As close as we can tell, that was her first official word... one week ago today, on April 21, 2009.
And we're pretty sure she meant it, as she waved her hand to Grandma Pam and said "Hi" at the same time.
Since then, we may have had a few others:
"Bye," though I'm told it sounded suspiciously like the above
"Nuh-Nan-Uh": Banana
"Heh-Ohh": Hello (with toy phone to her ear)
"Mmmmm": Sound a cow makes
We thought that "Da-yee" was "Daddy," until we realized that's what Elena calls Kristi, too.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Cousins
Elena and Preston. The Smackdown in Sac Town.
Okay, not quite... but it was an interesting week. Elena hosted cousin Preston, Aunt Nancy, and Uncle John from Charlotte for seven days of fun, day trips, and -- well -- cousin battles.
Little P is 5.5 months younger than Little E, and as Kristi said, Elena turned into the Green Eyed Monster of Jealousy on several occasions. Those are my toys... those are my people... don't touch me! It never got too ugly, but the inquistive little boy from NC was outmatched by the gal from Cal. For now... this, too, shall pass as they get older.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Update
Wow, if only we could be so good as to have been blogging more frequently in the last few months. I think when we were sleep deprived in the early days, there was a lot of awake time... and more time to tinker online.
But we all sleep now. A lot. And that's a good thing, because it takes a lot of energy to keep with our Elena.
So, the specifics: she's now an active, fast walking soon to be 15 month old little girl. She loves people and dogs, and most foods (actually prefers what we're eating to "baby" food). She sleeps about 12 hours at night, like she has for a long time... and finally mastered the art of the midday nap a couple of months ago. Sometimes one long nap of 3 hours, sometimes two 60-90 minute naps.
No discernible words yet, but a tremendous amount of gibberish baby talk... things that sound like she thinks they make sense. She knows major body parts -- head, nose, ears, mouth, tongue, toes, hair, eyes. She knows everyone around her. Only a couple of bottles of whole milk, and only half ones at that, in a day.
And...most importantly... she's our favorite thing in the world.
But we all sleep now. A lot. And that's a good thing, because it takes a lot of energy to keep with our Elena.
So, the specifics: she's now an active, fast walking soon to be 15 month old little girl. She loves people and dogs, and most foods (actually prefers what we're eating to "baby" food). She sleeps about 12 hours at night, like she has for a long time... and finally mastered the art of the midday nap a couple of months ago. Sometimes one long nap of 3 hours, sometimes two 60-90 minute naps.
No discernible words yet, but a tremendous amount of gibberish baby talk... things that sound like she thinks they make sense. She knows major body parts -- head, nose, ears, mouth, tongue, toes, hair, eyes. She knows everyone around her. Only a couple of bottles of whole milk, and only half ones at that, in a day.
And...most importantly... she's our favorite thing in the world.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Happy Birthday: 1 Year and Counting!
On January 12, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. she arrived. And things have never been the same.
Elena Neal Haines Myers has changed our lives in these 365 days... and even through sleep deprivation, teething, and nasty colds, she's been the best thing ever.
So what's this 1 year old like?
First, the stats: she weighs 19 lbs, 10 ounces. She's 29 inches tall. And her head is a whopping 18.375 inches in circumference (that's 90th percentile, folks!).
She sleeps between 12 and 13 hours a night. She has nine teeth, with molars starting to break through.
On Friday, January 16 -- four days after her birthday -- she started walking (disclaimer: she had taken a few steps earlier, but now walks probably 4 feet or so on her own).
Her favorite thing: Lola Dog.
Foods: These days, whatever the adults are eating and drinking. But in reality, she likes almost all fruits, avocado, chicken, black beans, spaghetti, and still a few bottles every day.
Words: Da-Da and Ma-Ma are there, but she doesn't seem to use them to identify us... just randomly. She's still a babbler, with particular sounds when she wants something... and when she's eating and happy.
Skills: she knows somewhere around 12 or more objects/people/dogs (can point to them), she will point to the correct toy after you teach her, she can hide herself under a blanket and play "peekaboo," and she's great at opening cabinets.
Socially, she's a huge extrovert. When she goes to a restaurant or the grocery store, she talks to everyone... smiles at them... tries to engage them.
She's not a big nap fan. Two a day for maybe an hour each... and she prefers if she can sit with you and snooze.
She LOVES her Baby Einstein and Classical Baby DVDs. So do Mommy and Daddy. :)
She's a morning girl. And some mornings, she'll happily play in her crib for a while before calling us.
