elodie *18 months*

Oh little miss "e" how you are growing too fast.  It seems like only yesterday it was last summer and you were laying on the blanket in the back yard cooing and staring quietly up at the blue sky.  Now you run, you scream, you have opinions, you feed yourself and climb up on everything, you love books and babies and snuggles and snacks.

You've been on this planet twice as long as you spent in the womb and it is such a pleasure to watch you grow and change and develop into your own unique being.  Here are some updates on what you've been doing lately.

• Talking: you are catching onto new words and intonations all the time.  Currently these are the words you know and use regularly: apple, bubble, push (for the swing), up, no, uh-uh, Eleanor, Dada, Mama, wawa (water), pza (pizza), chs (cheese), ouch, mouth, nose, Ethel, ba (for book or bird), shs (shoes), more, ma (for binky), bus.  It seems like you are good at repeating the sounds of words back to us if we say them to you.  We were walking home yesterday and you were pointing at everything, I said "red car, blue truck" and then you made the sounds like you were trying to figure out how to say them.  You love to sing and make sounds and "talk" all the time now especially when you are not being overshadowed by your older sister :)  When you don't use words you still point a lot to communicate and then nod affirmatively or shake your head or say no.  It works pretty well to get your message across.  In addition, although you seemed more go with the flow than Aven ever was as a little one, you have finally realized that you need to speak up for yourself to get your desires met and sometimes that is met with a firm "no" and a funny pinched up face or a high pitched (Daddy calls it sonic) scream.
• Eating: you are such a funny little girl about your food and you seem to like mostly carbs…a few fruits and plenty of dairy.  You would eat cereal, pancakes or crackers all day if I let you along with yogurt, cheese and milk.  You like apples without skin, frozen blueberries, strawberries and bananas sometimes and the rest is hit or miss.  Sometimes you surprise me and like something totally random like pesto crepe or red lentil curry.  You are totally weaned as of 16 1/2 months….it was a natural process and it seems like it was so long ago that you nursed.
• Independence: like many second children you like to play with your big sister and other children but I am glad that you seem to like to play by yourself and be able to entertain yourself.  The other day you probably spent about 20 minutes just taking water from the pool in the backyard and watering the plants around the perimeter.  
• Activities: You like to move things from place to place and you love to have something in each hand whether a book or a toy or some random object.  You love playing with dolls and will carry them around (although you have no interest in stuffed animals). you are really starting to love books and music.  This seemed to take awhile to grow on you and really captivate you but now you will often say "boo"  "boo" (meaning book) and bring them to Daddy or I and ask us to read them to you.  And when you're in the mood, you'll patiently sit on our lap and listen to us read.  You love music and are starting to "sing" to yourself while you are playing, riding in the stroller or on a drive in the car.  You love when we have "dance parties" as a family and you love to move your little body and hands with the music.
• Sleeping: oh you were finally doing so well after almost a year and a half you were almost always successfully sleeping through the night….and then we left you for our trip to Europe.  Who knows if that was the impetus to change things and its only been a week and a half since we got back but you've had a hard time settling down to go to sleep at night, you've been resistant and hit or miss on naps and you've been waking up at night.  But I'm sure, this too shall pass.  I feel much more tired then when Aven was a baby but then I am also juggling two kids and you've kept yourself from sleeping through the night for much longer.  I'm sure that when you are older I'll miss the times that I just held you in the middle of the night snuggling your warm body.

still our snuggly girl 

It is truly a blessing to be able to watch your little healthy body grow and to see you interacting and discovering the world around you.  I only hope that I am molding you into the best version of yourself you can be.  I (we) love you so much little one.

Elodie 17/18 months

{A look of sweet silliness and cleverness}

Oh Miss "E" you continue to capture our hearts and delight our spirits as you learn and grow and become more and more a part of our family.  Daddy always says what a sweet disposition you have, and I couldn't agree more.  Today at the park Aven scraped her wrist and being the sensitive girl she was she came running over to me, held back the tears until she was in my arms and burst into sobs.  You took the wet wipe you had in your hands and gently tried to wipe the tears away from her face and the snot from her nose.  It was seriously the sweetest thing ever.  And a few weeks ago when you were upset about something, she gently reached over and patted your back when you were sitting next to each other.  You unashamedly snuggle into me and have no problem being picked up or carried just to be close to your people.

I can hardly believe my baby is almost a year and a half (18 months) and it seems like this last year and a half have gone so quickly.  I know I always say this but it is true how fast time flies and how hard it is  to slow down and really capture each day and to cherish every moment.

