7 months

Here's Ellie's Top 10 at seven months:

• 1. Babbling up a storm. I joke every so often that I hear her say big words — "daddy," "mama" or even "Eleanor" — but I don't think she's quite reached that milestone yet. She sure likes to hear herself talk, though! And we love it, too.
• 2. Eating veggies and rice cereal. She's back to eating like a champ, after her hiatus for a couple days. The biggest obstacles are when Ellie decides to chew, talk or blow bubbles right as we put the spoon full of food in her mouth. The only bigger mess comes when she sneezes during meal time!
• 3. Sitting up and playing with toys. She loves just about everything we put in her hands, whether it's soft blocks, rings, board books or a paper plate.
• 4. Reaching for everything in our hands. If Ellie sees it, she wants it! I've learned to keep a strong grip on any cup or papers I'm holding if Ellie is in the other arm — because she inevitably reaches out and gives it a good yank.
• 5. Laughing! I'll have to get some video up on this, but she is really giggling a LOT these days. She is ticklish sometimes and loves getting "whooshed" in the air. Proof to come.
• 6. Putting her feet in her mouth. I noticed a fuzz on her chin the other day after changing her. It was sock lint left behind!
• 7. Listening to bedtime stories. Part of our routine almost every night is for dad to read a story while I feed her before bed. We're currently reading her chapters from the Classic Pooh book, for the second time. Brian does a pretty great Eeyore voice. Maybe I'll get video of that, too?
• 8. Jumping and bouncing. Ellie goes a little nuts whenever she's in her exersaucer, especially the ones at school because they have more springs for jumping. And if we're holding her in a standing position in our laps, all she wants to do is bounce, bounce, bounce.
• 9. Learning how to get what she wants... this one isn't entirely positive, but it's clear that Ellie is learning how to "win." She'll often cry and fuss until one of us picks her up or sits on the floor with her. We know that she's aware of how it works because we (and the ladies at school) have found that she'll quiet just from seeing us walk toward her. But if we veer in another direction or don't come to actively play with her, she starts fussing again. We will continue working on getting Ellie to entertain herself for longer stretches.
• 10. When we're not trying to teach her important lessons, though, a favorite in our house is cuddle-time. Ellie will sometimes give us hugs, and when she's getting sleepy she'll lay her head down on my shoulder. It absolutely melts my heart. Just when I think I can't possibly love her any more, she goes and gets even more adorable and wonderful.

Happy 7 months, Ellie!