Eli and Uncle Michael Cruisin'

Uncle Michael entertained Eli quite a bit while we were at Pa's in Waco. Anytime Eli started to get fussy (or just because Michael wanted to), Eli was loaded up on Michael's lap on Pa's scooter. The two cruised through the living room and the kitchen running over anything in their way. Eli became upset when Michael stopped driving him around... "MORE! MORE! Cool Uncle Michael!"

A Blast From the Past

On Saturday, we went to Mr Gullo's house to see his car museum. When it was dark we visited the Gullos again to catch a glimpse of the wonderful Christmas lights in his yard.

Eli with Tony Gullo

lights in the front yard at Mr Gullos

Eli's First Christmas

Eli with Uncle Adam @ Kitty MawMaws Eli with Cousin Laurie in Waco
Eli and Michael with his new stepstool
Eli and Great Uncle Ray
Eli and Asher on their new "clip clops " @ Nanna's

They "nehhh" and "clip clop" with the press of a button

Our little Eli had a wonderful Christmas. He received lots and lots of books and toys as well as his first Aggie tricycle and first rocking horse. His Grams also ordered his first rocking chair so we are stumped on what to get him when he is actually ready for those items!

I created two slideshows for the family Christmas'. See the slideshow to the right and click on the pictures. It will take you to PicasaWeb to view the pics. First stop on Christmas morning was at Kitty Cat Mawmaws (mommys family) in Magnolia. Then around 3pm we headed to Waco to see Pa and the Waco bunch. In the end, Mommy, Daddy, Grams, Uncle Ray, Uncle Jamie, and Cousin Laurie all got the "Christmas Stomach Bug". We are all better (or getting there) and hoping Baby Eli isn't going to catch it.

Christmas with Jaden

Mommy and Eli met Chelette and Jaden in Tomball to exchange Christmas gifts. With all of the hustle of the holidays we had to meet in Target parking lot between the shopping spree of one store to the next. Coincidentally, the boys had on the same exact outfits! Maybe next year, we can meet at the house to really play and enjoy the Christmas season.

Jumperoo -- I LOVE YOU!

We pulled the Jumperoo out of the box today. Eli LOVED it! When we pushed down on the sides, he smiled sooo big! Then he finally figured it out and started bouncing. Only problem was that Eli's little legs are short and the little guy cant reach the floor. We had to put a box underneath for him to reach and be able to push. Several times, he struggled with getting those legs to cooperate.... so he used his big 'ol head and bobbed it to make the thing bounce! It was too cute! Daddy made fun of him, of course!

I had several videos from our camera of Eli's first experience in the Jumper... but I angled it and didnt pay attention that I couldnt make it "landscape" view when it was on the computer! Dumb me! I had to delete the videos because I am sure that no one wanted to watch Eli with their head cocked to the side! So here is a short clip later in the night when I made Daddy put him back in the bouncer. Not as much excitement or energy here... but you get the drift.... I will try to catch him tomorrow when he is "fresh".

Eli visits the post office!

Eli visited Nanna at work today. He learned all about the mail and the system that it goes through to get to peoples houses. Sure hope Santa gets Eli's letter!

Lets Roll!

Eli started rolling over about 2 weeks ago. At 12 weeks, he is perfecting it.... always on the move! He absolutly LOVES tummy time....holding his head up high and looking around. Our little man is growing sooo fast!

Play Time!

Tummy Time!

Roll over and talk to Mommy!
Talking to Daddy and telling him all about his adventures

A week of fun

Eli had another week of Grams while Mommy and Daddy went to work. His Nana (babysitter) had an emergency and couldn't watch Eli on Monday so Grams came to the rescue once again! This time, Grams brought along Uncle Jamie for Eli to visit with. Wednesday, December 17th, was Eli's first day at daycare. He was awake and "talking" in the car the whole way to Magnolia... then when we reached her street, he went to sleep! Here he is with Nana and his friend from daycare. He had a great

3 days with Nana and seemed to adjust really well.

First Snow!

Eli had his first experience of snow today! YEAH!!

10 Weeks and Growing!

A little R and R

Eli and Mommy snuggled all weekend to catch up from the missed time together. Eli ended up in bed with mommy and daddy around 4am both Saturday and Sunday mornings. On Sunday, he decided that Mommy couldn't put him down -- even to vacuum. Eli had to be placed in the Baby Bjorn carrier and help mommy!

Hanging out with Crazy Uncle Michael

Michael and Tracy came over for dinner this week. Uncle Michael sang to Eli and Mommy denied that she was videoing it. She told Uncle Michael that she was just trying to get the right angle of the two! Listen to this fool sing!! too cute!

We survived!

