Hi Yay So Big

A little video of Ellie's current three best tricks.

She clasps her hands together when she does "so big." I have no idea why she does this, but I love it.

This would be followed up by a video of her very latest trick, pulling up to standing, but she seems to do it when I'm not looking. As in, I look at her and she's sitting, I leave the room or turn away, come back and she's standing. Tricksy she is, yes.

Aquatots

Pete started swimming lessons with Ellie last weekend. I went this weekend to get a couple of pictures. It's meant for 1-2 year olds so most of the kids are quite a bit older than she is, but since she turns 1 during the class they let her in. She seems to be having a good time, and I think Daddy's really enjoying sharing this with her. They sure are cute together anyway.

They kick their legs, sing some songs, "jump" into the pool from the side, ride around on these giant mats, and play with beach balls and noodles. I'm a little jealous.

We also went to the National Arboretum in the afternoon because the weather was just too good to waste inside doing chores.

You CAN Take It With You

Turns out, you can take things with you where ever you want to go if you're creative enough.

Also, Mommy maybe enjoys bath time a little too much.

A Trip

We'd put off our annual trip up to the lake and summer was almost over, so a couple weeks ago we loaded up the car and planned a nice long weekend trip up to Sodus Bay, NY.

This would be our first long car trip with the dogs and the baby. During earlier trial runs we learned that putting both dogs in the backseat on either side of the carseat doesn't work. Ilow does not like Dragnet right next to her, Dragnet does not like not being right next to Ilow, and they were constantly jumping over the baby to get next to and then away from each other. So, I rode in the back with Ilow and Ellie, and Dragnet rode in style in the front seat. It wasn't the most comfortable thing ever but it worked.

Ellie had a pretty runny nose so we were hoping it didn't turn into anything too bad. We arrived late Friday night, my dad was waiting for us. Got a good night sleep. My step-mom picked my brother and his fiance up from the airport early the next morning. By now Pete and I aren't feeling particularly spectacular, but we manage to enjoy the day.

Then the sickness set in. I haven't felt that bad in a long long long long time. Pete wasn't doing a whole lot better. Ellie seemed fine beyond a runny nose and cough, thankfully. So, Sunday was a complete black hole. And we headed back home Monday.

A quick and not particularly successful trip, although it was nice to be able to relax in a beautiful setting even if we didn't feel well. Hopefully next time we can stay longer and not feel like death.

Bigger Little Girl

I'm sure some of you will remember this post from way back in June, it was one of your favorites judging by the number of comments it generated. It was all about how grown up Ellie was starting to look. I've been thinking about that post a lot lately because it doesn't seem like all that long ago I was putting that post together, and I know how much she's changed since even then. But then again, it was 16 weeks ago and 16 weeks in baby-time is a long time. For babies. Not for Mommies.

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I just realized if I had taken the picture before she gotten her bath and her p.j.s on she might have been wearing the same outfit in both pictures. That would have been clever.

10 Months Young

Today is Ellie's 10 month birthday, and it was a pretty monumental day for her. I went in get her up this morning and found her like this.

{mad because I went and got my camera instead of getting her up}

Sitting up in the crib means standing up in the crib won't be far behind, so it's finally time to remove the mobile and lower the mattress. Check.

She discovered the dog's water dishes (oh joy) a few days ago, but today she learned she can get to them from anywhere in the house, even if it means going under the kitchen table.

And today, for the first time, she came to find me after I disappeared around a corner.

She hasn't quite figured out that step yet, but as quickly as she picked up her other new crawling skills this can't be far behind.

And it seems today she's decided she's a belly sleeper, although it looks kind of like she just collapsed this way from her new sitting position.

I can't believe I have a 10 month old.

And Away She Goes

Well, hurricane Hanna is on her way and it's pouring down rain here, accidents all over, and the worst is yet to come. All our plans for the day have been ruined. Doggy swim day at the pool, our first year we were actually going to be in town for it, obviously not happening. A trip down to Aunt S.'s for a barbecue, roads too dangerous and who knows what it will be like later when the real storm and high winds roll in. So, we're hanging out at home.

The point of this post isn't the hurricane though. After practicing for weeks and getting closer and closer, Ellie learned how to crawl yesterday. It was a few tentative forward moves with her knees in the morning, and by the evening she had gotten pretty good at it (see video). Today it's pretty clear she's figured it out and there's no stopping her.