Eleanor :: Nine Months Old
If I were to sum up this month in a word - lightning. From the crazy weather we had (multiple hail storms at home and a massive amount of tornadoes around the country), to the pace at which you now travel, to ultimately how fast again time is flying by! You are the fastest, most curious, nosy and ambitious little 9th month old I know! I feel like if I blink, you literally are in another room, are standing up holding onto the couch or are pulling up on the entertainment center - you are a handful! And. We. Love. It.
These monthly pictures are just becoming WAY too difficult a feat... I am hoping we can get to 12 months with a sign, but I am beginning to doubt it. Once you see that ribbon - that is all you care about :). So Eleanor, why don't you show your friends how old you are... Vanna White style:
You are such a little muffin - currently, your nicknames are "munch'n punch" (daddy), little girl, punkin bottom, little poop.... you are still just the teeniest little peanut, but you are growing! We go to the doctor in 2 weeks and I can't wait to find out how you have grown. For now, you are still in size 3-6 month clothes (you can wear 9 month dresses) and size 2 diapers.
Your schedule really is still the same as it has been over the last month... a question I have for your pediatrician to make sure we aren't missing something: up at 7:30 for bottle and fruit, nap from 9-10:45, bottle at 11:15 and sometimes fruit/veggie, nap from 1-2:30, bottle at 3:15, sometimes nap from about 5-5:45, 7:15 bottle and fruit/veggie then bed. With a WHOLE lot of jumping, crawling, climbing and playing in between....
Still no teeth... but the symptoms of teething have also subsided, which is nice... but we have found you to be quite the drama queen (hmm, like your momma?). For example, you choke yourself every time we try to give you a puff... Eleanor, it dissolves in your mouth... come on.
Other than food, you put EVERYTHING in your mouth... mostly Momma and Daddy's faces - you will grab our cheeks or hair, pull really hard towards us and then open your slobbery mouth wide for a big, wet kiss... it is ridiculous, but we LOVE it. You also love to put every toy, stuffed animal, book, etc in your mouth... what you don't put in your mouth: dust bunnies... YAY! You love to crawl to the many dust bunnies on our floors, roll them between your fingers and twist to show me. Um, thanks.
You are pulling up on EVERYTHING! We finally had to reformat our living room to basically create a play pen for you. We still haven't baby-proofed (yikes!) and you are definitely calling us out for that. Opening every drawer, climbing up on the entertainment center, reaching for cords... oh man. So now, we have pillows covering all the main things that we think can hurt you... what you have mastered? Using those pillows to your advantage - operation baby-proofing begins immediately.
On April 2, you were dedicated at The Door Church. It was such a special evening for your daddy and I... it was our opportunity to share with our community and family why we named you Eleanor Michael, share our verse that we pray over your life, and make the commitment to raise you in a home that will expose and encourage you to a relationship with Jesus Christ that prayerfully you will make in just a few short years.
Below is the slide that was displayed at the church... Daddy read this passage over you...
Our little family making the commitment before God, the church and our friends and family that we will raise you in a godly home! A fun story, just as your wore home one of my bubbles from the hospital, you were also dedicated in the same dress that Momma was dedicated in as a little baby. I love it - thank you Dot Dot for keeping these now treasures!
After the dedication service, we went to dinner with our family and the Rives family... it was so great to have everyone to celebrate our precious little ones... our family - Uncle Benny, Auntie Kristen, Auntie Katie (who left before the picture), PawPaw, Nanna, Aunt Lynn and Grandma Pam... Dot Dot and Grandpa Mike weren't there, so we missed out on the loot, little one (haha!).
You can't say much, but you talk all the time... the only words we know you know have meaning - "baba" (bottle) and PawPaw - you sometimes let out a Momma or Dadda, but it not on purpose... yet. You can wave Bye-Bye and you understand sign language, but it always makes you laugh...
Pulling up on the pillows that are supposed to block you...
Standing!! You prefer standing to pretty much everything... you have had some tumbles this past month, but I know that is just part of it as you start to learn about balance. At least in the moments where you fall and scare yourself you let me cuddle you... I'll take that. I won't take you getting hurt.
You LOVE to climb all over Momma and Daddy... you really never sit still in our laps, rather once we hold you we like to call you a "worm in hot ashes..." you are all over the place. Scaling up our stomachs, chest, head... you are everywhere.
You are ticklish! And of course, I am pretty sure your laugh can cure diseases... it is the greatest thing that the soul could ever hear. So pure, so hearty, so genuine... to make you laugh is one of our greatest joys.
Don't hate me for this, but I just had to note the very recognizable face you are giving here... every time you are going potty, you freeze whatever activity you are doing and make this face. So funny!
Since it has started to be so nice outside, we have spent a lot more time at the parks and in the yard... we have taken you up to swing a few times and well, you love it.
This straight smile is your daddy and I's VERY favorite facial expression you make - you make it often and it is almost like you are flirting. You will squint or close your eyes and offer a straight smile with all of your might to the point of making us laugh out loud... hilarious!
