Stack Attack

Eliana has had her ring stacker for quite some time now, and she has had fun playing with it in different ways, but never really put it together before.  She didn't get it.  But tonight, she did!  It was so neat to watch her discover how the rings slid on and off the stacker.  She was fascinated and did it over and over again.  I tried to catch her saying,"Yay," but I wasn't able to. 

And please, please excuse the wreck in the background (You're welcome for my calling it to your attention.  I hate an elephant in the room, so I had to say it.) 

Freedom for a Little Girl

People ask me one of two questions.

Is she permanently attached to your hip?  (intonation:  incredulity, alarm, sympathy, friendly mockery)

Is she permanently attached to the stroller?  (intonation:  amazement, maybe envy-she will sit without complaining for a while)

Well, people, today the girl was set  free!!!

This will be proof to all the naysayers, those who doubt, or who just can't believe it's true at all, that I do put my baby girl down.  And you will be shocked at where she ends up.  Only because her mother is who she is.  Have fun, she did! 

She headed out, exploring...

She then went over to the playground...

Ironically, one of the last things we did on this venture was swing.  Although her freedom was inhibited, I think she ended up liking the swing.  I would ask if she wanted to get down, and she would grab on and say,"No!" 

All By Myself...

Can she really be that big?!  Cheerios with a spoon.  And milk.  By herself.  Wow, the time is going so quickly...next week she'll be driving and in a month she'll be going to college and in a couple of months she'll be getting married and...WHOA, take a breath, sister.  She's still your sweet baby girl.  I have to remind myself of these things sometimes.  Right now I am working on savoring moments...

What a Doll

What do you get when you cross a little girl and a doll chair? 

A perfect pair.

The Eliana Express

I have really enjoyed...no, that's  not quite right.  I have had a lot of fun watching Eliana's expressions surface and develop over the last year.  She is 14 months and sometimes I can't believe what her face looks like, because she's still so little.  But there's so much there!  The latest expression she makes, and frequently, is one of my favorites.  I can't explain why, but I think it has something to do with her age in contrast to how old the expression makes her look.  She is now able to express with her face and not just her voice her frustration or exasperation with something (or someone).  She looks so insulted!

Can you see what I mean?   How old does she look?  I think it's hysterical, and seriously, I laugh out loud when I see this face.  She does things that are bound to frustrate her (like stick the pencil in the hole in the chair and try to bend it) and then looks at me with this,"Can you believe this is happening to me, what's up with that?" face.  Hilarious.  It doesn't even look like her.

I think it's really interesting that this is a new face, that she is figuring out how to communicate her feelings in this way, and so clearly!  Here are a couple more pictures of her that I was able to capture-thwarted!

Even though tiny she can get a point across, eh?