Eleanor {15 months}

Where to begin?

Just when I think that I'm in love with one stage... you change and I fall in love all over again! You are doing so many new things everyday that I just want to jot a few down so that I never forget! A lot has happened over the past three months :)

You currently weigh 22lbs 5oz and are 32 inches tall!

Words you say: Mama, Dada, Papa, Teetee (Auntie), Dee (thats you or Lou), shoes, ball, bubbles (your version of it), love (signed), more/eat (signed), yeah!, bird, no, please, baby, bath

Words you understand: sit, go outside, get in the car, put your shoes on (or go find your shoes/socks), where is your belly? head?, do you wanna eat?, all done?, let's go take a bath, no ((you understand so much more everyday! Everyday I seem to look at your dada like 'did she really just understand that!?'. It is so much fun watching you BLOOM!))

You love to take baths, play with anything but toys (except your dollies), go outside, dig in the dirt and watch sesame street.  You eat three big meals with lots of snacks in between..and NO MORE BOTTLES! (The transition was easier than I expected! We just offered you water one day in a bottle and you said 'no way!' and just cuddled up! We still rock you to sleep but thats because you're still my baby ;)) You love to eat chicken and any fruits/vegs! You really eat anything we put in front of you and don't turn your nose up to anything. You always prefer actual food over a dessert which really makes me wonder if you are my daughter ;)

Right now we are on summer break together and it is the BEST! We rotate playing outside, in the play room, upstairs, in the tv room and then we repeat! We eat lots of snacks, do lots of dancing, and make lots of plans with our family and friends! You started gymnastics and although its only been one week, I know you are going to love it! You are such an active little girl! You love to climb, dance, and be super silly! You have more energy than any other 15 month old I've ever seen but I truly love it! You keep me on my toes and you show me how to live a really fun life! You are a gift from the Lord, Eleanor Rose!

I realize this post is filled with an obnoxious amount of exclamation points but sweet girl, your presence in my life brings me so much joy! 15 months later and I still cannot stand to be away from you. I plan any personal activities (time with friends, mani/pedis, etc.) to always be as late as possible so I know you'll be asleep and I'm not missing a moment.  When you go to bed, your Dad and I talk about you, look at pictures, and then I usually go to bed pretty early so I'm rested for another crazy fun day with you!  There is an enormous amount of tragedy going on in our world right now, and each tragedy is another loud reminder to praise the Lord for your health and presence in my life. I love you more than words can explain.

If we tried to do this at 15 months, it would have never happened! You are in the thick of a 'stranger danger' phase!

Beautiful Princess in her Easter dress!

You and your bff on Easter!

Mama went to Nashville to see Auntie Clare and brought you this cute shirt!

You adore your Teetee and Tuesdays with her and Lou!

Rocking your outfit before church

Sweaty at the Keroast!

I love these jammies on you!

This picture reminds me of how you LOVE to wake up the neighborhood in the mornings! Whether we are walking or playing in the yard, you yell as loud as you can and giggle because you know you shouldn't! 

Your first gymnastics class with Bronson!

THOSE CURLS! (heart eyes emoji for days)

Why I love summer with you :)

Hot hot hot day at the farmers market in Grayslake!

Love you more than life, little mama.

Eleanor {1 year}

19lbs. 10oz

29 inches long

more beautiful each and every day

Things You Love:

- riding around in your car

- climbing on anything and everything

- demanding to go outside

- going on any sort of adventure outside of the house

- eating anything you can get your hands on

- playing with your dollhouses

- bath time!

Things you Dislike:

- when Mama takes something away from you, or a friend steals a toy

- getting your diaper changed.. you just want to play!

Events:

You had  a pizza, pajama 1st birthday party! You loved eating all the pizza and cake you could get your hands on! You were extremely spoiled by all of your family and friends and it was such fun day!

You can say Daddy and Mom (or Non, nana, mon-nee, you have lots of variations!) You wave and kiss bye-bye, call yourself 'Dee' just like Lou calls you, and can follow some directions such as "lets go take a bath", "go find your shoes!" or "give me your foot". You can show how big you are, mimic whatever silly face your dad makes at you, and show on your hands that you are 1 year old! You can say what a cow says and sometimes what a dog says..depends on your mood ;) 

Started swim lessons again! 

You took your first few steps at your birthday party and you were walking independently within that week! Now you are going everywhere! So fun!

You brought donuts to your daycare and lets just say you were pretty excited about it ;)

(pic I received from your sitter - ha)

Thank you Eleanor Rose for the best year of my life!!

Eleanor {11 months}

This month has been so much fun!

