4 months

We think our little Ella gets more beautiful every day, hence all of the pictures! This is my favorite age so far because she isn't mobile, but she is starting to be really interactive. Here is a list of some of the things Ella is doing at four months:

• Ella LOVES to suck on her hands. She will put anything she can grab in her mouth, so along with her hands she also sucks on her clothes, toys, blankets, and our fingers. Every time we approach her face to give her kisses she opens her mouth as wide as possible.
• Ella is starting to talk with us a lot more. She loves to use her voice. During most conversations, and randomly, she will vocalize while sucking in so she makes a very loud awkward sound. I love it!
• She laughs! We can get her to laugh by bouncing her in our laps, tickling her chest, making silly noises, and raising her in the air above our heads. It is the best sound in the entire world. She even makes her great sucking in sound in the middle of her laughing at times.
• Ella is experimenting with her legs. She wants to stand up most of the time and when we lay her on her back she raises her legs and keeps them in the air. During some diaper changes she rests her hands on her knees while her legs are in the air.
• She loves being with her mom and dad, but is still hit and miss with most other friends.
  
• Ella can be extremely sensitive. If she hears a loud sound suddenly then she quickly protrudes her bottom lip forming a very dramatic frown and then starts to scream. She has done this with lots of sounds including laughter, accelerating trucks, dogs barking, the telephone, the tv, and her parents conversations. Of course these noises don't always make her sad, just when she is in the "right" (or should I say wrong) mood.
• Ella is starting to like some toys. She loves the cow Jessica bought her (thanks Jess) and anything that circulates (ceiling fans, her mobile, etc.). She loves bright colors and lights. She still loves watching the tv because of the movement and colors. The first time I put her bright pink sneakers on they kept catching her eye and she would just stare at them.
• Ella loves to be outside. We go on at least one walk a day. When nothing else can calm her I walk outside and she is instantly alright.
  
• When we talk with Ella and get her to smile she quickly turns her head to the side as if she is shy. You'll notice in the pictures above that her head is turned because her daddy was getting her to smile.
• Before Ella sneezes she lets out an anticipatory yell and then pauses to wait for the sneeze. If the sneeze doesn't come she gets a little perplexed look on her face.