THAT'S MY GIRL!

ELISE GOT INTO A BOX OF TAMPONS THE OTHER DAY AND HAD A BLAST PLAYING WITH THEM! SHE THOUGHT THEY WERE THE COOLEST "TOYS" AND CRIED WHEN I TOOK THEM AWAY. ONLY A WOMEN'S HEALTH NP COULD BE SO PROUD:)

FINALLY FORWARD FACING!!!

DELPHI SAFETY ENGINEERS- DON'T PROCEED WITH READING THIS POST! EVEN THOUGH SHE IS NOT REALLY 20 LBS YET, I FINALLY CONVINCED BRIAN TO FLIP THE CAR SEAT. THIS IS ELISE'S FIRST TRIP NOT STARING OUT THE BACK WINDOW. SHE DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT SHE LIKES IT NOW.

15 MONTHS OLD

ELISE WAS 15 MONTHS OLD ON JULY 13TH. SHE IS IN TO EVERYTHING AND SHE IS SUCH A MONKEY!!! SHE HAS ENDLESS ENERGY AND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO FEAR. I KEEP INSISTING THAT SHE IS A LITTLE BOY TRAPPED IN A GIRL'S BODY. ELISE ALSO HAS A VERY STRONG PERSONALITY- SHE EVEN TOLD BRIAN "NO, NO, NO!!!" THE OTHER DAY:) WE CONSTANTLY JUST CRACK UP AT THE THINGS SHE SAYS AND DOES (AND WONDER WHAT WE EVER DID FOR ENTERTAINMENT BEFORE WE HAD HER!).
AT HER CHECK UP SHE WEIGHED 19LB 10Z (ALMOST 5TH PERCENTILE) AND WAS 30.25 IN LONG (50TH PERCENTILE). SHE IS DOING GREAT AND WE JUST LOVE HER TO PIECES!

ARUBA PICTURE MONTAGE

CLICK ON THE PINK ABOVE TO GET TO THE LINK FOR OUR ARUBA PICTURES.

JAMIE AND KEVIN GOT MARRIED IN ARUBA IN MAY. MY MOM STAYED WITH ELISE SO THAT BRIAN AND I COULD GO. WE ONLY WENT FOR A WEEKEND AND IT WAS SO HARD TO LEAVE HER! YOU WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD LIVE IT UP, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT ELISE THE ENTIRE TIME AND STILL GOT UP AT 6:00 OR 7:00 EVERYDAY. WHAT DID WE DO BEFORE SHE CAME ALONG?!

JAMIE AND KEVIN HAD A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING ON THE BEACH AT SUNSET. BRIAN AND I WERE HONORED TO BE IN THE WEDDING AND WE HAD A BLAST IN ARUBA. VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN THEIR BEST FRIEND FOR 26 YEARS- WE WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD! ELISE AND GRANDMA (AND WYATT) HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER- MY MOM SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE WE WERE GONE.

ELISE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PICTURE MONTAGE

CLICK ON THE PINK TO GET THE LINK TO PICS FROM ELISE'S PARTY.

SHE WAS 17 LB, 12 OZ AT HER ONE YEAR CHECKUP AND AHEAD DEVELOPMENTALLY. HER PEDIATRICIAN SAID THAT SHE IS JUST "GENETICALLY PETITE". SHE HAD EAR TUBES PLACED IN MAY AND HAS NOT HAD AN EAR INFECTION SINCE (YAY!). SHE HAS REALLY HAD AN APPETITE LATELY AND HAS BEEN PACKING ON THE POUNDS. SHE WEIGHS OVER 19 LBS ACCORDING TO OUR SCALE, SO HOPEFULLY SHE CAN GO FORWARD FACING IN HER CAR SEAT SOON. ELISE IS QUITE TALKATIVE AND VERY DRAMATIC. SHE CLIMBS ON EVERYTHING, LOVES TO DANCE, AND ALSO HAS A VERY BAD TEMPER.

