11 Months Old

Our precious little baby is 11 months old!  Only 1 month of official babyhood left, but I'm pretty sure she'll be my baby for a long time to come.  

Elise is fully recovered from being sick, having spent the past week trying to make up for all the food she wouldn't eat before.  We just can't seem to keep that little belly full!  Some of her favorites at the moment are Cheerios, peas, corn, black beans, raisins, pasta, and veggie/meat baby food pouches (like these).  

At 11 months, Elise is learning to stand on her own and is developing lots of great personality.  She has a terribly cute new expression where she sticks her little lips out, which I hope to capture on camera sometime.  One of my favorite times of day with Elise is putting her down for nap/bed.  We read books and then she'll turn around in my lap and lay on my chest, sucking her thumb while I sing to her.  Wish I could capture that moment and hang on to it forever!  

Summer Video

Here is our summer video from our trip to the States!  Enjoy!
Click HERE.
We already miss you all and we're thinking about the next time we can see you again.  XO!

Back in HK

Here are a few photos of what's been going on back in HK.  

Finley rocking out on his guitar...in his underwear

Lovely view of the sunset from our rooftop

Double rainbow! (view from rooftop)

Elise likes to play Finley's drum

So Behind!

I am so behind on the blog!  I have photos and videos just sitting on the cameras, waiting to be uploaded and edited, and later posted to the blog.  But I have a pretty good excuse: Finley, Elise, and I have been sick.  :(  It just started out as a little cold and cough, but none of us could knock it.  That means sinus, chest, and ear infections, oh my!  Finley and I are on our second round of antibiotics, because the first wasn't strong enough.  Even with Elise going straight on the stronger antibiotic, she is just now (on the 4th day) showing any improvement at all.  Poor thing's stomach is having a terrible time with the medicine, and it's given her a very painful diaper rash.  She will hardly eat, and is currently taking 3-4 naps a day instead of 2.  On top of all this, Nate has had a busy week at work.  So I'm spent and just ready for everyone to be healthy again!  Here's a photo of our poor little bug asleep in my arms on her sickest day.

I should give a 10 month update for Miss Elise, too.  Can't believe we're in the double digits!  Since she was sick and had to go to the doctor, I happen to have her height and weight for this month.  She is now 74.2cm long (86%) and 8.3kg (47%).  She has two top and two bottom teeth.

A little before Elise turned 10 months, she started saying her first words, much to our surprise! She says "uh-oh", "mah-mah" for Maddie (my parents' dog), and "noh noh noh noh" (no no no no).  She is also starting to stand on her own now.  So exciting!  Can't wait until she's feeling better and ready to take on the world again!

NC Photos

Finally getting up the last of our US photos, but there's still video left to post.  One thing at a time, I guess.  :)

Visiting with family after we arrived in NC

Cookout at Granny & Papa's house (with homemade ice cream, of course)

Finley performing for everyone, and recruiting others to join in

Trip to the Zoo

Checking out the local wildlife

Taking (good) photos with small children is virtually impossible.

We had such a wonderful time in NC, and we already miss our family there!