It's been a while since we've added new pictures, so be sure to click on "Older Posts" when you get to the bottom of the page because we posted pictures from Dec. 14th and on.

Noel

Joyeux noel,

Katie, Arnaud et Elise

Elise et sa nouvelle poupee. Merci beaucoup, Grandmere!

Nannaine's friend Amanda came to visit us Christmas afternoon.

And the cute outfit that Elise is wearing was a shower gift from Sandy Tanaka. Thanks, Sandy!

Snuggling with Uncle Patrick.

Elise got to hang out with Grandma and Grandfather a lot over Christmas. It was so nice to have them here! Notice the bow that Grandfather is holding...we got a lot of playtime out of that bow!

We've been wanting to plant a ginkgo tree since Elise was born, so Nana and Pop got one for Papa for Christmas!

Thanks, Nana and Pop!

Papa is in heaven!

Elise was very excited about the cat puppet that Nana got for her.

Here's a close up of it. So cute!

Reveillon chez les Blondeau

Christmas eve at the Blondeaus

Elise's new lion

Here's the lion that Shelby gave to Elise. She loves it!

Thanks, Shelby!

Yum... peas!

Sippy cup

Elise was getting a little help with the sippy cup from Uncle Patrick.

Can't you just see the love in his eyes in this picture?

Celebration in the Oaks

We walked through Celebration in the Oaks in City Park with Uncle Patrick and his girlfriend Meredith.

We joked that this would be their "Christmas card picture."

In front of the poinsettia tree.

Snow in New Orleans!

Our front yard.

Patrick's weird-looking snowman.

Elise's first snow! She didn't mind it at all!

Bella's first snow, too! She was catching snowballs in her mouth, but had a hard time finding the ones that hit the ground...

My parents' house. I think the oak tree looks so pretty with snow on it.

Sleeping with Nannaine

Anne after a morning of soccer and Elise after a morning of playing

Elise's teddy bear

This is a teddy bear that our cousin Sara gave me at my baby shower. Today was Elise's first time meeting him, and she immediately loved him. She was smiling and talking to him--and then trying to eat him! It's so cute because the bear is as big as she is!

Messy mealtimes

Elise is now eating solid foods on a regular basis--rice cereal, sweet potatoes, bananas (loves them--she really is a monkey!), applesauce (she changed her mind and will eat it now), and oatmeal. We're gonna try peas next, I think. She's such a mess! She loves to grab the spoon and chew on it--I think she's working on her upper teeth...

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving at Uncle Chip's camp in Woodville, MS

A lot of hunting goes on at this camp, so we thought it was only appropriate that Elise wear her camos...

Uncle Howard thought it would be funny to make Elise the "hood ornament."

Uncle Howard taught Elise to drive. Don't worry it's not actually moving!

the bottom of the shirt says "N'awlins"

My friends Meryle and Dana gave me this onesie as a shower gift, and I thought it looked so big at the time... not anymore!

I think it's so cute! Thanks, girls!

Why Elise is soo entertaining. . .

she doesn't like it, but seems to want more?

Jumping

Here's Elise bouncing in her jumperoo. Arnaud's hand gets a little shaky in some parts, but she actually does jump!

New taste

Applesauce... yucky!

6 month check-up

Elise weighed 16 lbs. 8 oz. (65%) and was 27 in. long (90%). Her head circumference was 43.5 cm (75%).

Amanda and Dillon's brunch

Elise's new best friend--cousin Sara!

This picture was taken at the brunch the morning after my cousin Amanda's wedding. Other than the bride and groom, Elise was the center of attention at the brunch! Elise wasn't able to attend the wedding because she had dinner plans with Aunt Lauren and Uncle Kevin (thanks, guys!), but both the wedding and the brunch were so much fun!

This is the sweetest little outfit that she wore to the brunch.
Thanks, Susan and John! It's adorable!

An attempt at a cute picture

So, someone set up a few stacks of hay and a bunch of pumpkins along Bayou St. John, and I thought it would be a cute backdrop for a picture. But, of course, we couldn't get her to smile because she was too distracted by the hay, the pumpkins, the grass, and the passing cars. Oh well, maybe next time...

Election day

Elise was expressing her political opinion on election day. In case you can't read the t-shirt, it says, "I vote for a change! (my diaper's wet)" And the kitty in the picture that my friend Kiva gave her is her new obsession. Thanks, Kiva!

Also, is it just me, or is her hair looking a little strawberry in these pictures?! (You can click on the picture to get a closer look.)

Hanging out with Uncle Patrick

Uncle Patrick babysat today for the first time--lucky for him she slept the whole time!

sleeping soundly

toy elephant

This is one of Elise's favorite toys (thanks, Leslie!!!), and this is how I found her after taking her out of the car one day. It was too funny!

Elise's new highchair

This is Elise's new chair that clips on to the bartop. Pretty cool, huh? She loves being eye level with us! Sorry it's sideways--I couldn't figure out how to rotate it...