Elise Finally Grins On-Camera!

Elise finally let Mommy take a picture of her grinning. She does it much more often now--she's a pretty happy camper most of the time. For these pics, she is grinning at Mom while hanging out in her bouncy seat on the kitchen counter--she really likes the view from there and is usually in a really good mood when she is perched there.

Elise also gets to grinning so much that Mommy is convinced that she is going to giggle at any moment, but so far there have been no sign of giggles...yet!

Elise isn't always a happy camper, though. She got pretty ticked off at Aunt Lacy's bridal shower, and even though it was kind of mean to be laughing at her irritation, Mommy thought this pic that Stephanie took of her was pretty funny.

Elise still loves to snuggle while she's sleeping. Mommy took this picture of her and Grammy when she got home after Grammy had watched Elise for a little while. She looks pretty cozy!

Elise's Baptism

Elise had a very big day January 25, 2009! She was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church! Her sponsors were her Aunt Amanda and Aunt Lacy. She was very well-behaved. She was awake through the whole baptism and didn't make a peep. She just watched like she knew exactly what was going on and she knew she better behave or Mommy would get on to her! She wore a beautiful gown and bonnet, with gorgeous shoes that Grammy Vicki and Grandpa Link got her for the occasion.

The day was even more significant because it was Poppy's 71st birthday! Elise gave him grins for his present, which he loved. Speaking of grins, Mommy finally caught a really good one on camera. More on that to come!

Elise's beautiful booties

Elise with her Uncle Jayme and Aunt Lacy (her sponsor)

Elise with her Uncle Rob and Aunt Amanda (her other sponsor)

Elise with her Grandpa Mike

Elise with her Grandma Rhonda and Grandpa Terry

Grammy Vicki and Grandpa Link showing off the back of her gown.

With Mommy and Daddy on the big day (she was a little fussy from being passed around like a football at this point, so Mommy is trying to subdue her with her "stopper" :) )

Elise is 6 weeks old!

Elise went to visit Grandma Vicki and Grandpa Link's friends on Friday. Everyone thought she was very cute, though no one was quite sure who she looked like--there were votes for both Mommy and Daddy. She posed for a picture with her Grammy and Grandpa while she was there, as well as a pic with her cousin Lexi. Lexi likes to cuddle her a lot--she always helps out when we're in church!

Mommy is still trying to get a picture of Elise grinning, but Elise is still pretty good about shutting the grin down before Mommy can snap the picture. We're getting closer though:

Elise really likes to take naps with Mommy in Mommy and Daddy's big bed. She can see the light shining in from the window there, so if she wakes up she has something pretty to look at. But she usually sleeps like a rock in the big bed, so that doesn't happen real often!

When Elise isn't napping with Mommy in the big bed, she sleeps at the foot of the bed in the cradle that Poppy Stevens made whenever her Mommy was born. All of Poppy's grandchildren slept in this cradle and now his great-granddaughter sleeps in it! She thinks it's pretty comfy with Daddy's fleece Rams blanket in it for padding!

Miscellaneous Fun

Elise's announcements turned out BEAUTIFULLY. Thanks to Aubrey at Younique Photography for making Elise's first professional photo session a success! Elise was very well-behaved through the whole thing for only being 4 weeks old!
Mommy realized the other day that she didn't have many pictures of her and Elise, so she dressed Elise up in her "Mommy's Sweetie" onesie and took a picture herself. It didn't turn out too bad!

Elise met her first little friend last week. She and Mac Mohnen had a fun time at Oriental Inn while their mommies had lunch with Joni, Elizabeth, and Cheratin (as you can tell by the fact that Elise couldn't be bothered to wake up the whole time we were there!) Mac is 7 weeks older than Elise, but he sure is big!
As a parting shot, here's Elise sticking her tongue out. Mommy was trying to get her to grin for the camera, but as you can tell, she already has a mind of her own!

Happy New Year!

Elise had a very exciting New Years. She helped Daddy play cards with Mommy and the Kelbs. Daddy and Jessie won, so I guess she was a good luck charm! She almost made it to midnight--she fell asleep about 11:30pm after trying to stay awake (we couldn't figure out why she wouldn't go to sleep--maybe she just didn't want to miss the excitement!) She gave Mommy and Daddy a great New Years present: she slept 5 hours in a row (probably because she stayed up so late!) She was still tuckered out today--as you can tell by the picture below!

Families

Elise with her Daddy, Grandma Rhonda, and Great-Grandma Sweaney.

Elise with her Daddy, Grandpa Mike, and Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Jackson.

Elise with Mommy and Daddy on Christmas Eve.

Elise had a very eventful Christmas! She traveled to SIX different Christmas celebrations--all this at only 3 weeks old! She got lots of great gifts and thanks everyone for thinking of her. Next up for the busy baby: 4 week professional pictures and starting 2009 with Mommy and Daddy on New Years Eve.

Merry Christmas from the Jacksons!

Elise is really in the Christmas spirit with her reindeer Christmas outfit! She's already attended 2 Christmases and has 4 more to go. She's lucky to have a lot of people who love her and are excited to see her! So far, she's gotten 2 new outfits, a hat, a glo-worm and a Pooh that squeaks like she does. She was very excited and thankful for all her gifts.

It's been pretty cold here in Missouri lately, but luckily Elise received this coat-sack from Great-Aunt Sis and Lydia at one of her showers, so she's stayed toasty and warm. Her little head barely sticks out, but she doesn't mind.

All the holiday fun has been a little tiring for Elise and for Daddy, so they decided to take a nap.

Mommy was still pretty swollen when this family picture was taken (Elise was only one week old!), but she is pretty much back to normal now and is starting to feel pretty good. Merry Christmas from the Jacksons!