One Year Old!

Eloise turned one year old! And so this becomes the last post of her first year blog that will become a book. I haven't decided when I will give her this journal of her first year. Perhaps at high school graduation? When she has her own first child?

We had a celebration at our house that included brunch, a smash cake, and hanging out in the backyard. There were about 30 people in attendance including family and friends. Eloise took a great nap in the morning and woke up 15 minutes before her party started, well-rested and in good spirits. She had a special birthday outfit: an ivory lace petti romper and matching fabric flower headband with a cameo. We sang her happy birthday with the singing cake plate and she ate her smash cake off of a chair in the backyard. At first she put her fingers in the icing and shook it off making a "yuck" face, refusing any bites we tried to feed her. On the fifth try of getting her to eat a piece we finally got a little in her mouth. After she realized it was delicious she ate cake by the fistful! It was a white cake with raspberry filling using the raspberries we picked earlier in the week, and the frosting was pink buttercream. Our guests got raspberry filled cupcakes with the same icing. We had children's music going in the backyard and Eloise did a little dancing, too. After cake we went inside and opened gifts. Eloise did great and was patient, playing with her new toys and also the tissue paper. Her favorite gift was probably the stuffed pink flamingo from her aunt and uncle. Here are a few photos from the day:

Icky, what is this?

Oh! Now I get it!

Mmmm

I love this flamingo!

With her mama right before cake

After the party, Eloise had a chance to spend some time with her cousin Nora and Aunt Emily alone. She really adored Nora and Nora was so sweet to Eloise. In that hour or so, Eloise suddenly started walking all over the place. And now she walks more than she crawls. I credit Nora for inspiring her!

Aunt Emily and cousin Nora hung out for a bit afterward

Just before bed that night, Eloise got measured on the new growth chart. She had her one year check-up today where we learned it's way off. We need to rehang it.

Height: 29  1/4"  (50th percentile)

Weight: 17 lbs 12 oz (18th percentile)

Head circumference: 17 3/4" (55th percentile)

I know I'm taller than this

Eloise has had three more first birthday parties to attend this week for her baby friends. On Saturday we went to Mateo's party and she enjoyed dancing to music there, too. Thankfully one of the mamas snapped a shot.

Get it, girl!

52 weeks old: two days shy of 1 year old, another tooth, and berry picking

Exactly one year ago today, at around 7:00 AM, I woke up with contractions because my sweet baby girl was on her way to being born. I knew my life was about to change forever, as everyone says, but I couldn't know how gloriously fulfilling it would be. Just when I think my heart is as full as it can be with this amazing little being, she stretches it a little bit more. Every little thing about her life so far has been experienced with an all-consuming fascination and joy. Gazing at her for hours just watching her little mouth move when she was a newborn. Being so excited for the spurts of time her eyes were open! Celebrating the first time she could wrap her little fingers around something to hold. Bursting with joy when she looked at me with that first barely-there smile. And the baby laugh, oh man the first baby laughs brought me to my knees. Experiencing everything she saw, everything she tasted, everything she touched with very serious contemplation. Rolling over, and then sitting up, and then crawling, and now walking -- all as monumental as summiting Mount Everest. Some aspects of her personality I now realize have been there since the moment she was born: curious, observant, courageous, independent. She came out with her eyes wide open wanting to take in the world and she has always wanted to face out and be free to see and experience what's going on, not snuggle in. Her temperament has always been easy-going and she has been described as poised, soulful, with a deep peace in her eyes and presence by those who are around her regularly. But she does express her likes and dislikes! Eloise is hands down the best part of my life and I am so excited to continue on this journey as her mother in the years ahead.

Eloise continues to take a few solo steps at a time each day and seems to be pretty proud of herself.

Squeeeeee!

Just this morning we noticed that Eloise's top left tooth in the front has cut through her gums. She had a pretty rough night last night between early fireworks in the neighborhood and, apparently, a new tooth! The other top front tooth seems to be right behind.

On Tuesday Eloise and I met up with friends Erica and Terri and their kids Gus, Nora, and Finley at the Hood River U-Pick. We picked some raspberries. Admittedly, Eloise wasn't much help but she was cute company. Afterward we had a picnic lunch down by the waterfront in Hood River.

Taking a break under a cherry tree

And finally, I continually discover that Eloise understands more than I realize. Apparently she understands hugs!

Bunny love

51 weeks old: SHE'S WALKING!!!

First the big news of the week: Eloise is walking! She took her first steps on Sunday! Evan was in the kitchen cooking Sunday night dinner as he does every week and I was on the floor with Eloise in the living room. All of a sudden, she stood up and sort of stumbled toward me. It seemed like she didn't realize what she was doing. Yippee!!! She's certainly not off and running but she has taken more solo steps each day. Here's a video from this morning:

The day after she took her first steps, Eloise got a push walker from IKEA, which has quickly became a favorite toy. Even though I tightened the wheels, she pushes that thing around pretty fast, to the point where she's breathing hard from exertion. It was veering to the left initially, I think because I accidentally tightened that wheel more, and I was impressed that she figured out how to correct course right away. These little moments when I watch her problem-solve make me very proud!

