Ranch 2010

It has been one week today since we loaded up the Dodge and headed up to Perryton for the annual rib cook-off. I was so excited to be going back this year since last year I had an 8 week old and did not get to sit and visit with anyone other than Noah's cousin's wife who also had a 5 month old that she was nursing.

Elle did surprisingly well on the trip up there and only got fussy a few times. I brought a lot of snacks with us and also some new toys that she had never played with before and that kept her pretty occupied. Noah rented us a pop-up camper to stay in while we were there so that we had some AC for the baby. I, of course, brought my video monitor with us (have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE that thing... sorry, just making sure!) so that was so nice to have and really put my mind at ease that Elle was alright.

We had a great time seeing all of Noah's family and friends. Elle was really good, but she definitely did not want to be away from me, which is pretty typical. She napped well in the camper though and slept well at night, so that was nice. We have decided that next year we will definitely be staying an extra night though. The drive is too far to only stay two nights.

The weather was so terribly hot, but thankfully we had a covering/tent to sit under, so that was nice. We had heard before going up there that the mosquitoes were terrible since they had received so much rain this summer, but thankfully we had no trouble with them at all. I was so worried that Elle was going to be eaten alive and I was really not wanting to put bug spray on her at this age, so I was thrilled that we were able to escape the bugs.

Noah and his friends had very high hopes of doing well in the cook-off, but sadly they didn't do much better than last year. Noah got 36th out of 42, which was better than some of his friends and worse than others. He even prepared this year and had an excellent rub, but what can ya do? Now all the guys are talking about buying or building their own smoker for next year - yeah right boys!

Sweet girl was so tired when we got back that she has been taking 2+ hour naps twice a day since. She has had a bit of a rough week too since her molars are coming through, and today was one of her crankiest days that I can remember. I ended up putting her to bed at 6:15 PM because when I asked her if she was ready for night night she said "uh-huh" and walked over to the refrigerator to get her milk - ha ha!

(I had to throw this one in for good measure. Cutest tushy ever!)

It's been too long

... since Elle had a fun photo shoot. Here are a few images I captured today. Enjoy!

14 months

So, this is only about a week late, but I really want to keep posting Elle's monthly updates at least through 18 months. I know that with my next baby I will want to look back and see how similar/different they were.

So, on that note, Elle, here is what you are up to at 14 months.

You now have 10 teeth (4 on the top, 4 on the bottom) and have cut your two top molars. Your bottom molars are certainly on their way because your poor gums are very swollen. You have been a little more fussy than usual with all the teeth coming in, but it hasn't seemed to bother you that much. It certainly hasn't interrupted your sleep which I am very happy about.

You are still a good sleeper and usually sleep from 7 PM - 7 AM. You are still taking two naps a day, each for about an hour and a half.

You love your paci and your blankie! You love to go into your room and pull your blankie and paci's out through the bed slats. I have had to start putting your pacifiers away after each nap so that you can't just have them any time you want. It hasn't seemed to phase you, so that's good.

You are starting to say more words but still haven't done any signs. I haven't been very consistent with you, so I'm sure it's my fault. You can say "mama", "dada", "hi", "uh-oh", "eye", "nana" and now when I ask you a question you either shake your head "no" or you say "uh-huh" which means yes. It is really nice to finally have you be able to communicate when you want to do something.

You love to dance and do so whenever you hear any music. You love the banjo music your little Baby Einstein table makes and play it all day long. You put your little hand up in the air and shake your little booty - it is too cute!

You made your second trip to the Ranch last weekend. The ride up there wasn't so bad and you did well while we were there, but you were really clingy to Mommy. All those cowboys with their mustaches were not exactly your cup of tea! (I will put up more pictures later)

You love having play dates with our friends Katie and Ellie. You are learning how to share a little more, but are still a little aggressive sometimes (you shoved Ellie the other day and then tried to point to her eye and ended up poking it). I know it is more the childishness in you than the naughtiness, but we're working on it and I try to go easy on you for now.

You love to play with blocks and your stackable cups. You are really good at putting the cups together and love to figure out how things work.

You are growing so fast and learning so much. It is really fun to watch you experience new things. We love you so much! Happy 14 months!

Summertime

Obviously my blogging has been lacking lately. Honestly, I just don't feel like I have that much to say. Elle and I are pretty much in a set routine these days and most days that doesn't include time to sit down and write. Elle also loves to open and close all the drawers on our desk and pull everything out if I try to type while she is awake, so for now it has taken a backseat.

Kellie and I planned a birthday party for one of our good friends last night and since Noah had a work event that he needed to attend, and Nona was working and Mimi was busy with B, Justin saved the day and came over and stayed with Elle. She slept the entire time and I think he mostly just studied, but it was such a lifesaver!

Elle is officially a walker now and does so at least 80% of the time. Occasionally if she needs to get somewhere fast, she will crawl, but mostly she is walking. She is thrilled with her new found freedom and loves to walk from room to room and get into everything! Her favorite place to go these days is into her room to pull her blankie and paci out of her crib. The other day we were in there and I was folding her laundry and I turned around and she was sitting on the floor with her blankie sucking furiously on her paci - too cute! She loves them!


Her hair is getting so long in the front and is constantly in her eyes, so I have been having to pull it up into a ponytail on top of her head. Sometimes when it is in her eyes she will start pulling on it and indicating that she wants it put up. I haven't exactly figured out how to pull it up and have a bow in it at the same time, but one of these days I'll come up with something :)

Katie, one of the other moms in our playgroup who has a daughter, Ellie, who is one month younger than Elle, invited us over for a playdate next week. We are hoping that the girls will learn how to play a little better with each other and learn how to share their toys. I'm sure it is a little early for this, but starting early can't hurt, can it?

Elle and I had just gotten home from a walk the other day and were all hot and sweaty. It started to rain so we decided to go out and play in it. It was the most fun I have had in a long time and Elle LOVED it!

I'm pretty sure we have reached a turning point in having a well manner child at restaurants now. Up until this week, Elle has always done so well when we go out to eat and is usually very content to sit, eat, and people watch. Well, apparently now that she can walk around, she doesn't want to just sit and eat. She has started trying to stand up in the highchair and is very difficult to distract from the idea of getting down. We are going out to eat in uptown (of all places to take an unruly child on a Friday night, but Noah insists) tonight with some friends who are in town, so I'll have to keep you posted on how it goes.

That is pretty much our life in a nutshell. I'll try to do better on blogging, but I can't make any promises...