Thanksgiving Fun!

This post is a bit delayed, but somehow time just flies by from me. For Thanksgiving we had lunch with Mark's side of the family and then dinner with my mom, and brother. Elianna had a blast. Her stranger anxiety is easing down, which meant, she was enjoying the company of her extended family members.

Elianna enjoys some yams.

She spends some time with Uncle David.

....and then with Tia Pat.

....and back with Mama!

A New Library and A New Park

I LOVE the new Sorensen Park and Library. They are not brand new to Whittier, they just had a make over. The project started about 2 years ago on a very small library and a not too shabby park. They opened up last week, so I decided that Elianna and I would take a trip out there is past Friday.

The library has at least tripled in size and has a very cute children's section; filled with lowered shelves, small couches, toys and computers. Also, 40% of the materials used were recycled materials.

After we checked out our books we went to the park where Elianna had the time of her life on the swings. The park now has a "Big" and "Small" kids' section. I think this will be our new library and park. It's good to see our tax dollars at work!

Halloween

Elianna was a bumble bee for her first halloween and no, I did not make the costume, I'm still trying to finish her blanket.

So this was the game plan, to do our normal evening walk, but with a flare! We went up and down our street, did not go to homes with stairs (taking Eli in and out of the stroller did not seem fair to anyone) and to neighbors we know, which is quite a few. Halfway through our stroll ride someone was getting sleepy but as the night grew darker it became a bit more lively and Elianna stay up to enjoy it.

At first Eli was not too fond of the hat.

Buzz!

Finally got that shot with the hat!

Cheese!

Elianna made out pretty good!

pumpkin patch

Two weeks ago we headed out to the pumpkin patch at Cal Poly Pomona. It was everyone's first time there. We missed the rides and animals by a week, but we were still able to capture some great pictures....and here they are...

Elianna is trying to figure out what to make of her new setting.

We checked out the sunflowers, but didn't spend too much time there. They were invaded by ants.

Off to the corn maze, which reminded me of the movie, Signs.

Eli says, "This way!"

I'm happy to report that we made it out okay :)

Before having Elianna I knew containers were a hit with little ones, but I did not realize how fascinated little ones could get. Elianna now knows how to open cabinets and drawers (if they are not too full). When she gets to the cabinet with all of the plastic containers, it's like a party for one.

9 Months!

Yup, 9 months and everyday comes with a new discovery!

Elianna is.....

*Pulling to stand

*Crawling.....with some scooting.

*Eating most things, especially what's on mom's plate.

*Using constant-vowel sounds/babbling (i.e., da-da-da)

*Holding her bottle, when she wants.

*Cruising furniture

*Forgets she cannot walk and has had a few bumps along the way to remember.

*Has a sense of humor

*Will sign, MORE, ALL DONE, MILK, and BRAVO!

*....and is testing the boundaries of the word "no."

Harness, Leg Warmers and then some....

So it has been quite a month. Last month we went for a follow up visit at CHLA for Eli's hip and we were given the option to put her back in the harness, only for nighttime sleeping {12 hours a day}. There is no dislocation of any sort and her left hip looks (x-rays) perfect; it's her right hip that looks a bit off.....ugh!! More specifically, it does not look like it is forming deep enough. As Dr. Skaggs explained, it could have been there since birth or it's nothing. The cartilage is still forming around the hip area and x-rays do not pick it up cartilage. He did not seem too concerned, but he thought it would be best to be cautious and have Eli use the harness at night.

The good news is that we are still in time to make things right, if there is a need to make it right. Also, it makes me feel a bit better that we were given the option of putting back in the harness, it was not anything crucial, like when she was a newborn. She has to wear it for 2 months and we are already one month into it. The first couple of nights with it were sleepless.... The first night after midnight, she woke up every hour, the next night every 2 to 3 hours. What was really frustrating for her was that she wanted to turn around and experiment with her newly found gross motor skills, but the kicker was that she also began teething that same week...

The teeth have not broken yet, but Miss Eli has learned to turn over in her harness, sit up, stand, walk (with her hands held), and crawl. She still wakes up at night about twice, but that may be due to eczema. We just found out yesterday that she has a case of that....poor thing.

Here are some pics with her harness.

Leg Warmers:

As previously mentioned Eli is quite mobil now a days and enjoying her new found freedom. So since she wants to move about the leg warmers go on those chubby legs.