Mother & daughter...

I keep seeing Mom in this photo of Elliot - but look! This is a baby photo of me (walking age - not sure exactly how old) and one of Elliot a few days ago. :) Don't forget to tell me your favorite photo of Elliot so we can submit one to the contest!

Big girl / First snow / On TV!

Boy, there's a lot to tell about this time! I've uploaded many photos & a bunch of new videos to youtube as well! http://www.youtube.com/user/smurfarootie First of all - Elliot was on TV! It was just the local news, but they featured her snow photo! I videod it with the digital camera so I could upload it to youtube for you all to see. How exciting! I told you she'd be a star! Which takes me to ... I need you guys to vote on a photo for us to submit for Regis & Kelly's Beautiful Baby Search. It's a photo contest & the winner gets $125,000 toward college (and to be a cover of magazine) ... and the top 5 get to go to New York to be on the show and $25,000 toward college... & the top 10 get a year's worth of Gerber. The top 3 photos we like are: the newest snow one on Jan 19 smiling in her bumbo seat; her 6th Month photo in the green dress & hat on Jan 3; or the "Stylin" photo taken on the couch on January 17. Also, Elliot slept in her own crib in her own room for the first night Sunday night (she has napped in there, but never slept a night out of our room - ever). She was getting too big for the swinging cradle. She slept fine - I was the one who cried like a baby & didn't sleep at all. Even though she's only about 5 feet away from me! In fact, this morning she was quiet until 7 am! When I heard her make a small sound, I found her playing in her crib with her Seuss dolls. Tonight, Russ put in the crib-toy thing that hangs on the side & she played with it until she went to sleep! I remember when we brought her home & the cradle seemed huge. I can't believe she's so big. I think the all-day screaming phase is gone! Hallelujah! She's eating 3 meals per day (at elast 4 oz of solids each time) and doing well with that. She has grown tired of green beans, though, it seems! Can you believe that? She loves the squash-family. I'm still making all of it myself, but you should see the freezer & fruit bowl of veggies & fruits! She eats SO MUCH! :) I'm going to have to learn real recipes for babies soon because she seems to be getting bored of plain foods already. Some of her newest foods include fresh peaches (yum), YoBaby Yogurt, and butternut squash. This week I'll make her corn, cantelope and acorn squash. (She can have anything but the 3 allergy foods). See, I told you there was a lot of new info. Now see the photos! January 6 - She loves Pocket, but since this video was taken & she tried to bite Pocket, Pocket now runs from her! January 10 - this was past bedtime. I let her stay up til 10pm (2 hours PAST) trying to "wear her out" with toys. It didn't work & she was cranky the whole next day. Lesson learned. January 11 - this is what happens after trying to get her down for the first nap of the day. You BOTH end up POOPED. January 15 - playing with a toy Aunt B bought her before she was born (the flower box). January 17 - going into work with Daddy on a Saturday! He had to work but didn't want to spend another whole day away, so we joined him & played in the office (shhh...don't tell the boss!) January 17 - Yes, she is SO stylin'! January 17 - attempting to drink Daddy's drink. You can't eat or drink anything while holing her. In fact, if she even sees you doing so she'll want it, too. January 18 - going into her crib for her first night in her own room (already asleep from being pushed in the stroller. She actually fell asleep with her eyes open - that's how tired she got!) January 19 - Her FIRST SNOW ever! This is the photo that was on the news... January 15 - My office windows is like National Geographic. This time, I kept seeing something fly by while working & Elliot was in the Jumperoo by the window. Two fox were chasing each other FAST in circles around the neighbors house. I barely got a glimpse of one on video. This is a shot from it. And, on January 14, we finally got our hands on a Wii! I sold my exercise bike & Russ has sold/selling past Nintendo systems & games to get one. I can't wait to find a "Wii Fit" to go with it! This is us boxing. If you've seen the video, you already know that I won!!

Happy Half-Birthday, Elliot!

Sorry it's been 2 weeks since we posted photos. Been busy with business & with Elliot growing more active & teething! Last Monday at the pediatrician she weighed in at 18.6 pounds (94%) and 27" tall (90%) with a head size of 80%. Her feet hang out of the carseat & we've had to buy her size 12-month clothes now (in fact, a couple things she wears is 18 months!) She rolled over (the video is on youtube) and is ready to start moving more. She now reaches for anything near her, so we have to be careful. If she can't get to what she wants, she yells. She's also trying to sleep less & Russ has had to play the guitar to put her to sleep the past 4 nights.But the pediatrician said since she's taller, etc. that it may take her longer to do things like crawl & walk. She was eating 2 oz of solid foods each time (1-2 per day) and is now up to at least 4 oz each time, 2-3 per day! She acts as though she'd eat all day for as long as you keep spooning it to her. Her new food this week was sweet potatoes. YUM! I'm still making all of her food, so I'm going to have to start making more! I'm adding new videos to youtube. I've added a couple more Christmas photos, as well as new ones. Enjoy!! December 31 - trying to "crawl" toward her bug toys. January 1 - Happy New Year! January 3, 2008 : Happy 6-month Birthday, Elliot!! I can't believe half a year has gone by already. January 4 - it's a new game. See how many pairs of socks we can go through in a day after she takes them off & soaks them with spit. I found her like this after taking a nap... January 6 - PEAS! Good for you, good ON you! January 6 - PUCKER UP Miss Monkey!! January 7 - she loves her piano! And she sits up a lot on the sofas now. But she needs a little support of a pillow or something. Januyar 8 - Her new little Monkey Rattle is her naptime buddy. He's also there for her to play with when she wakes up. January 9 - three deer were eating our gardens. ***Here are more Christmas Photos ... *** December 24 - The three of us before church. December 25 - Lovely family photo December 27 - New Harmony, Indiana