Eleanor {1.5 years}

Hi Baby,

You are officially a year and a half and for some reason, this milestone has made Mama extra emotional! You've grown up so much in the past 3 months and time has gone by faster than ever. You say new words and new tricks every single day and I can barely soak it all in!

It's impossible to write down all the words you say, but you are still only saying one maybe two at a time.  The only time you put two words together is when asking for help "help please", more milk,  or when you say "hi baby" (which you say to me, because I always say it to you..ha! It is so so sweet and I love it).

You're still a pretty good eater, great napper (down around 11:30 - 12 and sleep for 2-3 hours) and sleeper at night (bedtime 7am, up by 6-630am)! Dada and I wish you would sleep a little longer in the mornings…but we've been cuddling with you in bed while you watch an episode of Sesame Street (which you call See-See) which gives us another 20 minutes ;)

This summer was a blast with you, despite being sick and tired for the most of it. Thankfully, you were such a trooper.  We had plenty of playdates with your friend Bronson and cousin Lou, but we also had plenty of low-key days with lots of Sesame Street and playing around the house.  Although I wish we could have had an action packed day everyday, Mama needed lots of rest to grow baby sister/brother.  I think the best part of the summer, or the biggest blessing, was how much you and I grew closer. You've always been a Mama's girl, but this summer we learned so much about each other. We definitely pushed each others to our limits ;) but also fell deeper in love and had more fun than ever before.  I miss you so stinkin' much when I'm at work, but our weekends together are always jammed packed with fun..and I'm already counting down the days until we get another long break together! You are my best friend, sweet girl.

I realize this post is just a string of random thoughts.. but I've got a lot to say about you so I'm going to just keep going ;)

A list of some of my favorite things you do: dance to any music (even if you can only hear it faintly in the grocery store), get frustrated when I pretend to sleep so you try to yell "Mommy" and kiss me until I'm awake, pretend that jumping from the couch to ottoman is an extreme sport, pull a blanket (or anything) over your head so you can't see and walk around the house,  lock yourself in dark rooms and wait for me to come get you (I'm telling you, you love to be in the dark and unable to see!), point out every puppy/airplane/bus/truck you hear, get so excited when you have a visitor (mainly lou lou) coming over/waiting by the front door, call cups 'pups' and insist on playing in the water with them at all times of day, kiss your baby dolls and push them around in the strollers,  say 'weeeee' on the swings at the park, get so nervous walking into church (still crying just a little when we leave you) but you try to act so tough (and I am SO proud of you for that!!), not even kiss or wave goodbye to me when you get dropped off at your sitter's because you are TOO excited to see your friends (but then run into my arms with the biggest smile when I pick you up!), the way you love everyone in your family (always asking for Mama/Papa, flirting with your Unco, laughing at your Teetee)..and really, so so so much more!

I say this every post, but my love grows for you every single day. You bring your Daddy and I so much happiness. You are our world.  You are all that we think about, worry about, pray about. You are the sweetest, most beautiful little girl. You've completely stolen our hearts and we cannot get enough of you <3

All dressed up for TeeTee's 30th party

Fathers Day 2016

Rocking your hawaiian outfit from Lory and Keeg

Off to the library!

Family Vacation!

The day you pooped in the yard..

Going out for mexican!

Dinner date with Daddy

Vacation to Grand Beach to see the Brandes'

Ben and Kate were newly engaged !!

Revealing the big news!

Grouchy so we got smoothies and headed to target!

Your first baby doll

Corn fest!

Making a cake with Mama

First day of school!

Lake Geneva Day Date

Lou's 2nd birthday!

<3

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!!