You still have blue eyes - yay! I am hoping this means that they will stay this color, like your daddy's!
And your hair... one the top it is coming in SO blond and it still kicks up our little Gerber curl... the back and sides however - I am not sure that they are growing... and if they are, it is definitely not curly.
I think you like that your car seat rotates, because when we put you in the car and you hear the handle click, we get this smile.... melt. my. heart.
April 17 was Easter Sunday and it was such a fun day with all of our families at Dot Dot and Grandpa Mike's house. I will do a actual little write up of the full day soon... so many fun first memories that I want to share more thoroughly!
But this is too funny and darling not to post.... Dot Dot had this hat monogrammed for you because you love daddy's hats... okay girlie, this is too cute. After your nap, you also wore one of my little dresses for the special day - love it - pictures to come!
I am pretty sure this picture is capturing you trying to chase Cha-Cha... you still LOVE dogs and little kids. In fact, you really love little boys... so far, Momma and Daddy have witnessed you already smooching 2 little ones - YIKES!
Like I said, you don't like to sit... putting you on the couch to sit for a moment typically results like this... and we have officially put the crib to the lowest setting because almost every morning or after every nap you are either sitting up playing or STANDING trying to look over the rail - time flies, how are you not still in a bassinet?
You have a few games that you LOVE right now - peek a boo makes you laugh SO HARD and it never gets old to you. Your favorite game is to throw your paci, animal, um... whatever you have off of wherever you are sitting so that Momma and Daddy (or whoever is with you) have to pick it up. Over. and. Over. Enough! But it makes you smile like this, so we concede.
You don't have stranger danger as badly as you used to - YAY! In fact, you have gone to the nursery without Momma and Daddy having to leave church to come get you! You just love being around other kids, but now, even adults don't scare you as badly as they did - success!
You have, however, become somewhat of a Momma's girl (when I am here) and a Daddy's girl (when he is here)... you always want us to play with you, "hold" you (even though you won't sit still) and you love to be rocked right before you go down for bed.... it only takes about 2 minutes, but we cherish that time to pray over and cuddle with you. You are just the best little gift we have ever received - the amount of JOY you bring us it truly indescribable... words will always fail to give our love for you justice.
Jesus, THANK YOU for our baby girl - we are humbled that you have chosen us to be her parents, to steward her on this earth.... we pray we can adequately teach her of how great You, your grace, mercy and provision are... but in this moment, I have to stop and thank you for the many lessons our little one is already teaching me. Thank you for entrusting Eleanor to us... it continues to refine us as we seek wisdom, godliness and complete trust in You for each of our days.
These monthly pictures are just becoming WAY too difficult a feat... I am hoping we can get to 12 months with a sign, but I am beginning to doubt it. Once you see that ribbon - that is all you care about :). So Eleanor, why don't you show your friends how old you are... Vanna White style:
You are such a little muffin - currently, your nicknames are "munch'n punch" (daddy), little girl, punkin bottom, little poop.... you are still just the teeniest little peanut, but you are growing! We go to the doctor in 2 weeks and I can't wait to find out how you have grown. For now, you are still in size 3-6 month clothes (you can wear 9 month dresses) and size 2 diapers.
Your schedule really is still the same as it has been over the last month... a question I have for your pediatrician to make sure we aren't missing something: up at 7:30 for bottle and fruit, nap from 9-10:45, bottle at 11:15 and sometimes fruit/veggie, nap from 1-2:30, bottle at 3:15, sometimes nap from about 5-5:45, 7:15 bottle and fruit/veggie then bed. With a WHOLE lot of jumping, crawling, climbing and playing in between....
Still no teeth... but the symptoms of teething have also subsided, which is nice... but we have found you to be quite the drama queen (hmm, like your momma?). For example, you choke yourself every time we try to give you a puff... Eleanor, it dissolves in your mouth... come on.
Other than food, you put EVERYTHING in your mouth... mostly Momma and Daddy's faces - you will grab our cheeks or hair, pull really hard towards us and then open your slobbery mouth wide for a big, wet kiss... it is ridiculous, but we LOVE it. You also love to put every toy, stuffed animal, book, etc in your mouth... what you don't put in your mouth: dust bunnies... YAY! You love to crawl to the many dust bunnies on our floors, roll them between your fingers and twist to show me. Um, thanks.
You are pulling up on EVERYTHING! We finally had to reformat our living room to basically create a play pen for you. We still haven't baby-proofed (yikes!) and you are definitely calling us out for that. Opening every drawer, climbing up on the entertainment center, reaching for cords... oh man. So now, we have pillows covering all the main things that we think can hurt you... what you have mastered? Using those pillows to your advantage - operation baby-proofing begins immediately.
On April 2, you were dedicated at The Door Church. It was such a special evening for your daddy and I... it was our opportunity to share with our community and family why we named you Eleanor Michael, share our verse that we pray over your life, and make the commitment to raise you in a home that will expose and encourage you to a relationship with Jesus Christ that prayerfully you will make in just a few short years.
