Your 1st Birthday Party!!

 

 You had a blast, mommy and daddy got you a sweet trike!

11 months

You are walking about 50 percent of the time, but still on stiff peg legs.  You call us by name "momma" and "dad."  You are eating all kinds of food now and much prefer to feed yourself.  Raspberries, green beans, and bread are definitely your favorites. Can't believe you are almost a year old!!

NYC Trip

This is terribly late, but this past October we took a road trip to the Big Apple! We went to see the sights and to attend Ali's wedding.  We drug grammy and grandpa with us, to help with you!  We had a fantastic time touring around, the highlight of the trip was a visit to the Plaza, because every Ellouise needs to go the Plaza :)

your first piggy tail

Your hair is getting so long and you refuse to keep your pretty barrettes in your hair, so Mommy finally tried a pony tail.  You seem to leave it alone and now you can see!  We might be going for a your first haircut soon....

Your first Halloween!

You were a ladybug for your first Halloween, naturally, since your number one nickname is bug :)  You rode in your red wagon and trick-or-treated a couple neighbor's houses on our street, then Miss. Kristen and Ryan came to visit, and then you made a trip over to Sarah and Daniel's.  You were definitely skeptical of the costumes, especially mommy and daddy dressed as Mary Poppins and Bert.

10 Months Old and Pumpkin Carving!

You are 10 months, holy moly!! You are crawling (VERY FAST), you climb up the stairs (we are still working on coming down), you are just starting to stand on your own, you clap, wave hi and bye (and sometimes will say "bubye"), you are still the happiest baby on the block, you love stroller rides and trips to the store, you love your tabby blanket (especially the purple ribbon), and you are the apple of daddy's eye :)

To celebrate your 10 months we stripped you down and carved pumpkins!  Well dad carved, we watched and attempted to eat the pumpkin seeds and guts daddy pulled out.

Playing tourist in RVA

Daddy's friend Luke took us on a tour of Hollywood Cemetery.  He works there and really had some interesting things to show and tell us. You had a grand old time crawling around and taking in the beauty of the river city. It was Cowboy game day, so of course you were representing ;)

9 months!!

You are 9 months, my how the time has flown by! You are crawling, have two bottom teeth, babble constantly, and are into everything.  Daddy describes you as "busy." At your 9 month visit you weighed 20 pounds 7 ounces, you were 27 and 3/4 inches, and your head circumference was 17 and 3/4. You are in daycare full time but still play with Miss. Kristen at least once a week. And you are already a big hokie fan ;)

No more nursing

On Monday night you bit me for the first time while nursing, as you can imagine it hurt quite a bit and I let out a yelp. This scared you and in turn made you cry. I tried to get you to nurse again but you refused and daddy made you a bottle. We tried again in the morning and again you refused. So we are officially weening. I have been reading online how this is often a traumatic change for infants, but not you. You don't even seem to notice. Your little personality already reminds me so much of your daddy. You are somewhat stubborn and fiercly strong headed, not to mention extremely outgoing. You can captivate a room, just like your daddy. Anyhoo, I think in this case you have decided that you no longer need to nurse, so there is no convincing you otherwise.  Momma is hurting and a tiny bit sad that you have outgrown nursing. But I am mostly proud that you made this decision on your own and that you are adapting/handling so extremely well. Love you buggy!

A BIG BIG Saturday

This past Saturday you and I went on a whirlwind tour! First, you woke up with a little tooth poking through on the bottom right side. Finally a tooth!  I feel like we have been waiting for teeth for a while now. After your morning nap I loaded you up and we drove north to meet Jane and Dennis at Dunn Loring (Dennis snapped this photo while we were at the pool-of course you were decked out in hokie gear!).

It was your first trip to the pool where mommy grew up, you had a blast visiting.  We didn't go swimming, because we were headed next to Ali's bridal shower next. After a quick change into our dresses and scooping up Maggie at the metro, we were on our way.  After being the star of the party, second only to the bride, we dropped Maggie off in Arlington and headed back south to Richmond.

 

On the way we stopped in to see Kerry, Marco, and the girls.  You absolutely loved playing with Elizabeth and Liliana, and while there you took your first crawls! We then got back in the car, much to your disapproval, and headed south to Sarah and Daniel's to watch the Hokies upset Ohio State!! You were such a trooper...5+ hours in the car, 2 parties, 3 outfit changes, and soooo many new people...you did it all with a smile (just a couple fussy moments in the car).  It was our first time on longer car ride, just you and mom, and we both survived! And not only did you survive our adventures, you popped your first tooth and crawled for the first time all in the same day! Love you so much!

Ellie and Mommy Meltdowns

For the first time, you had an epic meltdown when I left you at daycare...bottom lip quivers, tear puddles, and sobs.  All I could do was say I love you and walk out the door.  I in turn had a meltdown in the car. Not a fun way to start the day :(

In happy news, your auntie maggie and you had some special moments this weekend at Baby Mali's Sprinkle :)

8 Months!

You are just learning to crawl, you are on all fours rocking and scooting on your bum.  But you haven't quite figured out how to move your arms and legs together to go forward :)  Still no teeth, but I feel like we are getting close.  At daycare, you have learned to clap and wave.  You are such a happy little lady and you sure do love your momma :)

Miss Kristen

Your first best friend :)

Dadda

You have really started babbling recently and your favorite choice of babble is "dadda, dadda, dadda." All that coaching on Dad's behalf really paid off.  You still only say "ma, ma, ma" when you are hungry or upset :(  You won't do that one on command...YET! We are practicing!

Trying new things...Broccoli

I made you a cauliflower and broccoli puree, you were unimpressed.  Momma is determined for you not be a picky eater, so we will try again tomorrow with broccoli :)

Your first big kid swing!

You absolutely loved it, cackled the entire time :)

A couple firsts...

Your first ride in a shopping cart, such a big girl!  And your first pair of sunglasses :)

Your first taste of ice cream :)

Lip smacking good!

First Day of Daycare

Today was your first day of daycare.  You will be going three days a week this fall because Miss. Kristen is starting nursing school.  We are lucky to have Miss. Kristen still two days a week, so the other three you will go spend the day with Ms. Danielle.  Mommy was super nervous and anxious about dropping you off and your first day, but when I left you this morning your were smiling and giggling.  I know you will have a great day, you are such a good baby, but its just hard to leave you. Daddy went with me to drop you off, to help me be strong :) 

Now I am at home and its so quiet without my little buggy playing and giggling, but this is a good thing, you are growing up so fast!

7 Months!

Poop Face

And while I was trying to get video of you smacking your lips, you happened to poop :)

Your new trick--lip smacking

You started this last Friday and have been perfecting it ever since :)

Go Beach 2014

The family, including Jason and Meaghan, Penny, TJ and girls, and Eddie and Becky and girls, descending on Grammy and Grandpa's house for the 4th of July week.  There was a hurricane headed toward Virginia, so daddy had to hang back until it passed safely by.  But we was able to join us the evening of the 4th of July.  You had a great time with cousins, your uncle and Meaghan.  We went swimming in Grammy's pool and spent an entire day on the beach.  You took naps in your wagon in both places, such a beach baby!