Pittsburgh Visit

In April, just after Elyse turned 6 months old we flew out to Pittsburgh to visit my family!  Elyse got to meet all of her relatives for the first time, watched Rachel in her pretty bridal gown, and got spoiled! 



Four Generations!  Nonni, Mamuch (great-grandma, me and Elyse

With Uncle Adam and Aunt Rachel

She love playing with Lizzy!

With Nonni and PapPap

She had so much fun at Uncle Jeremy's and Aunt Rachel's house

I love this picture!  So cute.

Finally Spring!

I'm 6 months old and getting so big! I am sitting up on my own, holding my own bottle, and love to play! My new favorite thing is going for runs in my new jogging stroller. I love to people watch and look at all of my new surroundings. Today, my Mommy and Daddy said it was spring so they brought me outside to play! I loved the fresh air and sun! ~Elyse

This is the life!

Hanging out in the nice, cool shade

Colorado 2011

In September I surprised Ben with 2 tickets to Aspen for a 30th birthday present...and we had so a wonderful time in Aspen/Snowmass visiting with Tara and Nick. Ben and Tara really enjoyed skiing all the fresh snow while I was in ski school and Elyse hung out with Uncle Nick! The day we were supposed to leave, we got a huge snow storm which cancelled our flight. Luckily, 22 inches of fresh snow meant a blue bird powder day of skiing!

Elyse had many firsts: first plane ride, first concert, and first celebrity sighting (Bon Jovi)!

We can't wait to come back and visit!

Hanging out on the deck with Aunt Tara Uncle Nick and Aunt Tara

Mommy and Me!

Me, Tara, and Elyse

Ben skiing 22 inches of fresh powder!

Tara and I on Snowmass Mountain

Ben and I getting ready to catch the bus for the first day of skiing.

Elyse's first concert-she slept through most of it.

Family photo :)

St. Patty's Day

This last weekend our friends Macare and Dusty hosted everyone for a St. Patty's Day celebration and to watch some March Madness. It was great to get together, esspecially since it marked the first time Elyse played will all of her friends at one time-including the newest addition to the Washington Street babies: Isabelle!

Washington St. Baby roulette: Macare holding Katie's baby Isabelle, me holding Macare's baby Quinn, and Katie holding Elyse

The first time all together! Elyse-5 months, Owen-almost 4 years old holding Isabelle-3 weeks, Sophie-2 years old, and Quinn-8 months

5 Months Old

I've made it my goal to do my best to do monthly updates as Elyse grows. So here is our 5 month update! Ben and I have officially started our half marathon training and hoping the weather turns warm soon so Elyse can join us in a jogger on longer runs. Good thing is that we live close to our jobs as our lunch hour is used to run together. We've both been really focused on committing to exercise and eating healthy because I figure it's not too early to teach Elyse a healthy lifestyle. I just spent my first night away from Elyse when I visited my good friend Stefanie for a night. It actually was pretty okay-thank God for cell phones so Ben could send me pictures which made it much easier. Ben just finished the Holiday Ski League and came in 1st for the league. Now he's looking forward to skiing in Colorado.

But enough about us, because let's be honest-it's all about Elyse :)! She is still a joy of a baby-although she's been getting over a cold and starting to teeth so she has been a bit fussier lately. Elyse finally made her YouTube debut! Check out the link below of her just laughing and giggling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4sMXe774BU&feature=player_detailpage

So she weighs a little more than 13 pounds and is 24.5 inches long. It makes me so sad to pack away her newborn and 3 month clothes but so fun to unpack all the new outfits. Trust me, this girl has style! Ben and I are trying to teach her to roll over but she just isn't interested in it just yet. She still loves to play with her gym, touch and grab everything in site, and jump in her jumper. Next up, we'll be packing up to go to Colorado to visit Uncle Nick and Aunt Tara then off to PA to visit the Paranick/Philips families.

Elyse playing with her gym and toys
Sleeping on Mommy's lap

She loves her bumbo!

A silly little face.

Valentine's Day Update

As promised, I am updating our blog as Elyse is now 4 months old! We can't believe how big she is getting and all of the new things she is learning. She is certainly a busy bee! Recently, Nonni and Pap Pap baby sat her for 3 days, she took her first swim, has fun play dates with her friends, and plays with Grandma and Grandpa Belyea in their new house. We have her 4 month appointment this week but we think she weighs about 13 pounds and is really long. She has officially grown out of her 3 months clothes but her 6 months are just a bit big on her. We hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Her first swim...Ben even put her underwater which she didn't mind too much.
She loves her jumper and thinks she is the coolest baby in the world when she makes the music turn on when she jumps.

Ben has taught her to hold her own bottle.

Elyse LOVES her bucket tub. She can stand up and sit down by herself in it and loves when the water splashes all around her.

She loves to smile and make cute faces at Mommy and Daddy.

3 Months Old

Life sure has changed the last month! I'm back at work now full time and I think we are finally just now getting into a routine. So I apologize for not keeping our blog up to date, it has been hard to find some time because when we get home we just want to spend time with Elyse. She is growing so big and learning so much. She is starting to talk so much more-even scream which she finds hilarious but Mommy and Daddy find quite loud at times. We love to see her laugh and giggle. The best part is she is starting to grab and reach for things...I love when she reaches for Ben and I-it warms our hearts with so much love! So I promise that I'll up date the blog more in the next few days but enjoy these 3 month pictures of Elyse below for now. Loves!

She loves to hit and grab at her play gym to hear the noise.
Precious Angel-she is always so happy in the mornings!

Mommy and Elyse on her 3 month birthday

We recently celebrated with Katie and friends the impending arrival of Baby Hall who is literally due any day now. Elyse had so much fun playing with all of her Aunties and Quinn and Griffin. Not counting Baby Hall, Elyse has 2 more friends on the way-their mommies are in the front row! I can't wait for this same picture in a few months with 6 babies!