Like every parent I've ever talked to—that actually enjoys being a parent— we find that a year has blown past us and we now have a one year old. Perhaps the oldest one year old I've ever encountered. A pshychologist once did a spiritual gifts assesment on me and claimed mine was wisdom. (Most who know me well are probably scratching their heads.) But I think perhaps, like many familial traits, wisdom has skipped my generation and landed kerplunk in the psychi of our sweet Elise.
Most just breeze by her and say she's serious... I think she's wise. Elise does in fact have a very charming sense of humor. Her dimples when exposed by her toothy grin (6 teeth and counting) are one of her most adorable traits. But few get to experience them if they're in her presence for a short time. As I watch her entering a new circumstance or setting, I realize she's just soaking it all in and making little notes to herself. When she knows to stroke my eye lashes, rather than poke, I know she's paid attention watching me put on mascara. When she judges the distance from ottoman to sofa as she passes in between while cruising the living room, I know she's measuring the room physically. At Dr. Bush's office she scans the room from top to bottom before she settles in, but not anxiously. She's at ease in her observations and very soulful.
She's on the cusp of walking and, like all things, is doing it in measured process. Where Ryan at 9 months cruised holding furniture and then took one step forward for baby-kind as though he was the first man on the moon and never looked back, Elise prefers to practice moving from sitting to standing un-aided. She'll test her balance and builds her muscles in a crouch that would make most pilate instructors proud, not to mention herself since she's apt to clap for herself afterwards. I see her first step on the horizon in the coming weeks.
Elise loves watching the big kids. Yesterday at our 10 year anniversary / 1st birthday party, she was watching the boys do bike tricks as I held her. When they pleased her, she clapped with out coaxing, just approval. Ryan and her are building their relationship and playing together more and more. The best days are when Ryan scurries after her like he's crawling. She's almost as fast! She's also very musically inclined. We thought Ryan loved to dance. Well, Elise bops her head to the music in stores that doesn't even register to most of us. I'll see the head bop and then take stock of our environment, only to realize there's music playing. She also sings with me when I rock her at night. It's so sweet.
We'll see just who she'll become. But regardless, we know we have been blessed beyond measure...not once, but twice. And ten years later as we take stock of all we have built, Max and I are even more grateful today as we were yesterday.
And if you haven't gotten enough photos of us in the last two days, check out the link below. We just got our professional photos back from our family shoot in in Ithaca. More to come tomorrow, but these make us so happy!
http://prisloe.zenfolio.com/ryanandelise
Beach Bum!
Ryan feeding Elise her first Popsicle.
Elise high up on her perch...where she's not supposed to be. Thus the busted look on her face.
Big Brown Eyes!
Little Miss on her actual birthday. We just had a quiet family celebration in the park at Reed's Lake.
Hard to believe a year earlier I was eating chicken fingers in a hospital bed holding a 7lb bundle I had just labored into the world!
We had a 1 year birthday party along with a 10 year anniversary celebration this weekend. A GREAT time!
Thoughout the day we had about 100 people stop over. We felt the love!
Max shot off fireworks for the kids and then later put on the best display for me...I had wanted fireworks at our wedding, but it wasn't possible. He remembered and made my wish come true.
Ryan's proud to be wearing a Northview baseball helmut!
Ryan and Tessa, Brompton and Elise. BFFs playing chalk.
Our little hippie!
Ryan got to learn to tight rope walk in our park during open mic night. Because in Rockford, why wouldn't there be tight rope walkers hanging from trees?
Our kiddos and half the Alguire clan (Allison had swim team and the fourth Alguire was still being baked..Staci is due in a few weeks :) Note the good taste. Staci and I dressed the littles in the same outfit by accident!
Ryan riding the new slip-n-slide with the Charity clan.
Family bowling on our anniversary.
Max surprised me the day after our anniversary with a stay at the JW Marriott in grand rapids. It was just far enough for my first time apart from Elise. He arranged couple massages and we stayed on the concierge floor. They even snuck in and put rose petals on the floor. It was the 2nd day of my 10 days of gifts. The best anniversary a girl could ask for.
Ryan's drawings are getting more and more complex...and larger in size. Here he is with his battle ship.
Our sweet sweet Elise.
