Our little girl is one year old!!

Russell and I are still in shock that our little bear is one year old!  How could this year have flown by so fast?? I know people always tell us, "they grow up so fast, so enjoy every minute" and I think that is so important to remember!  She is SUCH a joy and blessing and we just can't get enough of her.  Her personality is really blooming and she is emerging into a loving, giggling, energetic, and adorable little toddler. She now weighs about 19 pounds and is almost 30 inches tall (I almost said 30 inches long but now that she is standing up and walking I guess we need to change that to height).  She is a good eater and LOVES fruit, especially berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries) and peaches.  She also enjoys chicken and turkey and still loves her mum-mum crackers.  She can eat most foods by herself with her fingers and is learning how to use a spoon (even though most of the food ends up on her face or her shirt).  She can stand up all by herself without holding onto anything and is SO proud of herself when she does this and looks around for someone to clap or praise her.  She can take steps independently but still wobbles and then goes back down to the floor.  She can cruise around the entire house walking behind her Disney princess truck or push toy and sometimes even uses the chair in the kitchen for this purpose, pushing it along with her when she's walking.  She loves to help mommy and daddy in the kitchen by taking everything out of the drawers and showing us what she has found.  And much to our dismay she LOVES searching through the fridge but then tries to climb in and gets very mad when we remove her and close the fridge doors.  She still adores Baloo and Koby and giggles at them when they do funny things and tries so hard to say "doggy."  She likes to dangle toys in front of them and laughs when they try to take them from her.  She loves to play "How big is Ellie" and responds by shooting her arms up in the air above her head while we respond "SOOOOO big!"  She remembers people now, especially Grandma, NaMa and NamPa and says "dadda" and "ammmm" for momma.  

Ellie cruising around with her Disney Princess truck

Ellie enjoying the view at Andis Winery 

Ellie's first trip to the Oakland Zoo...she LOVED the elephants

Our cutie pie

She LOVES her pink chair

She still loves reading books

We cannot believe how fast this year has flown by but we have loved and enjoyed every single minute.  Happy birthday Ellie Lynn...we love you SOOOOO much!!