Natalie is tutu cute at ballet class! However, I didn’t sign up for the second session since I couldn’t take all the negotiating that went into getting her to wear pink tights. (It fits were her theme of only wanting to wear over-sized, short sleeved shirts – maybe she should have been a child of the 80’s)!
“I have a super gorgeous face” – Natalie
(Thank you fancy Nany for the vocab!)
Aunt Leah, we have more snow here than in Alaska. You should move here!!!
Auntie Leah was kind enough to fly from Alaska to Seattle (I think) to Green Bay and then drive down to Chicago with my mom to spend 2 days with us. We feel incredibly blessed for the time. I wrote on FaceBook…. “Auntie Leah brings Alaskan salmon se caught herself, beer brewed by Lee Ellis, plays with my kids, and doesn’t mind sleeping on an air mattress. Best house guest ever” She also read at Nat’s preschool!
Happy 11 Months, Elliott! As you can see, getting a “chair picture” of this increasingly wiggly one is quite challenging. It was definitely a two grown-up job, with Jordan throwing him down and tickling him to get that second pic.
Favorite Activities: This boy loves pretty much everything. At home, his favorite toy continues to be his sister’s guitar. He loves to go over to the toy bin and dig through there. He recently loves standing at his sister’s kitchen and rummaging through all the treasures there – everything from rosaries to baby bottles to waffles to music boxes. He loves to dance – just like his big sis did and does. He often jiggles his head and body from side-to-side so fast that he almost topples over. He also loves joining in anything his sister does. Below, he’s at Natalie’s ballet class recital.
Can anyone around here teach me to plié?
Milestones: Elliott is a textbook crawler. He can easily pivot from crawling to pulling himself to standing to holding on with one arm. No solo walking yet. A little solo standing (says Dad). He loves to clap. He has given a few kisses. He knows some sign language, like milk and all done. He loves to talk. He doesn’t wave good-bye or hello yet. And, he weaned himself off his paci, which is awesome! No need to worry (knock on wood) about another 3-yr-old in this fam lusting after his/her paci, even months after giving it up.
Favorite Foods: What doesn’t Elliott eat? From lasagna to salmon, broccoli to avocado, Elliott can put it down. He’s often the first at the table and the last to leave. Foods like lasagna (he loved Grandma’s lasagna) often require a post-dinner bath. The only thing he doesn’t seem particularly fond of is his baby cereal.
Hey, it takes a lot of food to maintain this physique!
Personality: Curious, Busy and incredible Good-Natured. And helpful. Below, he is helping Auntie Leah write her cover letter.
Auntie Leah, I actually think you could use a stronger example to highlight your skills as a fishery biologist. How about this instead?
Being scientists / botanists at the nature museum…
This butterfly is nice… But I hear you have a sandbox in FL. Can we go to your place next time???
When I got home from work today, elliott clapped! Loving this little man! I am so lucky.
Natalie is loving ballet! Have you seen a cuter ballerina???
Do all kids love to hide??? While Natalie’s favorite hiding spots are under the blankets or behind someone’s leg, Elliott is much more open to what is a good hiding spot. Can you spot the little hider in these pics?
Question: Can you figure out in which pic, he really isn’t hiding?
Answer: The 2nd to last pic – in the grocery cart! That was just a blink.
Elliott is an absolute joy. 10 months old is crazy fun. I wonder where I’ll find him tomorrow!
Natalie wrote Grandma a story last weekend:
Translation:
Natalie loves going to the dentist too. After a false start yesterday (where I locked the 3 of us out of the house, with no keys or a wallet – but thankfully, our 2nd fl neighbors let us in)….
… Natalie and I rescheduled for today. Given the zero degree temp, we left Elliott with Mollie.
More Bob Marley please!
She loved watching Curious George and learning about all the dental instruments. Even though Hermie the Elf (from Rudolph) wasn’t our dentist, Natalie was glad to see Dr Kristin and she even got a magic spelling wand since she gave up her Paci!! (To replace the flower wand from Mikes and Erin’s wedding – it had started to crumble)
