Dinner with Liliana

While we were in Dallas, Mommy and Daddy took me to have dinner with my very first friend Liliana. We had a lot of fun! I wish we lived closer so that Liliana and I could play together every week.

Hanging out at Fuddruckers

Holding Hands

Liliana was flirting with my daddy and I was talking with Liliana's daddy

Liliana's mommy (Faith) and my mommy

Comparison

When Eleanor came home from the hospital she was so tiny the infant carrier swallowed her up. Daniel and I did not really want to go anywhere that would require us putting her in the car seat because she was so little. Just this past week we said good-bye to the infant carrier and bought Eleanor her big girl car seat. It was a sad moment for me as I reminisced about how Daniel just happened to put the car seat in the car the night I went into labor, our ride home from the hospital when I had to hold E's head the whole way because it flopped forward, calling Daniel's cousin Michelle and asking her to come over and help us make sure E was secure in the car seat. Upgrading to the bigger car seat was the ending to one chapter and the beginning of another.

Doesn't she look happy in her new seat?

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Happy Birthday Daniel! Eleanor and I love you so very much and are so blessed to have you in our lives. I thank God for you daily. You are a wonderful husband and such a great dad. Hope you have a great day!

Swimming

Eleanor went swimming for the first time two weeks ago. As with everything else in life, she LOVED it. She was a little apprehensive at first but within a few minutes she was putting her face in the water, kicking her legs and splashing up a storm. We made four trips to the pool while we were in Dallas and by the end E was even going under water. Look out Kirsty Coventry we may have the next Olympic swimming gold medalist in our presence.

Just Because

42, 43, 44, 45

Update On The Way

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. I just returned from a 10 day trip to Dallas where I spent 6 days taking a class on Sequential English Education. I have a TON of pictures to upload and will then get them on the blog. See you soon!

HUGS

Happy Birthday NaNa

What Do You Say?

Here are the top five things said in our house these days:

1.) Be careful - our little kamikaze has no fear. She is into everything and is in constant motion.
2.) No biting - E is experimenting with her two (almost three) little chompers. In fact, this evening as we were getting ready to put her to bed Daniel pointed out some "scratches" on the crib. These "scratches" are from E chewing on her crib.
3.) Be gentle - Kamikaze is a roughy toughy! She definitely knows how to hold her own.
4.) Let go - along with experimenting with her chompers, pulling hair is Kamikaze's second favorite thing to do.
5.) Sit on your bottom - this phrase is most commonly used in the bathtub. Kamikaze likes to try and stand up, surf, swim, crawl, etc. all while in the bathtub. I think this mama gets a new gray hair each night during bath time.

What are some common sayings in your household?

Need New Pictures

You know it is time to start putting new pictures on the blog when you get an email from your mom with the word "Need" in the subject box and the message "new pictures." So, here you go NaNa, new pictures. Please excuse the drool! Our poor little girl drips like a faucet all day long and I got tired of seeing her in a bib so we just let it go.

My new big girl pj's.

Big Eyes

Thanks for my wagon NaNa and PaPa. It was raining this day so daddy pulled me around inside the house.

Funny girl
This is Eleanor's new favorite face. NaNa calls it her toughy face.

Clap Clap

Happy Birthday G-Pops

Daddy Does Bath Time

Anyone who has read this blog for any amount of time has probably already figured out that Daniel is a very hands-on dad. He helps with everything and for that I am extremely grateful. Tonight (and to be honest, most nights) Daniel took care of bath time. For the record, the reason Daniel typically does bath time is because our Kamikaze likes to try and give her mother a heart attack on a daily basis while in the bathtub. She flips over on her tummy, puts her face in the water, tries to stand up, pulls out the drain plug, etc, etc, etc. Anyway, back to tonight's story. So Daniel takes Eleanor upstairs for her bath while I am taking care of a few things in the living room. A few minutes later Daniel calls down and says "I need you to come watch the baby." Me - "You need me to come watch the baby? Why?" as I am walking upstairs. As I reach the bathroom Daniel says "so I can clean up the pee!" Me - "Pee? Where?" Daniel - "Look at our bedroom floor!" Well, needless to say, while Daniel was getting the bath water ready, Kamikaze was rambling around our bedroom sans diaper and decided to leave a puddle along with a little trail as she quickly exited the vicinity of the said accident. What do I do? I pull out the camera and take pictures so that I can bless all of our blog readers with this story. No really, your thanks are not necessary. So, without further ado.....Daddy does Bath Time
Yes, that is the puddle Kamikaze left on the floor while waiting for Daddy to put her in the bath.

