Sixteen Months Old

Ella weighs: around 17 pounds

Ella measures: 28.5 inches 

Don't worry, she didn't shrink. Her feisty personality at the doctor's office has caused a few of our previous measurements to be a bit inaccurate.

Milestones this month:

- drinking from a straw! 

- strong standing

- walking with her walker
- saying Da-da! 

Ella loves: 

- taking things out and putting them in

- anything paper like

- exploring in the kitchen

- trying to get Mommy and Daddy's food

- playing chase 

- knocking down any tower Daddy creates 

- the splash pad and the pool

- reading 

Favorite foods:

- Ritz crackers

- greek yogurt

- watermelon 

- rice and black beans

- peaches

Health and Doctors: 

Ella is the proud owner of two new top teeth. We figured her middle top teeth would come after her bottom middle teeth, but it turns out her lateral incisors or cuspids (we can't tell which they are yet) wanted to come in first. Recently she started to sprout another tooth on bottom, which brings the total count to five teeth. 

Ella had tubes placed in her ears last week. She has had fluid sitting in her ears since her ear infection in April and we decided to go ahead and be proactive to resolve the issue. When we arrived at the front desk, the staff handed her a stuffed animal panda. Instantly a smile spread across her face. The procedure was quick, but waking up from the anesthesia was tough. Once we got her home she settled in for a long nap and woke up acting more like herself.

At our visit to the eye doctor, it was confirmed that Ella's nearsightedness had worsened. We got Ella fitted for her first pair of glasses. She was less than thrilled to have pair after pair of frames placed on her face, but we powered through. Most of the frames and straps were too big for her petite head, but we found a pair that will work. We have been working on getting her used to them a little bit at a time. Her current record for keeping them on before yanking them down is thirty minutes. 

What we have been up to: 

On July 1st, we celebrated 365 days of having Ella home. On July 1st, 2016 our 24 weeker became a NICU graduate. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. After hours of preparations at the hospital, we wheeled our little girl out in her red wagon and loaded her into our car. The eight mile car ride home seemed to last forever. The air was filled with a mix of emotions. Joy, fear, love. We were entering unknown territory. We were entrusted to take our then 5 pound 7 oz baby home. It didn't seem real. And then we pulled into our driveway. For the first time, 98 days post-delivery, we entered our home ALL together.    

This year we celebrated Ella's coming home day by visiting her NICU nurses and her neonatologist. A few of those women were there for her as she took her very first breath of life. They encouraged her from the beginning and reminded her that she had to fight. The others were by her bedside weekly and treated her as if she was their own. A year later they still keep in touch and celebrate each of Ella's milestones with us. NICU doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists are an incredible group of people. All of the Saint Francis NICU staff will always have a special place in our hearts. 

We celebrated Fourth of July weekend with family and friends. Ella attended her first Annual Trease Fireworks show, minus the fireworks. She got to taste her first ever bite of macaroni and cheese. She made it until the sun started to set and then bedtime became necessary. We spent the rest of the weekend at the lake where she played her little heart out with her cousins. We have seen a big shift in Ella's separation anxiety. She seems more content around others and is even willing to be held briefly by friends and family. It has been a win-win for all involved. Last week Ella and I took our first mommy-daughter road trip across state lines. We drove to Fayetteville to visit Aunt Jessa and spent the day exploring a new place and lounging by the pool. Ella even spent some time playing the piano. Ella could spend every day at the pool and be content. She is quite brave and wants to swim like the big kids. Swimming lessons will be a must next summer. 

Ella has been working on eating more and more table foods. Her current favorites are Ritz crackers and watermelon. She may be tiny, but she loves food! Anytime we fix something for ourselves she stares us down, willing for us to give her a taste. 

Ella has become even more mobile this month. She can crawl out of sight in the blink of an eye. I always tease that she could champion at long distance crawling. There is not one bit of square footage that she has yet to discover. She has realized that she too has the power to open a variety of cabinets and doors. Her favorite place to explore is my closet. It won't be too much longer before our little girl is independently cruising on her feet. Right now, she uses her walker and strolls along beaming with pride. She giggles as she goes because she is so proud of herself. We are enjoying every bit of this stage and we can't wait to see what happens next month. 

As always, we want to thank our village surrounding us and encouraging us as we continue on our journey of parenthood. We would not be where we are today without you.