Thursday, April 17, 2008

A decade!

Yes, my little girl turned 10 today!! I'm afraid I don't have many pictures of her really young stored on the computer, but I think I will have to find some and scan them tomorrow of my bald beauty.
Elise came to us at the perfect time. I will always remember that she was born on a Friday because Brad had a big test on Thursday and at McGill they always got the day after the test off, which meant that Brad didn't miss the test, or any school because we went in to St. Mary's hospital (in Montreal) around 5am Friday morning. I remember thinking as I was going, how perfect it was that I had ironed Samantha's dress for church already, which is odd because I usually don't iron until Sunday morning :D They watched me for awhile and then decided to induce me because she had stopped moving. She was born around 11 am that morning, 5lbs 4oz, just as healthy as could be which was remarkable since she was 4 weeks early.
One of my fondest memories was on Saturday at the hospital when our friends the Jarvis's, the Glowa's and the Salmon's all saw fit to visit me, all 10 of them (unbeknownst to the other) at the same time, just as they released Elise from the special care nursery. It was so amazing to me that I had such a wonderful family of friends encircling me, since my own family was thousands of miles away. We have always been so blessed with good friends that were close as family. Again, it is one of my most treasured memories.

Elise was a very colicky baby. Here is Benji trying to hold her "just right" and do "the dance" (about 3 months old in this pic)

Elise didn't get her first real hair cut until Kindergarten, here she is bald and beautiful around 15 months old.

Once her hair started coming in it was super curly. 2 1/2 years old.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Elise. She learned to ride her 2 wheeler when she was only 3 years old. In Dedham the kids rode their bikes everyday (since all there was to play on was asphalt) I LOVE the goggles! She thought she was pretty hot stuff!

First day of preschool. The hair is starting to grow now :D

Kindergarten after her first hair cut! Which still wasn't much mind you.
First grade. Such a cutie.

Elise has always had a tender heart and wants those around her to be happy. We are glad she is a part of our family.

7 comments:

brittany said...

oh my goodness! her hair was so blond. she looks like abby in that picture in kindergarten. i never would have thought that otherwise. Happy Birthday to Elise! i hope you guys had a fun day.

Christie said...

awww, I had forgotten what she looked like. She was SO cute. She still is mind you, but I had forgotten all those curls! I remember the colic though, who could forget that? HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELISE!!!

Shawna said...

I love all the pictures...she's adorable! Happy birthday Elise! it's crazy she is 10! Where has the time gone?
I wasn't in the family during the colic stage but I remember you guys always talking about "the" hold that you had to do with her.
Benji looked so nervous holding her in that picture. I love it!

Brad said...

Ah yes, the 'dance' and the 'hold'. And of course, the combined 'dance and hold', developed just for Elise. Thankfully, this lasted only a few months! Happy birthday Elise!

Anonymous said...

All of these pictures are so adorable. Elise is a very sweet girl. A birthday card is on the way. Late as usual. Hope Elise holds all of her money until mine arrives before spending it on a gift.

Tricia said...

Happy Birthday, she is such a beautiful girl.

SJacobus said...

What a cutie. I love the curls. All of our kids had curls till their first hair cuts and then they were gone, except Wyatt's, but it's still more of a wave then true curls.