ella stands

here are a few pictures of elenora standing up. she is really good about pulling herself up and standing against things now without any assistance. she even can lower herself back down carefully without getting hurt (though i still watch her pretty closely).



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the remote control is a favorite "toy" of hers. she just sort of waves it around and bangs on the table with it. i told her "no eat, elenora" and she doesn't. what a good girl.

elenora comprehends pretty much everything i say to her. we can ask her "elenora, where is daddy's 'happy birthday' sign?" and she will look up at the wall above the couch to where i hung a birthday sign for j. last week. then she gets excited and points. she knows that the digital clocks in our bedroom and the clocks with hands in the living room and kitchen are all clocks, and she will point to them and eagerly exclaim "ck!" until we acknowledge them too. she knows what to do when i say "pick up your hands" as i slide her tray on the high chair. she looks me in my eyes when i say "elenora, look at mommy." she can find her belly, her fingers, her toes, her feet; daddy's ear, mommy's belly button, mommy's nose; anyone's feet. she knows the names of all of her toys. if i hide a toy in her little kitchen microwave, she opens the door and grabs it out. that's a new favorite game that can last a long time. if you say "where is your music?" she looks at the stereo--even if the music isn't on.

this past weekend with c. i found myself feeling foolish relating all of these "amazing" things that ella is doing now. i must sound like an idiot to people who have never had a baby--and maybe even to people who have older children. but to me this is all incredible, and i really am so proud of her.

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yesterday j. and i took elenora to the beach for the afternoon. she loves looking at the seagulls and she likes being held while we stand by the water. but she's still timid about putting her feet in the sand or the water. j. and i each got in the cold ocean, which was so refreshing after the heat wave. ella enjoyed eating a rice cake and pointing at all of the things she saw.