Shoes and Smiles

She managed to put her own shoes on!  She was so excited about this.  And very proud of herself.

How big is Eliana?

Sooo big!

Really, it's all about the shoes.  She makes sure my feet are properly adorned as well.

This girl makes me smile.  And smile, and smile, and smile.

Wonderful Weirdness

I wasn't sure where I was going with this post, but after looking at the material I'm working with I came up with a direction.  Or a plan.  Or an idea.  Oh, just let me show you these pictures.  There really isn't any direction or plan or idea.  Hello!  It's me we're talking about.

I took this picture last night after I got Eliana back to sleep; she flopped over onto the couch and snuggled there, and I turned her over in order to get a picture of her hair (because it was so amazing).

She just laid there with her eyes closed, and her sweet little hands were resting on her tummy.  Aren't they sweet little hands?  And they used to be even smaller than that!  It's so crazy to me.  And she's not even my first.  But still, it blows my mind.  I wish I could think of some beautiful and eloquent way to put it, but the truth is...it blows my mind.  It's too wonderful for me to think about or understand, how babies grow and learn and turn into big kids.  It's weird, is what it is.  And if I didn't believe in a Creator I would have no suitable explanation for it. 

After a minute she sat up and I got my picture..

I mean, she could be Rod Stewart's little girl.

I know you wanted to see Rod Stewart.  You can't fool me.

So, today, I told Eliana it was time to get dressed and she ran to her dresser patting her bare tummy all the way.  She looked at the clothes in her drawer and said again and again,"No.  No.  No."  She shook her little head and pushed away all of the things I held out to her.  Finally she saw what she was looking for...this is her favorite thing to wear on any given day.

I am serious when I say this is what she chooses to wear every time she digs around in her drawer.  So her swimming lessons must not have been too bad, huh?  

Finally, here is a child who will not put a strawberry, an apple, a sweet potato, a piece of cheese, a bite of a hamburger, broccoli, peas, corn, blueberries, chicken, spinach, eggs, or noodles in her mouth.  However, hand her a plasticky, rubber toy wheel and she will stick it straight into her mouth as though it were quite tasty.  Delicious, in fact.  Babies are weird on so many levels...but oh-so-wonderful...

Pictures and Drawings

Eliana discovered some markers sitting out and had this look on her face like,"I've got to be quick before she sees me!"  I looked at her and said,"Do you want to color?"  She shook her head up and down a couple of times (her nod is hilarious) and so she picked out a marker and we headed to her high chair for some intense artistic expression...

It looks like she's drawing cats, doesn't it?  She's really into loops and circles right now.

She is very serious about her work.

Ah, yes.  If there is a hole, she will stick her finger in it.  Definitely a funny trait of hers.

Such precision from someone so little...it must be me she takes after!

A close-up.

I told her she did a good job; she's proud of her work!

Concentration is the name of this girl's game.

Can I just say I love those cheeks!  And those teeth!  And those eyes!  And that finger in the marker top!  What a funny little munchkin.  We had a good time while her brother and sister were gallavanting about the neighborhood!  (Just kidding, they were in the backyard.)  Precious moments, I'm tucking them away!!

Going Green

It's no surprise, considering all of the eco-friendly products, the emphasis everywhere on saving the environment, and the efforts we're making here at home, that Eliana, too, is going green.

That's probably not what you had in mind, is it?  We will reuse that paper though.  Does that count?

Do You Think Inside the Box or Outside the Box?

Eliana has a love-hate relationship with legos.   It seems she hasn't learned her lesson...          

 

At least they're behind her this time.

 

Uh-oh, back in front.  But she is not in the box this time.  And so out of the box it is. 

Until they go back in the box.

At least she cleans up after herself.  I have enough to do!