New Shoes and Blocks

Elise's therapist suggested we invest in a good pair of shoes that would help to support Elise's ankles. Up until now, we've fought Elise to wear socks and Robeez shoes (all leather shoes that slip on over socks) with no success. An average outing would look like this: 1) put on socks/shoes and head out to the car. 2) Elise kicks and rubs off socks/shoes in car. 3) find socks/shoes hidden in car and put back on to go into store/restaurant. 4) Elise kicks and rubs off socks/shoes in store/restaurant. 5) we find socks/shoes and store them in a pocket until leaving...meanwhile Elise is barefoot in public during the winter and people stare for obvious reasons! 6) we put on socks/shoes to make it back to the car before Elise takes them off again. Augh! So, when Ann (our therapist) told us to invest in a good pair of high tops, we were skeptical.

At the shoe store, Elise was measured (size 2.5) and we picked out her first 'real' shoes. We settled on Stride Rite white high tops that have pink soles and pink hearts. They are too adorable. Ironically, Elise loves them! She is to wear her shoes as much as possible during the day to provide the support she needs before she is strong enough on her own. Ironically, she cries and fights us when we take them off for naps and her bath. Our girl is proud of her new footwear! Ask Elise where her new shoes are ...and she'll gladly point to her feet!

Elise has also taken a liking to her blocks. We build towers everyday. This is the first tower she built by herself: it may appear a bit abstract and modern, but she chose each block carefully-- and placed them into the exact location she deemed appropriate. I have to admit that she and monkey man (her little lovey she sleeps with and appears in the picture) appear to be happy with the final project!

One-year Pediatrician and 'A-Da-Da'!!

Yesterday evening, Jeff and I took Elise to her one-year visit with Dr. Kennedy. She is 18 lbs 3 oz (10%), 28 1/4 inches long (25%) with a head circumference of 17 1/4 inches (25%). Elise is still petite compared to her peers.... but nice and healthy! We've been given the green light to introduce whole milk in her sippy cup-- which will eventually replace her formula bottles. What a big girl she has become! Today, I gave her 'the' first ounce of milk after breakfast. She drank it quickly but gave me a confused face when she finished. I think she was anticipating water. Hopefully she won't get an upset belly and we'll up the ante tomorrow with 2 ounces. The visit ended with a hemoglobin check (finger prick) and several vaccines (MMR, chickenpox and Hepatitis A). Our next appointment will be in another 3 months.

There is some debate between Jeff and myself as to whether or not Elise has said her first word! Over the past several days, Elise has pointed to one of the dogs and said 'A-da-da!'. If translated, that means 'a doggie'. Unfortunately, she doesn't repeat the word if we ask her to-- she speaks only when she is inspired (usually when the dogs are running around and playing!). So where do WE rank if her first word isn't 'Mommy' or 'Daddy' but rather 'Doggie'? Well, we do love Brutus and Garth so I guess it is fitting! After all, they were the big #1 before Elise.



(Elise playing with Brutus' tail....her 'A-Da-Da')




Elise and I went out for round 2 of sledding today (this time with gloves!). A warm front will be arriving starting tomorrow so all of our snow will be melting. This time after Elise was pulled around for awhile, I took her out and set her in the snow. She was unsure of what to do... then again there isn't much she can do in that snowsuit! After a moment, she leaned over and got a bit of snow on her glove and tried to taste it. She was shocked to find that snow is very cold!

First Birthday!

What a fabulous birthday Elise has had! Luckily daddy was able to slip out of work a few minutes early this afternoon. Elise and I got dressed in our winter clothes and met daddy down the street in our sled.... the maiden voyage! Elise was so cute riding in her sled. She sat very still and didn't move much to look around-- partly because she had so many layers of clothes! She screamed when she had to wear her gloves so we pulled her long sleeves down over her hands instead. This was a good compromise and Elise stayed nice and toasty. For dinner, we headed off to JoJos for some pizza.




















Now that we are making Elise's birthday entry, we realize that one year ago she was about to be born. We have come a long way! One year ago, Elise couldn't breathe on her own-- she needed medicine and monitors to keep her safe. She also had to be tube fed. Back then we could never have imagined how much would change. This same little girl now eats like a truck driver-- enjoys gobbling down green beans and beef tenderloin. She also enjoys laying on her stomach in the bathtub and putting her face in the water. Elise is also the girl who waves at other customers who shop at Giant Eagle, carries around her 'monkey man' blanket, and gives big kisses if you ask for one! Who knows where we will be in another year!

Even with all the 'bumps' in the road, there were a zillion wonderful moments that we have had that have made parenthood worth it. Neither Jeff nor myself would trade this past year for anything. Luckily we also have the support of our family and friends-- it truly does take a village to raise a child! We are so thankful for Elise... she has enriched and blessed our lives!!! Happy birthday Elise!

Let's Party!

Yesterday, Elise celebrated her first birthday with the family! We sent out invitations (more for a memento than an actual invite!) that had 12 pictures-- one for each month of Elise's first year.


Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Pappa, Aunt Amy, and Uncle Chris all came over to our house this past Saturday, January 2nd. After drinks and appetizers, Elise opened her gifts. Luckily she had warmed up with unwrapping presents over Christmas!



Elise opened a Busy Zoo Activity Center, a bumblebee Wheely Bug riding toy, a push cart (she loves grocery shopping!), books to add to our her library, clothes, and other thoughtful gifts from family and friends.










We had decorated the dining room with pink and orange decorations during Elise's morning nap. She loved the transformation and approved the decorating committee's work. Daddy worked hard to frost her strawberry cupcakes with both strawberry and chocolate icing. He even decorated the mailbox with streamers-- which the mail lady loved! Most of the party guests wore pink-- but daddy wore his #1 OSU jersey-- maybe next year he'll wear a #2!


After dinner (all of her favorites- turkey sandwiches, Waldorf salad, broccoli salad, and homemade macaroni and cheese) we presented the cupcakes. Elise didn't know what to make of all the singing and clapping.... nor did she know what to do with her strawberry cupcake. She took a few licks of frosting off of her hands and realized she wasn't interested in eating it. Instead, we shared some Neapolitan ice cream. Guess our meat and veggie girl isn't interested in sweets!


After the birthday girl turned in for the night (7pm), we all watched 'Elise's Greatest Hits' dvd that we had made. Since we have compiled so many hours of video from Elise's year, we cut and pasted together all the highlights to make a one-hour video-- which we used as party favors. You really begin to see how far we made it this first year. All the way from the NICU to a birthday party!