Never a Dull Moment!

The camera may be broken, but life goes on in Buckingham Palace! Ellie recently reached the 6 month mark! I blinked, and here we are! Since we have no camera, once again her bear picture will be late, but I'll certainly take one. At her doctor's appointment she did great. The doctor asked if she was rolling over and I had to confess I don't know! She doesn't have much time on the floor and is happier sitting up, so she hasn't had much of a chance to show her stuff. Also, when she's in a different place than when I left her, I never know if she's moved or been moved. She's definitely sitting quite well, which kind of surprised the doctor, so he's certainly not worried about her motor development. She sits for quite a while on her own. Sometime she still loses her balance, particularly when she's excited, so I still put pillows around her (not for support but to cushion her fall). She loves being able to see things better and play while sitting. She also loves to sit in the bumbo chair on the table and watch us eat. Sitting and smiling are her favorite things, closely followed by grabbing things and putting EVERYTHING except actual food in her mouth. She still makes awful faces when I try to give her food, but her thighs show she's not missing out on anything. She has such a sweet and happy disposition. She is such a treat! She weighed 16 lb 12.6 oz (66 percentile) and measured 25 3/4 in (50 percentile). Her head is 16 3/4 in (53 percentile). She's quickly growing out of 3-6 mo clothes and headed toward size 3 diapers once this pack runs out. She still has the sweetest smile and makes everyone that sees her return it.
Eve is potty training! We've been working on it for about a week now...I think exactly a week today. We've been very laid back about it and she's doing great! It's been tough for me with everything going on. We can't just take a few days to stay home and work on it all day. Lots of running around to do and other kids to appease during the day, but still she's doing great. I haven't been brave enough to put her in big girl underwear while we're out yet, but she's done better in those than in pull-ups. Candy is a great motivator (and John gets candy for encouraging her) as well as the princess panties we got for her. She's constantly reviewing the princesses names, but refers to them by the color they're wearing or the color of their hair. "Who's the green on?" "Tiana" "Who's the brown one?" "Belle", etc. I've answered each about a bazillion times since we've gotten them. Don't get me wrong, she still loves Ironman, but princesses have also become quite important. This impressive thing about her progress is that she wants "pricacy" and does everything on her own beginning to end as long as there's a stool. I'm really quite impressed.
On a random note, I don't think I've ever mentioned this, but Eve is constantly making lists. Telling me about her pacifiers (chupas), "I have a pink one, and an orange one, and a pink one, and a yellow one, and an orange one, and a pink one, and a yellow one, and an orange one...". She only has 3. Or, "I'm going, and Ellie, and John, and you, and Daddy, and Eve, and John, and Daddy, and Ellie, and Eve, and not Aunt Michelle, and John...". Between that and her constant singing, which is sweet because it's often songs from church (over and over and over) car rides can become quite exhausting. Sweet, but exhausting.
John is becoming very independent. He now prides himself on doing things before we ask, like feeding the dogs or getting himself dressed. That has been AWESOME! He's learning so much in school. He's also started giving lots of compliments, which is so sweet.
As tiring as these kids can be in the moment, I just can't get enough of them. They are so sweet, so entertaining, and so loving. They're a blast, a hoot, and a HUGE blessing! And so darn cute! I'm so proud of them on so many different levels.