Big boy bed + potty training

Eli is super excited to be getting a big boy bed- he even helped David put it together.  Big boy bed and underwear in the same week? I don't think I can handle all of the changes that are happening to my baby! 

He was so excited when his nightstand came in, wanted to stuff everything in the drawer.. and I moved his bed around, it looked better this way. Now I just need to finish decorating. 

Potty training is going really well. We have been doing it for 4 days and have only had a few accidents. He gets mad when I just take him to the bathroom, which I learned on the first day when I kept getting him to sit every 15 minutes (he ended up holding it for over 2 hours! ha! My strong-willed little boy) so I just remind him to tell me when he has to go.. and he does almost every time!

First Dentist Visit

Eli had his first dentist visit today- and I couldn't believe how good he did! 

The office is great, and I think he did so well because they let him spray the water on the floor.. ha! 

He's got the cutest little cross bite and hopefully it'll fix itself, but both David + I had braces.

Luke is 1!

Happy Birthday to my baby boy!

Over the past year, whew.. you have made mommy tired! ;) 

You have started to love the game of chase but most of all loooooveee to read books- any kind and all day.  You are really good in the car as long as we have Mickey Mouse playing.  You sleep from 8PM-7AM and take one nap a day, for 2 hours. 

Your other favorite thing is eating.. You don't miss a meal and you like to eat at very specific times or you get angry.. you have quite the little temper my son.  I think your favorite thing is avocados but that really changes daily and I haven't yet found something that you didn't like.

You aren't super cuddly, but every once & a while you will lay your head on me.. and I soak up every second.  Typically I can always count on you to lay your head on me right before bedtime.

When you dance you hold your hands together and swing your arms- it's super cute. 

22 Months & 4 Months

Eli is 22 months -

He weighs 28 pounds

He is not interested in TV unless it's in the car.. and he watches Thomas & Barney.. I don't know if he really likes them or if he watches it because we have downloaded them for him.

He talks really well! He isn't speaking in sentences but will put things together (for instance, if David is gone in the morning, he will say, "Daddy" "bye-bye")

He learned the word "heavy" and will try to lift anything he can while saying the word.

One of the first things he does when he wakes up is run to find his "baby" - He loves Luke!

We started doing a gymnastic class for toddlers- I really enjoy that time once a week with him.

His favorite book is "Go, Dog! Go." And he sleeps with the dog & a bear we made him at the mall. 

The dog was Davids..and it is so special that now it's Eli's! 

He is a really good eater.  If it is something he likes.. he will eat you out of the home! 

Luke is 18 pounds! My little chunkamunk.

He sleeps from 9PM - 6:30-8AM

He is getting much better about not having to be held ALL day long. 

He isn't as "grumpy" faced as he used to be.. we get a lot of smiles and laughs.

He takes 1 good nap and 1-2 short naps. 

He can roll both ways (and has done that since he was 2 months old!)

He has really good head control, and so badly wants to sit! He is always trying to pull his neck up.

He loves to watch Eli run around.. and he will just sit and watch him.

He sleeps on his belly and sometimes has a hard time sleeping if he isn't in his crib.

He is really good at playing with toys and grabbing things.

Family Portraits May 2013

I try to have a session every few months.. at these ages the boys change SO much! I'm thankful to have friends in the industry to swap with.  My main goal was to get ONE good family shot.. and one of my boys & I.  And we got more than that!  Luke showed a bit of his "grumpy baby" face..but also brought out some sweet smiles!  

First Set of Family Pictures

This is our first family of four set of pictures.. :)

Brothers

Eli is super curious about this new baby in the house. When he visited in the hospital he was more interested in everything in the room than checking out who I was holding. We are working on "gentle" and so far so good! I tell him to "pat pat pat" and he will lightly pat Luke while saying the phrase..it's very cute! He LOVES when I change Luke's diaper- he will scoop it up and go throw it away. Currently I have lots of help and David has been keeping him engaged all day- but soon it'll just me be and the boys. I'm excited to get se sort of routine down. Not sure how tired I'll be- but it'll be worth it :)

Luke is here!

