A sweet, monthly update of our third daughter, Elliot.

Coming off a rocky day with my littlest gal yesterday makes it hard to wake up this morning and feel like I want to say all the nice words about her.

It's not that she's a bad baby...no. Definitely not a bad baby. She's just...a busy baby. She loves to explore. She loves to be into everything. She loves being right where she's not supposed to be. This could be because she goes a lot of places here sisters never did - gymnastics being the main culprit. At the gym she enjoy :

1. Direct lines to al the equipment...which is definitely a no-no.
2. The stairs. Must climb all the stairs. I let her do it once thinking it would tire her out. It didn't.

And heaven forbid I tell her "no" or remove her from an area she's not supposed to be. Screaming. Loud, shrill screaming. In fact - other parents have started commenting which is something I've never had to deal with before. Kaye and Sawyer - not screamers. Elli - screamer. I just apologize...because what else can I do?

But before we get to wrapped up in her current state...

Need to get caught up? You can find Elli's birth story here.


This girl - she has fire in her. Granted...she's extremely cuddly but also independent but also clingy but also indecisive. Or maybe I just can't figure out what she's trying to tell me sometimes...? Whatever the case...we're on our toes a lot with this one.

But do you know who does have this gal figured out? Kaye.

Elli adoooooores Kaye. Kaye is currently the only one who can make her belly laugh. Sure I can chew on her ribs or play peek-a-boo and she'll appease me with a giggle. But Kaye can do basically anything and it's full on baby belly laughs for daaaaaaays. Which makes Sawyer laugh. Which makes me laugh.

Kaye is really shaping up to be the best mini-mommy. Kaye will feed Elli if I'm trying to get a meal on the table. Kaye will do me all the favors. In fact...I find myself saying, "Kaye, will you do mommy a favor..." I probably do this too much. She's just so darn helpful.

Sawyer on the other hand...she just loves a little too hard. Just a little. It usually results in Elli being annoyed or Elli crying. Sawyer never has ill intentions, she's just very hands-on...and I think Elli has learned that when it comes to Sawyer, she just wants a liiiiitle bit of space. Poor Sawyer. It makes her sad every time, which then means I have two whining and/or crying babies.

ELLIOT | 11 MONTHS

 nicknames | We no longer call Elli Boobies! (Even though her little boobies are getting chubbier.) I now call her Bubs or Sweet Girl...but mostly Elli. Which is good, because she totally recognizes her name.

 size | Girlfriend had her little well-baby check-up yesterday and she's sitting solid at 20 pounds (66th%) and 88% for height...so she's quite tall. She still has a giant head and big ears...which I adore, even though she pretends like she can't hear me sometimes.

milestones | A few milestones this month...

Elli has very very officially walked. So, we can certainly say she took her first steps at 10 months. Granted...Kaye was running at this age, but we can't all be as caution to the wind as she was.

Elli has a mouthful of six teeth. Four on top and two on the bottom. They are terrifying. Thank God she's not a teeth smiler yet because...yikes. If this is any sort of fortelling of her future, our orthodontia bills are going to be...huuuuuge.

Elli loves to dance, especially with her Farmer.

Elli loves playing peek-a-boo, and will participate with anyone who's paying attention.

She also enjoying enthusiastically clapping and definitely cheering for her accomplishments.

sleep | Praise all that is good and holy...we have three excellent sleepers. Elli sleeps from 6:30 pm until around 7 am. Once 6:30 pm hits...she better be within steps of her bed, or the screaming starts. Lots of eye rubbing and frustration if it's not clear that you're prepping her for sleep.

Our gal also takes two 1.5 - 2 hour naps a day which is when I try to get all the things done. I think at this age Kaye and Sawyer were transitioning themselves into one nap a day...But Elli is still very clearly going strong with her two naps, and I'm considering starting the same schedule for myself. Kaye and Sawyer can do as they please. Mama is sleepy.

 eats | Girlfriend has not slowed down in the food department. Where we have decreased in nursing sessions (two a day) we have increased in meals. She loves all the foods. All. Of. Them. Eggs, salmon, cheese, pork chop, mashed potatoes...and she's even taken a liking to avocado this month. I knew I could convert her.

Favorite meal : Salmon with rice. Elli was sent to this world to destroy salmon.

loves | Elli is a huge fan of swinging this month. She would sit and let me push her for...an hour I'm sure. I think we've come close. Elli also enjoys playing with blocks, cooking in the little kitchen, and playing her sisters' mini guitar. But mostly she enjoys eating and then getting into all the things.

dislikes | Elli does not enjoy when you tell her no. Go figure. Elli doesn't like being up past her bedtime. Elli usually doesn't like getting her diaper changed. Fine with me...potty train yourself. Elli still doesn't enjoy driving to Boise. She'll sit content for about 20 minutes, but anything longer and...screaming. Lord help us.

Sweet, Elli-girl. You are 100% delicious and I cannot believe how much you've grown this month. You'll be one in just a few weeks and I need the days to slow down. You have the most beautiful blue eyes...which happen to match your sisters' blue eyes exactly. Your hair has become a little unruly this month, but that's okay because you have more hair than what either Kaye or Sawyer had at this age...so, bragging rights. You're a perfect combination of determination and caution. I think you may be too smart for your own good. 

We're going to continue to discourage the screaming...because mommy is tired of getting dirty looks from strangers.

It's truly my only complaint...you're practically perfection.


sawyer at one month / kaye at one month