joining the club

Andy and I recently decided to "join the club" and purchase a COSTCO membership. Because we are simply up to our eyeballs in diapers and wipes, for this alone, we justified a membership to be helpful, not to mention all of the other magical goodies that you can find in this superstore! While at COSTCO, Eli loves to ride in the Baby Bjorn as to see all the hustle and bustle around him. Simple, but fun are our new family trips to COSTCO.

giggle fit

It's always such a happy time for both Eli and I when our garage door goes up and Andy comes home from work! We just love spending the evening together and Eli especially loves, as noted in a previous post, laughing with Daddy. Take a peek at our Eli in his giggle fit with Dad. His little laughs are simply too sweet and we just can't help but laugh right with him. I dare you not to smile...

You might also notice that Eli's hair is still sticking straight up in the back
...we love it...

christmas in june

My mother is always, always on the look out for adorable and unique goodies for Eli (and for me, too). Recently, she emerged from her walk-in-closet with an oh-so-cute bath towel for our little guy to cuddle in following a warm bath. Fearing that Eli might possibly be too big for this particular towel by Christmas, mom gifted it to us 7 months early. Purchased from a specialty store in West Virginia, Eli's new gingham reindeer towel is simply the cutest! Thanks so much, mom! We love celebrating Christmas in June! While Rudolph might be "the most famous reindeer of all," we think that Eli is the cutest!

music to our ears

While we just can't get enough of Eli's precious, precious smiles, we also love hearing him laugh! Many evenings before bath time, Andy loves to entice Eli with "tummy raspberries" in hopes of eliciting the gift of Eli's laughter. Paired with the ticklish vibration and the prickliness of Andy's goatee, Eli's laughter fills our bedroom with happiness and makes our hearts smile. Our sweet boy just loves everything about bath time, and this fun and special time with Dad is no exception!

Take a peek at our little laughing Eli!
We hope it puts a smile on your face as it does ours!

six months already

Andy and I constantly marvel at how quickly time has flown by since Eli's arrival on that last day of November! While our world is completely different, we simply can't imagine it any other way. With sweet smiles, funny laughs, and an easy-going demeanor, Eli has brightened our lives and opened our hearts wider than we ever thought possible.

Happy half-birthday, sweet boy!
We love you!

P.S. Check out those two cute teeth!

mishka, mushka, mickey mouse!

While we prefer for Eli to explore his various toys, entertainers, practice rolling and sitting, and interacting with Andy and I, we don't beat ourselves up about letting him watch a bright and enjoyable cartoon in the morning!As times have changed since the Smurfs, Strawberry Shortcake, and Fraggle Rock, the cartoons have also changed. Currently, Eli's most favorite cartoon is the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! If you've ever watched this Disney show, you are aware that it begins with a very, very large and colorful Mickey Mouse on the television screen. Each morning, as Mickey is greeting his viewers and asking them to say the "magic words" to make his clubhouse appear, Eli gives Mickey one of his most precious smiles. These smiles are only reserved for Mickey during this time, for when the other characters come into view, Eli's attention is still held, but the smile disappears! When Mickey returns and speaks...you guessed it...a big grin comes back! Because of his new found attraction to this popular mouse, Eli and I decided to visit the Disney Store yesterday while at the mall, and get him a small Mickey to hold and enjoy! Perhaps a trip to Disney World is in our family's future...

...Never fail, this smile is for his favorite mouse...

i love my daddy

One thing is for sure - Eli just loves his daddy! Our sweet baby smiles and smiles the day away, but is very careful to save some of his wide-gummed grins just for his Daddy when he arrives home from work each evening. I just love watching these two play, smile, and laugh together!

fun visitors

Yesterday afternoon, Whitney and Caleb came over to our home for lunch! Yummy Penn Station was on the menu for Whitney and I, while Mr. Caleb enjoyed pears, apples, carrots, cheese, and a few of our most delicious french fries! What a happy and good boy Caleb is! We can hardly believe that he will soon turn 2! Caleb is such a busy, busy talker, walker, runner, explorer, and smiler these days! Eli sure enjoyed keeping his eyes focused on him and especially loved when Caleb held him! Thanks Whitney and Caleb for spending some time with us yesterday! We enjoyed it so much and can't wait to do it again soon!

breakthrough

For weeks, I have been putting Eli in his oh-so-colorful exersaucer with little to sign of joy from him. How could he not be entertained or interested with the many baubles, lights, and music in addition to the bounce-like movement each time he shifts his weight?!? Over-stimulation, perhaps...uncomfortable in the wide seat...just not ready to enjoy this particular toy yet...who knows?? Nonetheless, each day we try and almost everyday he comes out as quickly as he goes in. Yesterday, I am happy to report, we had a major breakthrough! I saw interest. I saw smiles. I heard cooing and laughing. I saw reaching and studying of lights and buttons...success!! Personally, these pictures are some of my favorites! To Andy and I, this is how we see our sweet boy most of every day - full of smiles and sneaky grins! I am so happy I was able to capture these sweet pictures in none other than the...exersaucer! I have a feeling we will be enjoying this toy a bit more!

...intently studying the colorful buttons...

...a little more interest in his eyes...
"Hmmm! This could be fun!"

...at last - a breakthrough...
We just love this precious smile!

Eli just loves hearing the dog bark, the cat meow, and the bird chirp!

no fruit, mama...more veggies, "peas"

Much to my dismay and high, high hopes of a love of bananas, Eli decided (rather gagged) that bananas are simply not for him...at this time. So instead of relinquishing all efforts of baby food for the evening, I decided, since he had not had more than 7 spoonfuls of bananas, that I would offer peas, a yummy favorite. What do you know?!? Like a little bird, he gobbled each and every bite of sweet peas. It seems as if our little eater is definitely establishing a few preferences! Peas...who would have guessed?!?

Take a peek at our very excited eater! Arms straight out, bracing for every bite, and happy, wiggly legs and feet, we are happy to have one excited little eater. Papaw Joe is sure to be proud!