Ellie at age 3

I don't mean to brag, but Ellie's development and growth has always shined through fairly early at each age. The things she learned and grasped has always surprised us and her tendency to be such a happy, well behaved girl was/is amazing. The terrible two's didn't really hit, but this girl had been pushing her limits more and more the closer she got to age 3. Can we say three-nager?!

Every day we are all learning...her as a kid and us as parents. We are all trying to navigate each stage. There are many days that are hard, but there are always the same amount of amazing days. Time is going fast, but I'm so glad I get to be home with her and Steven is blessed with many days off from work. I always say each stage is amazing to watch and be a part of.

Here are some things that highlight our girl...

Wants to wear a dress practically every day.
Favorite colors are pink and purple. If there's a clothing item that's either of those colors, she'll usually pick it over the rest.
Loves dressing up in a princess costume or in some sort of ballerina attire at some point every day.
Wants to take off her socks and pants as soon as we get home.
Can say her full name, "Ellie Mishelle Norris"
Knows our names.
Dances all the time. Many twirls and leaps/jumps.
Asks 'why?' all.the.time! It can be a bit exhausting.
Still loves to suck on her ring and middle finger at the same time; especially when she's tired.
Counts to 12 really well and has been counting things with her fingers.
Knows we pray before our meals and if by chance we forget for some reason, she'll usually say "we forgot to pray!" and will want to do it then.
Talks quiet when responding to someone she doesn't know well. So, fairly shy sometimes.
Likes to be held off and on, and boy is she heavy!
Can still have a hard time sharing mom and dad's attention with Paige.
Squats down to a baby and talks in a baby voice, saying things like, "Awe, you're so cute!" "It's okay baby/Paige" etc.
Takes a 2 hour nap basically every day. Some days she'd sleep longer if we let her.
Succumbing to sleep at bedtime can take a good hour, no matter what time we put her down.
Talks up a storm after waking (ever since she learned to talk for that matter).
Can take a good 45 minutes to eat a meal.
Favorite show/movies currently: Sofia the First, all Toy Story movies, Frozen, Monsters, Inc.
Enjoys books and being read to.
Loves being told stories before bed.

^ Her request: a chocolate cake, with pink frosting and Poppy on it. 

Wish granted! 

eight months

During these photos all Paige really wanted to do was roll over and would look at me all serious when I would flip her over to her back again. Between each picture she was basically moving! The struggle was real between that and lack of smiles...she wasn't too happy about it!

Size: Moved up to size 4 diaper! There are very few 6 months pieces that fit, so mainly 9-12 month clothes. No stats this month, but next!

Eating: This girl loves to eat. She loves milk. She loves solids. She loves water. This past month we introduced peaches, banana, squash and green beans. She wasn't a big fan of the green beans by themselves, but if you mix in some sweet potato or squash she'll chow them down. We stopped giving her carrots because I made the connection they were causing her to spit up again. Thankful she basically isn't spitting up anymore! If she does, it's a very small amount. Altogether she has 2-3 solids a day and is nursing 5 times a day. (One of those nursing sessions is a half feeding, and I've been trying to play around with cutting it out completely-not sure what she thinks when I have...)

Sleep: Girl is doing even better with sleep; being more predictable and happier. Her schedule is basically the same as last month. However, she is sleeping in longer in the morning; wakes on average around 6:15am! She will go down pretty fast for naps and bedtime, and usually wake happy. Since her spitting up has decreased there hasn't been a delay in falling asleep or waking up sooner due to that. Though, she does tend to poop in the early am or during a nap and it can cut it short a little.

Milestones/Accomplishments:
- CRAWLING! The day after her 7 month birthday she started getting up on her hands and knees and rocking. Then on 1/25 she started crawling forward on hands and knees! Every day she goes farther and farther!
- Putting herself in a seated position all by herself fairly often.
- Uses her index finger to point at things/touch things. Figuring these fingers out.
- Making some 'da-da' and 'mmm' sounds. Not associating with her actual dad, but working on her verbal skills.
- I'm not sure she actually understands the word 'no', but she usually stops going toward the entertainment center electronics/cords and looks at me. The tone of voice is what probably gets her attention most...?

