Laurel Elisabeth Stevens

Img4770 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . love this picture! Dad has a great way of talking to babies. He knows they're listening and will tell them all sorts of pertinent information. I think here Dad was teaching Henry to count.

Img4782 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Really catching up on the photos here! Henry loved the Ladybug outfit, unlike Elisabeth who wore the same thing at 13 months. Elisabeth was a stunning ballerina of course (made costume buying very simple).

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Img4802 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Also at O'Hare (November) Henry was just learning to stay sitting up on his own. Moments later he fell out of the "airplane" and hit his head on the floor. Fortunately he was laughing.

Img4811 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Uncle Nathaniel and Elisabeth hang out at the O'Hare airport while waiting for a delayed flight. Sometimes play areas solve everything.

Img4820 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Nov. '07

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DSC_0048 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Here is Elisabeth practicing again. I love looking at her hands. I have noticed real changes in her movement over the past few months. She rises up on her toes much higher, she thinks about her hands. I think hours of watching the Kirov ballet perform The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty has helped. I've peeked in on her during her "rest time" dancing to Sleeping Beaty and Swan Lake. It is fun to see her movements mirror the music. I'm sure it is perfectly ordinary stuff she is doing, but it so much fun to watch her grow and learn.

DSC_0057 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . John took Elisabeth to a local performance of The Nutcracker. Her ballet teachers were in it, so she is always talking about "Chocolate from Spain" now. She also brought along her ballerina doll, sporting a lovely purple leotard, her hair in Elisabeth's hair clips, and a pink bathrobe tied on with the purple tutu. I decided to worry only about Elisbeth's looks, and not the doll's clothes. In Elisabeth's mind, the more frills, poofs, layers and bows, the better.

DSC_0069 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . It's hard to get a shot of this girl. I snagged her reading a book and hiding behind a chair. What does Elisabeth love? candy, reading, dressing up, ballet, playing hide and seek, asking "What can I do now?", dressing up her dolls for their performance of The Nutcracker . . .

DSC_0073 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . 4 teeth, lots of smiles, and not sleeping well at night (ahh, but this has changed by the time I'm posting this picture)

DSC_0080 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Kristen is always saying Henry looks like me. I don't normally see it, but in this picture I do. He's 9 months here, opening a present from Elisabeth. Well, Elisabeth did most of the work.