New developments for August

Yeah ... it's been more than a month since I updated! I try to update weekly, and now I've just been so busy! But I have new photos and stories to tell.

Elliot has 10 teeth now: 4 bottom, 4 top and 2 upper molars. The molars came in unnoticed - she didn't even lose any sleep over this. Nice!

She walks so well - when holding onto our hands or something else. When we let go, she'll sit down! We know she has the strength to walk alone, but she is missing the confidence. I was once able to talk her into letting go of just one hand by giving her a "magic egg" to hold instead. Sometimes when we let go she does "squats" - bending down & back up several times, slowly, before deciding to sit.

She found a new favorite word: Uh Oh. She'll say it when she drops something, throws something, or can't get something she wants. She still says "Mama," Daddy," and "Kee Ka" (Kitty Cat.) She mimcs the sounds of many things we say, too.

She claps her hands now. It's very cute when she laughs & claps! I'll have to capture it on video. We still wave at Daddy every morning, but she has yet to do it herself.

Every day is something new. Whether it's something she's never done before or she's now doing differently. For instance, her laugh is changing. It's a more grown-up "haha" now. Cute.

As you'll see in a photo below, she has used her potty seat twice! She would always give me cues before going, or if she was in another room at the time, she'd come to me to let me know to change or (or crawl to her changing table and whine). Well, now she's usually too into playing to let me know. I have to be right by her to catch the cues. The last two times I took her, she stopped going. I decided maybe she's too young & we'll start again later. But the two times she used it (two days in a row), she seemed happy & proud!

Today, we took her on her first bike ride down the street at the river trail. She loved the bike, but wasn't happy about wearing a helmet. Hope she gets used to it.

You may notice a couple changes to the blog. Also notice to the right you'll see "Elliot's Videos." Now you can watch a few of her youtube videos right here - just click on what you'd like to see. To see the rest of her videos, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/smurfarootie

July 19, Playing on her Turbo Turtle July 19,playing with other toys she got for her birthday. SO PRETTY! July 19 - she loves a good box of blocks! July 19 - SPLASH! July 20 - Where is Elliot?? (This is the toy area of the office room.) July 27 - This is the “hug routine” for bedtime. She started having a hard time going to bed, so we would have to stand and hug her for a few minutes (taking turns) until she was ready to lay down. This didn’t last long though; she is normally worn out by bedtime and lays right down! July 28 - First “poopy in the potty!” HA!! (I know, I know…no privacy!) August 1 - This was a crazy bug crawling on the deck, making loud “clicking” sounds. Weird. August 4 - She has it made in the car! Watching some Baby Einstein on the DVD player, all laid back with her blanket and toys… I wish I could ride in style like this. J August 6 - morning “stretches.”
“Running away” while Mommy gathers some clothes to put on, she decides it would be much more fun to play piano with Daddy, instead. August 6 - after piano-playing, Russ captured some photos of her in the sunlight. She is so photogenic. :) August 6 - hanging out with Daddy, just before naptime. (I promise, we did put some clothes on her finally!) August 8 - Splashing in the “big pool” at Grandma & Pawpaw’s house August 13 - so pretty. August 19 - This was her Daddy’s “Lottsa-Leggggs” stuffed animal when he was about 5 years old! Elliot loves to play with it! August 20 - I got her to sit still long enough for a “macro” shot of her eyes … by putting her in the highchair with some cheerios! She is so beautiful…I know. J August 23 - Standing up without holding onto anything ... except the sock she just took off her foot! August 25 - Just so cute! August 25 - another one of her favorite toys happens to be an "oldie" of Russ' - the koosh balls! August 29 - her first bike ride! Took her down to the river trail by our house. She loved the bike, but will have to learn to love the helmet!