







Of course, the packaging itself was almost as much fun as the presents inside. The red hot baby grand piano from Aunt Barbara, Uncle Mike, and Cousin Bryce was a huge hit. Books are always a treat for E! And then Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Bush hit a homerun with the Storybook Rhymes--Elsie quickly figured out how to push the buttons and play music. David is convinced the baby prodigy will be composing a concerto in no time.


On Saturday, September 15th, friends and family gathered for picnic fare to celebrate Elsie's 1st birthday. In honor of her favorite book, Ten Little Ladybugs, the invitations, Addie's smocked dress, the cake, and favors were in keeping with the theme--you'll see that Elsie's friend Taylor obliged! The celebrations continued well into the night--in spite of ND's trouncing and up to Bama's last minute win!






Elaine bought E a bird feeder for outside the breakfast room at home. Elsie sits in her high chair pointing and calling to all the birds who happen by. Her parents
have engaged in remedial bird identification sessions with books and internet searches: David can now be found calling out "Look at the tufted titmouse" over his morning coffee. For her birthday, Renee and Tom bought Elsie the Audubon blue jay you see in the pictures here. She diligently studied the attached guide and then marked the rest of the Audubon collection as "must haves." E then demanded the tweeter be activated over and over and over again... Ahhh baby's first hobby....