Below is the slide that was displayed at the church... Daddy read this passage over you...
Our little family making the commitment before God, the church and our friends and family that we will raise you in a godly home! A fun story, just as your wore home one of my bubbles from the hospital, you were also dedicated in the same dress that Momma was dedicated in as a little baby. I love it - thank you Dot Dot for keeping these now treasures!
After the dedication service, we went to dinner with our family and the Rives family... it was so great to have everyone to celebrate our precious little ones... our family - Uncle Benny, Auntie Kristen, Auntie Katie (who left before the picture), PawPaw, Nanna, Aunt Lynn and Grandma Pam... Dot Dot and Grandpa Mike weren't there, so we missed out on the loot, little one (haha!).
You can't say much, but you talk all the time... the only words we know you know have meaning - "baba" (bottle) and PawPaw - you sometimes let out a Momma or Dadda, but it not on purpose... yet. You can wave Bye-Bye and you understand sign language, but it always makes you laugh...Pulling up on the pillows that are supposed to block you...
Standing!! You prefer standing to pretty much everything... you have had some tumbles this past month, but I know that is just part of it as you start to learn about balance. At least in the moments where you fall and scare yourself you let me cuddle you... I'll take that. I won't take you getting hurt.
You LOVE to climb all over Momma and Daddy... you really never sit still in our laps, rather once we hold you we like to call you a "worm in hot ashes..." you are all over the place. Scaling up our stomachs, chest, head... you are everywhere.
You are ticklish! And of course, I am pretty sure your laugh can cure diseases... it is the greatest thing that the soul could ever hear. So pure, so hearty, so genuine... to make you laugh is one of our greatest joys.
Don't hate me for this, but I just had to note the very recognizable face you are giving here... every time you are going potty, you freeze whatever activity you are doing and make this face. So funny!
Since it has started to be so nice outside, we have spent a lot more time at the parks and in the yard... we have taken you up to swing a few times and well, you love it.
This straight smile is your daddy and I's VERY favorite facial expression you make - you make it often and it is almost like you are flirting. You will squint or close your eyes and offer a straight smile with all of your might to the point of making us laugh out loud... hilarious!
You still have blue eyes - yay! I am hoping this means that they will stay this color, like your daddy's!
And your hair... one the top it is coming in SO blond and it still kicks up our little Gerber curl... the back and sides however - I am not sure that they are growing... and if they are, it is definitely not curly.
I think you like that your car seat rotates, because when we put you in the car and you hear the handle click, we get this smile.... melt. my. heart.
April 17 was Easter Sunday and it was such a fun day with all of our families at Dot Dot and Grandpa Mike's house. I will do a actual little write up of the full day soon... so many fun first memories that I want to share more thoroughly!
But this is too funny and darling not to post.... Dot Dot had this hat monogrammed for you because you love daddy's hats... okay girlie, this is too cute. After your nap, you also wore one of my little dresses for the special day - love it - pictures to come!
I am pretty sure this picture is capturing you trying to chase Cha-Cha... you still LOVE dogs and little kids. In fact, you really love little boys... so far, Momma and Daddy have witnessed you already smooching 2 little ones - YIKES!
Like I said, you don't like to sit... putting you on the couch to sit for a moment typically results like this... and we have officially put the crib to the lowest setting because almost every morning or after every nap you are either sitting up playing or STANDING trying to look over the rail - time flies, how are you not still in a bassinet?
You have a few games that you LOVE right now - peek a boo makes you laugh SO HARD and it never gets old to you. Your favorite game is to throw your paci, animal, um... whatever you have off of wherever you are sitting so that Momma and Daddy (or whoever is with you) have to pick it up. Over. and. Over. Enough! But it makes you smile like this, so we concede.
You don't have stranger danger as badly as you used to - YAY! In fact, you have gone to the nursery without Momma and Daddy having to leave church to come get you! You just love being around other kids, but now, even adults don't scare you as badly as they did - success!
You have, however, become somewhat of a Momma's girl (when I am here) and a Daddy's girl (when he is here)... you always want us to play with you, "hold" you (even though you won't sit still) and you love to be rocked right before you go down for bed.... it only takes about 2 minutes, but we cherish that time to pray over and cuddle with you. You are just the best little gift we have ever received - the amount of JOY you bring us it truly indescribable... words will always fail to give our love for you justice.
Jesus, THANK YOU for our baby girl - we are humbled that you have chosen us to be her parents, to steward her on this earth.... we pray we can adequately teach her of how great You, your grace, mercy and provision are... but in this moment, I have to stop and thank you for the many lessons our little one is already teaching me. Thank you for entrusting Eleanor to us... it continues to refine us as we seek wisdom, godliness and complete trust in You for each of our days.
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LORD Bless you & Beej & Eleanor and keep you and give you SHALOM ~ aunt lynn