Uncle Seren Comes to Visit and I turn 9 Months Old

This month has been busy.  Eléa continues to grow bigger (aka: fatter) and cuter (aka: cuter!).  She weighed in at 22 1/2 pounds at her nine month check up (95th percentile) and measured 28 inches long (75th percentile).  Eléa is eating more textured foods now and her new favorite is kale cherrios (check out the video).  There is also great video of Eléa's new favorite activity, brushing her teeth.

I had to leave Eléa for a 3 1/2 days for a prison visit and Uncle Seren and Tia Ariane were superstars in helping Luke out.  Eléa enjoyed her time with Uncle Seren and was especially impressed with his many gadgets.  Eléa has put in a request that Mami buy an Ipad.  Tia Ariane also taught Eléa some new tricks (check out the picture below).  

Cute as can be...

Checking out the bagpiper in the park.

Mommy and me time.

Tia teaches Eléa new tricks.

Eléa plays the stocks!

Uncle time!

Uncle Seren performs his duties well!

More uncle time!

Videos:
Eating like an old man/woman
Brushing teeth

Eight Months: New Looks

March brought some beloved visitors (aka: grandma and grandpa) and some looks from around the world (aka: nepal and korea).  Eléa also had to say goodbye to her first friend (we miss you Charlie!).

Eléa is keeping busy crawling everywhere and pulling up to standing on anything she can get her hands on.  She is also making many new sounds (aba, mama, gaga) and screams of joy (see video for a better understanding).  She has proven to be ticklish and a game of hide and seek brings loads of laughter.  Instead of having to entertain Eléa, she has definitely begun to seriously entertain us and we are enjoying her more than ever!

 Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz9LaVsi98g

Eléa and Charlie

I love grandma!

Korean fashion

I'm so "in" in Nepal

Me, grandpa and my two new teeth!

Tropical Adventures

Eléa has gone international!  We went to Venezuela for my cousin's wedding and Eléa had a blast in the warm sun, sand and beach.  She was definitely the center of attention with all my family and her great grandmother was able to get a smile everytime.  The mosquitos also loved her, much to our chagrin.  The cold ocean water or sand did not bother her in the least, and all the Venezuelan women were super jealous of her chunky thighs!  Eléa learned some new tricks on her world travels, and is now able to crawl forward (not only backwards) and makes some new funny sounds... check out these videos and pictures of her adventures!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poDwoGL3XuA (beach)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KltP6C5LJ1o  (beach)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXhtDVORvHE (new sounds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTEXegC4lNE  (swing time)

first swimsuit

beautiful.....

view from great grandma's apartment in caracas

crawling

i love dodo!

hungry

ladies do lunch

my new do!

cuteness

sunset at the beach

we met a real live dinosaur!

more cuteness

messy eater!

i love me some swings!

papi and me time

more swinging!

A Portrait of the Artist as an Infant

 We have here three pictures of the budding artist exploring the confines of her apartment.  Notice the grace with which she handles the comb, the discernment with which she observes the world around her, the confidence with which she knowingly smiles at that silly adult with a camera.  The hat is a gift from Kaori (wife of Adam Catt), who knit it by hand from alpaca wool and then sent it across the Pacific so that it might live a happy existence atop Eléa's head.

Snow and Swings

Eléa has been having fun in the snow, though she seems more impressed with it falling from the sky than when it is on the ground.

Since Eléa has been sitting on her own for a bit, we decided to let her try the swing.  She seemed pretty neutral about the whole experience, but seemed to like our funny faces on the other side.... Here are some snow and swing shots!

There is also some video of her swing time and a new face that Eléa has started making.  We call it her dinosaur face and you might guess why after watching the video....

Dinosaur Face
swing fun
more swing fun

Eléa, so pretty!

These are too cute not to post....

You can even see Eléa's two new teeth popping through at the bottom!

2011: New Tricks and More Cuteness

2011 brings some new firsts.  Eléa has started eating solids and belly laughing.  It is crazy to think that by 2012 we will have a walking and sort of talking child.  

Eléa loving her purple booties that her great Aunt Anne made for her.

Yummy sweet potatoes!

Check out these videos of Eléa laughing, Luke making her laugh and solid-eating madness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TXrTrv-IOA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v-8Lkcmwyc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ekchsi0GcU

December Holidays 2010

Eléa continued her traveling ways in December as we visited Chicago, Austin and Houston.  She had her first Christmas experience and LOVED wrapping paper more than any gifts.  She has started to sit on her own and has gotten up, albeit briefly, on all fours in an attempt at crawling.  Much to her frustration, she can scoot herself backwards instead of forwards.  Eléa loved meeting her uncle Seren for the first time and was happy to spend some quality time with her grandparents and abuelos.  It was incredible to have so many helping hands.  Thanks for a wonderful holiday!

Eléa loves to fly...

Happy 2011!

Ringing in the new year with the abuelos and tia Ariane!

fatty bo batty!

I love grandma, grandpa and uncle Seren....and of course my favorite giraffe too!

My very own stocking....

Aren't I pretty darn cute?

Hilarious!

Eléa and her best baby buddy, Reese, in Chicago.   We credit Reese for inspiring Eléa's crawling attempts.

Our g-d-daughter, Sylvia.  She has gotten so big and makes us super excited about all the fun we will have with Eléa in a few years.

Sylvia agreed to serve as Eléa's big sister!

Uncle Seren is the best!

I love grandpa!