Ellen – 1 Year Portraits

Jun 22, 2012 By Rae in Little Ones 2 Comments Tags: Baby's First Year, Ellen

So, I absolutely realize (and should probably point out) that Ellen turned one well over a month ago on May 15.  We were in France that day (pics coming of THAT soon, too) and she was in North Carolina with my family, so her portraits were delayed a couple weeks.  Even still, I took these portraits nearly a month ago, and I am sorry for not completing and sharing them earlier.  It is surreal to me that she is 13 months and one week old.  She is still my baby; maybe that will change when she decides to start walking/running, but today she’s my baby.  I thought she wasn’t going to be as cautious as her older sister, but she is.  She totally is strong enough to walk on her own, but she doesn’t want to let go until she knows she won’t fall.  I get it.  They come by it honestly.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy these portraits of my sweet Ellie.  Happy viewing, friends!

Chris was present with me to help engage her.  She’s becoming more and more of a daddy’s girl by the day!

Ellen is SUPER fast at crawling.  It is no wonder she doesn’t want to walk; crawling is faster!!  (for now, anyway)

she doesn’t need anything to grip onto to pull herself up to standing… a flat wall will do.

Ellen used to smile at anyone that would smile at her, and then she caught Claire’s bug… she will NOT smile at strangers unless she randomly deems them worthy of a smile (which is rare).  :-)  This is the look she gives to strangers… (and mommy when I call her out when she’s “busy” exploring something).

love love love this!

Ellen LOVES the water.  Loves splashing in it, no matter the temperature & no matter if it gets her in the eye.  Daddy dipped her feet in the fountain, and she was in heaven!

Ellen’s love for water does not translate to grass.  She hates it!  She WILL NOT crawl in it and thus feels trapped when you put her in it.  This is proof.

and this… (her leg is lifted because she didn’t want to put it on the grass- no joke)

but then daddy distracts her, and she’s happy again!

i love this one a lot!

i also LOVE pigtails!

i could kiss those lips and cheeks ALL DAY!

So, one thing I really love is that Ellen is super affectionate.  She is my snuggler.  She loves to be kissed and to kiss.  She loves to be hugged and to hug.  She loves just laying her head on my shoulder or leaning against me when we read books.  All so sweet!   She also LOVES to crawl up my pants (as pictured below) anytime I need to make a meal or do something other than cuddle.  We’re easing her into the realization that we can’t always hold her.  Don’t get me wrong, though, she’s awesome at entertaining herself and playing alone or with Claire!  She just gets in moods when she just wants to be loved on (don’t we all?!).

this last one may look like a sorta smile, but it is a sorta fuss.  She was hungry.  Mommy fail for not bringing snacks to our lil shoot!  (explains why she was grabbing me, too!).

One of the new features of this new blog is the TAGS (to the left under the comments link).  You can click on the tag for Ellen and view all of the posts I’ve done for her over the last year, if you wish to review all of her monthly portraits.  I am going to make a First Year album with Leather Craftsmen very soon, and when I get it, I will have to share pics of it AND Claire’s album (since I never did before and their albums will coordinate).