stop it, eli...NOW!

Stop it, Eli! Stop it now! Please stop growing so quickly!

This week, Eli began rice cereal! Perched in his stylish highchair from Auntie Danielle and Uncle Kent, our little guy wasn't sure what to make of the rice, the spoon, and the fact that "...hey, I'm sitting up while I eat..." Our first try with the rice cereal was not a disaster as I feared, but rather just a grainy mess, with a few swallows in between. While Eli is already such a wonderful eater, I know it will only be a matter of time before he truly begins to enjoy what is on his colorful Gerber spoons.

forget the turkey & ham

While we all love a good 'ole turkey and ham dinner for holidays, this year we decided to enjoy something a bit different...seafood! Mom, Andy, Eli, and I decided to forgo traditional Easter fare and enjoy a late afternoon dinner at Bonefish Grill...yum! How nice it was to have something a bit different and to simply spend time together enjoying the Easter holiday!

some "bunny" loves Eli

What a wonderful and blessed Easter Sunday we had! We were so, so excited to welcome my mother to Louisville on Saturday and to celebrate Jesus' resurection as a family. The weather simply could not have been more beautiful on this special Sunday. While we are so very thankful for the warm weather, time with family, and the sweet smiles of our special little boy, we are so thankful that Jesus endured the cross for your family and for ours. We know that it is only through Him that we find life.

******

...waiting patiently & happily for my Easter basket(s)...

...Mama & Daddy had lots of fun giving the Easter Bunny lots of hints for Eli's first Easter basket...

...some "bunny" loves Eli...
Thanks so much to Auntie Danielle & Uncle Kent, Nana & Papaw Freeman, & Noni for such special, special Easter basket goodies!

parts & parts

We decided to get Eli's exersaucer out and give this fun new toy a try! However, before the fun play could begin, the colorful "saucer" had to be put together. While we knew this huge box had to contain lots of special goodies, we had no idea of the amount of parts, parts, and more parts that would come tumbling out. Nonetheless, Andy worked, snapped, and twisted until each dangling toy, musical button "thingy", and small mirror were in place and ready to be enjoyed. In the meantime, it appeared that Eli wanted a better view of Daddy putting together his new toy because as he was doing so, Mr. Eli decided to make the "big roll" from his back to his belly. What luck it was to snap some pictures of this much anticipated first roll as I was taking pictures of Andy swallowed up by exersaucer parts galore!

...almost there...

...whew...I made it...

um...now what?

a night on the river

Last night, Andy, Eli, and I took advantage of the beautiful, warm weather by meeting friends for dinner on the Waterfront at Tumbleweed! It was so nice to see the other residents and their wives, Ruby and baby Rio, and look at downtown Louisville from a different perspective. During both our wait and dinner, Little Eli was an all-star baby! He quietly took in Louisville's skyline, smiled at our friends, watched the hustle and bustle around him, and simply couldn't have been a better baby! What a gorgeous Spring night to spend with good friends!

Ruby colored and played with lots of fun goodies while we waited for dinner. What a good girl she always is!

Little Eli occupying himself with his "O-Ball"

the good patient

We just can't believe that our Eli is four months old already! With discussions about rice cereal and baby food at our pediatrician's appointment this morning, our once tiny baby is seemingly growing by leaps and bounds! Eli grew a whopping 3 inches since his two-month appointment and topped the scales at 15 pounds. He couldn't have been happier at the doctor's office as he entertained the waiting room with his endless conversation and smiled from ear to ear at anyone who gave him attention. We are so thankful for this healthy boy!

...Four things about Eli at four months old...

1. Eli loves to smile! He not only smiles with those sweet gums, but also with his eyes and his eyebrows. His big smiles brighten up our home.

2. Eli has recently started to pay lots of attention to Carmen. He loves watching Carmen chase her toys and will at times laugh as she goes back and forth, back and forth. We can't wait for these two to be special friends soon!

3. Our sweet boy loves to reach and hold dangling toys! We love watching the control of his arm as he concentrates to grab his favorite playmat penguin.

4. Oh, no! Eli has recently found his thumb and seems to enjoy it more and more each week. While I know that this could possibly be a bad habit on the horizon, I can't help but smile when I see his little thumb in his mouth with his pointer finger wrapped around his nose.

stroller adventures

Spring has officially sprung in Louisville! Trees are in bloom; lawns are being mowed; bulbs are emerging, and Eli is on the go in his stroller! We are simply loving the warm sunshine and just can't get enough of our stroller adventures on the sidewalks of our development! For our most recent walks, Eli has been officially upgraded to the "big boy" part of his stroller and loves (I think) facing forward, protected from the sun and flying insects (my new fear), by his sun shade. We only hope this weather continues as we love, love getting outside for sunshine and exercise!

..."Indiana Eli" is ready to hit the pavement...

special delivery

Special Delivery! Andy and I received brand new blue & gold Final Four t-shirts from my mother today! Who doesn't love a comfy, new t-shirt?!? We were so thrilled to get this fun and special package! We can't wait to wear them! Thanks so much, Mama!

sweet baby face

happy birthday to our favorite guy

Andy marked a special milestone yesterday, his 30th birthday! With a simple dinner in, Andy's favorite homemade carrot cake, and a few special birthday goodies from Eli and I, we had a fun evening at home celebrating the birthday boy! Eli and I are so lucky to call this special guy "ours"!