Pool Party

Yes, it's here...the 2010 Pool Season has just begun!! Today was nice and hot and after a day of collecting rocks, picking up ants and waving to the bus drivers as they dropped off their children, we were long overdue for a cool down... it was time to set up the pool! Poor Elise was sporting a new cold- runny nose and sneezing (who gets colds at this time of year?!) but she was in good spirits as she donned her new bathing suit. The dogs were happy too to see the return of the big 'bowl' of water out but we had to remind them that this 'bowl' of water wasn't for drinking but for getting wild and crazy in! Elise wasted no time hopping in and practicing her strokes from last year. We'll be poolside most of the summer I assume!

Note to Self...

Note to self: When playing Peek-A-Boo, don't play in the middle of eating blackberries... it's a bit messy!

Stop and Smell the Dandelions

Maybe I should have titled this 'These Shoes Were Made For Walking'! Now that Elise has discovered her feet, she's off and running....and not looking back! I don't know who is happier- Elise or us. Luckily the weather has been so beautiful (today 80 degrees) that we've been spending a lot of time outdoors. It's a perfect season to be learning to walk! Yesterday, Elise took off walking up and down the sidewalks around our house. She's still a bit wobbly but wasn't deterred by the hard concrete. I tried coaxing her onto the grass but she much preferred walking on a 'path' instead.








Today, we went to the park next to the Holland library. Normally we would spend some time swinging but that fun didn't compare to walking! Eventually we made our way to the library but not until we logged some laps around the park. Are baby miles shorter in distance than regular miles? If they are, we walked an equivalent to a baby marathon!








Sorry for all the pictures but I can't get enough of Elise on her feet! It was such a long wait that I relish the fact that we've reached this big milestone!!!!

Bye Baby. Hello Toddler!

A mere 2 days before Elise turns 16 months, she went from zero to sixty in the walking department. Up until today, she refused to walk for us at home-- just saving her moves for her therapist, Ann. But today was different, she walked-- more times than we can even count! Granted, she's not up and running around the house, but you can judge by the video that to go from nothing to THIS is quite huge!!! Not only is she walking, but now can stand straight up. Obviously Elise has been trying to perfect her moves before she debuted them today. Jeff is convinced that she's been running laps in her crib in the middle of the night. Regardless, it was so worth the wait!!!!

Going to the Zoo....

Today Elise and I met our friends the Hebekas (Tommy-4, Eliza and Anna- 2yrs 3mo) for a morning of fun at the Toledo Zoo. While it was my first time to the Toledo Zoo, it was actually Elise's second (she went on April 1st with daddy, grandma, and grandpa). The stroller brigade hit the ground running-- trying to beat the school buses full field trips to the back of the zoo first (a technique Julie suggested..very smart). While I thought for sure that the monkey area would be the highlight, it was really the aquarium! My only disappointment were that the 'Nemo' fish were elevated slightly and hard to view from a stroller. I'm sure it is hard to be so little and low to the ground--- Miss Elise you better get walking since Nemo is waiting for you! After a yummy picnic lunch in our stroller, we headed home for a restful nap. We'll be heading back there very soon since
we have season passes. Next time daddy will have to join us!












(Elise's previous zoo trip with Daddy)

The Walker

Yes, Miss Elise acquired a new toy from her physical therapist today... a walker. It may be the cutest walker ever built as it really is a micro sized walker. Instead of the bar going in front of her, it is behind her.... also called a posterior rolling walker (because it has wheels-- but it can't roll backwards or sideways). The one posted to the left is a shiny new one that I found online. Ours is just being loaned to us from Rehab Dynamics (our therapy office) and has been loved and used by other patients... it even came with a few Hello Kitty stickers on the side. Shhh... don't tell but we added our own Lightning McQueen car sticker-- in honor of Elise's soon-to-be lightning speed
transition to walking without anymore aids!