Push Walker from Sarah Zuber on Vimeo.

Password: Eloise2014

Last week we met up with Terri and her almost 2-year-old daughter, Finley, at Blue Lake Park for some fun at the splash pad. It was Eloise's chance to get past her scary splash incident at the Jameson Square Fountain a couple weeks ago. She absolutely LOVED the splash pad! She walked all over the place including through the sprinklers! She didn't mind getting water on her head and face at all. I was surprised and relieved. Finley was very sweet with Eloise, even though she wanted everything Finley had, including her very cool lunch sack.

Stop holding  me back for this picture, let's go!

On Saturday, our Friday play group plus some additional alumni from our original new moms group had a joint first birthday party for all the babies at Laurelhurst Park. It was neat and a little sentimental to celebrate, the year really flew by! One woman organized compiling a photo album with pictures of our babes as newborns and now with a little blurb about their personalities. Another woman got a sheet cake with all the babies' names on it and we sang happy birthday. It was a nice day for a potluck picnic, mingling with all the moms and partners, and babies playing together.

 The cake!

Eloise and Evan on the picnic blanket

Eloise and Metta

Astrid, Metta, and Eloise

And finally, on Sunday afternoon Eloise had her first taste of ice cream. She didn't know how to lick the cone so she just opened her mouth and stuck her tongue out. She kept going back for more so she must have liked it! Caramel with salted dark chocolate ganache.

Yep, I like it

50 weeks old: hiking, standing, and fathers day

Eloise went on her third hike a week ago with our play group and it was the first time she tolerated being in the backpack carrier for the whole time! I don't know what it was, maybe because she could see all her baby friends. We went to Oxbow Park and it was a really nice day.

I prefer to look at the river

Then, last Wednesday we were in the kitchen and I look over and Eloise is standing in the middle of the floor! Didn't pull herself up on anything, not holding onto anything, just stood right up. I cheered and she looked really excited and pleased with herself. She squatted back down, crawled a couple feet to the right, and stood up again. That's the one I caught in a photo:

Ahhhhhh! This is awesome!

Since last Wednesday she has stood up like this a few times every day. I'm wondering if she'll take her first steps before her first birthday! 

I'm solo standing. NBD.

Father's Day was Sunday and Evan requested we spend the first part of the day getting garden starts from Portland Nursery and planting them, and then head to Salem an hour South of Portland to have dinner with his family. Eloise liked looking at all of the plants at the garden center.

Helping Dad pick out tomatoes

In other news, Eloise continues to add more dance moves to her repertoire:

And finally, a few weeks ago I introduced a bunny "lovey" to Eloise's crib as a transitional object to help her self-soothe at night and during naps. Sometimes she lays her hand on it, she almost always plays with it when she wakes up, and when she's irritated she throws it overboard.

Mom, you didn't get in here fast enough after I woke up. Bunny overboard!

Peaceful snooze with the bunny

49 weeks old: more walking on fingers, babbling, and feeding adventures

I accidentally got a picture of those cute little bottom teeth, yippee! This was during a photo shoot for a family alphabet photo book we'll give Eloise for her first birthday. She was letter A for Apple. I can't be on the ground photographing her without her crawling over to climb on me at some point, and that's what was happening here.

Eloise is all about walking while holding onto fingers these days. She wants to do it All. The. Time. Anytime we go somewhere she has to get the wiggles out at some point by walking around a bit. Here we are having breakfast at Grand Central Bakery last weekend and Evan took her for a walk. She always smiles ear-to-ear!

Eloise has been expanding her "vocabulary" by babbling with different sounds and inflections. I heard N this week, I don't think I've heard that sound from her before. She seems to be talking in her own language. I love it! I noticed her mimic "All done" the other day so we repeated it back and forth a few times. I would never understand it if she didn't say it right after me but it's really cool to see her learning language.

As Eloise nears her first birthday, I've been thinking more about starting the weaning process just afterward. I've been experimenting a little with the don't offer/don't refuse method this week just to see how she would respond. Sometimes she asks by fussing or just pulling on my shirt, and other times we'll go a longer stretch. It's bittersweet to think about losing this special connection we have but also having more freedom. As she's gotten older she is now doing some acrobatics while nursing, which is hilarious. She also continues to expand her palate, which is fun to see her reaction to new foods.

Acrobatics

Spaghetti squash and meatballs

And a couple randoms from the week:

This is new - where did she learn it?!

Evan took these through the patio door - silly Eloise!

48 weeks old: 11 months old, words, straw drinking, spoon eating, and Jameson Square fountain

Today marks exactly 11 months out in the world for Eloise! I am amazed at how much she has blossomed just in the last couple weeks. All of a sudden she has two teeth, her eating and drinking skills have improved by leaps and bounds, she understands lots of words and phrases, even says a few, loves to walk holding fingers, and shows so much more of her happy personality.

