first steps

For the past few weeks, Elise has taken one occasionally two steps here and there between reachable pieces of furniture.  But I think that 1.31.11 will be the date in her baby book that is official for her first steps... last night she took 8-9 steps all on her own and repeated it several times, today just the same.  It may take weeks to get this down but it is so much fun watching her explore and grow.

Perfect day off.

Sunshine, dear friend, babies and a delicious Cafe Mela latte... absolutely heavenly!

Little James is growing into such a handsome perfect little boy.

These are from a walk a week earlier when everything was layered in beautiful snow!

We came home today and were just a little grouchy;)

.

Florea Visit

We couldn't have had a more perfect weekend with some wonderful friends. Micah, Beth and Logan filled our home with so much love and laughs; we love when these three visit.  Elise and Logan are such good buddies and play so well together, crawling and following each others innocent yet occasionally mischievous play fullness:)

Courtney, Jesse and Caed had us over for delicious cinnamon rolls and J5 Coffee!!! So delicious, and such a treat.  Loved the Nerf wars with Caed too!

A fun game on the stairs!



Logan may have to wait a few years until Elise can do piggy back rides:)



Fondue dinner

These are the two cutest hineys!

Thanks for the sleepover Logan, miss you already.... LOVE Elise



Eleven month collage





11 months old

Only one more month until our little baby is one year old, makes my heart hurt a little.   But, I have to smile with all the amazing things our little Elise shows us every day.  Although still a little one as far as the growth charts are concerned; personality, spunk and curiousity are off the charts for this little one.  Hide and seek is now our favorite game, and for Elise both the hiding and seeking is equally amusing.  Squeezing through small spaces is another favorite game, especially when the ones following can't squeeze through as gracefully.  Our vocabulary consists of pointing and saying "ba, ba" at almost everything, recognizing a ball and saying "bal"... that sounds just a little bit more like ball than a standard "ba", and on occasion the "ma ma" and "da da" do come out a little more often directly to one of us specifically.   We are cruising around furniture one handed and reaching with even a step in between pieces that are just a little too far... perhaps the day is approaching before too long that we have an official walker.  Crawling has been kicked in to overdrive with both speed and distance, sometimes to the point of collapsing on your face when you get going so fast. 

You amuse us and complete us our little peanut and we love you so very much.

My fun little collage program has merged with google and no longer works:( 

Daddy and Elise checking out the snow!

Long icicles along our front window.

waiting for snow

Though the cold weather is here, the snow has yet to cross the Cascades into Wenatchee; still waiting. 

We had such a restful, calm weekend... just what we needed to recover from a week of the flu.



Bath time is fun again!

As is exploring the cupboards.

ear infections, flu... grandma LOVE

A slow start to a 2012 with a double ear infection and flu for this sweat pea.  Thankfully we're on the mend now and hopefully have built up a few immunities to last a long time without sickness.  I don't know how we'd do it if we didn't have two grandma's living close by, not only to watch Elise while we're at work but to spoil her with all the love and snuggles than only grandmas know how to give. 

Thank you so much Grandma Connie for watching me this morning, Love you.... Elise