HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ELLIE!!!!
And here is her last monthly update. I will however post one every 4-6 months, and in a different format and way as well, because several of these will probably continue to be the same and I don't want to bore you with repetition, if I haven't already!
Size: Size 4 diapers. Has grown out of a ton of her 6 months clothes. She's wearing mostly clothes ranging in size from 9-12 month, with the addition of several 12-18 month pieces. Ellie has her well check appointment on the 10th, so check back after that for the update on her weight and height; which I have been so anxious to know!
UPDATE: Ellie's appointment has been changed to the 17th due to an office scheduling mistake unfortunately.
*FINAL UPDATE: we finally have some stats people! She is 19.78 pounds and 28.7 inches!
Eyes: I'll call them a slate blue and I will say they are here to stay. So pretty in my book (of course)!
Hair: Auburn brown. I have yet to say that her eyebrows have stayed a really light brown, more on the strawberry blonde side of things...as you can probably tell in some of her pictures. So, it does make me wonder if the rest of her hair will lighten over time, or if her eyebrows are just behind on changing to the color on her head? Time will tell. A couple weeks ago I was able to put her hair in pig tails and girl were they ca-ute!
Sleeping: Her schedule is still the same thankfully. Waking between around 7:30am, going down for nap between 9:30/10am (waking around 11:30am), second nap between 2/2:30pm (waking around 4:30pm) and bedtime between 7:30/8pm. Sometimes it can take her a little bit to fall asleep...standing, talking, and rolling around is too much fun in her crib, ha. But there's never tears and she will settle down within close proximity of those times every day. I love how predictable she is and I know things could/will change. Her first nap has changed a little bit already by getting a little shorter, but we're glad she has a good routine.
Eating: This girl has such a big appetite; it impresses us all the time. Eating solids 4 times a day and lots of it. New foods we have introduced are: beef, broccoli, Cheerios, eggs, bread and kale (probably missing some). We are giving her more of the food off of our plates as well; finally working away from mainly pureed food. And I have made our own "stage 3" foods since she does not like the store bought dinner type ones and I have time to make more food for her now. We've been experimenting with a lot of the foods she's had in puree form and trying to give them to her just cut up or mashed up. Going good through trial and error, and meeting her where she's at and not forcing things on her. I have also given her formula when we've been in a bind and after I had some oral surgery/sedation done, despite my desire to avoid it. She never refused it however, which was nice. Still nursing 5 times a day, but during this week I will drop another nursing session (she's starting to ween herself from one of them already, but I'll continue to drop one every week hereafter) and introduce/supplement with whole milk into her diet.
Milestones/Accomplishments:
- Walking, on own, A TON! Drunken toddler walk lots of the time, but she goes short and far distances all over the place!
- Standing up in the middle of the floor, and crib (ahhh!!), without the help of anything all the time
- Talking/communicating category...Pointed to a dog in a book and said 'woof'. Raised hands after eating and said 'duh' (to sign/say "all done"). Words added to "vocabulary": sock, duck, dance, block and stinky (you know those stinky diapers...)
- If you ask her where something is (book, music toy, baby/doll, etc.) she will look, point and/or go to that object. So she knows what a lot of things are called and where they are, but she doesn't really say the word.
Likes:
- Dancing! It makes us smile and laugh all the time. She will dance on own, but also likes you holding her while you dance together; she'll raise her arms for you to pick her up. And if music is playing at a store she will start dancing to it.
- Pulling blankets, books, clothes out of drawers and off shelves. If anything is in it's place/organized, she'll take care of that ; )
- Being around people, playing with people. She does pretty well with independent play as well, but likes to be with you.
- Feed you her cheerios. Reaches out and really wants to share with you.
Dislikes:
- Facetime. There are times we FaceTime with Steven when he's at work, but Ellie gets so serious, weirded out and freezes up in a way. She enjoys watching videos off of the phone, but I guess she doesn't like the interaction this way?? Not sure.
- Being told no, only on some things though. She listens, and obeys, really well 98% of the time, however when she apparently really wants whatever it is in her hands and you tell her no or take it away (and gently for that matter) - she still has instant water works.
Some things to remember...
The way she squats/pops her knees to dance and rocks her upper body to the music! How sometimes she stands with her back to the couch, leans back and sticks her belly out. Purses her lips and pushes them up to touch her nose. Makes fart noises with her mouth. Pats her babies and toys. How she talks to you when she gets up from nap.
This last whole last month I have been trying to compose myself by not tearing up...or bringing the full on water works, because I knew the countdown for having a one year old would go fast. Today I have totally shed a few tears...happy tears though! Reminiscing about the day she graced us with her presence swells my mama heart. And Every. Single. Day I look at her and thank God for her. There are plenty of times I fail miserably as a parent, but I pray constantly for the ability to parent Ellie the way God desires. We have the privilege of being her parents and I always want to do right by her.
There are so many things, moments and feelings I could write about because this past year has been full of many. Being a parent has filled my heart with more love and joy. My chest hurts sometimes because I feel more of this amazing love for Steven, who has been an amazing father and for Ellie, who lights up our life.
Here are some quotes I love and want to instill in Ellie...
"She knew that she was formed by God's hands, dreamed up in His heart and placed in this world for a purpose."
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb, before you were born, I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5
"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful." -Annette Funicello
"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." 1 Peter 3:4
There are a bazillion more that touch me, but those are a few goodies : )
I'll be posting some photos from her party (we're having tonight) later this weekend! Quite excited to celebrate our sweet girls birthday! Saying we have a one year old blows my mind! (?!?!?!?!)
