mimi

my mom is visiting. yesterday we took elenora out for a long walk because it was fifty degrees outside. i just carried her instead of using the bjorn or the stroller. it's a good workout. ella was so good. we went down to the graveyard and climbed the marble steps. at the top we sat on the stone wall and looked out across the town and watched the train go by. elenora was so curious and happily excited. i'm so glad she's good about walks. that's something i hope to pass on to her--a love of the outdoors.



elenora can now sit up straight and balance really well for up to ten seconds without assistance and without toppling over. if she starts to sway to one side, she is self-corrective and shifts her weight so that she doesn't fall. i sat her in front of the mirror on my dresser the other night and i think that looking at herself balancing really helped her to understand what was keeping her up. plus, she's just growing into such a strong little girl. the other day i watched her from the kitchen as she scooted her body backwards on the living room carpet, then she did a full push up with just her hands and toes on the floor! truly impressive.

her favorite song of the moment is "itsy-bitsy spider." if she starts fussing while i'm pumping or something and can't get over to her to pick her up, all i have to do is start to sing "itsy-bitsy spider" (and do the hand motions one-handed) and she starts smiling and (if she's in her jumperoo) jumping up and down.

my mom brought a mechanical flamingo from my grandma b. that runs in place and bobs its head while playing music. i held elenora up so that she was standing beside it and she was so excited that she ran in place and had her arms stretched out as far as they could go to try to grab it. super cute.