Happy 18 Month Birthday, Ellie!!

A year ago, we were celebrating Ellie's 6 month birthday from afar. Fast forward to a year later and it just all seems so distant. Amazing what a year will do.

Looking so grown up today!

Flouncing

Today was Ellie's 18 month doctor's appointment (I have to make them on her birthdays so I can remember them -- sad, huh?). She did SO well and I was SO proud of her. She only cried a wee bit at her shots, but more on that later.


All of a sudden today she looked so grown up!! We went to the doctor and she got a glowing report. Her stats are:


Height: 30.25" (14th percentile)
Weight: 20 lbs, 10 oz. (6th percentile)
Head: 46.1 cm (38th percentile)



We were, um, encouraged, yes, that's the word, to take her off her bedtime and nap time bottle. We'll see. I have six months. He talked to me about beginning disciplinary measures such as time out to combat inappropriate behaviors (has he been living in our house??), and we talked about potty training.



Seems Dr. H. is contemplating a missionary type/medical trip over to K'stan. He met recently with some friends who have been working there, so we talked a bit about that. I'd love for him to have that opportunity!! I think E. might be his only patient from K'stan.


Mama was prepared for the shots this time. I had a sucker open and handed it to her when she laid down. She cried for just a bit when she got the shots but then was quickly fascinated by the purple band aids. In fact, she was very upset with me when I put her tights back on because she couldn't see the band aids!

This is her very shortly after her shots -- not a tear to be found. What a brave girl!!

This is what she looked like about five minutes after we left the doctor's office.

Some cute facts about Ellie:

• When you ask her for a kiss, she makes a kissy noise and gives you her cheek. Ironically, she'll KISS the animals, but not us.
• Kisses and pats her "babies" in her crib each night
• "Reads" books
• LOVES the kitties and doggies (still)
• Stomps her foot on command as if she is dancing
• Loves to dance around
• Signs accurately for: eat, more, banana, milk, cookie, dog, cat, mama, daddy, all done, fish, cereal, bird, and baby. We've not worked on signs as much lately, because I can't find the second DVD. Must look.
• Says (few words, but coming along a lot lately): hot, cat, dog, shoe, duck, mama, daddy, (sometimes) Joshua, hi. My parents said they have heard her say DeeDee and key.
• Waves bye bye (all the time) but not hi. Blows kisses, claps, pretends to be an airplane.
• She knows what to do with a key and will put it in the door or (scary) in the car
• She likes to pretend driving with anyone who will let her sit behind the wheel
• Her hair is finally long enough for better piggy tails
• She likes to have her toenails painted and has become quite girly loving shoes, purses, jewelry and "makeup" (lip balm smeared over her face by her brother- yay!)
• She walks around in any one's shoes she can find, but LOVES my heels and flip flops
• She LOVES playing hide and seek with brother. He hides, she finds and squeals with laughter as she jumps on him. She loves for him to chase her around the house, she runs and squeals with laughter
• She will eat anything ALL THE TIME. The girl is a bottomless pit. Dr. H. says she is burning it off though so it's ok.
• She still loves her blanky and has given up the paci except at bedtime and she MUST have it then.
• She naps between 30 minutes - 3 hours a day -- there is no formula of what makes her do either.
• She now brings us a diaper, hands it to us and gets up on the couch to be changed. I think it's time to start potty training. Yay.
• She likes to write with pencils, pens, crayons and chalk. She prefers to write on paper, even.
• She likes to wash her hands and dry them AND wipe her face. Hmmmm.
• She likes to "talk" on the cell phone -- holding it to her ear, smiling and making NO sound.
• She LOVES being outside. Most of her tantrums are thrown when she can't go out or go across the street to see Mr. Terry and his doggies.
• She continues to really, really like Barney and Elmo.
• She seems a smarty party to me, but I'm prejudiced.
• She drinks from a straw very well and eats with a fork and a spoon (and her hands sometimes too!!)
• She LOVES her shoes and wants to wear shoes ALL the time. She is really fond of squeaker shoes. The dog, however, is not.
  

We are just thrilled with how well she is doing (and with her)!