things i love about ellie right now.

i've found that more than the big baby milestones (crawling, sitting up, pulling up, etc), i mark the passage of time with ellie by these things that surprise me or that just are so her - it's how she responds to something new, or this way she attempts something that warms my heart in a way i didn't know possible. right now, i'm taking stock of these current ellie-isms i just can't get enough of:

how, when she's drinking milk from a sippy cup, she likes to approach it like a racecar driver who just won the Indy 500. we like a good amount of the milk to drip down our chin & onto our chest. we guzzle it like we just won the race of our lives, even if we do it a couple of times a day.

the way she knows a pint of blueberries -- when i reach in the fridge & pull it out, she goes nuts. she literally can differentiate it from a container of raspberries or blackberries (those get excited responses too, just slightly more subdued) -- she leans back in her high chair, eyes as wide as saucers, then leans forward, practically frantic with anticipation while i wash them off. it puts the biggest smile on my face.

how when i'm carrying her & we're walking around, i'll look over & she has these pursed lips as she looks around, one hand holding onto my shirt. it's this whole "yep, just me & my mama on another adventure" look on her face that just kills me.

the way we play hide & seek around ryan & my bed. she figures out all my moves, crawls so intently to the side where she knows i am & giggles with delight as soon as she spots me. she then wants to climb up on me, reach for my face, & coo with delight that she has me right there next to her. it's hard to feel more loved than you do in that moment.

how loyal she is to two "toys:" a carrot soft rattle & her hairbrush. they're both orange & the perfect size for her little hands to clutch. we don't have a ton of toys, but i'm convinced we could only have those two & she'd be happy as can be.

the laugh/giggle she only gives when she's on the swings, it's this belly laugh that is just unbelievable!

what i like to call her "gettysburg address moments" post-nap. sometimes, she wakes up crying, but more often these days i know she is up because i hear her lecturing her nursery. when i look on the monitor, she is standing up in her crib making all sorts of noises (that more & more sound like talking!), looking around the room as if she's telling it something really important.

these are the moments of utter joy in motherhood -- there are hard, confusing, challenging, unsettling moments in between, but i cling to these because i know there will be new ones soon & i want to soak these ones up as many times as i can. present, the very best thing i can be for her.

have a wonderful weekend sweet friends. xo

eight month old ellie.

 

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update from ellie.

hey guys!!!! so, so sorry it's been so long since i've checked in. i've been b-u-s-y & am so excited to fill you in on my comings & goings. as you can see, i just figured out i can crawl out of the room my mom is in! holy toledo that opens up a whole new world for me! she's pretty proud of herself for coming with a new little saying: "it's no surprise the last two letters in trouble are l-e" really clever mama (daddy & i just smile & nod :)!

it's been hot, hot, hot in virginia, so other than our nightly runs (when i have to be in my diaper it's so toasty out there), we spend a lot of time inside. which is good, cause i've really needed to spend more time with my blocks.

 

sometimes when it rains, we run errands. my favorite place to go is the used bookstore (i get to crawl all around & look at what we brought home! my favorite new book is not to be missed) it's hard to complain about a stop by h&m. apparently i'm going through clothing sizes like woah, so we stocked up on some comfy basics for the fall.

mama & daddy are teaching me our house rules. they put them up in the dining room, so i can always swing by for a refresher course.

oatmeal = fabulous; eating = contact sport

mama & i have the most fun game we play on the couch (the rules are hard to explain), here i'm pausing to plot my next move (note that mr. tomato is at my feet!)

so, my good buddy asher turned one & i was lucky enough to go to his birthday party. i wore my best bow for the occassion. in case it isn't obvious, i pretty much love any chance i get to hang out with asher & his older brother ian. they live on our street, so that's lots. i try to emphasize to my dad that their dad flys helicopters too & that really we're just friends, but he keeps muttering things under his breath about me not dating til i'm 40! oh, dad.

oh, you know, just reading a little jane austen in my favorite hiding spot.

this is my new favorite outfit cause it has built in chew toys! ok, well i've got a bunch to do before i turn eight months old (you know what they say, live up seven months while you can), but i'm excited to swing back by here soon! over & out, ellie girl!

seven month old ellie.

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what to do in the summer, according to e.

hit the beach, in a fabulous hat, with your good friend allison.

get your dad an awesome father's day card.

quality time with aunt kaitlin, in a beautiful dress she MADE me.

lounge around, giving out big smiles while you grab your toes.

watch mama cook, while you enjoy some frozen teething rings!

get a funny look on your face when your paci is all crooked.

find a new favorite book & read it on a particularly hot day.

pull off red polka dots like a champ after waking on the happy side of the crib!

when your papa comes to town, hang out on the front porch a lot!

how are you guys spending your summers? up next, my mama's guide to summer!

fun in the atlanta airport!

 

a three hour layover in the Atlanta airport with a crawling six month old could sound like your worst nightmare. but not when aunt lizzie & uncle nate show up with a big old blanket, snacks, a bag full of toys & so much love for ellie. then, it turns out to be the most. fun. three hours. ever. we brought the color to the airport & had the best time.

lizzie & nate, thanks for spending your saturday with us -- it meant the world to us. can't wait to hang out again soon!

p.s. i'll say it again, chewbeads are the greatest invention for traveling alone with a baby. i had two pairs so lizzie & i could both wear 'em!

happy fourth of july! love, ellie

 

happy fourth of july, friends! my good friend carol sent me this cup for my first fourth of july (it's from mt. vernon!) & boy do i love it! mama says i have it upside down most of the time, but i'm just trying the whole thing out. this was also a good opportunity to show you my favorite seated position -- we call it the pike, one leg in, one leg out -- just to steady myself.

i'm really grateful to live in this country & for all the service members keeping us safe & free, especially my daddy. mama hopes i'll be asleep before the fireworks, but i might just have to stay up to see what all the excitement is about!

hope your day is full of good friends, boat rides, popcicles, corn on the cob, parades & bright fireworks!

six month old ellie.

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ellie & the beach!

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update from ellie.

hey y'all -- it's all big grins around here as I'm about to turn six months old! i've been keeping awfully busy & wanted to fill you in:

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