One year pics

It is official. Ella hates getting her pictures taken, but thankfully she loves cake!

12 months

Wow its been a crazy year! Unfortunately I don't have the little ones stats yet as we haven't had her one year check. I'll update this post when I have them, but I'm pretty sure she is nearing 17 pounds. Ella is wearing 6  month clothes, and some 9s but they are still a tad big. Still size 0 (newborn) shoes and size 2 diapers.  Her hair is getting very long and her curls are getting tighter every day it seems.
Ella is becoming very mobile she crawls now up on her knees instead of like a seal. She can also go from crawling to sitting. Still is trying to pull herself up but not much is easily grasped by her so thus far the bath tub is the only place she can actually do it.
Language is a funny area with her. Currently she is babbling allot, although many times she phases in and out of talking. She can say Mama, dada (don't ask? I think maybe dog), & baba (although I don't know if she knows the meaning). She can wave bye-bye and sometimes hi. She had her own invented sign language. She does ask for more of things by putting her hand out and opening and closing it. She also tells me to hurry by banging her hand on things.

Ella is busy. ALL.THE.TIME. I'm in trouble. She is into everything. How is it that a child that young even knows what things they should and should not have? When I was cleaning up her toys last night I had to set aside her favorites, the hanger, the un-opened capri-sun pouch, and a size 1 flip-flop. She also loves anything she can swing ie: the vacuum cord or any type of strap.
The kid continues to eat like she has hollow legs. Her tastes have changed a bit recently. She will eat most things, but likes meat, dairy and starches the best. Fruit is eh, some veggies are okay. She really likes green beans & carrots. Loves hot dogs and string cheese.
Ella has also started sharing. She likes to put whatever she has in my mouth. Cute sometimes, gross others! Kissing is also her thing right now. She likes long make out sessions with her cookie monster. I'll start digging a hole to hide in now so it is finished by the time she is a teen!

one year ago...

Exactly one year ago today I got a life changing phone call. I was asked if I wanted a one day old baby girl in Tampa. She was very early, and very high risk...

I'm glad I like to take chances now and then!

Hair... the progression

First off let me say that anyone considering adoption should never let the hair of an African American child stop them from from adopting outside their race. It IS a learning curve, but a very do-able challenge! Ella's hair is getting to be so much fun. I love it! It is constantly changing. Here's a walk down memory lane...

August straight kind of crazy hair, would curl on top when wet. Like this from birth.

 Got more and more crazy, but still straight September.

October, vanished. Never treat your child for cradle cap unless you KNOW that is what it is! Scalp eczema made all her hair fall out. I was devastated!

January. Curly fuzz, very little to speak of. Back and sides still very bald.

 Today! Still very short and pretty fuzzy on the back and sides. Curl size varies. Most places about the size of a pencil and very soft.

I just love it!
*also just a side note, Ell is HALF black and half puerto rican. However her puerto rican b-mom has very curly hair also!

Now and then...

Hard to believe, but the pink and yellow clips are exactly the same. Wow that noggin has grown in 11 months! Must be full of brains!

The seal crawl

What in the world?

This pretty much sums up my child lately. For the last 1-2 weeks imparticular this is Ella. I am completely unsure what her malfunction is. She has always had kind of a quirk. She is generally a happy, fun baby but when she is around strangers in an unfamiliar environment it is hot or cold. She occasionally just simply flips out. She is unconsolable and remains that way until we leave. This has happened basically since the day she came home from the hospital and is increasing quickly in both frequency and intensity. I wish I knew what I could do to help her. I certainly hope this is something she grows out of. In the meantime I am starting to hold my breath when we go out.