Mini Summer Vacation

Dear Eleanor,

Last weekend we took a mini summer vacation to Breckenridge (your second trip there!) and then up to Erskine to stay at Brent's family cabin for the weekend. The trip was originally just to talk with the farmer who rents our land up there but then we decided to add the cabin onto it and make it a fun weekend get-away. We were able to go to the zoo in Breckenridge (Chahinkapa Zoo) and also ride the carousel there. The zoo was fairly small so we let you walk instead of taking a stroller. You had a great time looking at the animals, picking flowers and chasing a peacock! You liked to watch the monkeys and were able to touch a couple of animals in the petting zoo area. The carousel ride made you a little nervous, you didn't want to sit on one of the horses so you & I sat on the bench seat and you held my sleeve tightly for the whole ride. This weekend you also took your very first ride on a boat. We took the pontoon out two different times & you really enjoyed riding in it. You wore your life jacket without any fuss and had a good time sitting on Megan's lap to help drive the boat. You even touched one of the Northerns that daddy & Brent caught! Yuk. You are fearless at this age so we have to watch you very carefully. We swam in the pool at the hotel in Breckenridge and you wanted so badly to wriggle out of my arms to swim by yourself. You didn't want to be in the floatie or have anyone hold you. Fearless!

It has been a fun filled summer that is too quickly coming to an end. We've had lots of fun at many of the area splash pads and pools as well as playgrounds all over the city of Bloomington! We even went to Canterbury Park for a day so you could see the horses race. You are such a happy girl and it is fun to watch you at all of these new places exploring and playing.

All my love,

Mommy

Smarty Pants!

Dear Eleanor,

I wanted to make a list of all of the new things you've been learning and doing recently. I can barely keep up with how quickly you are learning new words, signs & "tricks" as your grandpa Miller would say. Today is August 4th, in 3 days you'll be 17 months old and over the last month you have really started to blossom intellectually. It is so fun to see you copying things that we do, saying new words, using new signs to get your needs met and see how much you really understand.

I bought you a new pair of sunglasses today - cute purple ones and you didn't really want to wear them. So when we got home they just ended up on the table in the living room. Later in the day, we were going for a walk so I helped you get your shoes on (more about the shoes to follow) and said "go get your new purple sunglasses Ellie". Never did I really think you would waltz into the living room, know exactly where they were and bring them to me when I said that to you. But you completely knew what I said, understood and just like that - ta da. I just think it is absolutely amazing how quickly you are learning these days.

Back to putting your shoes on - when you know it's time to go outside, or even when you just want to go outside. You first bring me my shoes - any pair will do, but you do usually bring a matching pair to me, put them on the floor for me to put on and then go to where your shoes are kept; say "chew" and point. Then when I get your shoes you sit on the rug in front of the back door to allow me to put them on for you. You are just so darn cute when you do these things! One day you were in the bathroom with me and you put your little foot up on top of the toilet seat and rubbed your leg with your hands - just like mommy does when she puts on lotion. It was adorable - and reminded me that you are watching me and I need to set a good example for you ALL the time.

Today you said "cheese" for the first time that I've recognized. I gave you a string cheese and clear as day "cheese" came out of your mouth. The other day when I pulled into the garage I said "we're home" and you repeated back to me "ome". I've been trying to show you the sign for help when you want one of your toys turned on or something to be opened. I did it a few times and yesterday morning you rode up to me on your little horsey and signed to your best ability "help". You wanted me to turn the horsey on so it would make music while you were riding it. I took a cookie out yesterday for us to split after lunch, you signed "cookie". I showed you that sign a few times, but not for over a week now and you remembered! I just love it!! You are also making your first animal noise - the noise that a monkey makes. Whenever you see a monkey in a book or somewhere you go "ee ee ee". That is the noise that a monkey makes. You have been learning body parts - including your tongue and can very cutely point them out when asked.

Here are the words you are currently saying as of today - now by tomorrow, there will probably be more:

Hi

Up

Fish (ish)

Shoe (chew)

Bitsy (hu-zee)

Hot

Home (ome)

Tree (tee)

Cheese

Three (I say one, two... and you say "free")

You are signing some too:

milk

eat

puppy

more

help

cookie

all done

I had a dvd in today - Mad About You, it wasn't playing but the menu was on the screen. The dog in the show (Murray) was on the screen sitting in a chair and you were looking at the TV signing "puppy". Of course - you noticed the dog on the screen and were just telling me "look mom, there's a dog". I can't tell you how proud I am of you and also how much I want you to just keep learning. The only problem is - I don't want to let you grow up, I love these days. All the things you're learning everyday and all the new joys I just want to keep you as my innocent, precious, beautiful, little baby girl forever and ever.