SO YEAH, THAT FIRST YEAR JUST FLEW BY! I HAD SUCH A HARD TIME WHEN ELISE WAS BORN- SHE WAS A VERY DIFFICULT BABY AND I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT. I DON'T REALLY MISS HER BEING A LITTLE BABY- EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I MISS THAT NEW BABY SMELL AND THOSE CUTE LITTLE NOISES, BUT I REALLY LIKE BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER AND ANTICIPATE HER NEEDS. THIS IS SUCH A FUN AGE AND I FEEL LIKE IT IS MY REWARD FOR STICKING OUT THOSE FIRST FEW MONTHS. I AM AMAZED AT HOW MUCH SHE HAS GROWN AND CHANGED AND HOW MUCH SHE HAS TAUGHT ME ALONG THE WAY. I HAVE LEARNED TO REALLY ENJOY SUCH SIMPLE PLEASURES LIKE WATCHING HER LAUGH HYSTERICALLY WHEN DADDY TICKLES HER BELLY OR WHEN SHE LOOKS AT ME WITH THOSE BIG BLUE EYES AND TELLS ME THAT SHE IS "MIMI'S BAY-BAY". WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL LITTLE GIRL.

RETURN OF THE BLOG SLACKER

THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN SO CRAZY... WE HAD ELISE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY, JAMIE AND KEVIN'S WEDDING IN ARUBA AND THE RECEPTION WHEN WE GOT BACK, I STARTED MY NEW JOB, BRIAN'S BDAY, ELISE'S SURGERY, MY BDAY, MOTHER'S DAY, AND VARIOUS OTHER EVENTS. I WILL PROBABLY JUST START POSTING LINKS TO SLIDESHOWS TO GET CAUGHT UP.
YEAH, I KNOW SHE LOOKS ALL CUTE AND INNOCENT CARRYING AROUND HER "DOG GAY", BUT DON'T BE FOOLED! THE LITTLE RASCAL IS INTO EVERYTHING! I DON'T GET MUCH TIME TO SIT AT MY COMPUTER THESE DAYS, BUT I'M GOING TO GET BACK ON THE BLOG WAGON.

WELCOME BABY BELLA

THIS IS MY LITTLE NIECE ISABELLA WHO WAS BORN ON APRIL 12TH, JOINING THE OTHER 6 APRIL BIRTHDAYS IN OUR FAMILY! SHE IS ADORABLE AND SALVADORE JUST LOVES HIS LITTLE SISTER!

HAPPY (VERY BELATED) FIRST BIRTHDAY ELISE!!!

I AM THE ULTIMATE BLOG SLACKER!!! I HAD EVERY INTENTION OF BLOGGING ELISE'S BIRTHDAY AND BUNCHES OF OTHER STUFF, BUT THEN I STARTED MY NEW JOB AND HAVE JUST BEEN REALLY BUSY WITH STUFF. THEN SILLY ME LEFT MY CAMERA AT MY SISTER'S HOUSE (AND OF COURSE I HADN'T DOWNLOADED MY PICTURES)- SO IT WILL BE A WHILE!
IN THE MEANTIME- SHANTE' TOOK ELISE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PICTURES AND THEY ARE OH SO CUTE! SHE HAD THESE LITTLE MINI PHOTO SESSIONS SET UP AT EASTWOOD LAKE PARK AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ELISE HAD A LOT OF FUN RUNNING AROUND!
http://www.shantewelch.com/abrahams/abrahams-mini/

HAPPY EASTER

WE HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT EASTER! ELISE WAS BORN THE THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER LAST YEAR, SO WE DID A LOT OF REMINISCING. SHE LOOKED SO DARN CUTE IN HER LITTLE BUNNY COAT- IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH SHE HAS GROWN SINCE LAST YEAR!

WORN OUT

THIS IS HOW BRIAN FOUND ELISE NAPPING ONE DAY. SHE IS A CRAZY SLEEPER LIKE HER MOM!

FIRST STEPS

JUST ABOUT A WEEK SHY OF HER FIRST BIRTHDAY, ELISE STARTED WALKING!!! SHE HAS BEEN TAKING STEPS HERE AND THERE, BUT LAST WEEK SHE JUST TOOK OFF AND IS WALKING LIKE A BIG GIRL. SHE GETS SO EXCITED AND IS SO PROUD OF HERSELF. IT IS SO MUCH FUN CHASING HER AROUND!

