Two Months Old

Can you believe it has been two months already?? Lee and I can't believe it! We woke up early this morning and sang Happy Birdle Daydle (it's our family thing) to Eli and he just smiled and cooed. It was an incredible morning! We had his 2 month check up with Dr. Doud (the local favorite) at 11am and he got such a good report. He is 9lb 8.5oz so has gained 2 1/2 lbs since he was born and was 22.5in long which means he grew a whopping 3 inches in 2 months! That totally explains why his feet don't fit into newborn socks and his legs hang out of his clothes! haha Dr. Doud was very pleased with his growth and proud that we are still breast feeding. He got his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, head, hips, legs, heart and so much more checked out...he was prodded all over the place! Dr. Doud was really pleased with his alertness, his ability to focus on things across the room, how he was holding his head up and the fact that he is applying pressure when you stand him up. He is going to be a strong little boy I think! (long and lean like his daddy!) We are so thrilled with his progress - these past two months have been the best of our lives! Here are some updates on what Eli (and us) are doing:

• Every morning Lee unwraps him around 7am when he wakes up - he has been in the swaddle so he likes to stretch and pass some gas...well, a lot of gas! When he is all done pooting he smiles the biggest smile and is ready to play!



• He found his hands last week and sucks on them all the time. You can hear him in the next room - hasn't figured out yet that his thumb could go in there. He still likes his paci though.



• Coos and makes all kind of noises when you are talking to him or during tummy time.



• Loves to smile - right now, I think my dad can make him smile more than anyone. (well, I think I may be a close second - the boy does love his momma!!)



• Loves to take a bath and really loves for you to let him swim a bit. (we hold his head and let his body float in the tub - he smiles and kicks his legs - cutest thing!)



• He takes 2 long naps - one in the morning for about 3 hours and then another one in the afternoon for 2 to 3 hours. So great for me to work during these hours and then I can spend time with him when he is awake.



• Bedtime for him right now is 9pm (after his feeding and bath) and he sleeps until about 7am. He back and forth right now on sleeping thru the night - if he wakes up it is at 3am or 3:30am - he eats and then is right back down. I am not pushing getting him to sleep thru the night until he is around 10lbs. Usually 2 or 3 nights a week he sleeps all night so I know he is close.



• He still loves his swing, being outside, riding in the car, being read too, having tummy time and being with people who make him smile.



• He is very content now - no more crying for long stretches at night. (two weeks of hell!)



• He is really laid back - nothing upsets him - can sleep thru any noise or loud party (like last Saturday night!).



• He loves Winston and Roscoe and they are warming up to him. Roscoe will actually go and drop his ball in front of Eli's swing when he is swinging as to say "Come on - throw the ball!" It is really, really cute!
  

I will post some new pics soon - gotta get them downloaded off of my parent's camera - check back soon!

Boo!

Little late...but here is Eli on his first Halloween...little sweet ghost! We didn't do much since we were out searching for our pups (will blog about that later) but he did wear his ghost outfit and pose for some cute pictures!!

Happy Birthday Melin!!

Happy, happy birthday to my sister...my best friend...my soul mate. God brought her into my life...my brother made her my sister. I am truly blessed! We went to the same high school a year apart....never friends because of other loyalties to friends and boys that came between us all. I moved back to Conyers in 2003 from Perry and she from Cali...both living at home with our parents after years of our freedom and own places. With a couple friends a book club was started and after one book...the book club was over but a friendship between the two of us was blossoming! She was my girly, girl friend who introduced me to Alias and Lord of the Rings...I introduced her to Young Adult novels. We shared a love of any kind of book, girly movies, tiaras, eyeliner (or really any kind of makeup!) and so much more. We had best friends who were twins...and finally felt like we had found our twin. She met my brother in the Fall of 2004 and the rest was history...what a love story! (that is for her to tell) I am forever grateful to Mary and Beka for jumpstarting a friendship that would later turn into a lifetime of sisterhood!

Melin, I love you and hope your birthday is a TREMENDOUS one! xoxo

One of my most favorite moments...the day she became my sister!

My most favorite moment...when Eli made her an Auntie!!

Why not?

Lee does not like this picture nor does he like for me to do this...but I think it is hysterical!! As Beka told me the other day...I am a in your face lover to my child...always in his face loving on him! I kiss him a million times a day and smell him...ooh! it is wonderful! Sometimes when I am doing this and little man is hungry...well, he finds my nose and starts to suck on the tip of it! :) I mean it isn't like he is attached to the nostril and sucking things out...that would just be gross! So tell me what you think...cute or gross?

Friends and Family...

I am going to be a busy girl today I think...have a lot of pictures to download and a couple posts to do. Make sure you read them all! haha

A couple weeks ago Shannon, Mary and their girls (minus Audrey who was in school) came by to visit me and Eli. What fun!! Sloane and Anna Kathryn played in Eli's nursery with all the baby toys while us grown up girls oohed and ahhed over Eli and caught up. Anna Kathryn wanted to hold Eli over and over...she was such a little mommy! I took the girls outside for a quick photo op but they wanted to hold hands and hop in the grass more than pose. :)

This past week we went to Doug and Danielle's house to see Josie and baby Sim. Josie was so cute holding him - just look at those curls!! Sim wanted to kiss him and kiss him some more - PRECIOUS!! I can't wait to watch these guys all grow up together. Eli and Sim are only 9 months apart so I am sure they will be best of buds!

We also spent some time with my mom's family in early October for my Aunt Dorie's birthday. Eli loved his aunties and great grandparents!!!



