Hanging Out

 Reading a  book with Mom after a run, and before laying down for my nap:)

 Mom and Dad had the their first date night since we moved over here! I had a babysitter (other than grandparents) for the very first time. Mom and Dad put me to bed before they left, but I woke up right after they left, and cried for an hour! Our poor babysitter. He had to try to soothe me back to sleep like Mom and Dad do. I wake up to every little squeak (and the floor is quite squeaky) so he ended up rolling out of the room so I wouldn't wake up again. My goodness! Mom and dad are used to tip-toeing out, but the rolling was a new one! Anyway, I think Mom and Dad had a good time. It was Daddy's work party, but it was nice for them to get dressed up, and have some adult time!

 Hi Daddy. I love you.

 Headed out for a run.

Below is my first time in the grocery cart. I know it seems a little late, but in Houston, Mom was still just usually setting my car seat in the grocery cart, and since we moved here to England, we walk to the grocery store, so I stay in my stroller. We made a big trip to the grocery before all of our family came, so we drove and I got to sit in the grocery cart. I liked it!  I am higher up, so have a much better view!

 Ooooh, the outside. Mom opens the door as she puts on my coat, etc to go in hopes to calm me down.  What can I say? It is really annoying to put a coat on! She learned she can't really do that anymore though because I try to crawl on outside by myself; even if it is wet.

 Eliana's second trip to play group. We went once before about a week before I turned 10 months, and we got sick. Mom was kind of annoyed by the sick looking kids running around, but she decided to try again; especially since it was the Christmas party with a nativity (made up of some of the older kids in the group) and a puppy dog even came on stage!! Eliana crawled right over to the dog, and kneeled by the stage to try to get a better look. She had fun, and didn't seem to mind when a toddler slapped her three times in the face!

 Eliana continues to pull up on everything in sight, and this is a new attraction.

 Well, can we go outside or what?

 Pens, pens, and more pens. So, I LOVE pens. I found them here in this little shelf while I was supposed to be enjoying my toy. I love to pull every single one out, throw it on the floor, and then bang them together. My mom finally moved them out of my reach. Bummer!

 Caught in the act...

 Watching some Sesame Street while mom cooks dinner.

 Fascinating.

 And here it is again. Eliana enjoyed watching the clothes spin in the washer, and then got to see some other clothes spinning around in the dryer at the same time.

 Just finished a run. Ahh, I love you Daddy!

 Eliana loves to climb on us, and over us lately. It is a fun game.

 Miss Eliana climed up the two stairs, and through the gate by herself!

 And then immediately crawled up the wooden stairs. She only got up to two here, but one day recently, mom and dad forgot to shut the gate early one morning, and as mom was doing the dishes, she heard a oohh oohh (sound ellie would make when she wanted to be helped down from standing) and mom found her on the 4th wooden stair! After Mom picked her jaw up off the floor, she was just so glad I called out for help instead of trying to get down myself!  So, around 10 1/2 months, I stood for a few minutes without holding on to anything. Mom was so surprised when she turned around to see that I had let go of the night stand. I also bent over while standing to pick up a pen (of course) and was able to stand right back in the same position. I was also able to turn myself around from holding onto one thing, to holding on to another. Mom couldn't believe when she looked down, and I turned around 180 degrees! Also, mom thought is was really cool that when she said, "Daddy's home," I turned and looked at the doorway. Let's see, I also started to wave hi and bye, and just here in the last several days, I am waving when someone says hi or bye without them waving first. I am still really only saying mama and dada, but mom and dad swear I did say bye once, and up once. I also figured out how to sit down from standing, and can do this consistently now. It is so nice that I can just sit down right away, and I don't have to wait for Mom or Dad! I have also started practicing walking around the round coffee table. Seems to be a perfect place to practice! Mom and Dad just finished 3 weeks of my sleep training, and I have still not figured it all out. Mom says that my dimples sure keep me outta trouble with her:) It is still pretty rough for mom and dad, but it is getting a little better; in some aspects at least:) Oh, and I still have no teeth! I just have the two that popped through on the bottom front when I was almost 9 months, but they haven't grown at all! What is up with this?

 Eliana had her first play date in England. We met another mom at the play group that has a toddler and a baby that is only 4 days difference in age from Ellie! How cool! They had fun playing around with toys and books.

Cutie Patooties. The moms thought it was so fun to see the babies right next to each other that are sooo close in age!

Beginning December, Great Aunt Pammy and Great Uncle Lars Visit

 

Dancing to Great Aunt Pammy singing. Ellie loves to move back and forth when she hears music. 

Ellie, Dad, and Mom out on a scenic run. Mom and Dad didn't realize the video camera was on instead of the camera:)

 Thanks for my new coat, Nana and Papa!

 Headed out...

 Eliana loves to bite everything lately. She loves pulling up on furniture and biting it. Also, just a few days after her 10 month birthday, Eliana started crawling up on her knees all the time, and was on the move full force. Too bad Grandma missed it just by a few days:(

 I climbed a stair! And just as Dad was putting up the extra safety gates...

 Mom and Dad found a running route that goes through back country roads that lead to the water. Very pretty. It was kinda chilly today, but don't worry, I was nice and bundled up!