PHOTO SHOOT

We had a photographer come to the house to take some pictures of Elise. I really liked her style- she truly just stayed in the background and didn't stage anything (the bunny pictures are all my fault!!!). She just followed Elise around and took pictures of Elise being Elise. They turned out great- especially considering Elise had a cold, pink eye, and a bruise on her head! I didn't know that I was also being photographed (which will soon be obvious when you see my ponytail and sweats), but the pictures of me and Elise made me cry! I hope this link works. Enjoy...
http://www.shantewelch.com/eliseshow/elise.exe

ELEVEN MONTHS OLD

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT OUR LITTLE GIRL WILL BE CELEBRATING HER FIRST BIRTHDAY NEXT MONTH! ELISE IS OVER 17 POUNDS NOW!!! SHE IS VERY VERBAL- "DADDY, DOGGY, THANK YOU, ALL DONE, BYE, HI, BA, THIS, UP". SHE WILL REPEAT SOME THINGS AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE SHE SAYS MOMMY (USUALLY WHEN SHE IS WHINING). BRIAN KEEPS SAYING "I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE SHE IS TALKING...THAT LITTLE THING IS TALKING!" SHE TAKES STEPS HERE AND THERE, BUT SHE KNOWS THAT SHE CAN GET AROUND MUCH FASTER CRAWLING. SHE CONTINUES TO AMAZE US WITH ALL OF THE THINGS SHE DOES AND WE ARE HAVING A BLAST!

ELISE AND JULIA

WE HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT ELISE AND JULIA LOOKED A LITTLE BIT ALIKE. RECENTLY WHEN KATIE AND I WENT OUT TO LUNCH, TWO PEOPLE ASKED IF THEY WERE TWINS! HERE ARE A FEW PICS OF THE GIRLS PLAYING.

GOODBYE UNCLE ADAM

ADAM LEFT THIS WEEK TO SERVE IN IRAQ. HE WILL BE GONE AT LEAST TEN MONTHS. PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!

LITTLE TOOTHERS

ELISE FINALLY HAS HER TWO FRONT TEETH!
SHE LOOKS ADORABLE AND SHE CHEWS ON EVERYTHING- EVEN HER CRIB!!! SHE HAS DONE SO WELL WITH TEETHING- HARDLY ANY FUSSING AT ALL.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

 
 
 
I NEVER IMAGINED I COULD LOVE SOMEONE SO MUCH! WE FINALLY GOT OUT OF OUR PJS (WE HAVE HAD MANY "PJ DAYS" WITH ALL THE SNOW) AND ELISE HUNG OUT WITH GRANDMA AND GRANDPA WHILE WE WENT TO DINNER WITH ED AND JEN. 

10 MONTHS OLD

 
 
 
ELISE WAS 10 MONTHS OLD ON TUESDAY. SHE NOW STANDS BY HERSELF, WAVES, SAYS "BABA", AND IS ALL OVER THE PLACE! I AM ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH SHE DOES AND HOW FAST SHE IS GROWING UP! I JUST LOVE HER PERSONALITY- SHE IS SO SPUNKY AND DEMANDING.
YOU CAN SEE HER 9.5 MONTH PICTURES AT THE WEBSITE BELOW. SHE WAS VERY SLEEPY, SO SHE DIDN'T SMILE MUCH, BUT KIM CAPTURED A LOT OF HER FAMOUS MOODS AND LOOKS.
WWW.KMCCLOUD.PHOTOSITE.COM 

I LOVE THIS BLOG

I STUMBLED UPON THIS BLOG WHEN I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR SOMETHING ELSE (I GOOGLED "BABY STANDING IN CRIB WON'T SLEEP"). I WAS TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE ELISE WAS OBSESSED WITH STANDING AND WOULD JUST SCREAM, PROTESTING HER NAPS.
WELL THIS BLOG IS HILARIOUS. SHE HAS A VERY WARPED SENSE OF HUMOR AND IT JUST CRACKS ME UP. A LOT OF HER POSTS ARE THINGS THAT ALL OF US AS MOTHERS HAVE THOUGHT, BUT WOULD NEVER SAY. CHECK IT OUT AND ENJOY!
http://www.mom-101.blogspot.com/

GERMAPHOBES- DON'T LOOK!

 
"HEY WY-WY! WHATCHA GOT?"
 
"YOU CAN'T STOP ME!"
 
"I HEARD YOU SAY NO MOM, BUT I REALLY WANT THE BONE."
 
"ANTIBODIES MOM, ANTIBODIES... THE GERMS ARE GOOD FOR ME!" 

BIG GIRL SMILES

 
 
WHERE IS THAT LITTLE BABY GOING? DOESN'T SHE LOOK LIKE SUCH A BIG GIRL?!