3/4

Nine months young. 

I can not for the life of me figure out where the last nine months have gone. But, I'm glad they have because this little peanut is so much fun right now. Being the nice mother that I am, I was sure to point out Elena's biggest weakness while we were setting New Years resolutions and I strongly urged her to set a lofty goal of sleeping better at night. After much arguing and some soul searching on her part, she gave in. Two nights later, with the help of one of Lacey's fuzzy blankets, this little lady decided she was down with the idea of drinking her bottle by herself in bed and then falling asleep on her own, which has translated into her only getting up once, if at all, during the night. Which, I'm certain you know, has also translated into a much happier mother. Getting up four or five times at night was for the birds and I was at the end of my rope. Grandma Wi came to the rescue with a fuzzy blanket for this lady all of her own. She loves it and knows it is hers and as soon as it comes into sight she dives into it head first and rubs her face on it. 

A few weeks ago Elena started pulling herself up onto the furniture, my legs, her toys, anything she could grasp, with great confidence. Two days ago she started creeping along the front of the furniture and she has finally mastered getting herself down from these crazy situations, just days ago you would here frantic screaming, but she's figured out how to bend to the side and put her hand on the floor for stability then move into a crawling position. Yesterday she started pushing this music toy around the living room and walking behind it. I would get out the actual walking toy but I think it'll go way too fast on the hard wood. We will have to try that toy downstairs on the carpet. Speaking of downstairs, Elena also climbed the stairs by herself (with me close behind) this week. I tell you, it's something new every minute. This week she started standing up in her crib, which I knew would be coming soon. Thankfully it doesn't disrupt too much sleep,

But it sure is cute to walk in and find her hanging over her rail with her shirt half off. Another thing Elena has mastered is sitting all by herself and getting herself into a sitting position. (Sitting is nothing I work with my kids on. They've always learned when they finally had the strength to get themself there.) 

Three afternoons ago I went in to get Laners from her nap, she smiled her big gummy smile and I noticed a big white bump on her top gums. By her afternoon nap the next day her top left tooth had made its appearance. I'm thankful it came so quickly and without loss of sleep.

Elena loves food. If someone is eating, she wants some. She loves strawberry yogurt, spaghetti, and blueberry apple sauce. She's quite fond of feeding herself. She's the queen of finding small objects, paper, string, hair.... Etc. off of the floor and choking on it. I vacuum every single day and sometimes twice a day and she still comes up with random stuff. Today however, I was very excited to catch her putting my missing diamond stud in her mouth. Wouldn't have found it without her.

Elena is quiet and observant. She takes in her brother and sisters crazy-ness usually from her high chair or on the floor. She also takes in all of their loves and loves to throw in an eye poke or hair pull whenever possible.

Aside from the nursing issue at the beginning and the sleeping issue of the last 9 months, Elena is an easy, easy baby. She's go with the flow, enjoy the show, kind of girl. We wouldn't change her for anything.  She has filled our hearts and finished our family and we are so happy she is here. (I broke my finger last Sunday and have had it taped in medical tape. At one point I caught a smell of the medical tape, it immediately took me back to Elena's birth, I was light headed and about to lose it, I could feel the anesthesiologist leaning over my back and I could feel my heart rate rapidly increasing....Apparently I have a slight case of PTSD!)