Most importantly, she's the apple of our eye. The best thing in our lives... the thing that makes every day better than the one before.
We love you, Laney Girl.
Elena Neal Haines Myers has changed our lives in these 365 days... and even through sleep deprivation, teething, and nasty colds, she's been the best thing ever.
So what's this 1 year old like?
First, the stats: she weighs 19 lbs, 10 ounces. She's 29 inches tall. And her head is a whopping 18.375 inches in circumference (that's 90th percentile, folks!).
She sleeps between 12 and 13 hours a night. She has nine teeth, with molars starting to break through.
On Friday, January 16 -- four days after her birthday -- she started walking (disclaimer: she had taken a few steps earlier, but now walks probably 4 feet or so on her own).
Her favorite thing: Lola Dog.
Foods: These days, whatever the adults are eating and drinking. But in reality, she likes almost all fruits, avocado, chicken, black beans, spaghetti, and still a few bottles every day.
Words: Da-Da and Ma-Ma are there, but she doesn't seem to use them to identify us... just randomly. She's still a babbler, with particular sounds when she wants something... and when she's eating and happy.
Skills: she knows somewhere around 12 or more objects/people/dogs (can point to them), she will point to the correct toy after you teach her, she can hide herself under a blanket and play "peekaboo," and she's great at opening cabinets.
Socially, she's a huge extrovert. When she goes to a restaurant or the grocery store, she talks to everyone... smiles at them... tries to engage them.
She's not a big nap fan. Two a day for maybe an hour each... and she prefers if she can sit with you and snooze.
She LOVES her Baby Einstein and Classical Baby DVDs. So do Mommy and Daddy. :)
She's a morning girl. And some mornings, she'll happily play in her crib for a while before calling us.
Most importantly, she's the apple of our eye. The best thing in our lives... the thing that makes every day better than the one before.
We love you, Laney Girl.
Friday, December 19, 2008
11 Months and Growing...
Sorry for the incredibly long delay in blog postings! Elena is growing and changing all the time. At 11 months old, she:
Knows the meaning of at least 12-15 words (Where's Lola? Where's Daddy? etc.)
Loves "big people" food, so much so that she often gets fussy when asked to eat baby food
Can stand easily and is close... to standing on her own
Sleeps about 12 hours a night
Is super easy to put to bed most nights!
Likes to sit and "read" a book with one of us
Has 9 teeth!
Can pick out the correct object when shown ones she knows (i.e., I hold two toys, ask her which one is _____, and she points to it)
Loves Grandma Pam, who spends every Tuesday with her; this week, she didn't want me to hold her, only Grandma!
Loves people... she is SUCH an extrovert!
We're looking forward to a week in North Carolina with my family, and Elena's first visit with her cousin, Preston. He's 5 1/2 months younger... we hope she doesn't beat him up!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
This is the way we do the wash...
Yes, it's been way too long since the last blog posting. She's way into crawling, laughing, eating, and good nighttime sleeping now (naps still aren't so hot), that I thought I'd show you her laundry skills.
Or sort of.
Elena decided to... ummm... help... with the laundry recently on one of her days home with Kristi.
Actually, what she really loves these days is to take things out of anything they might currently be confined inside... clothers, books, toys. All should be free! Be free!
We promise to get back into more and more blog posts and photos. There's also now a video page on her website.
Or sort of.
Elena decided to... ummm... help... with the laundry recently on one of her days home with Kristi.
Actually, what she really loves these days is to take things out of anything they might currently be confined inside... clothers, books, toys. All should be free! Be free!
We promise to get back into more and more blog posts and photos. There's also now a video page on her website.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Crawling & Shopping
Elena's crawling skills continue to improve. The early crawls look a little funky, as she kind of drags a foot behind her. But every day she gets more mobile... and soon, the baby gate we recently bought will come out of the box.
Her food preferences are also getting better, and she's eating more often. Fresh bananas and pears, avocados, peach applesauce, even yogurt all have been gobbled up in the last few days!
Elena also loves outings to the grocery store, sitting in the cart and watching all the people go by. She smiles at everyone, but is learning the hard way that some people... well, they just don't smile back. Poor kid, her optimism is beautiful.
As an aside, a quick story that makes me happy to tell: I was gone most of last week covering the Republican National Convention in Minnesota. Upon arriving home Friday night, Elena flashed a big smile when she saw me, and held out her arms for me to pick her up. It was one of the best feelings... ever.
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