The reason why Elise gets to borrow her new 'toy' from our therapist, Ann, is for multiple reasons. First, since she is able to walk when given external support, the walker will aid in trunk extension, arm support and balance. Secondly, the walker allows Elise to walk correctly. Normally when she pushes her 'push toys' around, Elise leans forward with her arms out in front. Her new walker will keep her upright and arms in the correct position (see her older picture with her push lion). Finally, Elise will be encouraged to spend more time upright and walking- vs. crawling. Ann tells me that some kids decide to 'walk right out of the walker' when it gets too cumbersome and bulky.






Elise does have the strength to walk on her own- even if just for a few steps. Once we log on some miles with our walker, we'll be running circles around the house in no time! Most importantly, Elise loves it! She thinks it's a game- and even cried when I took it away when it was time for her nap this afternoon. Who ever knew workouts to be so much fun?!

Easter and 15-Month Well Visit

Elise celebrated her second Easter this past Sunday. She woke up at 7:30 to discover that the Easter bunny had stopped by with a basket full of goodies- books, a cd for the car (as Mommy is slowly going insane from her other car cd!), pajamas and matchbox cars (yes, she loves them!). After a huge bowl of Cheerios with milk, a whole banana, strawberries and yogurt, she changed into her Easter dress that Nana had made. We had practiced wearing our new Easter shoes ahead of time so there weren't any tears when we didn't wear our beloved tennis shoes. The church service was a success- Elise loved turning the hymnal pages and pointing at the beautiful stained glass windows. Afterwards we hosted a brunch for Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Poppa, great grandmother Sophie, Aunt Amy, and Uncle Rik back at our house. Elise had so much fun at the brunch that she boycotted her afternoon nap by sleeping a mere 20 minutes. Elise required a second afternoon nap after everyone went home. We are still working on the one nap a day thing!

Yesterday, Elise had her 15-month well visit with her pediatrician. We've grown- no doubt from the massive meals that Elise loves to eat! We are 20 lbs. 6 oz (25%), 29 1/4 inches long (25%), and 17 1/2 inches head circumference (25%). Dr. Kennedy assured me that it's ok that Elise won't drink milk (she only drinks water!) since she eats a healthy dose of dairy rich foods. We continue to fight Elise with a consistent nap each day but hopefully with extra play outdoors, we'll fall into one long
afternoon nap before too long. Keep those fingers crossed! Our next visit will be in 3 months- and then we will be going at a yearly interval once we reach age 2---- which for some reason doesn't seem so far away!!!!!

We have been blessed with an unseasonably warm April thus far. Yesterday and today have been 80-- the average temperature is 53! We've been trying to spend as much time as possible outside. Elise and I are have been eating all our meals on the deck, playing at the park, and pushing our infamous lion around the yard. Elise has turned into quite the neighborhood greeter as she stops to wave at every passing car, bicycle rider and dog walker. Of course we will teach her that strangers aren't our friends!

The video below is something I filmed today. When we were outside, I noticed how pink and flush Elise's cheeks were getting so I casually asked if she was 'hot'. I wasn't necessarily looking for a response but I got one- Elise puckered her lips and started blowing. She had associated the word 'hot' with food. When we cut up food that is too warm to eat, we blow on it and say it's 'hot'. Smart cookie.



But, by the far, the best thing happened today as I picked up Elise at physical therapy..... she walked to me! Ann (our therapist) helped Elise walk out into the waiting room. A few feet away from me, Ann stopped-- and out stepped Elise with those wobbly legs and a huge smile plastered upon her face! Elise took the two best steps in her life towards me!!! I played it off like I wasn't about to cry with excitement and relief but I was screaming on the inside! Ann assured me that Elise may not walk much at home but to be patient-- it's coming! (On a side note, Ann has another patient who walks regularly at therapy but refuses to do so at home- another parent who shares in our misery!) Next time I hope Elise wobbles towards Daddy. I imagine in another month or so we'll be chasing her around the yard!