11 Months Old!

I cannot believe it ... The one-year milestone is just around the corner! At 11 months old, Ellen is as fantastic as ever. She's growing like a weed and is starting to resemble a toddler more than a baby ... She's curious, independent and FUNNY!

Still just two bottom teeth in that great big smile!

I think the days of trying to snap a picture to show Ellen's height are long gone ... She refuses to stay put and instead must investigate her sign!

EVB can hydrate all by herself ...

and select toys all by herself ...

and read all by herself ...

Miss Independent even ventured head first into the ball pit on the first day of her ECFE class. :)

Daddy's Little Vikings Fan

Ellen has been learning all about the highs and lows (mostly lows) associated with being a Vikings fan thanks to her Dad ... She's been sporting her Vikings attire with pride, but so far doesn't seem too impressed with the team. :)

EVB pre-game with Daddy & Grandpa Kent.

10 Months Old!

Ellen turned 10 months old on Aug. 27 (double digits!). I can't believe how soon she'll be hitting the one-year mark! Wow. At 10 months old, Ellen is:

• Wearing size 3 diapers (and has been for awhile)
• Drinking three bottles a day (we've eliminated her 3 p.m. bottle)
• Still taking two two-hour naps and sleeping 11-12 hours at night
• Pulling herself up on furniture, her activity table and in her crib
• Standing on her own for a few seconds at a time
• Eating more foods--she recently tried spaghetti, deli turkey and kiwi, which she loves ... avocado is also a favorite these days
• Keeping mom & dad on our toes; she's into everything (like our plant, Herb)
• Playing peekaboo and mimicking some of the sounds we make
• Pointing at everything
• Kissing her beloved pink bunny and offering it to mom & dad to kiss
• Giving hugs, which is the best (Ellen will even pat our backs like we pat hers when we hug her!

Clap your hands if you're 10 months old!

Even though she's covering her face, this is still the best full-length shot we could get!

Where's Ellen?

Peekaboo!

EVB standing in her crib ...

and at the activity table she's borrowing from her cousins Sophia and Gavin :)

Last Weeks of Summer

Ellen has been soaking up the final weeks of summer, spending lots of time outdoors. Also, I no longer work on Mondays (which is wonderful), so Ellen and I have had fun visiting the zoo, going shopping and simply spending time together. It's the best!

Ellen checking out the flamingos at Como Zoo.

Pulling grass in the backyard.

Splashing with cousin Gavin (and standing like such a big girl!).

Letting Dad in on the action.

EVB was super excited to go shopping for her new car seat! Woo hoo!

9 Months Old!

Ellen is 9 months old! I can't believe it! At her 9-month appointment, EVB weighed 18.4 lbs. (40th percentile), was 28.75 inches tall (90th percentile, but I still don't buy the accuracy of their measuring method) and had a head circumference of 17 inches (25th percentile). Here's what Ellen is up to these days:

• Crawling and exploring her surroundings (she's very curiously and suddenly into EVERYTHING)
• Continuing to try more foods (eggs, noodles and peeled & cut blueberries are the latest additions)
• Clapping all the time
• Saying "Mom-mom-mom" and "Dada"
• Shrieking (EVB can be very loud)
• Starting to pull up on furniture
• Shaking her head back and forth (she likes to mimic Daddy doing this)
• Teething (one bottom tooth poked through within the last few days)

Most importantly, Ellen is still the sweetest, most easy-going baby on the block. This is such a fun age and we simply can't get enough of her!

So excited to be 9 months old!

Squirmy wormy when it came time to pose ...

Outtake #1

Outtake #2

Outtake #3

Ellen pulling herself up to see what she's missing from inside her crib.

EVB perusing her library of books.

Taking a minute to learn all about trucks from Daddy.

Helping with the laundry!

Crawling!

EVB started crawly at the beginning of July and she's getting more efficient each day-- progressing from the army-man crawl to a true, up-on-knees kind of crawl.

Ellen sets her sights on something that looks interesting ...

makes her move ...

and reaches her target! This time it was the lens cap dangling from the camera. :)

Adam's 30th & 4th of July

July started off very busy for Ellen. She helped celebrate her Dad's 30th birthday on July 2 then spent time at two different lakes for 4th of July festivities.

EVB hung out at Adam's party for a bit, but then had to get into her PJs and head to bed ...

So she missed Adam's fun skiier cake. :(

Mom, Dad & Ellen on the 4th.

EVB chatting up her great grandmas.

Ellen ended the first weekend in July with some pool time!