Here are some pictures (last ones for this post I promise!!) from last night at my parents house. Eli is 6 1/2 weeks old and finally fitting into his newborn clothes (thanks Sim for letting me borrow you ultra cute outfit!). Dad aka Capt and Mom aka Gigi just can't get enough of Eli...like any of us can? :)



Dad is making "pooting" noises with his mouth and Eli was POOTING for real! Look at his eyes in the picture - so cute! We were laughing so hard!! (the boy definitely has some gas issues)

Weekend Fun

I know I have been so slack on blogging lately...but it is hard to find the time right now to sit down and pick out the pictures and think about what to type. I am going to post a couple posts in the next day so check out what has been going on in our life!!

This past weekend was very busy...but so fun! My cousin, Jason came to stay with us on his way back from Florida...he lives in Boston with his daughter, Amelia. His girlfriend, Jen, came with them and we had a great visit! Amelia was IN LOVE with the dogs...they were so sad to see her leave since she is the ONLY person in 6 weeks to pay them any attention. haha! We all had dinner at my parents house and went to my grandmother's church to walk thru Judgement House. We slept in late and caught up over bagels and coffee. Jason couldn't get enough of Eli and held him and loved on him the entire time. We enjoyed you guys so much! Come back anytime!!

Then Friday night we had Jason and Michelle's rehearsal dinner in Atlanta at Coco Loco which is the BEST Cuban food in Atlanta! I had never had Cuban food (and we know how picky I am with food) and I ate every morsel...so yummy! YOU MUST GO!! Eli went with us to the rehearsal and then the rehearsal dinner. He did so good...slept the entire time...except the last 15 minutes. Everyone enjoyed seeing him!

Me and Eli at Coco Loco

Saturday was a DAY! Eli didn't sleep very well on Friday night so I was exhausted on Saturday. I had to get up early and head to the mall since none of my dresses fit...nor my shoes! I know, I know...I should have figured that out before the day of the wedding but I just thought it would all work. IT DIDN'T!! My lovelies don't fit into any dresses or tops really...you don't realize how big they are when all you wear are tee shirts and tank tops. I tried on every dress...NOTHING fit! So I knew I had to get a dress....but was hoping that my black satin peep toe heels (that I am IN LOVE with) would fit since I am slowly shrinking...but NO! none of my shoes fit except for boots, tennis shoes and flip flops. Needless to say, I ran to Macy's for an hour and luckily found a dress and some heels...all on sale!

Me and Lee at the wedding - he was a groomsman!

Me and Jennifer - Love that girl!!

Leebo, Shannon, Me and Justin - Shannon is Jason's sister and growing up she and Lee always said they would get married. Justin and I messed that plan up evidently! You should see the two of them dance - INCREDIBLE!

The wedding was great...so fun to see everyone! It was a wonderful event...best friends were there...dancing...good food...more dancing...it was fun! Now...you ask where was Eli? Yes, we had a date night because Beka and David were so gracious to keep Eli for us. I dropped him off around 5pm and we didn't get to their house until after 1am. In her sweet voice, Beka said "He was easy...I twirled him in my fingers all night". He was happy...she was happy...we were happy...what more could you ask for?? Much love to Beka and Dave for keeping our little man!!

Eli relaxing in Daddy's arm at Beka and Dave's house - boy, was that bed comfy!!

One Month

Wow....time sure flies! I cannot believe that Eli is a month old today. It just doesn't seem like that could be possible! He is such a joy...so in love with him and this life that God has graciously blessed me with. Here are some of our favorite moments with Eli and his milestones so far:

• We go for a walk almost every day - he loves being outside! He can be fussy and you can just walk outside and stand in our driveway - the boy will stop crying and look all around.


• Cap (aka Dan) comes to see Eli almost every 2 days - he is so cute! They are both in love with each other and it is the neatest thing to watch.


• Roscoe and Winston are still adjusting - Roscoe has given in and likes Eli now - will lick his hand or foot every now and then. AND if you aren't watching Roscoe will curl up in the Boppy - it is his favorite thing! Winston is still fighting the good fight - he thinks he is still "Top Dog" around these parts. (poor guy!)


• Eli loves bath time except when you get him out - he HATES being cold! (and that includes wiping his bootie with a cold wipe - watch out!)


• He is now starting to fit into some 0 - 3 month clothes - BARELY! I did have to buy him some Preemie pants so that he could continue to wear his tiny little onesies in this chilly weather.


• He loves sleeping in his co-sleeper (thanks Mary!) but would rather nap in his swing or of course...on you!


• He nurses like a champ now -- and mommy could supply an entire hospital ward of babies with milk. haha!!


• He is only waking up once during the night for a feeding which has been nice. I am not forcing him to go all night yet...he breaks my heart when he cries!


• We took him to his first Heritage football game - he slept right thru the entire thing!


• He had his first night out on the town on Saturday - we went to Jenny and Mack's wedding. It was so beautiful and Eli enjoyed looking at all the twinkly lights. He was the hit of the party!


• He went to his first soccer game (Lee is playing ADASL - 1st Division) yesterday. Daddy's team won and Eli was super excited!


• He is so strong - he is holding his head up, turning it from side to side, and can push off with his legs - actually holds himself up!


• Waking up is my most favorite time with Eli - I start undoing his swaddle and he starts stretching and making the CUTEST faces ever! He is like a little old man - scrunches his forehead up and purses his lips. I want to eat him up!

There are so many more....I could go on and on but that would bore you and probably embarrass poor Eli! (think I will be THAT mom!) Anyways, life is awesome...we are loving our boy and each other. It couldn't get any better than this! Here are some recent pics...enjoy!