Dear Eli { 3 Months

Three months already? I don't believe it.

You are....SO stinkin cute Eli!!

-You are SUPER expressive constantly cooing, laughing, and smiling. 

-You recently (end of October!) started rolling over from front to back - big milestone for such a little guy..we are so proud of you!

-You mainly use your pacifier at night, but it falls out a lot so we have to put it back in for you 209840984x.   & your bedtime is pretty late, 10-11ish and you get up to eat in the middle of the night anywhere between 1-3 times. 

-You loveeee your jumperoo! You have really good head control and love to bounce up and down. 

-Little trips with just you & I are becoming easier- though I do hate lugging your carseat around, it's heavy! 

-You enjoy kicking and moving- so much that you have "jumped" out of your bath seat and we are going to have to get something else for you! (But don't worry, we are always right there and catch you!)

-Besides the jumperoo, your other favorite toy is sophie the giraffe! 

Happy Halloween!

I am usually not a big fan of Halloween, and I blame that on my mother. She hates Halloween. However, I was really excited to take Eli trick-or-treating last night.. I found the cutest costume at a consignment sale about a month ago (it was only $4 too! What a STEAL!) Our plans were to go to my in laws and trick-or-treat in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, it was drizzling when we left and pouring shortly after we arrived..so we stayed in doors instead.  There's always next year! :-)

Seriously- could that costume be any cuter? I die.

My MIL also gave Eli a scarecrow costume.. the picture on the right cracks me up

I think he should wear this costume every day.  It saddens me that it'll be too small for him next year! 

Family First { Pumpkin Patch!

Can you believe how HOT it is for October?  I don't think we have had a "fall" yet.. I am hoping cooler weather comes soon!  For our first ever trip to the pumpkin patch as a family I hoped Eli would get to wear his cute scarecrow outfit that his mawmaw purchased for him...but with it being so hot, we had to opt for just the bib! He surprisingly slept while we went on the wagon ride to the field - which was super bumpy!  I think David and I being first time parents are super nervous about all things protection and I had to keep telling David not to ask for us to get off!  He's such a good, protective father :) 

By his face in these pictures he isn't too sure of himself or what we are making him do - I did enjoy this pumpkin patch but it really is just a big field with pumpkins scattered- I will have to look up and see whether they have TRUE pumpkin patches around or not! 

Cable Knit Sweaters

Once Upon a Child is on of my favorite places to shop -- it's a children's consignment shop and I have found (and purchased) a LOT of great stuff from there. Most of his equipment (swing, bouncy) were purchased there (along with a whole bag of clothes for only $70 total!) and it all looks brand new. 

This is by far one of my favorite clothing purchases from there and when I bought it a few months ago I couldn't wait for him to be big enough to wear it.  Cable knit makes me swoon.

Church Shower

 I was on bedrest when my home church wanted to throw me a baby shower so we drove down and were so incredibly blessed by everyones generosity!   I don't get to travel down nearly as much as I should/want to -- but it was so nice to see all the women I've known almost all of my life love on our family. 

September Phone Dump

1. Eli is REALLY good at holding his head up!

2. Oh his smiles. Melt melt melt!

3. Snuggling his wubbanub.

Studio scene

I've been doing a little shopping.

I have a natural light studio and it's got a gorgeous window so I wanted to create a bed scene in front of it for portraits.  I am slowly easing back into work.  I have to admit, being your own boss is quite nice when it comes to maternity leave.

All of the items are from Bed, Bath & Beyond..and while I probably spent too much on them.. I love them! 

Not for the faint of heart

So there I was playing with Eli when my life forever changed.

The ungodly smells and sights that came out of him this afternoon is something I will never forget.

Poopsplosion

Poopageddon

Poo....

you get the point.

Up his back all around his waist..gag me.

I had no idea so much could come out of someone so tiny.

I didn't think David would believe me on how bad it was so I took a picture for him. Which I am sure he appreciated.

If this was a test I might have failed.

I gagged... a lot.

I almost picked up the phone to call someone to come in for help.

THAT's how bad it was.

Mommy mode took over and I did my best, realizing that in doing so it was still on him and now all over me too. 

So we had to shower.

Afterwards he was so content he took a nice long nap.

Hair & Hormones

I went out alone.

I am not one that enjoys going to the beauty salon, but it was time. 

Throughout the pregnancy if I was bored I would rub my belly and Eli would respond.  It's an emotional first step to go out alone after you'd had a baby.  But a necessary one. 

Sitting in that chair for almost 3 hours to get was torture.  I'd glance down and look at Eli's picture on my phone and blink away the tears.  I missed him.  I knew he was safe & sound at home with his Daddy, but I was hoping he needed me as much as I needed him.   For the past 9+ months I have had someone attached to me.  We were one, everything he needed he got from me.  Then he just had to be born (though really, I was way ready!) and the connection changed.

I decided to go for a drastic change.. I think I like it though it will not be a permanent color- I will not stay platinum forever.  It's something I've always wanted to try though..and I blame the hormones on the impulse! 

