Friends for Life

I've been given the opportunity to know amazing women, women whom I call my dear friends.   Two of these women are Angie and Clare; they are former BYU roommates and are still cherished blessings in my life.  They strengthen me in ways that only women can.  I only hope Elise grows up and is blessed with similar friends in her life.  The three of us were able to have a mini reunion last month.  It went by all too fast.  Here are some pictures of their visit.

Clare with her baby boy, Daniel and Angie with Elise

This was taken moments before Elise broke my only pair of sunglasses

Clare's 5 year old daughter, Meesha

Angie with Elise.  (Angie gave Elise the yellow dress she is wearing in these pictures.)

Clare with Daniel (5 months old)

Angie's son, Danny (7 years old)

Meesha

Meesha, Caleb, Danny, Anna

Angie's sons: Danny and Caleb

Anna (Clare's 3 year old)

Caleb, (Angie's 4 year old)

Swinging for the First Time

It was SO FUN to take Elise to a park and let her experience one of the swings there for the first time.  I called Tyson, (he coaches a high school soccer team and was just finishing up practice).  I asked him if he wanted to meet us at the park on his way home.  His first response was, "Don't let her swing until I get there!  I want to see her face when you do!!"  Yeah--- definitely a first time experience no parent should miss.

Eskimos, Pigtails and Skinny Jeans

It was definitely cold out, but I think we might have gotten a little carried away . . . .

 2 tiny pigtails and 2 tiny bows:

Elise has on Skinny Jeans in these pics!  

Yeah, they make those for babies now.            

I think she looks better in her skinny jeans than I do in mine.

Camera Strap

I couldn't get Elise's attention for these photos . . . 

finally I got her to look at the camera . . . . but this was as much excitement as I could get from her. 

. . . . that is, until she saw the camera strap attached to my camera.

Wow, it's amazing how much fun an infant can have with such a simple thing.

It looks like we have her hooked up to a sling shot here, but I promise it's just Elise grabbing onto the strap as it hangs down from the camera while I snap a photo. . . no danger involved.

Well no danger, that is, until daddy gets involved and decides to hang our daughter upside down with the strap still in her hand.

It's all fun until someone gets tired. 

At least we finally got her to smile for the camera.

6 Months and Paid Off!!

Elise is already past her 6 month mark!

We paid her last medical bill this month, too- what a relief!  

Every time Tyson and I pooled together our money to make ends meet for those hefty medical bills, in spite of how stressful that was for us, at the same time, though, I couldn't help but think that it was also a privilege to pay off Elise's expenses.

But really . . . money can be a huge stress at times, but when viewed through the life of a child, it is such a meaningless thing to give up in exchange for an eternal miracle.   That is what Elise is to us- a miracle.  

How we love you, our dear little one.  Thank you for being healthy and strong, alert, and happy, in spite of your difficult start to life.    We're so proud of you for pulling through it all.

In the Jungle

All bundled up as we head off into the cold, Salt Lake air. 

I wish I could still pull off overalls like this myself.  Oh, and this beautiful quilt she is sitting on was made by my mother.  

Go BYU!

Elise's First Pedicure

Juliet Clark, Elise's WONDERFUL babysitter for the hours that I teach at WSU each week, painted Elise's toes the other day!  The pictures don't capture how cute a baby's pedicure really looks.  (It was also way too hard to capture a shot when Elise kicks her feet as much as she does.) Anyone with a baby girl should try it- - it's priceless to see chubby baby feet all decked out.

I can't imagine why her toe nail polish is already beginning to wear off though . . . . 

Elise's Favorite Thing to Do . . . .

Elise LOVES balancing on Tyson's hand. It's become a nightly tradition around here.