10 months

This month Ellie did not particularly want to hold still for her picture. Here's a little how that photo shoot went:

"Maybe if I act really cute they will let me have that sign"

"Now . . . LUNGE--grab the sign!"

"I WILL have the sign."

"What? You don't like it my way?"

"Fine. We'll do one your way. Happy?"

It went downhill from there, as did the quality and readability of the sign in the pictures. This kid does not like to hold still. Some apt descriptions we've collected from family member who have tried to hold Ellie: "It's like trying to hold a tornado," or "It's like holding a fish while you're trying to get the hook out to throw it back," and I believe I already mentioned her nickname, "Ricochet." She certainly is on the go a lot.

Here she is showing us where exactly we need to baby proof in the kitchen.

And here she is playing with her favorite toy in the family room. The walker is helpful for keeping her upright after feedings and we thought she would have fun with it. She does, but mostly climbing up to it and pushing it across the room.

Here is a video of one her favorite activities, climbing stairs. It's a good way to get her worn out right before a nap.

Incidentally, the "Floppy Dog" we keep referring to is a the stuffed dog we are encouraging her to become attached to in hopes that she will sleep better on her own at night. She's been getting better, but this whole move across the country really threw her and she hasn't quite slept the same since. So Floppy Dog does a lot with Ellie lately. I don't know how well it's going to work, though. I remember making all her toys do "tummy time" with her about five or six months ago and she didn't seem too impressed.

Other highlights this month: learning to wave, clicking her tongue, and getting a little more adventurous with food (which isn't easy with only two teeth). She hasn't really said any words besides "cracker" consistently (and sometimes she calls Brady that instead of Daddy), though now and then it sounds like she says a word. But she doesn't let lack of vocabulary stop her from giving us a running jabbering commentary of her day. I get the feeling that once she has the words, she's going to have quite a bit to tell us.