ten months

So glad to have gotten some smiles!

Aaaannnd, she's over it! Does not like laying on her back very long for pictures.

Size: Holding strong on size 4 diapers. And more and more 9 month clothes are getting too small for her. Several 18 month pants fit, just need to roll them up once.

Eating: Nursing 4 times a day still. A couple of those are shorter than they have been, but I don't think I'll be dropping down to 3 yet, or start weaning her until she's 1. She's eating solids 3 times a day and she's been taking the fruit stage 3 foods great. However, she does not like the Gerber stage 3 dinner-type foods. We found another brand she likes better and little by little we're trying finger foods. All she really wants to do is play with them, even though she wants to put every other thing in her mouth. There are too many new foods in her diet to list anymore, and that's great. So far she's not too picky!

Sleep: Morning wake up is still 6:15am on average. Goes down for her first nap around 8:10, which lasts an 1-1.5 hours. Then her second nap is 1pm, lasting 1.5-2 hours. Bedtime is 7pm and she hasn't needed a 4 or 5am diaper change in quite awhile.

Milestones/Accomplishments:
- Has 3 teeth! Two on the bottom and one on the top!
- Free stands all. the. time for a good amount of time
- Walks along furniture little bits more often
- Dances sometimes when there's music playing she likes, or sometimes when you say "dance"
- Balances on one knee a lot

Likes:
- Making elephant noises
- When someone plays the xylophone. She'll smile and giggle sometimes
- When we wear hats and glasses. She thinks they're quite intriguing and sometimes funny
- Steven tossing her in the air, or pretend dropping her

Dislikes:
- When you take away something she wants to play with. She will make the saddest face with the best pouty lip
- Doesn't like playing peek-a-boo with daddy. She'll slowing start to cry

Additional things I want to remember:
Loves pulling up to standing, using you as a support and gets all close/leans on you - which seems like she's hugging (she may be!). For a couple days was air kissing, copying what we do when we're pretending a toy is kissing her. Usually smiles when you look at her all serious and are saying and shaking head "no". How she'll cling on you, and start to whimper, if she doesn't want to be put down. Gets a little excited when you say "I'm going to get you".

March photo favorites

     

^ She's always making a bed for her toys, babies or herself. 

And that crown is still one of her favorite accessories.

^ This was her second time in a cart (I usually just wear her). She looks like such a big girl.

^ We've been shortening Ellie's nap, but also have her do quiet time in her room before. 

Sometimes however, she falls asleep on her own.

^ A little bed in her closet, made by her! And you see those clothes hanging above her? All but one is a dress (and there's more not shown), but she still LOVES that pink dress she's wearing. 

^ Another early nap 

^ Ellie was excited to be in one of these carts with Paige. Paige wasn't too sure, and Ellie wanted to help her look at the camera for a picture. 

Ellie had her first dance class and she LOVED it!

^ These were some statues outside her dance class and she asked me to take her picture with them.

^ Loved getting more books that talked about the real reason for Easter. 

Ellie enjoyed reading them over and over.

^ If Ellie is around when we check the mail she usually wants to go with us. It's been chilly and Ellie wants to be wrapped up in a blanket when she goes out. 

^ Ellie will stand behind this bench in her room and pretend to be a cashier. Her room is a store and she asks what I would like to buy. I get a toy and ask how much it is. (One time a bag was $105 haha). She'll make a beep beep sound as she "rings" it up and puts the pretend money I give her in her "register". I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I love seeing her imagination at work. 

^ March 25th...shortly after the official day of Spring. Silly Boise. 

^ Paige has the most impressive pouty lip/sad face I've ever seen. 

This was after I (nicely) took away something she shouldn't be playing with. 

Zoo fun with some friends from church. 

^ First time Ellie fed Paige food. 

^ First time Paige has been in a swing. She liked it, as you can tell!

^ Ellie was with some friends one morning/afternoon and this picture was snapped. 

Ellie had fun putting the chef hat on Paige and the bag as one for her.