Run

For my shower, my sister bought us the carseat/jogger combo that I registered for-- and today we got to test that baby out!

Post baby workouts are a lot harder than one might think.  For one, you might have to try hard not to pee on yourself as you're moving up and down. 

I gained 50+ pounds during pregnancy..getting every inch back to where it was is going to take a lot of time. 

Also, I need to stop eating like I am still pregnant. 

I am glad to be running again- after 8 weeks of full bedrest and then birth, it's good to get out of the house for some fresh air! 

Eye Contact

He's been here over a month.

Time passes SO quickly!

He's stealing our hearts one moment at a time.

We've been getting some smiles and coos

The receding hairline makes me giggle

He is making connection with objects and with us- I know we're all still fuzzy..but it's fun to see him reach this first milestone. 

BFing

I think this is the only picture I have of Eli breastfeeding.

I was going to write out my whole story about how we decided to stop breastfeeding.  With tears in my eyes I actually did write it out, but then.. I deleted it.

It was/is a struggle for me that after a month we switched to formula.

But my child no longer cries because he's hungry.

I can wear a shirt again because my nipples have stopped bleeding.

I don't have to take antibiotics for mastitis. 

With both guilt and relief- we are done breastfeeding.

I am not sure why everyone makes such a big deal over breastmilk or formula.  

Just feed your children. 

Dear Eli { Month 1

My sweet baby Eli,

You made me a mother.  For that I am forever grateful.  You have only been with us for a month, and already we cannot imagine what life would be like without you.  I wouldn't trade the sleepless nights for anything in the world. You love snuggling and we happily oblige...all day long.   Although we have nothing to compare it to, you really are the best baby.  (Not to mention the cutest too!)  Rarely do we hear you cry.  You don't sleep too well but even if you did I would be up checking on you.  You sleep on my side of the bed in a rocker that's slightly inclined and you seem to love that.  You eat almost every hour but sometimes you'll give me 2-3 hours in the middle of the night.  You've learned to love bath time, but at first you were not a fan. (I think you were cold because we had to use a rag) You make the cutest noises..a grunty one when you need to be changed, snorting when you're hungry, and you squeal like a pig when you cry. 

The past month has been exhausting but I am happier I have ever been.  For now, you complete our little family and we are so very thankful to have you. 

August Phone Dump

Your very first picture.

Hi baby!!

Trust me there will be many many more.

Sweet little chubby cheeks..Mommy's lips & Daddy's nose..perfect combination.

Heading home from the hospital in a hat your Aunt sent for you.  

It really seems that you sleep all the time, but you & I both know that isn't true.

No swaddling for this baby..he prefers his hands above his eyes to tucked around his chest.

You are mine! I keep saying that to myself..It's so hard to believe that after all of that waiting, you are here..safe and sound. ♥

You + Me + Bed = perfection.

You started losing your hair, and look like quite the old man.. funny what a week & half will do..in the above picture you had a head full of hair! 

I cannot believe you are almost a month old. 

New Father

David is such a good father. 

He adores his little boy.

Watching them together fills my heart so big I feel like it could bust.

I can see so much of David in Eli's face.

When we saw Eli on the ultrasounds, we knew he favored David..but the physical form is much cuter than the ultrasounds :-)

When Eli first arrived David was nervous around him..but he was a pro within a few days.

I make the earth move

It's my birthday.

And I thought Jesus was coming back.

You see, I was pumping upstairs when all of a sudden there was this loud noise and everything began to shake.

Cue crazy lady just-had-a-baby hormones.

I ripped off the pump (I do not recommend that)

and ran running through the house screaming for David & Eli.

They were outside.

All I remember was thinking that we should all be together if the world is ending, so I didn't even think about the fact that I was wearing my HANDS FREE BRA and nothing else. 

My neighbor who was home, also ran outside. 

Yep, so me.. my husband & son.. the swollen ta-ta's and my neighbor.  Awesome. 

I darted back inside while David went and apologized talked to her about the earthquake.

How can any birthday possibly top that?!

Are his hands cold?

Those who aren't familiar with protective baby mittens wonder why he is always wearing gloves.  No, his hands are not cold.  Yes I know it is 175 degrees outside.   No matter how short I keep Eli's fingernails he constantly scratches himself.  This is one of those inventions that I wish I had thought up so I can be sitting in the sand somewhere with something cold in my hand.  Instead, I am standing above my baby taking a million pictures of him while he sleeps.

Heaven is { Part 2

Heaven is these moments.

I seriously cannot look at this picture without cracking up.

My cute little jaundice baby.

♥ ♥ ♥

Newborn Pictures

Eli isn't what I would call a "heavy sleeper" More like a constant napper.

When I was pregnant I would think about all the cute newborn pictures I could take of him.

And then he arrived. 

Of course it's the photographer's child who doesn't want to get their pictures done, right?

It's been 14 days of me trying multiple times to get his newborn pictures done, and these are my favorite ones..  I know I am biased but he is one CUTE kid.