All my love,

Mommy

Independence Day

Dear Eleanor,

Last weekend was the 4th of July holiday and I was so looking forward to spending this holiday together with you and daddy. I love the 4th of July - don't ask me why, I just LOVE this holiday. Parades, fireworks, family picnics, I love it all. So I made plans for a fun-filled day! We started out going to a parade at 1:00 in Apple Valley. It was hot, and very humid so although the parade was fun and you were enjoying yourself we didn't stay for the whole thing. We found a spot to sit in the grass and you were so happy to just walk around. When the parade started you sat up on daddy's shoulder to see everything. You were pointing at the floats and horses and clapped along with the crowd for the marching bands that went by. We decided to leave the parade and go get some lunch at Red Robin. You sat in the high chair and happily ate pieces of watermelon and french fries as well as sharing my vanilla malt with me. The waitress gave you a kids menu and crayons so we showed you how to use the crayons and you had fun coloring on the menu.
After a nap, later that evening we all went to Mystic Lake Casino for a free Oak Ridge Boys concert (I hope you will enjoy the music of the Mighty Oaks as much as I do) and fireworks. We found a spot to sit and you were happy to sit in your stroller and listen to the music. You would shimmy in your stroller every now and then when the music moved you and clapped along with the crowd. After the concert ended at about 10 p.m. the fireworks began. You stayed awake and enjoyed your first fireworks show. You weren't scared at all of the booms, you pointed at the fireworks in the sky and giggled every now and then. It was so fun to watch you experience the 4th of July and your first fireworks display. People at the concert made comments about how good you were throughout the show and how surprised they were that you stayed up for the fireworks. You were a real trooper - and of course fell asleep on the way home. It was a fun filled day. I hope that we have many, many more fun family days this summer filled with new experiences for you.

All my love,

Mommy

Girlie Things

Dear Eleanor,

You have really developed a great little personality! You are a busy little girl these days and it is so fun to watch you learn & discover new things. One of your favorite things to do lately is open the drawers in our bathroom vanity and pull out all of the random brushes, headbands, hair products & lip balm you can reach in there. You hold the headbands up to your head "asking" me to put it on you and you walk around with the hairbrush or chapstick in your hand. It is amazing to me that you have already displayed some "girlie girl" attributes. You like shoes & clothes - you say "chew" which is shoe and you will walk around carrying one of my shoes and then sit and try to put it on your foot. You see a belt and instantly want it - now you even know where it goes and will hold it up to your tummy. You will sit still so I can "do your hair" which is really just putting a cute little ponytail on the very top of your head. But then you will pull it out and hand the rubberband back to me to re-do it. You just learn so much everyday, just by watching us. I never taught you these things, you picked them up on your own. I think you will enjoy playing dress-up as you get older and it will be so fun to see you dressing up in all kinds of costumes and outfits. In the meantime - stay little, don't grow up too fast. I love the age you are now and i'm sure i'll love EVERY age you are. But time just seems to be going by so quickly and I want to enjoy every second with you!

All my love,

Mommy

Z!

Dear Eleanor,

Everyday seems to bring a new "cutest thing ever" that you do. Several times today you were yelling "Z" into the kitchen from the living room. At first I didn't know what you were trying to say, but then later in the day when you did it again, it dawned on me. You were calling Bitsy (Bit-zee) by saying "Z" and patting your leg. You were trying to call for Bitsy to come back from the laundry room where she was eating. How cute is that? You love Bitsy even though she barely lets you near her. I love that you made up a new name for Bitsy - we'll call her "Z"!

Love, Mommy

First Steps!

Dear Eleanor,
I am considering today your first day of being a true "toddler". Today you have been attempting to walk quite a bit. You're getting pretty good at it as the day goes on! It started out this morning with some very short little walks and just a little bit ago you walked more than 10 feet from daddy to me. You're also just doing it on your own today which is different from previous days. In the past couple of weeks i've been setting you up on your feet in the hopes that you would take a few steps, today you've taken off from your little chair to walk towards me while carrying a book. It is the cutest thing! You've also tried once or twice to stand-up by yourself in the middle of the living room without holding onto anything. So far you can't really do it, but it is fun to see you try. It's funny, I never really realized that that is a skill you have to learn in order to be able to walk independently. There won't always be something for you to hold onto when you fall. Just as I have been sitting here typing this to you in our kitchen you have appeared twice in the doorway from the living room with a big smile on your face, arms out for balance, walking toward me. It makes me so happy and proud to see you growing up. It also of course makes me a little sad that my little baby is actually walking.

