Yay, she's walking!

Eliana took her first steps yesterday (2/17). She spent about 20 minutes walking from the couch to me. Sometimes she made it 5-6 steps. But every time she fell she would giggle hysterically. She thought it was so funny! It was adorable! Dave was out of town, so I couldn't figure out how to get it on video without someone else there. We'll try to get a video tonight. I am so excited that she finally decided to try walking! I hope she sticks with it. I can't wait to see her toddling all over!

She's 14 months old. Can Ellie walk yet?

No. But in order to bring a book to me, she "walks" on her knees. She stands still on her own, but hasn't taken a step yet. I thought for sure she'd have taken off by now! All of the kids in her daycare class walk except for a 9 month old and a 6 month old. I keep telling myself not to wish her to walk soon, because I'll just be chasing her all over, but I can't help it.

Ellie absolutely LOVES reading books! Especially ones about animals, and books with flaps she can lift. She loves choosing which book to read and often wants to read the same one over and over. When I buy new books, she "requests" them and loses interest in her old favorites for a while. When the novelty wears off, she lets me read her older ones to her again. Unfortunately, she also likes to "eat" her books. Yuck! (Along with my hair and the fuzz underneath the couch. Gross!)

Ellie loves singing E-I-E-I-O at the end of Old MacDonald. She sings it slow and with each syllable exaggerated. It is too cute.

Ellie knows the sign language for "All done" and "train." We've been working on bath, sleep, milk, juice, water, etc., and she recognizes them, but doesn't initiate the sign. She waves hi and bye. We can't get her to blow kisses yet. She says mama, dada, hi, kitty (tee-tee), and tries hard to say dog. She likes to "give me five".

She has slept very, very well lately. I love actually getting 8 hours of sleep for a change!

Ellie is about 21 pounds. She has 10 teeth. Her hair is long enough that I could be putting mini pigtails in, but I just don't have the skill or the patience. She hates having anything in her hair--clips, headsquishers, anything--and just pulls them right out. So, she looks pretty scraggly most days. Poor kid.

She adores her cats, and they are so patient with her. She loves teasing them with cat toys, and likes to cuddle with them.

January pictures

Ellie thinks she just another one of the cats:

Here I am after blowing out the candles for my birthday. Good thing there weren't 36 of them.

Here is Ellie at the duckpond. She loves watching mommy feed the ducks!

Ellie wore a ladybug dress to church today, so I had to get a picture with her ladybug pillowpet.

We are doing well, except that Ellie just can't seem to shake this ear infection. She's been on antibiotics almost constantly for the last month and a half. I am ready to go over my doctor's head and find someone who will put some tubes in her ears. Poor kid.

Birthday!

I had a nice birthday yesterday. I had cake and presents from Krista waiting for me when I got home from school. Then I was treated to a massage at the local spa. Then I had dinner with Dave and Ellie We stopped by Susan's for a nice visit and more gifts! Ellie has slept through the night for the last 3 nights in a row, so that was my favorite gift of all!

Happy New Year!

Dave and the girls went skiing on New Year's Eve.  The temperature was below 10 degrees, and they froze their tails off.  I stayed home and snuggled with my baby.

Yesterday, I was thinking back over this past year.  It started out with a colicky baby and two very sleepy parents.  It ended with a ear-infection prone baby and two very sleepy parents.  But at least she is happy while she's awake, now.  Maybe 2011 will be a year with less sickness and more sleep.  Here's hoping!

I'm also looking forward to toddlerhood!  I can't wait to see Ellie take her first steps!  (She's standing for up to 10 seconds at a time, so I'm hoping she'll take off soon.)  I also can't wait for her to start talking more!  I love her little personality already, and can't wait to see it develop.  Being a mom is way, way, way more challenging than I thought it would be.  But I am totally smitten with my little cutie. 

December so far

We celebrated Eliana's first birthday on Sunday, Dec. 5th.  We had Grandma Bennett, Mike & Krista, and our three girls there at the party. 

Susan ordered the cutest cake!  Ellie had her own mini-cake to destroy all by herself.

She mainly dug a hole in the side and seemed to like the taste.  She ended up with quite a bit of frosting in her hair--so she went right into the bathtub before opening her presents.
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Here is Ellie in her PJs playing with her loot!

We don't get many chances to take a full family photo these days--so I was thrilled to get this one!

And here's a random shot of Ellie asleep in her jumparoo.  (She fell asleep while I was right next to her, taking a bath.  I promise I don't just l leave her in there for hours at a time!)

I'm pretty sure that Ellie will be scarred for life. The Santa at our ward Christmas party was a little too scary, I guess.

Ellie participated in her daycare center's Christmas program.  (Well, as much as 1 year old can participate anyway.):

I was so excited to have my mom and grandma come to visit this past weekend.  Here is a 4 generation photo for Ellie's scrapbook!

We are excited for Christmas to come!  Now if it would just stop raining before half of Mesquite washes away...

Ellie's 1 !!!

Eliana Susan,

You're 19 lbs

& cute as can be.

You make funny sounds

& cuddle with me.

You love other kids

& think daycare's a blast.

You occasionally throws fits

& crawl pretty fast.

You say dada lots

& say mama less.

You twirl my hair in knots.

It's annoying, I confess.

You like to laugh and giggle

& make funny faces.

You like to dance and wiggle

& explore new spaces.

You're cute, sweet, & funny,

curious, & smart.

You've taken over our home

& stolen your mommy's heart.

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

You're my favorite baby 
in the whole world!

Love,

Mom