Likes:
- Been meaning to put this one on here for a couple months, but she loves when we hold her, looking out, and chase Ellie. It's gets some of the cutest smiles and giggles out of her.
- Being waved at.
- Looking at her fingers/hand and rotating it - like she's waving.
- Stuffed animals, especially when you make them dance or have them pretend to give her kisses and hugs.
- When you make a buzzing sound and nuzzle your face in her neck or tummy.
- Drumming on her highchair with her hand(s) and banging toys on it.
- The drop/pick up game with any type of object.

Dislikes:
- Being held by people she doesn't know very well/strangers. She'll get all serious, puts a pouty face on and sometimes cry. Stranger danger and mom clinginess has begun. However, she'll do good in the church nursery!
- When you clean off her hands and face after meal time.

Additional things I want to remember:
Starting to get some giggles out when being tickled, but you'll at least get a grin. She is such a mover/explorer - figuring ways to get whatever object she wants all across the room. Such a content girl in her car seat and the carrier-much appreciated!  Eyes are staying brown! It's funny when I'm changing her on the pad in her room, and Ellie is playing in there, Paige will arch or try to sit up or try to roll off the pad so she can watch Ellie-she seriously loves her big sister. Smiles when you say "dad"/"dada" and she sees Steven.

January photo favorites

The start to a new year. There are going to be many firsts this year with Paige and as a family of 4. I still can't believe that; a family of FOUR! I'm holding onto my family a little tighter and thinking about relationships with everyone a little more than normal. Now, I don't want to bring you down and sadden you with the following news...this month brought an unexpected event; my dad passed away. We've been estranged, for a lack of a better word, for many years, with some letters and cards exchanged in the last few. However, in the last few months I was finally going to give him a call and try to reconnect. Well, the phone call was never made a priority. I missed many opportunities. After receiving the news of his passing it brought many emotions. Many of those emotions have been hard ones, though there have been some good ones. Throughout all this I have been even more grateful for my husband, Steven. He has stepped up in many many ways during this time, taking on more duties than me even. I've been in contact with my older half sister (my father was married before he was with my mom and had my sister Michelle) more than I have in awhile and I'm grateful for that as well. I've been in more prayer about life and relationships than normal. So though it has been a super hard event to be presented with, I have been shown so much love and support - near and far. I hope to better myself and relationships this year. And, I am made to think of what I want to leave behind. I want to leave a better legacy behind than I ever thought of before.
Amongst all the tasks and difficult times, I'm glad the following pictures were captured, so I can also remember the moments that made us smile and fill our joy bucket!

 I love that one of my best friends is a mom and we get to do mom life together! 

These girls are going to besties!

^ "I'm the great stone dragon!" -Ellie ...if you have seen the movie Mulan, then that line/scene with Mushu should come to you. We had just watched that movie this morning and Steven and I busted up laughing when Ellie did this. 

^ I believe this was baby Lily's first church service! Almost a couple weeks old!

^ Reaching with all she has to get whatever she wants, before she attempts to crawl

The simple joys of a cardboard box/makeshift bed brought to you all by Ellie

^ Steven preached! It was another proud wife moment for sure. I love this man and his willing heart to serve and also get out of his comfort zone ; )

^ Went to a place called Planet Kid. Hadn't been in awhile, but Ellie LOVED it! 

^ Mommy-daughter time at the mall. Met up with some friends for a walk, played in the 'tot lot' and then got some pretzels.

Ellie loves this ballerina shirt (it reigned in her wardrobe this month) and being silly. 

^ Ellie wanted a bear family to be made along with their own pillow and blanket : )

^ 1/25...Paige was working on her crawling and doing really well at it! I would say we officially have a crawler on our hands!

^ Ellie trying to "help" Paige crawl and encourage her along. She's not always involved with the cheering on, but when she does, my mama heart swells with pride for these girls even more. 

^ She picked out her Belle dress and the matching crown and shoes.