ella's accomplishments

elenora has really grown the past week. she seems to do something new every day.

first of all, she is getting more sturdy and her muscles get stronger daily. when on her tummy, she holds her head up at a 90 degree angle and moves her neck to look around. also while on her tummy she kicks her legs. when on her back on the floor, she turns her body to lay on her side. she's turned from her belly to her back about five times. she can also hold her head up straight while in a sitting position or while i hold her in my arms.

ella likes to be lifted up over my head as "superbaby". she stiffens her arms and legs so that she looks like she's flying. if i bring her down to my chest from there she pushes off with her legs as if that's my queue to put her back up.

she has started cooing the last five days, which is the best thing yet. one night in the middle of the night i was changing her diaper and she looked up at me and said "agh." which was just the most amazing sound ever since it was non-crying verbal communication. she watches my mouth and tongue, and tries to copy me. she will listen to me talking to her and when i pause she'll sometimes make a "goo" or an "ahh" sound that just melts me. it's like she is having conversations with me now, because she really pays close attention to what i say and then moves her mouth to respond. she gets such a thoughtful look on her face, too. she's cried less since she started cooing, and i think that is because she can see that she is listened to. she's more cuddly, too, and will just snuggle up to me when she is tired and fall asleep on my chest.

elenora has held a rattle in her hand for about ten seconds, and waved it. she doesn't really know she's doing it, but i like to show her that she can make things move and make noise and that she doesn't have to just watch other people do it.

the night nursing still is tiring, since she is such a noisy nurser and that forces her and i to go to the couch so that j. can sleep. but last night she slept for five hours in a row, so that's pretty good. they say she'll start sleeping more through the night in the next month. i guess we'll see.