17 lbs 7 oz + ? Still unsure!

12 month clothing
Size 4 diapers

Nicknames: Ellie-nori-Rosie-Poe, Sug-ee, Rosie, ElRo, Roy, Mama

Things you Love:

- your dollhouse from your grandma

- reading 'No David'

- pointing to Nana's picture and waving hello

- Patty Cake

- dropping food on the floor

- saying 'uh oh' after Mama says it

- attempting to point to where your Mama and Dada are

- pulling pacifiers out of your friends' mouths

- crawling under tables and making them your fort

- buttons!

- dancing to music

- talking to Suri
- Veggie Staws and vanilla wafers
- pretending to use a fork
- being shy around strangers
- shaking lamps, pulling books off the shelves, eating cords..yanno, everything bad!

Things you Dislike:

-bland foods, pasta

- car rides

- socks on your feet
- anyone except Mama when you are in a mood!

- getting your hair done

Events:

- Still not walking alone but I've had a few dreams that you've done it! 

- Trying to get you off the daytime bottles but you love them! I'm not too worried yet though..

- You had your first ER visit! :( You were playing with a  photo album and gave yourself two corneal abrasions. After you wouldn't open your eye and I could see a huge cut, we ran to the ER and  Dada raced home. You handled it like a CHAMP though! After seeing a few doctors and avoiding the sun, you were happy as could be and had an extra Monday at home with Mama and Dada!

(making the nurses smile)

- You have the craziest obsession with my water bottle! (NOT Dada's, only mine!) You love to take the lid on and off and stick your hand in the water.  You get very mad when Mama takes it away.  

- Celebrated your first Valentines day (early!) Dada gave you finger puppets and a book and your first valentine! You made a Valentine with Melissa for me and it melted my heart!

Looking forward to your 1 YEAR BIRTHDAY next month!!!! Planning and prepping away! I love you baby doll!

Eleanor {10 months}

Beautiful baby,

Words cannot express how happy you make me everyday. Even when you destroy the house, poop all over yourself, throw a tiny fit, or waste my pumped milk.. I don't even feel an ounce of anger.  You light up my world. You turn my bad days into happy days.  Your smile melts my heart. I am so in love with every bit of you!

17 lbs 7 oz + ? Unsure!

12 month clothing

Size 3 diapers but about to change to 4s!

Nicknames: Ellie-nori-Rosie-Poe, Sug-ee, Rosie, ElRo, Roy, Mama

Things you Love:

- spaghetti squash, pickles, straws, chicken nuggets, yogurt

- using anything as a walker

- emptying all of the bathroom cabinets

- holding onto a particular part of the bottom stair

- bed at 6pm, waking up at 5:45 - 6am

- flushing the toilet

- pressing any kind of button

- eating if anyone else is eating

- 'beeping' Grandpa's nose

Things you Dislike:

-bland foods, pasta

- car rides

- socks on your feet

Events:

- You've been very healthy this month! PRAISE THE LORD! (minus an allergic reaction to your medication at the beginning!)

- You have 3 teeth (soon 4) on the bottom and the top 4 are slowly making their way in! Teething has been good for you so far. No fevers, barely grouchy.

- Still eating 3 meals a day, with an afternoon snack. Bottle of BM in the AM, before nap, and sometimes after lunch, then before bed. You still hate sippy cups so I have no idea what to do about that ;)

- I have weaned! Hallelujah. No mastitis. No issues. Now we are slowly working through our freezer stash. Dada can't wait to fill the freezers with ice cream when we are done! :)

- You celebrated your first Christmas! Your favorite gifts were your portable high chair, standing toy table thing and Elmo! The holidays were SO much fun with you!

- Dada and I spent two whole weeks home with you and it was glorious. You got onto a schedule (wake up at 6, nap at 10-12/1, play play play, bed at 6) which was extremely nice. We had so much fun playing, bonding, and dancing!

- We've started to go out for breakfast on Saturday mornings because you love breakfast food and staring at people in your pajamas!

- You honestly love your babysitters (Sissy, Grandma and Melissa). You never, ever cry when I leave and you cling to them as soon as they arrive.  Although I secretly wish you cared a *little* bit about me leaving (haha), I absolutely love that you have 3 women who deeply care for you and that you love back! Nothing makes me happier. 

- You and your cousin have grown even closer these days. You play with each other, fight like siblings and love each other so much.  You are so lucky to have your Lou Lou!

- You walk along everything and use everything as a walker. You've taken a few half steps independently here and there but you aren't confident enough to walk yet. You are so close those, baby!

I love you!