Before you were born I was trying to think of a "theme" for your bedroom. I wanted to use pink & brown as the colors and one day I was thinking about it and boom - there it was: Monkeys. I love monkeys, they're cute & they're brown, that's perfect! So that's what I went with for the "theme". It's funny that we've been noticing more and more that you love to climb! You will climb on anything that you can. You've recently started climbing on top of your Pampers box - the one you use for walking. You'll climb on top of it and just sit on it smiling. You've also pushed it over to the couch a couple of times and climbed from the box onto the couch. Now that's good problem solving. You also like to climb on the step that daddy built for Bitsy to get into the bed. You climb up, turn around, sit down & dangle your feet before climbing down to do it all over again. I'm sure given the opportunity you would climb from the step right up into our bed and soon enough you'll be trying to climb in or out of your own bed too. What a monkey!!

Another cute thing you've recently started doing is bringing books to daddy or I to have us read to you, which I love. There's nothing I would rather do than have you cuddle on my lap so I can read "Good Night Moon" or "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to you again. It is so much fun. This morning we went to a special storytime put on by the library at Walker Elder Suites for the residents. We sing songs, read stories & play instruments during these storytimes and you LOVE it. You were so animated this morning, waving to the residents, clapping your hands during the songs and shaking your little rattles during the music. I can not express to you how much I enjoy every minute I am able to spend with you. I love being your mommy and I love being able to be home with you so much to see you grow and change. It is going to be such a fun summer for you, lots of new experiences and lots of quality time for me to spend with you!

All my love,
Mommy

g.

Happy 1st Birthday Eleanor!

Dear Eleanor,

You are ONE! Oh my goodness, I still can't believe it. You turned one 2 days ago and now everytime I look at you you seem to have gotten bigger and older. We had a birthday party with family on your birthday. It was fantastic - you loved the cake and devoured it (you even tried to eat the plate!) You were the life of the party and the entertainment for everyone. You had no problem showing off your walking skills over and over. At this time you're still using your big Pampers box to walk and let me tell you, it is the most adorable thing to see you pushing that giant box around the house - a huge smile on your face. You even participated in opening your presents and tolerated us putting bows on your head and you smiled for the thousands of pictures that were snapped of you. Gramma Pam flew in from Denver to spend your birthday with you and so after the party we went to her hotel for some time in the pool - which seems to be your favorite thing to do. I just have to say this year has truly flown by - everyone said it would and they were right. It seems like just a short time ago we brought you home from the hospital and set you in your carseat on the couch wondering what to do next. It has been a whirlwind of learning, laughing, growing and joy since that day. Life has changed since you came along in every way, but it has become better in every way. You are the perfect addition to our lives and it is hard to remember life before you were the center of mine. Happy 1st Birthday Eleanor. You are loved by so many - but most of all by me and daddy.

As far as being a one year old goes - I think you're textbook. You are saying and doing all of the "right" things according to the development books. You say "baa baa" "da da" "diss" (which I think is you saying "this") you say "uh oh" after you drop an object from the high chair or changing table for the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time, and you shake your head No. You are pulling yourself up in order to open any cupboard or drawer that you can reach and your curiosity is never-ending. You laugh, clap your hands, wave goodbye and play peek-a-boo. You like to organize things.... kind of. You take the shape blocks or Tupperware or pans or books or dvd cases or scarves or balls or whatever it is out and then put whatever it is back. Except the Tupperware - you don't put that back, I do it gladly at least 4 times a day. Today I gave you a small plastic bowl with cereal puffs in it while you were watching me do the dishes. You sat on the floor with the bowl and then dumped the cereal puffs out onto the carpet. Then, you picked them up one by one and put them back into the bowl - except the last one which you put into your mouth :) You like to flip the pages in any book you find and push anything that you can around the house. Just this morning you took a cutting board from the drawer and were pushing it on your hands and knees around the living room.

Life has been busy - you and I have just finished our 2nd "quarter" of early childhood classes and are enrolled in a Monday night swimming class. Our 3rd "quarter" of early childhood class starts this Friday. We've had playdates with friends and have been working to keep to your schedule for feedings and naps. Now this is no excuse for my letters falling by the wayside and I am going to try to keep up with this blog for you. There are so many little things everyday that I want to remember. It has been an absolute joy being home with you this year and being able to see each milestone and each new discovery you make. I will cherish this time with you and I hope I will be lucky enough to remain home with you for awhile longer. I am looking forward to the new things you will be learning in the near future.

All my love,

Mommy