Too Cool for School.

Well, despite battling her first cold, Eleanor manages to continue to be awesome. She is sitting quite well without any tumbles, playing hard, and yapping constantly. She is the sweetest in all the land.

Peanut Butter (Avery) & Jelly (Eleanor) discussing their first Christmas.

With Daddy Doo on Christmas.

It isn't easy being beautiful...

...especially when I try to beautify when I know Eleanor should be napping. Needless to say, she passed out in her party dress.

(Christmas dress courtesy of Juliet)












Merry Christmas Eve!

Ballerina Princess

Six Whole Months of Wonderful.

Well, Eleanor is six months old today. I thought to write a little poem for her, but I realized my creativity rests on darker feelings, at least today. And, for Eleanor, I only have sweetness, light, morning smiles, and warmth. So, there you have it.

Snow Day!

(Definitely should have stuck with the first light angle.)

Sweet feet.

Caught in the act...

Playing when she was supposed to be asleep!

And then she got bigger.

Eleanor is...

...sitting for a few minutes at a time.
...definitely still toppling over.
...desperately wanting to crawl.
...rolling everywhere she wants to go, sometimes clear across a room.
...imitating some noises.
...laughing hysterically.
...babbling constantly with her toys.
...into splashing in the tub.
...in love with all vegetables, not as much love for fruit.
...six months old tomorrow!
...awesome!

I can't be the only one.

Sometimes, Eleanor and I fall asleep together in my bed. I wake up to find myself curled around her tiny, sweet little body, and as I drift back to sleep I wonder, who needs who? Am I protecting Eleanor, or is she protecting me? Have I gravitated to her, have I come from her as much as she has come from me? It breaks my heart for her to be so wonderful.

The Silverback.

Eleanor has recently taken to a new behavior, not unlike the aggressive chest beating of the silverback gorilla. She mostly does it when Bill and I are not actively entertaining her, as if to roar, "Please me!" Normally, it is accompanied by a very intense face, which you can see in a few parts of this video, if you strain to make it out of the 11 pixels that are showing up here. Eleanor did not want to perform to the best of her ability on camera. So, this was the only okay video I could get. My camera allows me 45 seconds max of video, and has no sound. So, the video is short. For the full effect, imagine grunting, squealing, and the hilarious thud of chubby hand pound against solid little torso, which is surprisingly loud.

Happy Thanksgiving from Grandma Jean's!

Happy Thanksgiving from a Prolific Pianist!

Happy Thanksgiving from a Guitar Virtuoso!

(Take note of the awesome photography here - taken by Bill/Daddy!)

Happy Thanksgiving from a Daddy's Girl!

Happy Thanksgiving from a Duckling.

Defiant, even in her sleep.

Last night, I walked in to check on Eleanor. And, low and behold, she had rolled to her tummy. This has happened before, so I wasn't super freaked out. But, her hat had come off and it was a pretty cold night, so that was of more concern. Regardless, not a big deal. So, I rolled her back over and put her hat securely back on her head. And, as I watched her sleeping for a moment, she rolled right back over onto her tummy, and tore the cap off. This is what I want, Mom.

Five months! And, more.

We've had some baby steps over here that are worth mentioning. Eleanor has officially found her little feet. They are gradually migrating to the mouth. (Along with EVERYTHING else!)

She also has been known to roll over in bed, and be found thigh deep in the bars. She is also laughing, yelling, squealing, spitting, licking, kicking, grabbing, growling, chewing, babbling, and of course drooling. She continues to be the best thing going. :o)

Zoolandeanor.

Okay, so I've only seen bits and pieces of the movie Zoolander. But, to my horror, Eleanor seems to be developing a "look". The one in the turtleneck is the piece de resistance.