Happy 8 Month Birthday Ellie!!

Six months ago today, Kevin, Josh and I were sitting in an orphanage on the other side of the world in Tokmok singing Happy Birthday to our two month old pumpkin, Ellie. Today, what a contrast, we are sitting in a condo on the beach with the doors open and the ocean rushing up to the shore. Ellie is sitting up in her Bumpo sitting laughing with her brother -- fatter and (I hope) happier. She is "talking" to him in baby talk and he's kissing her.

Kevin and I spent this morning in the bed with her after she woke up talking about all she had experienced in the five weeks since she's been home and seven weeks since she's been with me.

She is now sitting on her own, laughing, blowing raspberries (her favorite thing right now!!), notices everything (and I mean that head is swirling constantly taking it all in). She has been in four states and two countries. She has travelled all the way around the world and made an eight hour car ride and did very well on both. She's been to football games, basketball games, school, Kevin's work, to church, to Wal-mart, attended a baby shower in her honor, and several other "first" places. She has gained at least two pounds and is eating solids better and has gone from drinking 4-6 ounces every four hours to drinking 8 ounces about every 6 hours. She has gone from waking up A WHOLE LOT in the night to sleeping 6-7 hours (just happened here in Florida). She has gone from back arching and screaming at bedtime to cuddling up and laying her head on our shoulders and just going to sleep. She has gone from not knowing how to play to playing with everything she can get her hands on. She cackles laughing now and she's ticklish under her neck and in her tummy. Her hair has begun to grow and her "bald spot" in the back is about half filled back in. She LOVES people and will smile and laugh at almost everyone. She is attaching well as when someone else holds her she constantly looks for us and then eventually, if they hold her too long, she cries and reaches for us. She has just begun to stick her hands out to be picked up or to go from one person to another. She seems to love her grandparents and nana a whole lot, too! We are certain she is still saying, "HI!" I'll have to get this on video so the readers can vote. She's gone from 0-3 months clothes being a little big to 3-6 months fitting pretty well. She is just happy pretty much all the time.

The changes are phenomenal for such a short period of time. I can't wait to see the changes in the next few month. We are so blessed to have her -- she was certainly worth the wait!!

As we sang to her today, she got the biggest grin and cackled happily. Happy Birthday Ellie!!!