Sometimes...

...Eleanor is so sweet she breaks my heart.

Her hugs are few and far between, but when you get a good long one, you know it's genuine and that she loves you.

Her laughs are just as infrequent, but straight from the belly.

Her kisses are spontaneous.

Her snuggles are in the moments she needs you most. Or when you need her.

Her smiles are plentiful, but never disingenuous.

Her tears are passionate, if tricky.

She is fickle, transparent, and wears her heart on her sleeve.

This morning after her bath, Eleanor and I were reading books under the covers. We read four books, and then moved on to "Love You Forever." As I was reading and quietly crying, Eleanor over and over turned and hugged me then went back to watching and turning the pages. Finally, she snuggled in deeply with her arms around me, and fell asleep as I finished up the book. It was the most wonderful moment of my life.

I'll love you forever.
I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be.

Mealtimes in Purple - Dinner

In comparison to lunch, dinner is an abundance of emotion. There is such a smorgasbord of food that Eleanor goes through inability to decide, inability to contain herself, and then inability to control herself. Enjoy.

Mealtimes in Purple - Lunch

Well, lunch is typically our most laid back meal. Eleanor has just woken up from a morning nap and is content to sit and eat quietly. (See dinner.)

Tomato Time Again.

Team Sophie

Our group consisted of Aunt Marie, Grammy Patti, Me, Auntie Rhonda, SabPan, True Annie, Aunt Maura, Bill, Eleanor, Uncle Tom (hidden in the back, with only hair peeking out), GrandPa, Chris Boggs, Aunt Krissie, Laura, and Joe "Nice." (Not pictured are Annie Lou, MJ, Huck, and Sweet Charlie.)

March of Dimes!

Hello friends! The March was awesome. Team Sophie definitely had a great time. We had a nice, big group and raised six times our goal! Eleanor was the star "walker," and was actually carried the whole four miles. :o)

Our team was out in full force, and we had many more with us in spirit! (Including our sweet Soph. It was so nice to go out and do something positive in her name! We are already looking forward to next year.)

Oh, and thank you to good old mother nature for the best weather imaginable!

Just another day in May.

Five more things.

Teeth, that is. Eleanor is getting two bottom teeth, and three top teeth. Right now. She's remarkably pleasant. (Aside from pointing in my face and firmly saying "No!" if she isn't pleased with my behavior.)

We really are still around.

But, it's been a crazy week. Computer trouble, camera trouble, a whole lot of hanging out and talking. We've really been enjoying a new level of Eleanor. She has been playing with dog food, taking knives out of the dishwasher, opening the cabinets and drawers, unzipping my purse, standing and climbing on everything, attacking the pets, and just generally making mischief. I guess she is a toddler now. :o)

Along with her new found curiosity, Eleanor is saying some really funny things. In addition to dog, mom, daddy, hi, duck, and book, she has been pointing at things and saying "Wooooow, oh wooow." Or "Oh, boy," or "Oooooh." Really silly. A typical day is Eleanor at the supermarket screaming high pitched crazily-excited squeals, and then when people look her way, she points directly in their faces and says, "Wow, oh, wow."

Also, Eleanor has been identifying a lot more (things to me that seem indicative of superior cognitive functioning, but maybe I'm a little biased, haha). For example, when Eleanor hears the dogs across the street barking, she points at the window and says "dog." So, I believe that to mean she really is understanding multiple things about her favorite subject, obviously dogs. Also, if I ask her, "Where is your Fanny?" (her pink elephant, not her fanny-fanny), she will dig Fanny out of a pile if need be to show her to me. And, any other elephant won't do. In fact, I asked her this morning, "Where is your Fanny?" And, of course, she grabbed her and held her up. Then, I asked "Where is the other elephant?" And, that genius found her gray elephant and held it up to me. She can do the same thing with her Big Bird, ducks, and (of course) dogs. I'll be trying more things throughout the day. And, last update, Eleanor is finally enjoying reading with me! This is something I've been waiting for. :o) She loves to turn the pages for me.

So, she's strapped in here, but imagine unleashing this silly thing around the house. It's exactly what you'd imagine.

Strawberry Summer Girl with Daddy.