Elise's First Week of School

Elise started Mother's Day Out this week. She's going two days each week, Tuesday and Thursday. I was a little nervous because she's never really been with anyone else during the day. Elise did GREAT! Matt dropped her off each morning and there were no tears to be seen. As soon as he set her down, she just crawled over to her new friends and toys. Her naps were off schedule, but that's to be expected. She got big smiley faces on her daily report sheet each day. I hope the rest of the year is as successful as the first week!

Not showing any nerves the morning of the first day of school!

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping babies are so precious and of course our little Elise is no exception. I finally "caught" her sucking her thumb. It doesn't happen often at all.

And with the click of the camera, she popped it out.

Cuuute!

Silly Jaws

Looks like Matt and I aren't the only ones enjoying the backyard addition. Jaws has a new "spot" when we're outside. I imagine the firebrick feels nice and cool to lay on.

Patio Redo- The End is in Sight!!

Matt just has to finish laying the flagstone for the patio extension and then we'll be done, for a while at least. We need to do some landscaping, but since San Antonio is in the worst drought in history, we'll wait until we get some rain and/or it cools down. We can't wait to have everyone over for a little happy hour/dinner party; it shouldn't be too much longer!!

Elise- 8 months!

Dear Elise,

Today you are eight months old!!! You have turned into such a fun and delightful little baby! Your days are filled with smiles, laughter, and squeals. You are in such a good mood all the time! You are a master at crawling and have gotten so quick. You go up and down the different steps in our house and you love exploring and pulling up. You have gotten really good at playing and entertaining yourself.

Some tidbits about you this month:

• You have two bottom teeth.
• You love all solid food but you also still love to nurse.
• You love sitting in the grocery cart at the store.
• You know two words. You know your name and will turn when you hear it. You also know "Jaws" and when I say, "Where's Jaws" you freeze and your eyes immediately dart around to find him. When you do find him, you get a big smile on your face.
• You still adore Jaws though I don't think I can say the feeling is 100% mutual. You climb all over him, pull his hair, ears, and jowls. He used to not mind but now you've gotten much stronger. When he's had enough, he gets up and walks away. You also take his bone right from his mouth. He lets you though.
• You now go to bed around 7:15 and sleep until about 7:15 the next morning. Sometimes you wake around 5:30am, but once I nurse you, you go right back to sleep and will then sleep until about 7:45 (when I let you!!)
• You take 2 naps, about 3 hours total. Our days are still the same. We go on a walk each morning, then you have breakfast, play a bit, and down for your first nap. We go on lots of lunches and playdates with friends, often at the pool.
• You love the pool and smile when I dunk you underwater!
• You have just started cruising around which means you use the furniture to steady you as you walk.
• You are babbling like crazy. You say dadadada but you don't know what it means yet. You also said Mom-meee once; but it was a fluke for sure :)
• Just this month you started sucking your thumb. You only do this when you are very tired. Also, you have decided you actually like a pacifier. So strange that you started this late!!! I just leave one in your crib and you find it if you want it.

This month has been the most fun. Your little personality is coming out and you are just a blast! You are still wary of people you don't know. You are also SO observant. Your eyes don't miss much, no matter where we are. You really study people and what they're doing. You are turning into such a fun little girl. Daddy and I are having a blast with you, watching you grow up. We can't wait to see what next month brings!

Fun with your activity table.

You love standing at the window and watching Daddy work.

Bath time fun!

(If you look carefully, you can see her two teeth!)

Cutest little bum!!

You love crawling in the grass!

8 Month Pictures- The Rejects

I think this is the last month I'll attempt to do Elise's monthly pictures by myself. I'm calling for backup for next month!

"Uh, Mom, you forgot the dumb sign that says how old I am!"

"There ya go! But now I don't feel like looking at the camera!"

"What's on this thing anyway?"

"Sign Overboard!!!"

"No worries, I'll get it!"

And we'll just forget the pics on Grandma's quilt- she won't lay on her back for anything!

"Hey, look! The sign is back. Wonder how I can mess this up?"

"Sign messed up? Check! Mission accomplished!"

Trapped!

Oh this was fun! (please note sarcasm.) I normally try and take my showers during Elise's morning nap. But that doesn't always happen, especially if we have somewhere to be. So I usually plop her on the bathroom floor, shut the doors, and give her a few empty shoe boxes to play with. She has a great time! Except, now she is really into pulling up. And she really likes to stand, leaning against the shower door, and watch me as I shower. (Ummm... helloooo... privacy please?????) So I finish my shower, except I can't open the door, because if I do, Elise will fall backwards, smack her skull on the tile, and an ER visit will be in our future. No thank you. So I usually just throw a few things over the shower door and she'll crawl after them. Then I make my escape. Well, that didn't work so well this week. I threw everything out, shampoo, combs, feet scrubby thingies... everything we had in the shower. And Elise still stood there, with a big smile on her face. This went on for about 5 minutes. And of course, we had somewhere to be! Finally, she sat down and I was able to make my exit. I think I'm going to have to come up with a new plan for showers.

"Trapping Mommy is FUN!"

Oh, and what's that thing on her bum you ask??? That's a cloth diaper of course! How cute and fluffy is that?!?!