2010

As 2010 comes to a close, Ben and I are reminded what an important year it was...here are the highlights:

January: found out we were pregnant!

February: shared the exciting news with our families

March: shared the news with our friends and went on an amazing vacation to Hawaii

April: on an unexpected warm day we had an amazing evening on the water...boating over to the Boathouse with our friends

May: found out we were having a girl!

June: celebrated 5 years of marriage

July: welcomed 2 babies into the world, Griffin and Quinn

August: first time the Paranick family was all together in 2 years and celebrated my baby shower with wonderful women

September: we turned 30!

October: ELYSE WAS BORN

November: Elyse's first Thanksgiving and she met her Aunt Rachel, Uncle Adam, and Uncle Jeremy

December: Elyse's first Christmas and she met her Aunt Tara

Baby's First Christmas

Elyse's first Christmas was so much fun! There was so many special memories, including spending time with Nonni and Pap Pap, meeting Aunt Tara, visiting Santa, going to the children's service on Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa Belyea and Amy and Brit, and then having a wonderful Christmas Day! We are reminded of how truly lucky and blessed by God we are this Holiday season!

Daddy's Girl!
Christmas Morning....Santa's Favorite Baby!

Christmas Eve

Baby's 1st Christmas!

With Mommy in Elyse's Christmas dress

So happy and so pretty! Thanks Nonni for the pretty dress!

Family photo with Santa

She wasn't completely sure of what to think of Santa

Cuddling with Aunt Tara

I love my Aunt Tara!

Tis the Season

It is hard to believe that the holiday season has arrived, and so has the snow! Even harder to believe is that Elyse is 2 months old today! So I've documented her 2 month old picture in the cutest stocking my mom made her! She actually enjoyed it (seriously)!

We also attended our yearly friends holiday get together where Elyse got to play with all of her Aunties and Uncles and Quinn! We had so much fun enjoying the evening and at this time of year is reminded of how wonderful it is to share with our friends.

A cute smile
Our little stocking stuffer

Yes, I even posed her around presents just for the holidays

Elyse is growing stronger and bigger every day!

Elyse, 2 months and Quinn, 4.5 months

All of the ladies

The group minus Elyse (she was sleeping)

My friend Tricia took this picture....so precious!

Thanksgiving 2010

Here is a short list of what we are thankful for this year:

-5+ years of wonderful marriage

-welcoming our beautiful, healthy daughter, Elyse, into the world

-our families....who travel so far to be with us and meet Elyse and who babysit so Mom and Dad can have a night off

-our friends...we are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives

-having great jobs and living in a wonderful city

-our health and happiness

-our gorgeous home

-our cat, Aspen

-and did I mention, Elyse!

Thanksgiving 2010 was so special and we were so fortunate to have the Paranick family visit and to be able to celebrate Elyse's first Thanksgiving with all of her relatives. Elyse loved meeting her Aunt and Uncles, her cousins, and spending time with both sets of grand parents. We can't wait for Christmas!

The future Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham! Elyse can't wait to be a flower girl!
The Belyea Family

With cousins, Jill and Erika

I love you Nonni and Pap Pap!

Nonni, Mommy, Aunt Rachel, and Elyse

Cuddles!

Uncle Adam and me!

Busy Bee

I've been a very busy bee lately. I've learned so many new things, like how to roll over, how to giggle, and how to play with my raddles. Plus I've expreinced new things too, like going to my first restaurant with Mommy and Daddy. My favorite thing, though, is playing with Mommy and Daddy. I love to coo, smile, and giggle at their silly faces and silly songs they sing to me. Recently I've met some new friends, my Auntie Stefanie and Uncle Nick. It was so much fun to meet them and play with them. Check back to watch me grow! Love, Elyse

Hanging out with Daddy
What's for dinner?

Cuddling with Uncle Nick

Uncle Nick is so silly

Mommy, Auntie Stefanie and me

With Auntie Stefanie

Photo Fun and One Month update

One month has flown by and we documented our new family by getting some professional photos done. It was so fun to see Elyse smile and pose for photos! She is getting so big-at her first month check up she now weighs 9.3 pounds and is 21.5 inches long. We continue to be very lucky that she is still sleeping an average of 7 hours a night and eating well.

Ben and I are adjusting to parenthood with ease and enjoy going for walks and having tummy time with Elyse. I think we have narrowed down what each cry means whether it is hungry, tired, or wants attention. She loves to cuddle with us and continues to smile, play, and coo. Everyday we learn something new about her and continue to feel blessed that we have such a perfect daughter!

4 weeks old

We can't believe that Elyse is a month old already (well in a few days)....time really has flown way too fast. Elyse is doing great and so are Mommy and Daddy. She is getting big so fast and starting to develop a little personality. Elyse loves to play and smile and she is definitely a Daddy's girl already. Here are some fun pictures to enjoy of the past few weeks.

Daddy and Elyse
We dressed Elyse as a little kitten...this is before Mommy and Daddy's first night out.

Our precious pumpkin

A BIG SMILE and her first giggle.

Play time :)

We had a little photo shoot...this is one of my favorites and I think I caught a smile.

So cute!

She already poses for the camera.