14 months

Our little monkey has gotten so big!  After starting to walk at about 13 months Elli has become quite the mover and shaker!  She has not interest in sitting still.  She spends most of the day chasing the dogs or moving things around the house.  She has hidden many items on us, she loves to move them from one spot to another!   One of the cuttest things she does it grabs the dogs leashes out of the drawer and tries to put them on the dogs, when the dogs run away she puts it around her neck then goes to the door.  She is a great climber, she constantly wants to be going up stairs or climbing up on chairs.

She has started giving kisses in the last few weeks.  This melts our hearts.

She still has limited words, Mama, Dada, Doggie, Hi.  Somehow though, she does an amazing job of communicating!  She is very vocal and is still in her screaming phase...can't wait for that to end.

Our little girl is going to be miss independent.  She will just start running away from us and not looking back.  Aren't kids this age supposed to get nervous if there parents are too far away?  Boy are we in for trouble if the saying that most of your personality is showing by 1 year old!  She is strong willed, independent, doesn't want help from anyone...but most of all, she has a huge heart with fun loving personality.  Man is she awesome!

Hello Washington! (aka life after surgery residency)

It has been a whirlwind of a last few weeks!  Mac finished residency on June 30th.  It is an end to an era, but don't worry we still have one more year of fellowship to go!  After Mac finished we jam packed our beginning of July which was a lot to handle but we got it all done and somehow stayed mostly sane.  We had an amazing camping trip to Timothy lake with our good friends the Nelson's over the 4th of July.  On July 5th the moving truck came and packed us.  We drove to Seattle that night and camped in our new home.  The truck dropped everything off on the 6th and by the 8th we were on a plane to Wisconsin!!!  Yup, busy busy.  The flights this time were really hard with a very mobile Elliot who loves to climb and scream.  We enjoyed spending a long weekend in Wisconsin dells at the cottages where Crystal used to go every summer as a kid.  Lots of pool time, family time, cousins playing, ect.  Then back to Seattle for Crystal to start her new job the next day.  We weren't kidding around, the beginning of July was PACKED!!!

Enjoying Jameson Park

Bath time

Play date with Harvey and Fisall

Camping at Timothy Lake

Exploring the water

On her first hike, she took off without us

Our little bear.

Enjoying sunrise, guess who woke us up that early.

Nap time in the hammock

Nelson family cleaning the days catch

Camp.

4th of July is VERY exciting

Such a good helper during moving.

Settling into our new home

Swimming lessons!

Cousin Love

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Grandma and her girls

Cousins

Priceless

Family swim time

The whole crew

Not so happy about pictures.

I think someone loves her dogs.

Our little monkey...walking and climb

It has been a very busy few months!  Since Elli turned 1 her mobility has sky rocketed!  She started walking on June 9th, the day before she turned 13 months.  Mom and Elli were hanging out in her nursery when she suddenly let go of the crib and walked to mom.  There may have been some tears involved from mom.  Dad was able to promptly get home a few hours later and see it for himself.  With in 48 hours she was cruising all around the house!  The next thing we knew she was flying up the stairs, going up slides, going down the stairs on her butt, ladies and gentleman...she is officially a toddler.  

Elli found her voice around the end of May.  It was a surprise she saved for mom and dad until we were at a restaurant out to dinner.  At that point she decided to start screaming, not crying just learning to scream.  A couple actually asked to be re-seated away from us...yup that happened.  We promptly got out check and headed out.  

Elli's current favorite past times are carrying around her xylophone, and climbing in her "Elli" chair.  

We were able to find some time for some fun outings as well, grandparent visits, berry picking.  Mac has been on a horrendous rotations at work working ALOT.  YAY end of residency!!!  Finally!

Parker the penguin!

Swinging at the park with grandma Weis

I am not even sure how to explain this photo other than it is awesome!  Snack in the box?

Hiking with mom.

Play gym time

I love my chair1

I finally have enough hair for a mohawk1

More hiking with mom.

Stopping on the trail for lunch.

The top of Dog Mountain hike

Look at my new rock.

I love dads hat!  Hanging out at the food carts!

Oregon coast with Grandma and Grandpa Cook

Rose garden

An even bigger mohawk!

All the kids waiting at the vet.

Elli thinks she is one of the dogs....

That smile!

Look who is going to be a rock climber.

Berries at Krueger Farms!

She must have ate her weight in berries.

Edgefield soaking tubs!