Ellie | Twelve Month Update

9:56 PM

Well I can't believe it my baby is one. I feel like I blinked and a year has passed me by. I continue to tell myself to slow down and cherish each moment I get to hold and snuggle and cuddle my sweet Ellie because before I know it she is going to be grown. Time is a thief and while I'm exhausted, and sometimes frazzled, I don't want these days to end.

Height: 30.25 inches (Birth 20 inches)

Weight: 19lbs 6oz (Birth 7lbs 5oz)

Sleep

Oh sleep how I miss you so much! I have now gone well over a year without a full night of sleep and most of this past year has been spent waking every 3-4 hours. Ellie gave me a glimmer of hope that her sleep was improving where she actually slept basically through the night 9-10pm until 5-6am a few times. But Ellie, unlike my boys, is bothered by everything and the first thing that is effected is her sleep. After a few nights of sleeping decently well for her Ellie got a cold and the good sleep disappeared. Now that the cold is gone she seems to be teething again which greatly disrupts her sleep causing her to wake ever 3-4 hours sometimes only going 2 hour stretches. I can't wait for this next tooth to pop through so we can hopefully get some relief but no tooth is forthcoming.

Eat

My oh My does Ellie like to eat! She is eating three meals a day with usually at least 2 snacks. She will try to climb up into her high chair when she is ready for food and will chase you around the kitchen to get your attention if you aren't getting her food quickly enough.

Raspberries have been a favorite food this month. I'm not sure I've seen a baby get so excited over a berry before.

Play/Development

This month hasn't brought too much change for Ellie. I feel like she has been acting almost like a toddler for so long now that now she doesn't have too many big changes.

But a few things she is doing this month are:

She will put her diaper in the trash after getting a diaper change
She will lay down when you ask for a diaper change or to have her sleep sack taken off
When she wants to sit on my lap she will walk backwards until she reaches my lap (it is so funny because she will start for such a far distance away, I love watching her slowly walk herself backwards)
She cut her bottom left side tooth

Language/Comprehension

This month I have started to use a few signs with her: Please, More, and All Done. I had started using signs with Will and James when they were a little bit younger than Ellie is now but I kind of forgot with to try using them with Ellie to be honest. I'm glad I remembered to try with her. She has quickly picked up on using the sign "all done" when she is done eating or sitting in her high chair. She will also use "please" but usually only when she really wants something. Ellie will also say a word attempt for "please" when she is signing.

I feel like Ellie understands so much. She is able to follow simple directions and identify common things she knows like: dog, shoes, diaper, bed, her different stuffed animals by name, book, daddy, mommy, brothers (she still gets Will and James confused sometimes, but I'll give her a break on that since a lot of adults that know them get them mixed up too), baby, stroller, and many many more things.

My Dear Ellie

I can't believe you have been here for a year already. This has been one of the fastest years of my life and it feels like you have always been apart of our family. You are a bright light. You continue to be just the happiest little baby I know. You are always smiling, giggling, and wanting to cuddle. You don't want to be a baby and want to do everything your brothers do and for the most part you are able to keep up! You surprise me with how much you are able to do. I can't wait to continue to watch you grow and explore new things this next coming year! Stay sweet and silly my Ellie and never change! I am beyond blessed that I get to be your momma!

I love you more and more each day!

Love
Mommy

Twelve Months of Ellie