15 months!

 Sweet girl snuggling with my stuffed animal from the day I was born!

Happy 15 months peanut! Ella turned 15 months on March 22nd and had her 15 month check-up on March 25th.  She weighed in at 23 pounds, 4 ounces (77th percentile) and measured 29.25 inches long (only the 11th percentile!!)  She does NOT like to be weighed or measured so I am hoping that her height is a little off since she was crying, kicking and squirming but we may have a shortie on our hands!  She had two shots and just cried for a few seconds and once I picked her up she was fine.  Ella (nor Joseph) really are affected by shots and she was fine for the rest of the day.  Dr. Romero strongly recommended giving up the pacifier cold turkey especially with a new baby coming in the early fall-she said it would be easier to break the habit now instead of once baby is here.  Ella only uses it for the stroller, car and sleeping -she really never has it in her mouth around the house or anything but figured we could get rid of it...well, at least during the day.  So, she no longer uses it in the stroller or in the car but haven't been able to kick the sleeping habit yet.  I tried (well for one night and she cried for about 15 minutes and Rich was gone that night and I just couldn't do it so I went up, stuck the pacifier in and she feel asleep immediately.)  We'll try again after our trip to Galveston this weekend-really, dont' want to be in a hotel room testing it out!  

She is saying, "mama", "dada", "uh-oh" and "no".  The "no" is the cutest thing ever-it is kind of like a "neow."  She naps for an hour and a half (almost exactly) every day and is still sleeping from 6:30ish until 7 the next morning-definitely a great nighttime sleeper!  She continues to be a very social little girl with a big smile.  She loves going to storytime at the library every Thursday although doesn't sit in my lap much more these days as she is more interested in walking around looking at the other babies, taking their things, and flirting with the leader.  Before bed she always chooses the same books to read to her "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and the "Firefighter look and see book".  She rarely sits through an entire book except for these two; she often will bring books over to us but then lasts a page, if that!  Even when we are reading to Joseph she just plays around us, never sits down to listen-we'll just keep trying!  She continues to adore Joseph but they are definitely in the stage where Joseph will tease, Ella will get upset and sometimes she'll even take things from him causing him to get upset.  We recently took down our Easter decorations and there was a stuffed animal bunny which caused tears from both of them every morning for about a week.  I broke down and bought a similar bunny so they each would have one but it continues as sometimes she wants the one that he has and vice versa...and so it begins I guess!  Overall, Joseph is excellent with Ella though and we just love seeing them really become friends!  When she wakes up in the morning or at nap she will always point to Joseph's bedroom and loves giving him kisses.   People are saying that Joseph and Ella are starting to look more alike as she is losing her baby look and looking more and more like a toddler.  She loves climbing at the playground, going down the slide and in the swing. Definitely an active little girl!  

I know it is cliche, but she is definitely growing up way too fast!  Love you little Ella Bean!

I think she looks like her cousin, Sydney, in this picture!

 It is starting already!  She loves shoes and purses!  Here she is with Joseph's shoes on!

Happy 15 months sweet girl!