15 Months

I know I say this all of the time, but I still cannot believe how fast time is flying. Ella is already 15 months old and continuing to learn and grow more every day. At her 15 month check-up, she weighed 21 pounds (25th percentile) and was 31 inches long (75th percentile). She is no longer walking but running. She doesn't even let a scraped knee slow her down. I have to hold her down just to put the band aids on. Fortunately, she plays hard and sleeps hard!

Most days she wakes up smiling and talking up a storm, ready to start another fun-filled day. Every day must start out with a waffle, preferably blueberry, and a cup of milk. She runs into the kitchen and starts patting on the refrigerator door. She no longer wants to sit in her high chair to eat breakfast. It must be served in the snack cup so that she run around as she pleases. Fortunately, she still eats her other meals in the high chair. Well, most days! Other than waffles for breakfast, some of her favorites foods include green beans, carrots, pasta, beans of any kind, cheese, and chicken. She would probably eat yogurt all day long if I let her. Daddy got her hooked on bread, so she will eat almost anything on a sandwich or toast. She is still not a big fan of fruit. She will eat fruit mixed in other things but not a piece of real fruit by itself. At least we love the veggies! While Gramma and Grampa Riley were visiting, Ella experienced her first apple pie, which was a huge hit. Who doesn't love a piece of the world's greatest apple pie with vanilla ice cream??

As I said earlier, Ella sleeps great. We had a rough run for a couple of weeks when she was sick with ear infections and thrush. The night she slept almost the entire night in our bed, I knew we had a problem. Gene and I had to get tough, and let her cry it out a few nights. Fortunately, she did not put up much of a fight, and everyone is sleeping in their own beds again. When she is tired, she wants to go to bed. Recently, she started waking bye-bye to me when I put her down. However, you must meet certain criteria in order for her to be ready! Her belly must be full. Pacifier in mouth (may even need to pick out a new one). Sunggle Bunny in tote. Special blankie must be in bed. Sometimes we need a book or two to settle down with first. She still takes one or two naps a day and in ready for bed by 7pm or so and sleeps 12-13 hours! I feel so blessed!

Although she is great sleeper and loves to be active, we definitely have our not so great moments. She is a beautiful, determined little girl to say the least. She has her own agenda and do not dare interfere with it! The temper tantrums have started long ago. If she does not get her way, she immediately cries and throws her self back onto the floor. In order to prevent daily skull fractures, I usually have to catch her and lower her to the ground and then let her cry it out. She's a mess! I have no idea where she gets it from. Must be from Gene's side! HA!

Ella's favorite word is mama. She is all about Mama! She points in the mirror or at her baby pictures and says "Ella! Ella!". She also taps her chest and says her name. Sometimes she likes to say mama, and I have to remind her that she is not the mama. This, of course, is just hilarious to her! She is also saying baby, dog, bye-bye, and go-go-go (that's what we say when we are going somewhere). If you say car, she goes "vroom-vroom!". We are working on our animals and what each one says. She seems to think that everything growls.