Eli- 12 months old!

I know...I am a slacker mom! I am a little behind on Eli's 12 month update. It is crazy to think it has been a year. On Eli's birthday we went to lunch with "Uncle Paul" at El Potrillo. It was a tough day for me. Remembering all the happenings of that day was tough considering I was not totally with it for most of it. For me it was a day to remember all that I was thankful for. For the best little gift I was ever given. For months I drove back and forth to the hospital to hold my little baby and now I get to see him anytime I want! Aaron and I have never been happier and thankful for all we have been given.









These are just a few of the 200 pictures I took. Eli is so funny now. I love all of his crazy faces.

Weight: 19 lbs. 9 oz.
Height: 29 inches long

• You wear size 3 diapers. size 6-12 months and 9 month clothes.
• You eat mommy and daddy's food and don't really like baby food anymore.
  
• You love to roll around on the floor.
  
• You walk around holding our hands but you are not interested crawling.
• You like to talk all the time! Dada, Ba-ba, Yay, Hey, and many other non words, just babbles. You think you are pretty clever when you talk and you love babbling in the backseat while we are driving.
  
• You try to pull up on things, but haven't quite figured out how to use your legs yet.
  
• You love to unpack things, blocks in a box, books in a basket, etc.
• You sleep with a pacifier and love turning it over and over in your mouth. Most days when I come to get you in the morning you have it flipped upside down.
  
• You get so excited in the morning when daddy or mommy walk into your room.
  
• You like rolling the ball with your daddy.
  

You never cease to amaze me and dad. We love you so much. You bring us so much joy. You make us laugh all the time. We have huge dreams for you. I know you are going to be a kind man. You love everyone. I hope that lasts a lifetime.

Laughs and Leaves

This past weekend I went to Indiana with a former student and friend of mine Dottie Ennis to look for a place for her to live. She got a job and is relocating to the area near my parents so we made a little road trip north to look at several apartments and houses. We drove through a freak snow storm and still made great time. The weather has been bonkers. It was cold and snowing one day and 60's and beautiful the next. If I figure out to upload videos I will post one of our ridiculous driving experience.

I didn't take any pictures of the places we looked at but I did, shocker, take pictures of Eli! Ha-ha, I know, I am totally that mom! My parents just have a beautiful tree out front and I couldn't resist. I hope you enjoy the pictures. These area only five of the 80 that I took. Again, I am that mom.

Eli eats big boy food.

Today was the big day! Eli ate steak! Our nutritionist told us that because he was so premature he needed to skip rice cereal and go straight to meat as his first food. So we started today on my mom's birthday with beef in beef broth. Aaron fed him because it just looked to yucky for me to handle. I got to take picture which was more fun anyways because I just got to stare at my little man.

He ate like a champ. He didn't really spit it out at all. These are a few shots that I got. I won't bore you with the fifty others.

Morning Pictures

So tonight at midnight Eli would be turning 3 months old if he had come on his original due date. I was rocking him and feeding him about ten minutes ago and just thinking about what a big boy he is. I love and adore him so much. He is growing like a weed and I cannot believe that he has been a part of our live for almost 6 months now.

He is getting so close to sitting in his bumbo chair. He will now if I support his head a little bit. He smiles all the time and is getting so close to laughing at his momma. He has one time briefly so I know it is coming.

I am in awe of this little man and how great he is. He travels as well as any baby can and we couldn't ask for more. He sleeps so well and is still fine with anyone and everyone passing him around and holding him. Just the most laid back and precious little man.

Aaron and I were talking yesterday as we looked at pictures from the trip and we decided that Eli is beginning to look like a little version of is future self. When you look at your own baby pictures you can see a glimpse of what you currently look like. I snapped these photos one morning after Eli woke up and was just playing on our hotel bed. Excuse the eye gunk and enjoy dreaming with us about his future holds.

Eli- 5 months

Again...sorry this is a little late. The pictures were taken on the day so they are accurate.

Eli is now 5 months old (9weeks adjusted for those of you who weren't sure). We don't know his weight or length because he is now considered a normal little guy and only goes to the doctor for his 2, 4 and 6 month check-ups. We will know more on June 2nd at his 6 month.

However, he looks and acts great! My guess is that he is around 12 lbs and 23 inches long. Again we will know more next month.

• He is in a size 1 diaper and pushing the limits with those so I may transition him to size 2 this week.
• He is growing out of all his newborn shoes but is not quite big enough for his size 1 shoes so he may be wearing only socks for a little while. (Sorry GiGi)
• His changing pad is his favorite place to be. Aaron and I think he likes it because he is flat on his back on a soft surface, but high enough to be close to our faces and all the action.
• Most of you know this but he is sleeping 11 hours at night and taking around three naps a day lasting around an hour each. I used the babywise technique and recommend it to everyone.
• He found his thumb and uses it sometimes, but not regularly.
• He is not the interested in a pacifier! This makes me happy as well.
• He is wearing size 3 month clothes and some 3-6 month pajamas.
• His eyelashes are so long and beautiful!
• We go for walks everyday and Eli loves to be outside! This is such a blessing to mommy and daddy because we both love walks and having him enjoy them makes them all the more special.

This comparison shot is here for two reasons. 1. for you to see the difference and 2. to mourn the loss of Aaron's childhood bear. I put the bear in all the pictures so we had a reference however, when Aaron's mom and I went to the mall to have pictures made "Teddy" was sadly lost. So no more pictures with him, but we did get one professionally done before he was misplaced.

I just thought the picture below was cute and funny so I included it.

Eli's First Road Trip

As you know we went to Indiana for my Great-grandma's viewing. It is about a 4 1/2 hour drive and Aaron and I were pretty nervous about what it would be like with a baby. Well Eli was perfect. He slept the entire 4.5 hours there, with the exception of me waking him to eat, but promptly went back to sleep after finishing his meal.

On the way home he slept halfway and then ate. The remaining 2.5 hours he was wide awake and happy as can be. These are a few shots that I got of him looking at his toys from Aunt Emily and looking out the window.

I love this little face.