 Great Aunt Pammy and Great Uncle Lars came for a visit! They were already in Denmark visiting Lars' family, so they decided to jump on a plane over here to England to visit us:) Thanks for my new outfit!

 Taking a stroll at the Marina

 I am so excited to have visitors! Thanks for coming guys!

 You guys are so funny!!

 Thanks for feeding me Great Aunt Pammy

 Thanks for the chicken marsala Mom! Eliana has been eating a variety of new foods lately. She has had chicken broccoli casserole, spaghetti sauce, chili (minus the cayenne and chili powder) beef stroganoff, yogurt, cottage cheese, and egg yolk. She has liked everything pretty well.

 Eliana loves her books lately. She really likes to flip the pages; even if you aren't finished with the page you are reading:) This is a special Christmas book from Grandma. It has her very own voice in it, so Ellie can hear Grandma reading and singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

 This is a park called Woodside Gardens. Mom, Dad, and I pass through here when we run. It is very pretty and green!

 I LOVE Mom's water bottle!!

Eliana continues to pull up on anything she can find. This is her favorite game lately. She is excited she can finally see what is up in this nook. Snacks and wine! She is trying to lift the bottles, but can't quite grab them yet. We will probably have to move them soon.

November, Thanksgiving, Grandma's Visit

 Ellie playing with her new Sesame Street blocks.

 Enjoyed the walk home from church on this beautiful Fall day.

 Posing with Daddy

 Hi Mommy! I found the wooden stairs:)

 Bundled up ready for a run.

 I am digging these wooden stairs more and more...

 Look what I did!! I pulled myself up on this end table. I think the main attraction was all these cool cords! What I have been doing around 9 1/2 months: Besides pulling up here on the end table, and stairs, I clapped my hands. It is really fun! I like to dance when I hear music; on the radio, when someone sings, or if one of my toys makes music. I like to "talk" more. Sometimes I hide my face when I am scared. Like if mom tells me No, or when daddy sneezes. Mom says I am becoming a little more sensitive, and sometimes get upset when she sets me down. Hey, sometimes I don't want to be alone, okay? I also sometimes will slightly bump my head, look to see mom's reaction, and if she doesn't do anything, I am fine.

 I am so proud of myself mommy:)

 Catching some rays in the park. Mom and I ate lunch here.

 I LOVE digging in my book box lately. It is just so fun to take them all out, and then play with them!

 Yay for books!!

 Look what I found, more stairs!!

 And I was able to pull myself up here too!

 Playing with my little walker from Auntie Cristin. I have been noticing this toy lately, and am curious to know how it works.

 Cord attraction! I could sit here for quite a while...

 Taking a stroll through The New Forest with Dad and Mom. I saw ponies!!

 Taking a lunch break

 Still in the New Forest

 What is that Dad?

 Okay, this is another place I love to go. Mommy and Daddy's picture box. I love to dump all the pictures on the floor. So fun!

 Helping out Grandma and Mom cook Thanksgiving dinner. Actually, I was playing with my toy keys.

 When is the turkey going to be done??

 We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with Grandma in town, a friend from Daddy's work that was supposed to have been back home in the US, and dad and mom. I got to stay up late! We didn't eat until 8. yikes!

 Right before dinner. My mom is pretty dressed up in her tshirt and jeans huh?

 The Turkey. 12 lbs cooked in just under 6 hrs...Not sure what was going on, but it turned out pretty good.

 Grandma, Mommy, and I taking a walk

 I sure enjoyed seeing my Grandma! I have her a big smile when she arrived, and had so much fun playing with her. Thanks Grandma, for giving my Dad and Mom a break by rocking me for naps and bedtime. We miss you already!

 Out looking at the view from the marina with Grandma

 Visiting one of the other towns in The New Forest called Beaulieu

 Grabbing lunch in Beaulieu

 Visiting the Cathedral in Salisbury

 This is Eliana's new face. This has replaced the surprised OH face. Say what??

 Grabbing some hot chocolate in a little cafe in Salisbury. It sure was cold and windy today!

 Hi Grandma!! All buckled into my new carseat.

 Checking out the Isle of Wight with Grandma. It was sooo windy!!! I loved when the wind blew in my face, it made me giggle!

 Getting warm at a cafe on the water front in the Isle of Wight. I didn't get any hot chocolate, but I did get some breastmilk.

 Daddy, that sugar wrapper in your mouth is sooo cool!! I want to grab it!

 More of Isle of Wight

 Trying to escape to her books!

 Eliana loves to the look at the baby...

Okay, I will pose for your picture Mom. Things I started doing around 10 months. Hmmm, I pulled myself up on the couch, coffee table, and toilet! Mom was super excited when she found me banging my hands on the toilet seat! I finally figured out that I can go from laying to sitting to play with my toys. I am doing this consistently now. I climbed one of the wooden stairs just as Daddy was installing the extra safety gates. Bummer, guess I won't be able to do that anymore. Oh, and I pull myself to standing in my crib all the time now. It is usually because I am screaming about going to sleep. Yep, I still hate to sleep. Mom and Dad are working hard on this nap training thing though. Maybe I will give them a break sooner or later...