Some milestones to recap the last few months:

• you started walking and now you practically run with confidence!
• you started talking and though you don't say much boy do you understand a lot and you certainly have an opinion about even more!
• you (finally and thankfully) started sleeping through the night
• you have started to stay in the nursery at church during service (this may not seem like a victory but it is so nice to be able to receive and listen to the sermon)
• you stopped nursing (May 7th) at about 16 1/2 months….a little bittersweet but it was a gentle transition and needed to happen before we went on our trip so it was perfect timing

{Always something in each hand if possible}

Here is a more detailed summary of where you are at on things.  It is so interesting to have two kids and each girls and see how different and similar they are and how their personalities are developing and how their relationships are growing.

• Talking: I would say that you "started" talking at about 15 months with just Mama and you've progressed to a short list.  So far, you consistently say the following: Dada, Mama, Eleanor, Ethel, More (boor), Pizza (Pza), Cheese (Chs), Shoes (shs), Uh-oh, No, Bubbles (bubb), book/bird (ba/ba).  You are finally getting more "talkative" whether humming to yourself, chattering while playing or just generally making happy noises.  You do have a loud older sister so I can understand being overshadowed but its nice to hear your little voice too.
• Eating: you are just about the opposite of Aven when it comes to eating, at this age she would eat beans and rice and any berry if nothing else…..you won't touch black beans and you don't eat much beans, rice or quesidilla….and so far you don't care for any berries unless a strawberry slice strikes your mood.  You are queen of the carbs whether cereal, pretzel, toast, pancakes, waffles, pasta or what have you.  You love diary especially cheese, milk and yogurt and you've finally decided (I'm surprised it took so long) that you love ice cream too!



{Unfortunately you spent half the month with a black eye}

• Play: you love babies and it is so sweet to see you carrying them around, patting their backs and wrapping them up or asking to have them wrapped up (again and again).  Aven didn't even get a baby doll toy until she was 2 so it is so sweet to see you really playing with them now.  You like to do repetitive tasks like move objects around or even from place to place and back again.  You like to put things inside of other things like stacking objects or just using the play kitchen dishes to put food or other objects inside.  You are so much more adventurous than Aven too (not that it is a comparison but its interesting to watch!).  You like to climb things and then stand and smile….you are a bit mischievous.  You have started to really latch onto reading books and it is so cute to see you find a book and bring it to Daddy or I and ask for us to read it.  You pat the couch for us to lift you up and read or you put the book in our lap and signal for us to pick you up.  While I can't trust to leave you unsupervised with crayons or other writing materials, you really like to "scribble" and draw.  You have a pretty good hold of a writing utensil and the ability to actually control it as well.  You have no interest so far in stuffed animals, puzzles or TV (although we don't really let you watch).  You love slides at the park and moderately the swings although after a few minutes you'll often say: "all done."  You like to walk back and forth on the walkways outside to Daddy's shop.  And you get into all sorts of silly things if we don't keep an eye on you: the toilet paper, the trash, the dirty clothes, etc.  You are doing a nice job of learning to play by yourself, parallel play with Aven and actually playing with her (mostly being goofy).  You like music and will move your body if the mood hits you.  You like to play with the musical interments and if I let you touch/play the big piano you are actually quite controlled and gentle and have an interest in playing.

My sweet girl, it is so fun to see you growing, to see you laugh and giggle, to feel your warm breath when you are nuzzled into my neck and to hear your little words and sounds developing.  It is an honor to be your mother, to love you and to nurture you and I am so thankful for you.  Happy 1 1/2 years my little miss "e."

{Happy, toothy grin}

{Mommas girl, happiest when along for the ride}

{So sweet to finally see you bonding with Dada}

{Bates girls: Aven 4, Mom 34 and Elodie 17 mos}

Aven at "school"

Aven has been going to the local YMCA since she was 3 months old.  Awhile ago we took to calling it school.  One, because she does learn a lot there.  Two, she'll likely attend preschool there.  But, she truly does learn a lot.  They do thematic units like family, pets, jobs, etc.  When they do a new unit they read books, sing songs and lots of other activities surrounding the theme.  The people who work there truly care about the kids and treat them with patience and kindness.  Aven loves to go to school and see her friends and her teachers.  I was so thrilled when I saw these pictures of Aven at "school."  One, she is the cutest scientist ever!  They said she kept saying "I'm a sciencetist" over and over- and gosh, doesn't she look happy and like she's having fun!  I am so glad that she gets to spend the day with her friends learning and playing and that she spends time with excellent and caring teachers.  And I am glad that she has a good time while learning and playing too.

unmotivated

{sometimes it is just cuter to let the food drip down their face}

Lately (if you couldn't tell from my last blog post) work has been very very hectic.  We are getting new computer systems at the end of March and so we are all going through massive amounts of preparation and training.  I am actually excited for something new and a new challenge but there is just so much to do to get it all ready!  On top of that we are training a new personal banker, trying to interview for a part-time teller and stay afloat on all of our other "regular" trainings and day to day activities.  It makes work very busy and every moment valuable and precious.

