Elouise Walks

At 9 months, this girl is cruising! I even tried to hold her back, hoping she'd stay my little baby just a bit longer.  I didn't give her a walker, I didn't stand her up in an exersaucer, put her in a jumper, or try to encourage extra practice.  I just gave her my hand, and one day, within a blazing two weeks from just beginning to try, she took her first steps on her own.

Elouise is amazing. She knows what she wants and when she is ready for it, then she gets after it. She is a loving and sweet, sassy little Miss Independent smarty pants.

She is already talking. Her first word was "hello," indicative of her outgoing, people-loving personality. Then followed, "I love you, hi, up, all done," in addition to the usual beginners' favorties: "mama, dada, nana, nom-nom."

Speaking of nom-noms, Elouise is possessed of an interesting palate.  We know she will almost always eat yogurt, chicken, ham, raisins, cheddar cheese, pretzels, blueberries, broccoli, and any sort of contraband sweets.  Then there are her fickle favorites, like grapes, bananas, noodles, pizza, bread, green beans, beans, ground beef in any cooked form, and potatoes.  That leaves a whole host of food that is slathered all around her tray, or purposefully dropped into the trough of her bib, or whacked off onto the floor.

She loves dancing. And laughing and smiling. She runs to music, but away from loud noises.  She explores gentle sounds, puzzles, books, cabinets, and drawers.  She loves to chase and be chased.

She has the most adorable habit of packing a sock into the tub with her every night.  After we get her ready to go in, she reaches down and snatches a sock and clutches it tight until she's in the water. Then she proceeds to wash herself and other surfaces with said sock.  I think it's cute and innovative. Jeff thinks she's washing and playing with a dirty sock.

We call her: Louie, Weezie, Lou, Lula, Ello, LouLou, Louise, and usually with that order of frequency.

We think she's kindest, sweetest, strongest, little chubby-cheeked beauty to ever walk at 9 months, and we love her dearly.