It was the best of times; it was the worst of times

Now, at the seven-month mark, Ellie is becoming more expressive... both through laughter and through crying. The laughter started on her plane ride home from Oregon when this random lady pictured below started poking Ellie and Ellie apparently burst out laughing (I wasn't there).

We struggle with the issue of how much to expose her to technology in her early years. On one hand, we want her to develop a longer attention span to relationships and a love of nature, but on the other hand, technology will be essential for her generation's survival and thrival in school/career.

So we try to balance it out with lots of books; sometimes she listens, sometimes she just smacks them or tries to eat them, but at least she enjoys them.

Solids has been the biggest stress point of the recent months, and the second-biggest since she was born (next to figuring out breastfeeding). Part of it is that she doesn't seem really interested in more than a few spoonfuls, and part of it is the message imbued around us that not enough solids means not enough iron means delayed brain development. I doubt how crucial this actually is, but it's one of those things that you don't want to err on the wrong side.

My favorite new move is when she grabs both sides of my (or someone else's) face and then plants a big sloppy kiss.