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.

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.

Who does Eli look like?

All parents know that from the moment you find out you have a baby you wonder who they will look like. Will they have my nose, your eyes, and what color will their hair be.

Parents also know that you can rarely pinpoint who they resemble most even when the baby arrives. I know there are exceptions and some parents can tell immediately, but that is not the typical situation.

Eli is technically only a month old and he looks like a different person to me every other day. We all change as we age and that makes the guessing game all the more fun. Here are a few pictures of me and Aaron as babies. You all can put your guesses as to who our precious little Eli will look like.

Aaron...

soon after coming home from the hospital

Me...

at the hospital

soon after the hospital

a little while later...I have no clue how old I am here

Happy 26 Aaron!

My Amazing hubby turned 26 TODAY! His sister and brother-in-law were in town (more pictures and events to follow soon) and that made the day super special. However, tonight Aaron is traveling for work as well as tomorrow so we actually celebrated just the two/three of us at 6:30 this morning!

We started the day with blueberry muffins baking in the oven which makes any day great. However, while they were baking Aaron, myself and our precious boy Eli laid in bed just talking and playing. Eli smiled at his Daddy for the first time while in bed and it made Aaron's whole day! After Eli had eaten (wearing his "I love Daddy" bib) Aaron opened his presents... three bow ties, three dress shirts, Settler's of Catan expansion pack, and a Nike running thing. He loved everything which is sometimes unusual for Aaron as he is pretty particular.

After opening gifts Aaron and I got ready for work and went our separate ways. When Aaron left I started to work on his poster card from Eli and our two year old niece Landry and got Eli dressed in his Superman outfit. (Aaron loves comics and Aaron is Eli's Superman)

As I wrote out his Happy Birthday Haiku and colored in the white space I thought over the last four years we have shared together and of how lucky I am. We don't have a glamorous life, but we have a life filled with unconditional love, laughter, joy, peace, adventure and best of all each other.

To my sweet hubby. You have changed my life forever and I thank God for you every single day. Thank you for choosing to live your life with me. You are the best gift I have ever received. I love you!

Enough of the sappy stuff. (Even thought it is fun) For lunch we went to Tastebuds, our favorite pizza place in Wilmore and just enjoyed our remaining time with Jennifer and John. Like I said Aaron is now on the road traveling so we won't get to spend the evening celebrating but we had a special day regardless.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Family In Town

Aaron's sister Jen, Brother-in-law John, and our god daughter/niece Landry are in town this weekend visiting. It has been so fun spending time and laughing with them. Landry is precious with Eli and loves him so much.

We took Eli out in public for the first time for brunch at Solomon's Porch. Daddy carried him in the Baby Bjorn and he slept the entire time. Aaron is such a sweet daddy and takes perfect care of our baby.

Here are some photos from our day. We started by walking downtown, ate at Solomon's, walked back through campus and then finished our afternoon with our favorite...GiGi's cupcakes!