New pictures...again!

Yes I have Ella's pictures taken somewhat excessively, but in my defense this was a re-shoot from last month when she did nothing but cry!
*Just as an FYI (as I am frequently asked) We use fotofly and fotoflyaway exclusively. They are beyond fabulous!

stat update

Ella finally had her 1 year appointment this week. Her doctor assured me that not only is she doing well but thriving. She is smart is in the normal range with her peers for intellectual and physical development. *as an odd but interesting side note he told me that because she is black her synapses develop faster and continue to fire at a faster rate than her Caucasian peer. That is why black people tend to excel in sports* He assured me that although I have concerns about some of her behavior she is normal. :)

head circumference is 44 cm, from 17.8 at birth. This is the 27th percentile.
height took a huge jump to 27 1/4 inches, from 12 and is now on the chart at 5%
weight is 17 pounds 11 ounces, from 1 pound 11 ounces at birth and is 3%

Her height is the best news. She has visibly had a growth spurt in length and I am now hoping that HGH (human growth hormones) are going to be not needed!

Party!

Ella's first party was allot of fun, and allot of work! I rented a local clubhouse and put up a little bouncy house (thanks to my bro and sis-in-law) and we also had a ball pit. Now that I have done a Birthday party I will know a little bit more in the future as far as what was a waste of time and what wasn't. It's all a learning curve.
Ella really did okay at her party. I was worried as I think she may have some attachment issues. She was overwhelmed at first and cried a few times. But after about 45 minutes she loosened up and had fun. She loves watching other kids play, she just doesn't want to play WITH them. She also doesn't like attention from adults unless she has solicited it.

After the party my sister noticed some weird sores on her sons feet. Turns out her had hand foot and mouth disease. If you have never heard of this it is a highly contagious disease in the chicken pox family. It spreads quickly among young children and seems to taper off at about age 6. Adult cases are extremely rare. We ended up being one of the unlucky ones. Ella came home early from daycare on Wednesday for a fever and just plain miserableness. We did end up in the doctors office for several hours for respiratory distress (caused by the fever). She had that for about 2 days...then the spots. She doesn't have many on her hands or feet but the ones she does are blisters. One on her right heel is about dime size. Her face has lots of little tiny ones. Where it really causes the problem is the ones in the mouth. It's hard to know exactly what is in there because she isn't super thrilled about me looking in it at all. I do know that the inside of her bottom lip is covered in them. They are painful and she still has a low grade fever off and on. It is SO sad! We also had 3 other victims from her party. Two of them being my coworkers children which is really hard because we can't all not be at work and our children can't be anywhere where there are other kids. They also all want their Mommy's.

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!