did take the 9 month ones.  So this month with hopefully be a double feature and we'll post both sets.

Mobility!

As previously posted, Ellie has had little interest in crawling until the trail of Cheerios was laid a few weeks back.  In the continuing saga, we have a fully functional crawler sans-Cheerios.  Within the last few days she is up on the hands and knees motoring around, then sitting on her butt and then back on the hands and knees for more exploring.  She's even pulling herself up to standing.  That's where she really wants to be...you can tell that if her little being could, she'd be walking.

Other skills acquired this week.  She is now actively associating words with actions.  She had a rattle in her hand and I said to shake it... and she did!  She also waved bye-bye when asked to (although this is still an only when Ellie wants to action).

Poor thing isn't feeling great this morning so we're waiting for the Dr to call back.  But it won't spoil the long weekend.  It's family play time!  Happy 4th of July everyone!!

We have contact

Ellie has officially been out in the world (41 weeks) longer than she was in her human incubator (40 weeks exactly).  It does give you a whole new appreciation for the process of life.  Having always liked science, it's the ultimate experiment.  To witness and the experience the transformation from incapable to pretty functional in months (which to this old soul is like nothing as far as timelines go) has been scientifically impressive.

This week in particular has been staggering. 

Last Tues (June 14) - Aunt Kim noticed another 2 lower teeth coming in (for a total of 6)
Last Fri (June 17) - Ellie crawls for the first time.  I did have to bribe her with a trail of cheerios but she crawled to get them.
Sun June 19 - She started babbling more and by Wed she was saying Dadada and by Fri it was mamama (She doesn't associate them with us yet but her vocal range is really expanding)
Tues June 21 - I took out of her protective bath gear and she's now taking baths like a normal kid.  Just hanging out and sitting in the bath tub.

In addition, there have been little victories towards walking.  We got her a new walking toy and she mastered late last week.  As a result, she's starting to try to balance standing. 

But all this "growth" also comes with a renewed love for eating lots and also sleeping lots.  She's been taking about 3-4hrs of naps daily plus another 11 hrs of sleep at night.

It's amazing, amazing stuff.

Super Mother's Day

We've been a "super" busy family over the last couple of months.  Mom was wrapping up her job at Oracle, Dad has been working on business deals for Stryker and I've been well..."super"!

I'm behind in my updates so with Mommy and Daddy's help, I'll be catching up on my blogging.

This picture is from Mom's first Mother's Day.  We went to the family cottage near Lexington, MI.  We had fun playing for the day.  Here I am in my new sunglasses looking like a super hero... Call me Wonder Ellie.

Peony Festival

Did you know the Arb had a Peony Festival? I didn't either.


Mom and Grandma took me there today and it was beautiful. So much to touch and see. I am sad the blooms don't last long but I am already looking forward to next year.

Jump-a-roo

I don't think my jumper has made the list yet.  I mean check this thing out - it makes noise, it rattles, it flashes and I even get to stand up.

Mom and dad like it because their arms get a break and I get exercise  I like it because it makes noise. . . . For  now, it is one of my favorite toys.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

OK so 7 months isn't exactly a celebrated birthday but I think it is pretty cool.  A lot has happened for me this last month.  I am sitting up without any real assistance.  If you hold my hands, I'll pull myself up to my feet.  I much more curious, using my hands independent of each other and my two lower teeth are displaying themselves proudly.  Most of all I like to taste things.  If I can pick it up, it is going in my mouth.  Hey -  taste is one of the senses - I want to make sure I am experiencing them all.

Books are cool!!!

Both Ann Marie and I love books and reading so we have tried to make them a part of Ellie's life.

Today Ann Marie was making Ellie's dinner and gave her a book to keep her busy.  We looked over after a few minutes and this was the scene.

We often wonder if hard-copy books will disappear in her lifetime but for now, she seems to enjoy the old-fashioned kind.  Hopefully a sign of things to come.

What is better than a big family????

Me and Baby Brendan snuggling

. . . a bigger family  :-)

Today I got to meet my newest cousin - Baby Brendan.  I suppose when he grows up we will just call him Brendan but for now I like the alliteration.

Brendan was born on March 28th to Mom's sister Rose (and of course Mike).

He is such a little peanut - so crazy to think that just 6 months ago, I was that small.  Mom and Dad kept looking back and forth saying "I can't believe it".

I can't wait for everyone to be big enough to play together - with the weather getting warmer, I am sure it will be soon.

Look what came from Amazon.com today

all those toys and she loves a box???

So with the addition of a baby comes two challenges to shopping (1) the need for more stuff - diapers, bibs, sippy cups you name it (2) less time and mobility - There is no more casually wandering in and out of stores. Taking time to think about purchases - coming back later if you don't find a better price somewhere.  Time is precious - we want to spend it together, not in stores.

So we have been doing a lot more shopping online. While we feel bad about not supporting local businesses, it is just so much more convenient. . . And it is not like buying a box of 200 pampers is the thing helping to keep the mom-and-pop businesses open.

All that to say that while we find our joy in being done with our shopping and with the family - Ellie finds hers in - well - the boxes.