At 7 months, Elise:
• is on the GO. About a week ago she officially mastered crawling, and has also mastered the art of "pulling up" on furniture. She loves loves loves the ottoman, which I recall Braden being fond of as well -- it's a great height, squishy (no hard edges/corners), and is big enough to "cruise" around. E hasn't really figured out the art of cruising yet, but gives it a shot. (She usually ends of falling on her bum and crying out in frustration, but then is right back up and trying to move again). Lord, help us - I think she may walk even earlier than B, who walked at about 10 months.
Here's a video I shot of her crawling last week - she's much faster now (and is distracted by her brother "flying" around), but this is the first (and only) footage I have:
• is a little ham. She loves to make eye contact and flash her smile (sometimes a bit hesitantly at first if she doesn't know you). She also thinks it's great to stick out her little tongue because she knows she'll get attention/a smile in return. E was practicing this trick last Sunday during church and had everyone around us in giggles.
• is a wiggle worm . . . she doesn't like to sit still on our laps for long, which also makes church interesting. Elise prefers to "stand" up, or if she must sit, insists on facing forward so she can see the action. The only time we really get to cuddle our sweet girl is when she is dropping off to sleep (and even then she fights it). I sometimes hold her while she is sleeping just to have the chance to snuggle her. Changing her diaper is a huge challenge these days, and can be a two person job.
• speaking of sleep, Elise is still not a fan. Whomp Whomp. Such a huge bummer . . . we were spoiled by Braden who was (and mostly still is) an excellent napper/sleeper (well, maybe not so much on the naps-he tries to avoid - but will still sleep a couple of hours if he lays down, and the other day he slept in till 10:00 when Grandma was babysitting!). Elise, on the other hand, fights sleep with everything she's got. She generally wakes up in the morning around 7-7:30 and is very happy. But by 9:30-10:00 is rubbing her eyes and gets cranky, but is NOT ready to nap. Often a bottle will help her fall asleep, but we're trying to avoid using food to help her sleep. Once she finally goes down, she will sleep for around an hour, then be up again. In the early afternoon she again starts rubbing her sleepy eyes, but resists sleep. Again, when she finally falls asleep, she sleeps for about an hour (or sometimes a little more). When Billy and I get home around 4, she's often again hitting that sleepy/cranky stage and will usually take a little 30-45 minute cat nap while we're making supper, but then is up and ready to play for the evening. We usually try to put her to bed around 9, knowing that she will probably wake up around 11 to eat. On a good night she'll sleep through the night, but she often will wake up once more and acts like she's famished. She takes a quick bottle and goes back to sleep quickly/easily. I won't lie, it's exhausting . . . lucky for Little Miss, we think she's worth it. (And it's not so bad when Billy and I trade nights so that at least one of us doesn't have to get up.)
• Is she waking up because she's not getting enough to eat? you may ask . . . I don't think that's the case, but it's on my list to talk to the ped about at our 8 mth visit. E usually eats around 6-8 ounces at a time, but often gets restless by the end and refuses the last ounce or two (she's ready to get down and is on the move). She's eating "solids"/baby food for both lunch and supper, and girlie LOVES it. Often for supper she'll eat a couple of things . . . like 1/2 jar of a veggie and 1/2 jar of a fruit (I mix her food with rice cereal to thicken it), and also loves to try food that we are eating (mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, applesauce, banana, etc..). Her weight at her 6 mth check was right on at the 50th percentile, and her height was also 50th percentile, so I think she's getting enough calories.
• is still working on those darn teeth. I am hoping that when one finally makes it's appearance that her sleeping issues might be resolved (B went through a rocky sleep period when he was teething, then after the tooth popped, all was fine). I am shocked that a tooth has not poked through yet, as her gums are bumpy/sensitive, and she's had lots of the other classic teething "signs" - diaper rash, runny nose, etc.
• is not a fan of her car seat and often gets MAD when we buckle her in. Another big bummer b/c I bought the seat that can be used up to 35 pounds. B didn't mind his seat at all, and it's so handy when they are still in the bucket seat to be able to take the seat with you so that baby has a place to sleep/rest/sit when you are out and about. Elise much prefers the stroller, or sitting in an actual high chair (like at a restaurant).
• loves trying to keep up with big brother, and though he sometimes (lovingly) torments her, she always lights up with a big smile when he's around.
• is wearing size 2 diapers, size 6-12 mth shoes (little girl shoes are sooooo cute!), and size 6-12 or 9 mth clothes (depending on how they are sized).
• likes to babble! One of her favorite "phrases" is bob bob bob bob bob (we don't know any Bobs, I don't think?) . . .
• needs a helmet. She's crashed into our stone hearth a couple of times already, pulls B's rocking horse and rocking chair over onto herself, and has also fallen into our bar stools a few times. But usually after one big scream and a hug, she's wiggling to get down and go exploring again. We did get our top of the stairs baby gate installed, which is a relief. She hasn't found the stairs yet, but soon will.
• is a huge fan of water. I think my kids might be part fish . . . they both LOVE the water. Elise has started to take baths in the big tubby (to B's delight), and they often take baths together. She has NO fear of the water, and will roll over in it (we keep it shallow), and doesn't mind splashing or water in her face a bit (B thinks it is sooooo fun to pour water on her head after her shampoo). They could both easily spend an hour in the tub (and sometimes one of us sits in the bathroom on the floor and just hangs out for awhile allowing the kiddos to blissfully splash away and occupy themselves).
Finally, to wrap up this whopper of a post, here's E's "monthly" pic in her 12 mth outfit (she refused to lay down!) . . .
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