seven months.

(ack! this is a 12 month size dress!)

our ellie turned seven months last week. i know, i know, monthly updates are now getting to be a bit much. we'll try to make this one a little simpler. a little. i just have to make the most of my adorable eleanor.

she has been eating solids for a while now and has already mastered cheerios, crackers and other such yummies. she wants to try everything and she likes most things. today she licked a lemonade pop and made a sour face but came back for more. she also liked the spicy rice i let her nibble.

she never stops moving, even in her sleep. she has started hands-and-knees crawling and sits up all the time without any wobbling. she's pulling herself up to stand on any vertical surface, including legs and bare walls. she waddles along the edge of the couch and still loves her box. everything has become a wiggly wrestling match - bathing, eating, getting dressed, buckling up, diaper changes, sitting still for any amount of time - so much so that i've actually lost a little weight just keeping up with her.

she and judge are getting to be better friends every day. they are about the same height when they sit next to each other and she tries to use him to balance herself while standing. she also likes to do belly flops on his back and pull his ears and fur like she's about to ride him bareback. he brings her toys and she waves them around in the air while he tries to figure out how to get them back without being too rough. we discovered she likes all kinds dogs the other day when she reached out to pet a friend's rottweiler - she wasn't scared one bit.

ellie has almost no fears (the vacuum is one) and loves trouble. she knows when i'm about to stop her fun and tries to crawl away as fast as she can. she already tests me when i say "no" by looking up at me with a smile and trying to keep doing whatever it is i told her not to do, except she does it in slow motion while staring at me.

she's mostly happy and is learning how to clap her hands this week.

she likes:

snacks

the park

dogs

other kids

drinking from cups

hanging out by the window

sweet potatoes

exploring

smiling at strangers

madeline

rain

dancing

climbing

when everyone gets excited and claps

dr. seuss

climbing up daddy's legs as soon as he gets home

standing up

sitting up

playing with judge

fooooooood

kisses

hugs

wiggling!

she dislikes:

holding still

being buckled in anything

being left behind

diaper changes

getting stuck

this is what i see most often - this little face right up in mine.

what a fantastic bean. 

we love her so much.