Dancing!

From reading the blog, you know that Elena loves books and music (well she loves everything) but I don't think I have posted any videos of her dancing. She loves all music and "be-bops" to everything. Here she is dancing "free style". She also dances with her activity table, maybe a video to come later :)

Monkey Crawl

Here is a video showing Elena doing the "monkey crawl" (walking on her hands and feet with her booty in the air. She also demonstrates how she can stand unassisted! She figured this out a few days before she began walking. We had a busy day today because her 3rd tooth finally came in! Her upper right just broke through. So we have this one and the two on the bottom...I'm sure a mouth full are coming soon!

First Step

Yes, we have a first step! You could really see the wheels turning in Elena's head this evening. It took 10-15 minutes of pure concentration. At first she played with her body movement by learching her upper body forward while her feet stayed stationary. Then she kept her upper body stationary and moved her right foot. It was amazing. She fell down, got up and did it again and again (always one foot, the right foot). Here is a video clip of maybe her 5th step, and again I apologize the video is sideways. I need to remember not to shoot sideways until I can figure out to flip it for this blog (maybe I need some new software).

Feeding Cooper

Elena seems to be a very thoughtful baby. She is very keyed into the emotions around her. It started out with crying when other kids were crying. Now it extends to worry when others are worrying and laughing when others laugh. She is also concerned about Cooper. She puts food over her tray to feed Cooper. Although cute, I now let Cooper in the yard to focus Elena on eating. After breakfast I asked Elena to help me pick up the Cheerios on the floor. She grabbed the first one and put it in her mouth. Then she crawled over to Cooper's food bowl, took it back to the other O's, picked them up and put both O's in Cooper's food bowl. She has learned we place scrap snacks for Cooper in his bowl. What a cute, thoughtful baby.

Playtime!

Happy May! The weather has turned nice: slightly cool in the morning and sunny warm in the afternoon! I'm glad to see the warmer weather and Elena's legs in capris and shorts, such cute chunky legs! Although Elena isn't walking yet, she is into everything and discovering how it all works. This morning she flipped her walker toy upside down...notice the wheels? She took time to check out this new position and then pushed the walker across the floor--who needs wheels?

In the afternoon, we played in the shade on the patio and grass area (how sad we won't have green grass much more). Elena loves to be outside. She points at flowers and birds. Eats rose petals, well attempts to--she is good, slides the petal in as if it were sushi! And although she loves being outside, she does NOT like her feet on the grass.

12 Month Check-Up

This morning we had Elena's 12 month wellness visit. The doctor is pleased with her development and happy demeanor. However, we are going to try sleep training again. The doctor said her mental ability to process information is much more advanced now than it was 6 months ago. She also said something I found amusing: "as you can see, Elena is thinning out". At the rate she was growing, I wasn't entirely sure this day would come (I know, 1st time mom syndrome; everyone said once she becomes more mobile she'll thin out). She is 32" inches tall and 24 pounds 14 ounces, which puts her at the 95th percentile (larger than 95% of her peers at the same age) in height and 80th percentile in weight. For reference at 9 months she was 95th percentile for height and 90th in weight. Oddly, her big head measures at the 20th percentile in circumference--it has always measured small but seems so big. I guess she has a tall head, not wide.

The doctor was surprised to hear that Elena jumped three times yesterday. She said that is a question she asks at the 2 year visit. Although Elena isn't walking unassisted yet, her legs are very strong. She stands unassisted for awhile now. It is so cute to see her dance or clap or play with a toy while standing unassisted. I guess we'll see if the jumping yesterday was a fluke or if she learned a new skill.

The visit was exhausting for Elena; she received 4 shots today. Poor baby is sleeping it off, 2 hours and counting. I hope she sleeps tonight!

Jumping already?

This morning Elena was dancing with her new activity table....and then she jumped! It was a 2 legged jump/hop. I was shocked....she has been thinking about a step, never dreamt she would jump. I grabbed the camera and kept it on hand...and luck for you she did it again...this one is not has high or pronounced as the first, as I'm sure the first one took her by surprise. Tilt you neck and enjoy the jump (it's in the beginning). The rest of the video is just her playing and dancing. She can also dance now without holding on to anything.

Elena's 1st Serenade

We had a wonderful day today...the last day before my parents leave. We started out with breakfast with Chris and Lorraine. Then after Elena's nap we walked around Old Town and stopped for lunch at Casa Guadalajara where we enjoyed huge margaritas (big, but not strong) and Elena was serenaded. She really enjoyed the performance.

I apologize the video is sideways...I can't figure out how to flip it.

Happy 1st Birthday to Elena!

How fast this past year has gone. We have enjoyed the first year with Elena, with or with out sleep. Today we celebrated Elena's 1st birthday with all her grandparents. It was a very special afternoon. Hundreds of pictures were snapped...here are just a few pictures from our wonderful day.

Feeling special...

Sharing special crown with Daddy...

Listening as everyone sings Happy Birthday...

We haven't introduced egg or wheat yet so Elena had a special cupcake made from bananas, brown rice flour and butter with a tad of icing. She didn't seem to mind and everyone had a cupcake with her. After dinner the adults had chocolate cake, yum!

Yummy!

Do YOU want some cupcake?

Sharing with Daddy...

Presents, presents and more presents. Elena received a lot of great gifts which included books, clothes and a few toys. She will enjoy them all!

Cheers to a wonderful first year and many more!

Making Friends

Elena loves playing with Cory. He is a great dog and loves playing with Elena too!

Dog Beach

This morning we joined Donna, Pat and their two dogs Cassie and Cory at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach. We all had a nice time walking on the beach. The dogs enjoyed playing in the water and so did Elena. Surprisingly though we only live 20 minutes from the beach, we haven't been over there since last summer. The tide was out so the water was very shallow and warmed up quickly.

Examining sand for the first time. Looks good...think I might try a bite.

Wild Animal Park

Carl had to work :( so today Mom, Dad, Elena, and I went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. We had another perfect day...the weather was great and Elena was a trooper, though she seemed to prefer people watching to animal watching.

Elena has taken to pointing at things. Here she is pointing to the gorillas. It was neat to see them being fed.

Honk, honk! Elena loves honking and beeping noses! Grandpa was entertaining her while we waited for the tram. We explored the Wild Animal Park by foot and tram. The tram is a special feature of the park that takes you through the large exhibits home to many animals. It is wonderful to see the animals in a a more natural setting with other animals.