She now says the words Dada, Mama, and Up and uses them appropriately! Just this morning she was with her dad and when I walked by she said, "Mama? Mama?" Oh man, what an incredible feeling. I couldn't even list off all of the words and phrases she understands now. She knows milk, eat, water, and when I ask for whatever piece of dirt or lint she finds on the floor she puts it in my outstretched hand! She also shakes her head yes and no. Her newest thing is when I say no, she shakes her head. It's like things just suddenly started clicking.

Since she got her two teeth it seems like she has become much more skilled - and interested - in eating solids and drinking from a straw. She is also showing definite food preferences. She especially likes Baby Puffs vegetable and rice snacks and HappyYogi yogurt and fruit snacks.

I can totally drink water from a straw

Hands off my Baby Puffs!

Over the weekend we had some nice weather and decided to take Eloise to Jameson Square fountain, a kid-friendly water feature. Evan helped her stand in the shallow water and she was taking it all in when suddenly a bigger kid splashed her in the face and she cried. I accidentally caught the moment in a sad photo. You can see the water droplets in her eye!

That was scary!

Afterward, we went to a little boutique nearby called Posh Baby and picked up her first toddler utensils and a couple plates. The first time I gave her the spoon to try to use herself, she knew what to do! I was totally impressed. The other hand still does most of the work but I'm so proud of her.

Day 1 with the spoon - peaches!

Day 2 a little messier - yogurt!

Eloise loves to put things in and take things out of containers in her play these days. Here she is eating bits of tuna and cheddar that she put in the cup holder.

And finally, Eloise still loves the water. Her latest thing is putting her face in. Sometimes she blows bubbles and often she gets a mouthful of water. Here she is in the bathtub with a bubble beard after inhaling a little bit of water. It doesn't stop her.

47 weeks old: two teeth and Chicago visit

This week Eloise took her first trip to Chicago! We skipped a week because we were busy preparing a house to sell and then traveling. While in Chicago Eloise cut another tooth, so now she has her two front bottom teeth! She has been drooling and gnawing like crazy. I haven't been able to get a photo of them because her tongue is often covering them.

New teeth photo attempt

Cold apple slices are good for teething

Looking at that apple slice photo I'm remembering that bruise on her forehead came from one of two bonks that happened in the same day, and we don't know which one caused the bruise. The first one she crawled straight into a grill without stopping and the second she pulled a chair over onto herself. I know she will have lots of bumps and bruises - and probably bigger injuries - but still it makes my heart hurt because I want to protect her from every little thing that might cause her pain.

While in Chicago, we stayed at my sister's house in Crystal Lake and Eloise got to meet her Aunt Shelly, Uncle Kevin, and cousins Ryan and Alex for the first time. She also got to meet their cat, Stormy, whom she adored right away. The site of him made her stop what she was doing, bounce with excitement, and chatter with delight. She chased him around a lot but he was a little leery of her enthusiasm and kept his distance.

I really like you, Stormy

Our second full day we spent several hours in the city down by the lake, timing the drives in and out for Eloise's morning and afternoon naps. The drive in was an hour, the drive out was 2.5 hours. That's Chicago traffic and luckily Eloise was great! We picked up pizza from my favorite spot, Pizzeria Due, and enjoyed it on a park bench by Buckingham Fountain.

Baby's first pizza face

Buckingham Fountain

Afterward we went for a nice stroll along the lakeshore and by Millennium Park. Then we split up for a while so Eloise and I could shop at Macy's on State Street while Evan enjoyed a cold beer outside on Michigan Avenue. Eloise got a new pair of size 3 Stride Rite black patent leather mary jane shoes.

We planned to visit Kate and her family but her husband and both of her kids were struck with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease so we weren't able to see them all week. Saturday morning I drove down alone and had an hour coffee with Kate. It was great to see her but sad to only have that hour and not get our families together at all.

Saturday afternoon my brother and his family drove up from the St. Louis area for the long weekend. Eloise enjoyed seeing her Uncle Jay, Aunt Leslie, and cousin Heath again, although she didn't remember them because she was only a couple weeks old the first time they met. We had a relaxing time outside lounging, grilling, and floating around the pool. We snapped some family photos but I'm realizing that Kevin was always behind the camera and Alex was at work. Boo.

Ryan, Shelly, Sarah, Eloise, Jay, Leslie, Heath

Sarah, Eloise, Evan

We had some low key days at Shelly's house and Eloise learned some new tricks while there including climbing up and down stairs and unrolling toilet paper.

I need help remembering to turn around feet first 

But once you get me started...

I can do it

This. Is. Awesome.

Chicago-style pizza #2: Giordano's

Post-Giordano's face

The day before we left we drove down to St. Charles, my hometown, another suburb about 45 minutes south of Crystal Lake. We took Eloise around and showed her the house I grew up in, my schools, the downtown area, did a little shopping, and played at the park closest to my house. 

Lunch at The Little Traveler. She can manage those pouches all by herself now!

Swinging at Kehoe Park

Rocking on a rocket at Kehoe Park

We got one more picture of Eloise with her cousin Alex on the day we left. He was the only one home when we left and held up our family tradition of standing on the porch waving as we drove away. Eloise was able to participate in that tradition with her waving skills, too.

Eloise and Alex