Well, Eli and mommy survived our first week apart. Eli stayed at home with Grams all week and worked on "gettin' those arm things in control". He had a few battle scars by the end of the week where his arm came right up and bopped him on the nose and left a scratch. He even emailed the kiddos in his mommys class about his adventures and battles. By the end of the week, he and Grams were inseperable. Mommy and Daddy asked Grams to come back the next week instead of Eli starting daycare. Grams didnt mind.... she also looked for the excuse that mommy and daddy still werent getting enough rest so she needed to be there to help! We dont mind, we love when Grams comes to visit! Mommy tried to put up the Christmas tree her first week back at work-- didnt get very far! The tree is up and only has about 10 ornaments on it! oh well... one day!
Here is Eli getting a bath and loving the bubbles. He describes this bath time to the students in mommys class as his "swimmin' pool with a hammock"! He loves the bubbles and the warm water-- he even makes his own sprinkler sometimes!
The last pic is Eli saying farewell to Grams for the weekend. Grams said she is so glad that she is coming back in 2 days...said it would be painful like how it was of me going back to work and leaving him if she wasnt coming back. She really loves her grandbaby and he loves her.

Two Months old!

Eli went today for his two month well-baby and shots. He is now 11 pounds, 6.5 oz and is 22 3/4 inches long. He has come a long way from his birth weight of 6 lbs, 12oz and 20 inches. This little booger is not a sleeper either! He is awake most of the day and only takes "cat naps". Our longest sleep period is from 11pm to 3am... then back up every hour and a half to two hours for food. And the food cycle continues through the day.... little napper, big eater! I am adding baby cereal to his night time bottles of milk as of today.... doctor approved so mommy and daddy can get some sleep. Hope it helps!

He holds his head up really, really well and tries to talk-- cooing and awwing. He is one cute little dude. Eli is also very, very verbal.... (wonder where he gets that from?) and he is a pro at pouting to get his way. His mommy and Grams are softies for his pouts... we are quick to make him happy.

Back to Work....

I went back to work on Monday..... it was SOOOOOOOOOO hard! Eli is home with Grams this week so I can get used to getting up early and getting into a routine. I was okay at first... had a couple of moments of "lets just call in a substitute" but made it to the school. Once I walked in, a coworker asked how I was doing and I lost it! I cried all the way from the back of the building to the front office. When I left there and headed to my classroom, those tears kept rolling. Going back to work was so hard-- but got easier to handle through the day. I called Eli and Grams at every break I got. I even received an email from Eli telling me that he loved me and missed me (thanks, Grams-- I needed that). My students also received an email from Eli.... here is what it said:

"hey kids… this is baby eli….just wanted to say hi …and…to make sure that you guys are taking good care of my mommie…she really needs your help right now cause she really misses me….i miss her too but you see i sleep a lot and then while i sleep i dream that i am sleepin in her arms….so its not so bad….right now i am hangin in my swing checkin out my jungle animals….grams has the funny jungle music going….cept this won’t last long cause those animals get boring pretty quick….i just got through with my exercises while ago….that is where you lay on the floor on a blanket and kick your legs and arms and watch the ceiling fan go around and around….next grams and i are going to play talkin….that is where i say “hey” and she says “hey” and i say “hey” and she says “hey”and i say “hey” and she says “hey” and so on and so on and so on…well i got to go….gettin hungry again…..i’ll write ya again and tell you more bout my citing life…don’t forget…take xter special care of my mommie…i love her soooooooo much… i hope to get to see ya some day …as soon as I get my baby munities up for all you guy’s big boy/big gal germs…take it easy lob and kisses….baby eli

I laughed and cried as I read this. I had it on the projector screen for us all to read at once. At the end of the day, I rushed home to hold him and once I saw his smiling face I melted. He seemed very happy to see his Mommy... she was happy to see him too....that's for sure!

oh yeah--I finally took Eli to meet his daycare lady. She goes by Nana-- so he will have a Grams, Nanna, and a Nana to care for him when Mommy needs help. Here is a picture of the two of them on Sunday. He will be starting daycare with Loree on Monday, December 8th. Yes-- I waited until last minute for them to meet.... I just couldnt face it that I had to go back to work again. But Loree and Eli bonded on Sunday and I know he will be just fine and only a mile and a half from me at school

Capture the moments

On Black Friday, Eli and Mommy traveled from Grams house in Beaumont to our house in Spring to drop Daddy off, then traveled to Magnolia to see Nanna and family. Great Kitty Kat MawMaw had purchased lots and lots of clothes for Baby Eli. He is one spoiled little dude! Uncle Adam came home from college and wanted to do a photo shoot of our little man. Here are some pics from the "shoot"

I LOVE this one-- it reminds me of a school photo