9 months and growing.

Dear Eli,

Time is passing entirely way too fast! Your daddy and I can hardly believe that you are 9 months old. It seems surreal that you are the same number of months that our sweet pregnancy lasted together. You amaze me each day with something new that you discover. You are one busy little bee. You are constantly on the go and have now flipped your crawling speed switch from moderate to oh-so-fast! You love crawling from toy to toy, from room to room, and anything and everything that you really shouldn't be crawling towards. You've recently begun to pull-up to your knees and will certainly find your feet soon enough. While this terrifies me, we cheer out loud for your accomplishments and you relish in all of the attention with your big, sweet smile!


We love watching you move, but also adore watching you take in your surroundings, study Carmen, and sit quietly listening to book after book after book. You have quite a personality with a sneaky, precious, and full-faced smile. You love to giggle and squeal, and make the cutest "oval lips" when something really interests you. You have four teeth and are certainly working on more each day. You live by the motto early to bed, early to rise...you still go to bed between 7 and 7:30, wake for a feeding around 4:30, and return to sleep usually until 7:00 am. You love all baby food with the exception of those rotten bananas and have recently added puffs (finally, you like these) and yogurt bites to your list of snacks. You babble the day away, but will consistently say da-da. While I am still patiently waiting for you to say ma-ma and we practice each day (every teacher knows the /m/ consonant sound is much, much harder to voice than the /d/ consonant sound - hehe) you have yet to make my heart jump by saying it. We will keep practicing and I will keep waiting! You will contently go to anyone, but are always wanting and willing to come back to "mama" with outstretched arms. I must admit, I do love this. While it still feels a bit strange to not be in my classroom, I am utterly enjoying my "new job" and take such pride in caring for you. Eli B, you have added such light to our lives and to that of our family. We cannot even dream of our lives 10 months ago! You are our pride and joy and we love you more each day, you rotten boy. Now, please, please slow down! 12 months is just around the corner, and if you don't mind, we want to savor the "now" with you - our baby.

xoxo,
mama and da-da

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...just a note about the above picture...

While putting away something, I placed Eli inside his crib - the only truly safe haven now that he is into any and everything. When I returned to Eli's nursery, he was on his knees, holding onto the bumper with one hand, and pulling the elephant mobile sideways, while smiling at his accomplishment! When I said "Eli, what are you doing?" this was the reaction that I received. Giggle after giggle after giggle, he just couldn't stop laughing! I do believe that is "this" is called...rotten!

it's "sprinkle"-ing.

While Eli and I were in West Virginia for an extended visit, I was super excited to host a "sprinkle" for my wonderful friend, Denise, at my mother's home. Already mama to sweet, blonde-boy, Nathan, Denise and her husband, Josh, will welcome their beautiful, yet-to-be-named little girl in mid-October! With an immense amount of sunshine and surrounded by good friends, Denise received so many preciously pink things! One can never be too ready to accommodate the closet of a girl!

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My very special Uncle Rusty and Aunt Kay own Thornhill's Florist in our small town and I painted these "welcome baby" storks for them when I was in middle school! Who knew one would be the perfect addition to our front yard to welcome friends to Denise's baby sprinkle?!?
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Wow! Nathan is definitely one busy little boy! What a cutie-patootie!
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up, up, and away.

Two Wednesdays ago, I put on my "brave mama pants" as Eli and I flew by ourselves to West Virginia for a fun, 10-day visit! To say that I was anxious for Eli's first flight is a bit of an understatement! Armed with a carry-on bag full of toys, books, baby food, snacks, stroller (so thankful I took this even though our connection was oh-so-short) and my secret weapon, two episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and one episode of Secret Agent Oso on my iPhone, Andy checked us in, walked us to security, and sent us on our way into the friendly skies! Needless to say, after all of my worry, both of our flights were smooth and Eli was certainly a trooper, receiving compliments from fellow passengers, despite how impossibly sleepy he was on our final flight. While I was so very proud of our big-little guy, I was extra happy to have our feet safely on the ground and begin our fun visit with our friends and family! Whew...check that one off the list of firsts...

a cool 81.

You know that the weather has been extra toasty when I was overjoyed yesterday morning when our outside thermometer read 81 degrees! I practically jumped for joy as I dashed to get my tennis shoes, sunglasses, and ready Eli's stroller. While we were on a very regular "morning walk" routine just a few weeks back, the Louisville weather has been just so smoldering that all outside activities have taken a backseat to indoor playtime with favorite floor toys. I must say that the weather was simply delightful and Eli was all a smile as we briskly strolled our neighborhood. How nice it was to feel the semi-cool breeze and what seemed like zero humidity weather as we enjoyed our walk. Let's hope that the beautiful sunshine sticks around, but the excruciating heat gives us a break!

Completely relaxed, Eli props his feet up to thoroughly enjoy his ride!

good morning, sunshine.

Now that Eli is completely mobile, looking upon him on our video monitor can often make Andy and I giggle. At times, we have clicked our monitor to find Eli's face, rather his forehead, eyes, and nose (after he has made his way down to the intriguing camera) in the screen greeting us as to say "Hey y'all! I'm awake. You can come and get me now!" This morning, as Eli began to stir and awaken, after giving the monitor a click, I quickly finished my morning coffee and trotted up the stairs to get our little "Eli Monster". To my surprise, this is what I found...