Luke David
January 3, 2013
8 pounds 6 ounces
21 inches long
2:15 PM

I am so so in love. Born at 37w5d, What an amazing blessing. He's here, he's healthy.. I couldn't be happier!

35 Weeks!

We made it to 35 weeks!

Currently I am 35w5d so I assume we will make it to 36 weeks as well, not sure how far from there until we will meet our second son though!  Monday night I was getting contractions every 3-6 minutes and after I had taken the procardia they only spaced out to 10-15 minutes instead of going away.  So we called the on-call DR (who was not from our practice) and he said if I came in he wouldn't stop labor, so just do what I was doing at home.  He wasn't super pleasant and made rude jokes about my DR, so I am really glad we didn't have to go in that night.  I am so so thankful for our wonderful OBGYN office - they are fabulous! The best plan would to be go into labor at night and deliver during the day when my DR is working. (Funny to plan such a thing, right?) But that's how much I love my DR. 

Tuesday morning we called my DR and they told us to come in and get checked- contractions were 4-7 minutes apart but I was only dilated to 1, and they would have sent us to L&D for some fluids, but we've been down this road before- so we got to come home.  They did want us to come back that afternoon and have the u/s done that should have been today.  Just incase he decided to come this early we would know his size. (Eli got stuck, and talk of csec if we make it as far as we did with Eli is very possible!)

I loved seeing him again, though everything is much more squished and it was hard to get a good look! One of his feet and hands is down by the head, and the other set is up at the ribs- totally uncomfortable if you ask me!

Today I got checked again and I am 2CM dilated.  Contractions have been heavier tonight but I assume that's because he checked me, never a fun process!  

My official guess for the date he will arrive is December 27th!  I am also guessing he will be 8 pounds 5 ounces... and he will need NO NICU TIME! He will be perfectly healthy. Praying! 

16 months!

Eli is 16 months!

He could be a big brother this month, and I know he is totally ready and will be the best!

He is completely obsessed with throwing his food over his high chair, which can be very frustrating, but he thinks it's the best game! Still working on methods to keep the food ON the tray. So far, no luck.

He is loving the song, "If you're happy and you know it" and stomping your feet is his favorite part.

He is the most observant thing you've ever seen! He continually amazes me with the things he tries to do just by watching us.  Helps his daddy feed the dogs and wants to help me with everything around the house.  He unloads the cups and bowls that go into his drawer from the dishwasher and puts them away.  Using the broom will keep him occupied for a good little while.  I can give him a little towel and he will wipe things down and "clean."

He can now open the heavy drawers of the nightstand- so now we have to figure out a way for him NOT to do that. 

His favorite toys aren't toys- he loves ANYTHING with a cord, my glasses holder, bottles with tops, etc. I hope he enjoys his Christmas presents, but I'm not sure he will because they are actual toys! ;)

He laughs way too hard when he burps or passes gas, and continues to try to make it happen..such a boy! 

We set up the Little People nativity scene and he can point out baby Jesus- I love that! 

Yard Work

For December, we have had some pretty warm- Some have even been in the 70s!  This one clearly wasn't that warm but it wasn't too cold either.  Eli loves pulling things around and this lawnmower was a birthday gift from his grandparents.  As you can see, the dogs are never far behind- and Eli wouldn't have it any other way..he loves the pups!

I love this last picture of him! 

Luke's Nursery!

Here is Luke's nursery!

I am so in love.

It's charming & cozy.

Many times already I have gone into the room after Eli has gone to bed and sit in the glider dreaming of our our life is going to change from being a family of 3 to a party of 4.  I am so excited for that change! 

It IS the smallest bedroom of four in the house, so I wanted to keep things simple and only include the necessities.  There is a BIG playroom steps away that he can enjoy all sorts of toys, and when the time comes we will be getting rid of the glider and can incorporate other items into that space. 

I do find it funny that I decorated the nursery in airplanes (even if they are vintage!) because I am scared to death of riding in them!  I don't know if I would do it for a million dollars.  Maybe if I was sedated. ;)

I do still need to get curtains- white out ones are the best! Though we can wait on that because Luke will not be in his room for months once he arrives- he sleeps in a bassinet next to me.