43 weeks old: cutest Blazer fan, first painting, and waving

We got a Portland Trailblazer NBA team onesie from friends a while back, and Eloise grew into it just in time for the playoffs this year. Her daddy is a huge fan so she showed her support after a win against Houston the other day. As you can see, she is pretty excited about how well the Blazers are doing. Or maybe it's because Daddy was throwing her around a bit. Her little squeal is the cutest thing ever.

Daddy, this is fun!

At daycare last Thursday Eloise got to finger paint for the first time. When I went to pick her up her masterpiece was displayed on the wall. I'm so proud of her! The teacher asked if we did that with her at home because it seemed like she knew what she was doing. We haven't, so I guess she's just a natural. Ha! Again, proud mama. 

Future Van Gogh?

New this week is what seems to be waving. At first if I waved and said "Hi!" and then grabbed her arm and waved it, she would keep the wave going. Now she will look at me and start waving and I'll respond with a wave and a smiling "Hi!" back. I don't think she understands it as a greeting though, because she does it at random times and makes a very serious, concentrating face. Practicing new skills is hard work!

Eloise really loves people watching, especially kids. Her music class has some older kids and she is just mesmerized watching them. The last couple days have been unseasonably sunny and warm so we've been able to get outside. Yesterday we sat at a cafe sidewalk table and Eloise watched the world go by with great interest. 

I'm busy watching people

42 weeks old: Easter, dancing, and cruising

Sunday was Eloise's first Easter. We don't attend church and Eloise is too young to understand the Easter bunny, so we didn't do much to celebrate. We did made a special breakfast of whole wheat banana walnut pancakes, put on our Easter best, and went for a nice morning stroll. It was a sunny morning so everyone was in good spirits.

The five days a week that Eloise is not at daycare her life has a soundtrack. I have music on almost every waking hour and Eloise definitely has her favorite songs. This week I noticed that she stops what she's doing and grooves when certain songs come on. One is Elizabeth Mitchell's Alphabet Dub. 

Sometimes I just bop

Other times I get fancy with my moves

Eloise has zero interest in walking while holding onto fingers. When I try she bends her knees to sit down. However, she does do a lot of cruising around the furniture.

Despite cruising around furniture, Eloise still needs to crawl to get from place to place. Her pirate-style army crawl with one hand and one elbow has turned into a pirate-style regular crawl with one knee and one foot. Click this link and enter the password Eloise2014 for a video montage.

41 weeks old: side stepping, more food adventures, and baby's first jog

Eloise continues to enjoy pulling up to stand and reaching things that she couldn't before. It's a whole new world. She has also figured out how to side step along furniture and transfer from one piece of furniture to another. She has let go a couple times for a second and then quickly plopped down to sitting. 

Eloise is now self-feeding at every meal and snack, she's up to three meals and a snack every day. Meals are usually a puree plus a finger food. Sometimes a puree plus a stick of something. For example, this morning she had yogurt with fruit and oatmeal mixed in and then some toast fingers. When she's had enough of whatever she's eating, she enjoys throwing it on the floor and then hanging over the edge of the high chair to look at it. 

There's my toast

It's so fun to try new foods with Eloise. You don't know what her reaction will be. It's like unwrapping a gift, you don't know what's inside and it's exciting. A new veggie and lentil recipe this week got two thumbs down, so I repurposed it into a fish stew for Evan and I. But Eloise tried and enjoyed raspberries and blackberries that were frozen from last year's farmers market. 

Berry liptstick

Getting messier

Followed by a naked cheese course

We've had some nice weather recently so I took Eloise on our first jog with the jog stroller. We went on a bike path along the river so it would be less stressful and nice views. I wonder what Eloise thought about the faster pace. She seemed to like it just the same as when we go for walks. It was pretty grueling for me! And nice to be able to combine enjoyable activities for both of us.

There were some sock shenanigans

Lastly, some randoms from the week:

Happy supported standing

She's so darn cute!

Baby's first photo bomb

40 weeks old: 9 months old, games, and music

Eloise turned 9 months old a few days ago! I can't believe how fast this first year is going. She is most definitely the best part of my life. She is curious, adventurous, always busy, and tons of fun.

Eloise babbles a lot and seems to imitate the fluctuations in a conversation. Here she is doing a little babbling (and pecking) on the other side of the ottoman.

We have some games we play with Eloise and I love seeing her react to cues. Some favorites are Where's Eloise when she holds something in front of her face and then pulls it away, handing something back and forth on command, and hiding/chasing. Her little giggle is the best.

Dad's hiding and saying "boo" and I'm chasing

This week Eloise started her second round of Music Together classes. She really enjoyed it in a different way this time compared to a few months ago. For one thing she crawls all over the place and also can play with the instruments and scarves. At one point the teacher gave everyone egg shakers, which Eloise has at home, so in her excitement she double-fisted two of them.

Egg shakers are awesome!

39 weeks old: pulling up to stand

I swear Eloise's business factor is increasing exponentially from one day to the next. We can't take our eyes off her for a second! Luckily several areas of the house can be closed to contain her, such as the kitchen. In the photo above I left the kitchen to get something from the dining room and when I turned around there she was up against the swinging door, keeping me out, and licking the window.

This week she went from pulling herself up to standing only a couple times ever to pulling herself up to standing many, many, many times a day. Luckily she also figured out how to lower herself back to sitting so she hasn't gotten stuck in a standing position. She is fearless with the standing, which I love, but it keeps me on my toes. At the store one day she turned herself around in the grocery cart seat, pulled to standing using the back, and reached for something on the shelf, all in one quick motion. Yikes! Those seat belts are pointless.

This was early in the week. I'm so much better now.

In all of her exploration Eloise is showing us where to childproof, and also that "childproof" isn't necessarily "Eloise-proof."

So you just push these two buttons and pull off the outlet cover? Got it.

In addition, she is showing me all of the crumbs and other debris I fail to clean up.

Mom, you missed this onion skin under the kitchen island

In other news, Eloise starts another session of Music Together classes next week. She graduated to the 0-5 age class because she is mobile. She has been practicing her drumming skills this week.

Finally, who doesn't love a little snuggle bunny baby feet? Footed pajamas are the snuggliest.