Baby in a Bonnet

Thanks Mom for the sweet dress and bonnet for our little Elle! She looks like a bona fide pioneer baby. Couldn't you see this baby on a hand cart and playing on a little cottage floor?? 

Elle Weston - 8 Months

There was a little girl
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good
She was very, very good.
But when she was bad
She was horrid!
   -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Dear little Elle, 

How fast you are growing! Too fast! I am amazed at all you can do. Your baby babbling resembles talking more every day! You just started clicking your tongue and really making "Mmmm" and "Mama" sounds. Your favorite word is still "Dada" which you love to say over and over again and sometimes yell it! Grawling noises have quickly followed like "Rara" and "Baba". You are so fun to listen to, we love hearing your baby voice develop. 

Over the last month you have blossomed into a champion sitter-upper! You are much happier when you can sit up on your own, have a toy, and of course have someone you love close by to watch how awesome you are. Your balance gets better everyday and I'm still in awe each time you catch yourself as you fall toward one side or the other. 

You think Gram's doggies are the coolest and want to pull their fur very badly. They're grateful you can't get to them yet. You love new toys and new things. You're Daddy and I suddenly realized that you are no longer this cute drooling baby that only needs teething toys. You're a growing baby who wants big girl toys and lots of fun interaction. We just bought you lots of new toys and you love to inspect each one with hand and mouth of course --everything must be put to the taste test! You have really started to grasp peek-a-boo and happily flap your arms in elation at the surprise each time. You stare waiting for it! When you drink you milkies at night before bed, your Daddy runs in to get you and you squeal as you turn the other way into me to save you. It's so sweet.

You officially got your first tooth poking through on May 9th --your lower left central incisor, tooth O, your dental hygienist mama is proud. We think it is the cutest thing when we hear your little incisor making itty bitty 'tink tink' noises as you chomp things in your mouth. 

You now love butternut squash and cantaloupe. You thought strawberries were much too tart but yet you love oranges! We love how you open big like a birdy for more, that's how we know you really like it. We bought you a little food net so you could get the juices from fruit but you know the difference and want the real thing!

Your pinscher grasp is impeccable! If I hand you a puff, you are ready and waiting with your two little outstretched fingies to take it from me. Unfortunately you also zero in on any sort of little crumb or speck and it goes straight for the mouth. In true fashion, you love anything sparkly! ...On a shirt, a necklace, bracelet, ring, watch... and will use your perfect pinschers to inspect it.

You have a special Daddy-Daughter routine in the mornings. Your Daddy gets you from your crib when you wake and cuddles and kisses ensue as he holds you rocking in the glider in your nursery. He then pulls books from your nightstand and reads you all your favorites. You love flap books and touch and feel the most. You yell at your books and flap your hands up and down hitting them. Next your Daddy takes you out to his garden to water it and pick some kale. You watch with great interest as he makes his morning green smoothies. You excitedly beg for some which he of course shares, he can't resist you. You & Daddy play with toys on the floor, and when it's time for work, he brings you to me in bed. He gives kisses and a goodbye prayer. You light up so big when you finally see him come home again at night. You are a very lucky baby.

If you are being fussy for mama, a trip out front to sit on the grass will do the trick. You love outside! You most contently sit on the ground, pick at the blades of grass, and try to eat them. This new perspective does you well and you enjoy dogs barking, the wind blowing, and the drastic change of light and scenery. Your Daddy and I often park you in your stroller when we're in the backyard and you love to soak it all in.

I cannot believe how big you are getting. Where has the time gone?
When I hold you in my arms your chubby little legs extend relaxed instead of your once sweet froggy legs. Your tiny feet and toes now press against the side of the glider as you cuddle nursing in my arms.  I love these tender moments when I can hold you close and you are finally calm and still and so completely relaxed. I rock and hold you, your arm tucked under mine, and you are melted into me. I hate to put you down for the truth is you melt me too. You sleep happily in my arms and even though I know putting you in your bed is best, sometimes I must hold you tight just a little longer.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
-Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Truman's Garden

I am very proud of Truman. He was absolutely positively determined to plant a garden this year! With moving into our new house end of January, I had a lot of projects on my mind and things I needed/wanted to get done. I kept insisting on Elle's nursery, painting, cabinets, curtains, etc. and that we could do the garden next year because springs was already here and lots of other excuses. 