...our little guy, sitting, staring at the door, and smiling behind his big green pacifier when I opened his nursery door! While we know that Eli can sit from a laying position, I have yet to get him from his crib when he hasn't been laying on his back, rolling sideways, or up on all fours. I had to smile at little Eli as he has such a big personality and never ceases to surprise us with his new tricks!

...and he's off.

While Eli has been up on all fours for the last month, in the last week, he has really learned to get his arms and legs going at the same time! We can hardly believe that we have a crawler and just love to watch him motor himself across the floor to a particular toy, my cell phone, in chase of Carmen, or most usually towards a piece of furniture. In addition to this milestone, Andy recently lowered Eli's crib as the floor is not the only place that our little guy loves to crawl.

With his new found love of mobility, Eli has developed "red carpet knee"...ouch! Much to my dismay, I cannot find one pair of GAP crawler shorts in all of Louisville, Bridgeport or Morgantown, West Virginia, nor online. It seems that I may have to cut the feet out of a pair of my footies to make homemade cushions for those chunky knees, as it's way to warm to wear long pants!


...Take a peek at our little Eli go, go, go...

...and just in case he was too fast to catch...

meet mark monday.

Recently, I decided, because of my love for MARK products, to become a representative! Nothing more than a fun venture, MARK allows me to indulge in something I love, while also sharing great cosmetics, skin and haircare products, as well as cute jewelry pieces with my friends and family!

...take a peek at...
gloss gorgeous

One beauty item that I just love is lip gloss! While I'm simply not a lipstick lover, I just adore the glossy color and shine of gloss gorgeous. Two steps in one quick click of the pen, this innovative lip color goes on like a high-shine gloss, then wears to a rich stain (so fabulous) that lasts hours and hours more! While gloss gorgeous is available in four shades, both bella and bare are simply my favorites!

snack time.

Each day, following his afternoon nap, Eli has been enjoying something new and fun added to his daily routine...snack time! Practicing with his sippy cup and learning to feed himself (oh my!), Eli is loving this new time of day! During Eli's six-month well-baby visit, our pediatrician prompted us to at 8 months try things such as puffs, biter biscuits, and cheerios with him. First on Eli's snack menu...vegetable mum mums! Mum Mums are rice crackers that are only found at Walmart. While I do break the large wafer in half, Eli just loves this "melt in your mouth" treat! Accompanied by a glass of water, Eli loves going back and forth between mum mum and sippy cup. What a big boy we have! Who doesn't just love a good snack time?!?

summer lovin.

Temperatures in Louisville have and are reaching record highs this week! Late, yesterday afternoon, under the cover of a little shade, Eli and I enjoyed some time outside in his small pool! Our boy loves everything about water! I think that perhaps I should have even worn my bathing suit judging by how wet my clothes were from all of Eli's fun splashes! What a fun way to spend a hot, hot, hot afternoon!

...what once was a "rooster tail"...

So many ask, "What happened to Eli's rooster tail?" Well...his rooster tail is very much still there; however, because his hair is getting increasingly thicker and longer, the famous "rooster tail" now sadly and much to my dismay, (sigh) lays down.

...loves catching falling water in his had and...in his mouth...

2, 4, 6, 8...

2, 4, 6, 8...who do we celebrate?!?

This previous Wednesday, our little Eli turned 8 months old! How did this happen?!? Andy and I often look on at our active little boy and just marvel by saying things such as, "Wasn't it just November? Weren't we just in the hospital" or "Is this the same little boy that slept the entire time we were in the hospital and during our first week at home?!? and even "Can you believe that he is ours?!?". Eli continues to add such joy and light to our lives and to that of our West Virginia family each day. His sweet personality continues to grow as he smiles, laughs, and plays each days away.

...at eight, sweet, sweet months..

Eli loves to "read" books. He could sit on my lap for quite some time as we read several of his favorites such as: Where is Baby's Belly Button?, Peek-a-Boo! I Love You!, Where's Spot?, Mirror Me, and Woof!

Up on all fours, Eli is ready and wanting to crawl. He is trying very hard to get those arms and legs moving together.


Besides myself and Andy, Eli has found a new best friend in Carmen. He loves to watch, play, kiss, and pet (ok...grab) Carmen. If I am holding Eli and say "Where's Carmen?" he, 8 times out of 10, will look down to the ground to find his furry friend.

Eli continues to dislike bananas, but will devour any and everything else. However, organic veggies such as green beans, squash with corn, and sweet potatoes are some of his very favorites!


Eli loves playing peek-a-boo!

What happened to the days of swaddles and a baby that laid perfectly still while a diaper was being changed? Lately, I feel like I am in a happy wrestling match while changing a diaper.


Bath time continues to be one of our most favorite times of the day! As Eli continues to splash harder and harder, I continue to get wetter and wetter! Nothing is sweeter than one of his bath time smiles.

Eli currently has two bottom teeth, but is trying ever so hard to get his two front teeth to match. Ready to break the gum line any day, Eli now smiles and kicks his feet with joy when he sees the Tylenol bottle.

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We love you, little bubba and count our blessings for the blessing that is you!