Aqua Tot

Elsie is enjoying swimming lessons once again. David and Elsie take lessons with Theresa at the Aquatic Center on Saturday mornings. Camille (and Ginger), Hart (and Anne), and Ava Grace (and Kim) are all in the classes, too. Elsie loves to splash and swim on her belly. She'll jump in and blow bubbles. She'll kick and move hand-over-hand down the wall. She doesn't like floating on her back much--that is, unless there is a lifeguard above her to watch and, in that case, no problem, much to her father's dismay.

ELL AHH FHANN--translated Elephant: The Surprised Face

This is Elsie's surprised face: mouth open in an "O" with a "see see see" soon to follow. It has multiple uses:
1. surprise, I am opening a present
2. surprise, I am seeing something I haven't seen before
3. surprise, look there is a dog, bird, cat kitty
4. surprise, I am making a mess
5. surprise, I am currently making a mess and maybe this will distract them if they think this mess is a good thing
6. surprise, maybe this will distract them if I act like this mess I already made is a good surprise
7. surprise, I plan on doing something I shouldn't do but if I act like this mess I am going to make is going to be a good surprise maybe I will distract them
8. surprise, I just need a little excitement in my life

Singing, Piano Playing, Dancing: Some may call this a triple threat

Baby Babysitter

Overheard on 64th Street

Sometimes David and I will be talking to each other, and it clear that Elsie wants to be a part of the conversation. So, she'll chime in and start contributing to our dialogue. She gets the idea that we are saying words to each other, but she may not quite get that our words work together. Instead, she will string together words that she knows--as many as she can come up with. And David and I will try and participate and see where she is headed. Let us know if you can help us out:

BETH: So anyway, then I said, well, you might want to come to class...

ELSIE: (interrupting) airpane helacoptah oscah park milk e-i-e-i-o

BETH: (breaking into song) That's right, Old MacDonald had a farm...

FAMILY: (in unison) E-I-E-I-O

BETH: Elsie, what does a turkey say?

ELSIE: Obble gobble Tito (Elsie's name for her lovey, Milton the Giraffe) see see (pointing)

DAVID: Milton, that's right, are you talking about Milton?

ELSIE: Bubble bottle Holden Nonie tweet tweet see see

DAVID: Birdie, that's right... so you were saying that the student...

ELSIE: (interrupting) Yummy yummy beebo duckie car sky moon fower

BETH: That's right, flower, pink flower. Can you say pink?

ELSIE: greeeeen D E F G Uh oh See see

Under the Big Top: A Field Trip to the Circus!

Puppy Love

Speaking of Paparazzi...









Grammy came to town and made the most of her photography expertise with Elsie the model child. Check out these park pics!

Seth to the Rescue: Elsie gets a haircut!

I have THE BEST hairdresser: Sweet Seth came over so Elsie could get a haircut in the comfort of her own high chair while watching the Wiggles. So, now that the baby has a stylist, just bring on the paparazzi.

Elsie and the Super Bowl

@ The Little Jumping Bean






Elsie is a daredevil. Here she is at the our new local kiddie wonderland--a space filled with giant inflatable jumping, sliding, climbing fun. In these pictures, Elsie demonstrated her momentary satisfaction in the toddler area. After these photos, both of her parents had their hands full since she was determined to jump and slide with the big kids. That meant mom and dad took turns jumping and sliding with Elsie and the 5 year olds. E is hard to keep up with and we were all ready for naptime!