Kamikaze and her daddy

9 Month Stats

I can't believe my baby girl is 9 months old already. She is learning new things everyday. Yesterday she had her 9 month well-child visit and got a great report from the doctor. She is 28.5 inches tall (75%) and 19 lbs (50%). Dr F. said "She is a tall one!" He also commented on how active she is and told us to make sure her crib mattress is lowered all the way because "she will come flying out of there." Daniel and I just had to laugh. We have recently given her the nickname of Kamikaze because she has no fear and gets into everything. We have definitely become a lot busier since E has become mobile!

Here is yesterday's 39 week photo!

Picture Project

Yesterday Daniel and I finally hung up my maternity photos and Eleanor's Christmas photo. I am so pleased with the outcome. These pictures are in the stairwell from the main floor of the house to the bedrooms. We plan to add to it as Eleanor grows.

Blessed

Happy Mother's Day! Last year I was pregnant on Mother's Day and even though Eleanor had not entered the world I was already her mom. I knew when she had hiccups, I knew when she was awake or asleep, I knew when she was stretching, yet there were a lot of things I did not know about her. I did not know that the first time I saw her face it would take my breath away. I did not know how quickly her sweet little face would capture my heart. I did not know that she had a birthmark on the back of her head or on her forehead or on her right eyelid and under the tip of her nose. I did not know that she had dark hair and blue-green eyes. I did not know that the third toe on each of her feet would tuck under or that she would be tall and lean. But I did know that I was her mom. Today as we celebrate Mother's Day I am blessed to be Eleanor's mom. I am blessed to know my daughter in a way that no one else will ever know her. I am also blessed to be a daughter and a daughter-in-law to two amazing women. So, Mother and MOG if you happen to be reading this - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! You are loved!

Carousel Cutie

Eleanor took her first carousel ride today with her daddy! She really liked it. I tried several times to get a picture of her looking at the camera but she was distracted by all the kids running around.

I LOVE This Man

Daddy Does Dinner

ENOUGH SAID!

Springtime

Yesterday Eleanor and I went on a 5 mile hike. The high for the day was 82 and it was quite sunny. This was just before we were leaving to go. Isn't she cute in her sunhat?

New Ride

Check out Eleanor's new ride. She is mommy's new walking partner!

Yellow

Can you see my tooth? It is just breaking through.

Wascally Wabbit

This week I am 35 weeks old. I am crawling like a champ and am trying to pull up on things. I started eating whole wheat toast and like to feed myself. When we were at the park we met a bunny. His name was Thumpy. I played in the grass for the first time and pet the bunny.

Happy Resurrection Day!

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! The stone has been rolled back and the tomb is empty. Jesus has conquered the grave. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Daniel, Eleanor and I spent the afternoon with some friends from church. We had a great time with Chris, Kelly and Seth and their families. Eleanor is 4 months older than Seth and is a giant compared to him. I am sure Seth and Eleanor will spend a lot of time together in the months to come.

So Big

You better watch close because I'm up to something!

Yesterday soon after these pictures were taken we lowered E's crib mattress. She is a little daredevil and we were beginning to worry about her catapulting herself out of the crib. She will be 8 months old on Sunday and is getting so big!

Stunt Baby

Can you see my owie? If you click on the picture and look close at my right cheek you can see my bruise! On Sunday I decided I was going to try and lunge off of the changing table and into my crib. I didn't make it! Instead I hit my cheek on the railing. I told mom and dad that I am training to be a stunt double. They told me NO! Dream crushers!

A Little Taste of Guatemala

Eleanor started eating black beans last week. She really likes them but they are a bit messy! Now she can have a real Guatemalan meal... pureed black beans with rice (cereal) and bananas.

Happy Birthday GiGi