All that to say that when I am off work, I have really been trying to relax and consequently haven't been doing too much.  Just trying to keep the laundry from piling up or the floors from being too dirty, keep the trash and recycle taken out and the dogs fed and happy.  We have taken walks, done our chores and been taking Aven to Saturday YMCA swimming lessons (so cute).  This last weekend we all got sick in succession (first Aven, then me and then Abe) so our relaxing and somewhat productive weekend ended up not so much.  We had a great book club meeting on Sunday where we discussed Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" and everyone else had yummy food while I was recovering from a stomach bug and didn't want to each much of anything.

{does this need a caption?}

{sharing her toy with Ethel}

{visiting Daddy at the shop on a Saturday afternoon}

{Aven playing with her Baby Einstein toy, it is in the corner and when she plays in her room she'll just quietly move over to it and then you'll hear the sound effects going; she really likes it}

Finally downloaded a bunch of pictures so I hope you enjoy these snapshots of Aven...hard to believe she is almost 11 months old and will be 1 year next month.  Man it does fly.  On the other hand labor feels like an eternity ago (thank goodness).

now that she's mobile...

Seems like there isn't much time to blog anymore since my baby went mobile! It happened only a week ago and now there seems to be no area of the house that is off limits! She learned to crawl one day and was all over the place the next. So, other than keeping up with her, hanging with the dogs, praying the rain won't last all winter, watched guilty pleasure tv shows like Glee and Fringe and cooking lots of yummy food, we haven't done too much!

Just thought I'd share some pics of what life looks like with a mobile baby. Aven loves playing with her toys especially her Green Toys "Tool Box" (including hammer, saw, pliers and wrench) and "My First Stacker." She also loves watching the doggies chew their toys on their blanket and they are totally okay with her getting right in there with them- so very cute.

Some quick things of interest:

• started crawling on Tuesday Jan 25th
• pulled herself to standing without any help from people on Saturday Jan 29th
• can use her pincer grasp to give herself small pieces of food
• loves dairy like yogurt and string cheese so far
• likes her healthy vegetables like carrots and sweet potato
• likes chicken dishes like a sweet potato, apple chicken and onion dish I made her, yum!
• learned how to cover her face and play peek-a-boo with us on Wed Jan 26th
• still loves being outside and taking walks, seems to calm and quiet her and she loves taking naps in the backpack
• still loves being swaddled- the Velcro on her swaddle blankets is wearing out and she is almost 9 1/2 months but the other night we tried just going with a sleep sack and it didn't work at all
• is a very determined baby so far, when she does or doesn't want something, she seems bound and determined to get what she wants one way or the other
• is still a very good nurser and usually only wakes up 1 time a night but often sleeps through
• has started really looking at the texture of things like images in books and large dark fonts, notices small dots and pices of dirt on the floor (and there are so many!)
• only takes a pacifier when she is going to sleep at night
• loves taking baths and showers
• is growing and changing so much every day!
• is still a small little girl- wears many 3-6 month onesies, mostly 6-12 month pants (for the length), weighs in at only 15.5 lbs, is in the 4-5th percentile on weight and the 25th percentile on height
• is a mostly happy and sweet little baby and our very favorite of all

8 months & counting

A * V * E * N

happy 8 months

I love how you are so bright eyed!

You can be really fun and silly :)

I love dressing you in super fun outfits, it is one of my favorite things to do each morning.

I love how you are so interested in the world around you (at times you get very distracted and cannot focus on a task-like eating-but it is neat to see how observant you are).

You really use your senses to discover the world around you: you love to look around (and always have since you started going on walks and hikes at less than a week old); you love to touch (you are especially interested in the zippers on my jacket and the sound that your hand makes when rubbing against certain materials and slapping the floor); you have always been super into taste (or at least putting everything in your mouth, now that you are exploring eating solid foods, this is no exception although your facial expressions range from satisfied to bored or very disgusted!); you really enjoy the sounds that make up your world: doggies playing and yawning, Mommy singing in the shower, Daddy arriving home from work, people talking- you are so alert and always turn your head to find out what is going on- now you will smile when I sing something in a silly way or make a funny sound.

You can be very independent and opinionated. You will happily play in your crib for quite a long time or move about the floor making delightful noises and practicing your consonants. You are quick to let us know, however, when you want something to change: your diaper, your hunger or your entertainment--this window from contentment to dissatisfied is often small so we have to be quick to respond. Patience is a virtue my love.

You look more and more like a little girl every day and less like a baby. Whenever I look back through the pictures I am amazed at how quickly you have changed. I know this process will not slow down; I just try to enjoy each step.

You can be very silly. I think you have learned this from Daddy as he is very goofy with you sometimes. On the day you turned 8 months, I took all these pictures and there were so many that you had your tongue out just like this. You are free to be yourself without worrying about what you look like. I hope this doesn't change and that we can instill in you confidence in who you are.

* * * *

we love you

Merry 1st Christmas & Happy New Year!

just about 8 months.....