special cousins

this picture.
makes my heart burst just thinking of all the fun you two are gonna have, trouble you will get into and love you are going to share.
being 4 day apart cousins will definitely be something special as you two grow.

{great} grandpa.

 two peas in a pod.
just looking at each other,
makes you both bust out laughing.
sounds about right. ;)

when you were tee tiny and squishy,
he said he didn't want to hold you b/c he would drop you,
but we just put you on his lap anyway b/c we knew he secretly wanted to.

now you stand by him on the couch,
while he speaks that silly Spanish (not Spanish) gibberish
and makes funny faces
and y'all just giggle.

this is your great grandpa hutchins.

Wave.

Eleanor has started a new thing
and it MELTS my heart!

She has started waving.
But not just a regular ol' back and forth of the arm.
Oh no.
She opens and closes her hand,
like she is really doing something.

We have progressed from having to hold her arm up
to waving at random strangers, dad while he is watching tv, and
secret waves down by her side.
Her little hand will be working, but not necessarily to anyone in particular.

My favorite time so far has been when she woke up from nap in the playpen,
sat up all slow and sleepy
and waved to Eric and I from across the room.

A lady stopped me in WalMart yesterday and asked what aisle I got her in,
because she wanted one too!
Then Eleanor did 'the wave' to her and the lady just about died from the cuteness.
(Or was that me.)

Sleep Update & Other Things.

This is the face of a little angel girl who is giving her mom a break in the sleeping department.

2 nights of a solid hour of crying.
And 3 nights of minimal crying.
And 4 WHOLE nights of no crying at all.

Thank you Ellie girl.


And on another note, first day back to school for me.
That means 4 nights away from my girl,
which is 4 too many.

She was thoughtful enough to go with me and help my buy my books last week.
And then we stopped to see her TT at work, made a sign for her Grandma Jeanne's birthday, played a little dress up & tried on some shoes (which made her step like a newborn horse.) (winter should be fun)

busy day with my little bumblebee,
but so thankful for a fun day off work
before school started!

Crib.

Welp, Ellie girl.
Last night was night number one of Operation Ellie to the crib.
And it was tough on you.
But I think tougher on me.

I knew it wouldn't be fun,
especially when I laid you down earlier when you were napping
and your eyes opened up and got wide as saucers.
Like WHAT?! I don't sleep in here mom!

We agreed to let you cry for 5 minute increments
before one of us would go in and comfort you.
We laid you back down, shushed you and patted your back.

I went outside.
Then to the couch.
Then to my bed.
And I just laid there and prayed.

I prayed for God to let you just fall asleep.
That you wouldn't be scared.
That you wouldn't be sad.
That you didn't think we left you all alone.

I don't mean to sound dramatic,
when there are much worse things going on in the world.
But tell that to my mama heart,
to listen to your baby scream and cry-
when picking them up would instantly soothe her. (For the moment anyways).
Eric reminded me that I knew it wouldn't be easy.
I just didn't know it would be SO hard.

It lasted for about an hour
before you passed out.
And then another hour at 12am.
Don't tell Dad, but I picked you up once
just to hold your little body.
You just laid your head on my shoulder
and huffed little breaths.

It will get better, Ellie.
I will be thankful to not have to worry about you falling off the bed.
*Just the other morning, I walked back in the room while getting ready for work,
and you had turned sideways and pushed all the way over to the edge*
We will all get more rest.

You slept until 9:00am this morning
and when Dad went to check on you,
he said you were just laying in your bed
looking up at the ceiling. Calm as can be.

Tonight we are on our own b/c Dad works late.
We both have to be brave,
and you have to take it easy on me.
You We got this!

10 months.

-Size 3 Diapers
-Formula & Solids
9-12 month clothing



Milestones. 
6 teeth have poked through. 2 on the bottom and 4 on the top. (And those 2 front top ones are B-I-G)

You can stand up without holding onto anything for a few seconds (maybe like 10, 20).

You can (and do repeatedly) say UH OH. It's the sweetest thing, even after the 20394th time in a row.

We will tell you to give a kiss and you lean in with your little mouth open. Be still my beating heart.

Feeding yourself- you can pick up certain foods and actually get them into your mouth. It's pretty comical when you don't get it all the way in there so you have your whole hand shoved against your mouth trying to push it back in.

When you hear the garage door (me) or front door (dad) open and shut you get SO EXCITED that someone is coming in! When I'm walking through the kitchen I can hear you squealing and laughing. When Dad comes in you clap your hands and smile so.big!
 

Firsts.  

Went to your 1st Rodeo!
First time at the Gentry Safari, where you got to pet a zebra!
First trip to the Aquarium.
First pigtails!

 

Eating.  You eat solids 3 times a day now. Usually fruit or baby yogurt for breakfast, a veggie for lunch and then a "meal" for dinner. When you know it's time to eat, you get so excited and usually do a bit of grunting. You also eat whatever we are eating too. You like chicken, green beans and pancakes!

Loves. 

Mama. You are all about me this month and it is really starting to hurt Dad's feelings! Anytime I go to hand you off, you always cling to me. When I go out of a room, you cry and try to follow. It's pretty sweet and also, (truthfully) a little annoying. But Eric did remind me that I used to hate when she only wanted him so I better appreciate it before her affections change again. ;)

Dropping something on the ground and saying uh oh! and when someone picks it up and hands it to you, you do it all over again. Same as last month but now you have added an uh oh into the mix to add to the cuteness factor.

Crawling down the hallway to your puppy brother's gate and rattling it.

Drinking water out of a cup or water bottle. Your little tongue gets in the way and after you swallow (what little) water was in your mouth, you lean forward and open your mouth for some more.

Dislikes.

Diaper & Clothes Changes. You are a MANIAC! You will twist and turn and cry and do anything to avoid getting a new diaper on or a clean outfit.

Going to the gym nursery. You lasted the whole hour the first time but the lady told me you had been crying quite a bit. The next time I brought you, they had to come get me from my step class (thankyoubabyellie!!) and we just left. Definitely going to need an alternative.

 

Pictures from this month:

 

pigtails.

in trying to remember to record some of the little things,
instead of just the family get togethers and trips-
I wanted to write about your first pigtails!

and let me tell you, I worked hard for those pigtails!
You were crawling all over the dining room floor,
with me scooting along after you.
And then your Dad holding you hostage
so I could get a picture.
In which you look thrilled.

Grandma gave me the same little pigtails
and called them my little "paintbrushes."
I love that,
and I love them on you.