So with zero help from me, Truman removed two dead rose bushes and a huge hideous monster bush. He cleared loads of rock and leveled the area. He then tilled the hard terrible Cameron Park red clay soil with a pickaxe. Then had to drive to go borrow a Jeep and trailer, went to Home Depot and the local nursery and bought soil and picked out an assortment of vegetables. The next day he built a makeshift planter box with spare wood he had or found around our property (he was out there forever with hammer, saw, and pickaxe!). He then added in the top soil and mixed it around. Then he mixed in the special tomato/vegetable organic fertilizer. He laid out all the plants where he wanted them to go. Then finally, Amy comes in at the very very end to help him plant. 

Wow, go Truman, you rock! He has been wanting to plant a vegetable garden for years but we have lived in apartments. He loves the thought of going out into his own backyard and picking greens and vegetables out of his garden for a green smoothie, a snack, or something to mix in with dinner. It looks great and it will be fun us to learn, see them grow, and harvest some of the sweetness of Truman's labor. Way to go babe! :)

Princess Puffs

 This last week Elle has really been enjoying 'Mums' baby crackers. Today was the first time I tried giving her the Graduates Puffs and she was ecstatic! You would think they were candy by how much she enjoyed them. She has quite a good pinscher grasp and the puffs only encourage her.

 If Elle sees you with food, she won't be afraid to let you know she wants some. She starts smacking her lips and giving you "the look"--you know, where they don't let you or anything you're holding out of their sight, the look where her eyes bore deep into your soul begging for some of whatever you have! haha. Luckily, for right now, she probably thinks all we eat are puffs. 

Elle has experimented with a few more of my home-made baby foods. She really enjoys butternut squash, peas are so-so, but when combined she'll eat it right up. We tried banana again for dinner and she finally seemed to like it.

Another favorite of Elle's is water. Yes, water. Not out of a bottle. Not out of a sippy cup. A cup. Only an adult sized cup will do. Never matter that a fair amount dribbles down the front, she loves it. Elle lights up when she sees it and happily reaches her hands and head toward it. She even excitedly starts breathing through her mouth and then will choke on the water a little, haha, poor thing. Today she started doing the opposite and blowing into the water making little bubbles. So, I wouldn't recommend sharing with her unless you like backwash.

Elle's newest toy is her big girl high chair. We decided it was time and it has been great for all. She loves the huge play tray and enjoys sitting with us at the dinner table while we eat. One of the greatest features of the high chair is that it has wheels. We wheel her around the kitchen, living room, bathroom while I'm getting ready, etc. She gets quite the kick out of being transported around in it. We call it her 'Professor Xavier Wheelchair'. Haha. 

Nakey Baby

After church, we were getting Elle undressed for bath and both could not stop laughing and smiling and her cute rolls and cellulite. We love every inch of this baby!

Fun in the Sun

After being rainy here the last couple of days, it was nice to finally get a bit of sunshine! Elle and I went on a long walk and then enjoyed sitting on our front lawn afterward. I took her socks off and let the grass tickle her feet. She was loving the feel of the prickly grass and excitedly kept trying to break pieces off and put them in her mouth. It was slightly overcast so it wasn't too bright or hot, which was perfect for baby and me. Looking forward to more days like this with my Elle. 

Refinished Nightstand

We were using this hand-me-down a while as an end table

I knew Elle's room would need a little nightstand.... so I refinished it white, found a cute new accent knob, and a gray basket for her books. I love how it turned out! Plus it's so nice to have a little table by the glider to rest something on and her books so close for reading.

Pictures for the rest of Elle's mustard yellow, gray, and white nursery coming very soon!