3 Months!

Well, I am a few days late on the 3 month post, but better late than never, right? Well, this month has been full of smiles and recently some giggling (only for Daddy though). Eli slept through the night most of his third month which was exciting for Momma and Daddy. He has also been sleeping in his bed all the time at night and during most naps with minimal issues. It is nice to have the time without him in my arms. He has so much more personality and really enjoys playing with people and toys!

Eli Likes: Everything Daddy Does, Being outside, playing with his toys, chewing on anything soft, sucking his fingers, clapping his hands (with help), singing songs, being naked, when people talk to him, standing up (with Daddy's help)

Eli Does Not Like: waiting for his food, going to sleep

Look What I Can Do!

3 months and 2 days old and look what I can do!!

I am Revoking his Title!

He no longer gets to be "Sleepstar". Nope. He lost that title this week. Exactly a month ago I wrote on here about how he slept through the night and ever since then he has been sleeping in 5 1/2 to 7 hour chunks at night and it has been amazing. Well, until this week... this past week Eli has graced us with his presence at least twice during the night and last night it was 4 times... seriously. I am hoping it is the combined effects of our weekend adventures in Mississippi and a 3 month old growth spurt and that perhaps when we get back into a routine things will get better again... I am hoping! But, in the meantime, I am revoking his title. He is no longer my Sleepstar!

Coming Soon!

3 Month - All About Eli

Our Mississippi Trip

The Going Back to Work Process

3 Month Portraits

Well, he isn't quite 3 months yet and these aren't professional, but I think they are pretty amazing! Dan helped me do these in our backyard!

Helping Out!

Elijah Helps with the Laundry!

Hi, Momma!

Uh-oh... that towel is going to be wet...

Happy Father's Day!

Top Ten Reasons I Love My Daddy

by Eli

10. He reads to me. Even before I came out of Mommy's belly he was reading me fantastic stories.

9. Even if momma's not around he always makes sure I get some milk.

8. The Carseat Game - Daddy always sings and plays with me while I am getting buckled up. He is so good at distracting me that I almost forget that I don't like being stuck in there.

7. No one holds me quite like Daddy does - He always carries me facing out so I can see the world

6. He always changes my poop... and that's a big deal because these days it is STINKY!

5. Nakkie Time - Most nights daddy gets me ready for bed. He takes off my clothes and my diaper and lets me kick and stretch free and naked for a few minutes before I have to put pjs on and go to bed.

4. He always helps mommy and makes her happy and everyone knows... Happy Mommy = Happy Baby

2. He doesn't gets mad at me, even when I am being quite ridiculus because he knows "I'm just a little guy"

2. He is sooo INTERESTING - Seriously, have you seen the stuff my daddy does, he walks around the garage doing all sorts of work with noisy tools and he always lets me sit in my chair and watch him...one day I want to play with all those tools...

1. He teaches me lots of things... like cool words and what all the tools in the garage do and how to do new things like clap my hands

It's Summertime!

This weekend we got serious about Summertime Fun and had a BBQ at our house and went to the Pool. Eli did well with both activities and slept a lot after being out in the heat.

Chillin' at the BBQ ... I look good in a hat, don't I?

My new BBQ t-shirt - Gotta dress for the occasion

Lounging at the Pool

Getting Ready to swim with Daddy

I'm not sure what to think of this giant bathtub...

My 10 minutes in the pool wore me out...time for a nap with Grandma

The Most Perplexing Part of Motherhood... (thus far)

Sleep!

When to sleep?

How to go to sleep?

Where to sleep?

How long to sleep?

Too much sleep?

Not enough sleep?

Noise or quiet when asleep?

Light or dark when asleep?

AHHHH! Quite honestly I have to say that I have a very easy baby, he is mild tempered and only cries when he needs something. And he is an AWESOME night time sleeper 85% of the time. So, I really have nothing to complain about, but I will say that sleep is the most perplexing part of parenting. There are just too many questions and too many variables. He is still really young, but is totally showing signs of wanting to take a longer morning nap, which is awesome! But it brought up lots of questions about how to help him nap better.

I have been reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and I really like it a lot. It makes sense to me that a baby needs to be helped to sleep when he is just getting drowsy and not overly tired... we all get cranky and difficult to soothe when we are exhausted, right? I also, like how the book walks you through what a baby is neurologically and developmentally capable of in regards to soothing and sleep. It has been a great help and I am sure it will continue to be.

So, the 2 basic conclusions I have come to right now about naps are:

1) Eli is too old to be taking all of his naps in Momma's arms

2) Eli is too young too soothe him self to sleep without some help (i.e. We aren't ready to let him cry alone in the bed, yet)

So, what we have been doing is a basic kind of "quick soothing" routine. When he shows signs of being sleepy ( i.e. fussing, not wanting to play) I wrap him up in a swaddler, read a book and rock him for 5-7 minutes. I often give him a pacifier, but sometimes he doesn't take it. He almost always has fallen to sleep within these few minutes and so I put him into his crib no matter how lightly he is sleeping. If he wakes, I pick him up immediately and rock him again usually for just 3-4 minutes and put him back down. 90% of the time it only takes 2 tries to get him down for morning nap... and it is awesome! He is sleeping nearly 2 hours for morning nap and I think he is much happier!

Afternoon naps are much less organized and lengthy generally. Often because we have to be somewhere or do something, but also because he eats very frequently in the afternoons and sleeps less, which is great for us because afternoons and evenings are when we get to play together as a family!

Today's morning nap

(yeah I know I am crazy for risking waking him up to take a picture for the blog)

1st Trip to the Zoo

Uncle Darren, Auntie Kim, Momma, Daddy and Eli all went to the zoo for the first time today. It was a gorgeous day...like 78 degrees with a nice breeze and we walked nearly the entire zoo (and my feet hurt bad enough to prove it). Eli was FANTASTIC at the zoo. He rode in his stroller and napped some. He rode inn his wrap on momma and looked around. Auntie Kim carried him some. He was happy at least 95% of the time! It was awesome.

The zoo was great as usual, highlights included a cute baby river otter and the new "Zootennial" exhibit. It was really interesting and definitely worth a visit if you are at the zoo. It was interesting to see how the zoo has changed over the last 100 years, but the basics principles and values have stayed the same.

He got a "My First Trip to the Zoo" hat and of course we had to try it on him, even though he was asleep.

Wedding Day

Ok, I am finally getting around to posting about the actual wedding. It was truly beautiful and a lot of fun. The ceremony (no pics..I'm an idiot and forgot to give my camera to someone) was nice, the soloists did great and everything ran smoothly. We all had lots of fun posing for pictures before and after the ceremony and I can't wait to see how they turn out. The pictures shown below are taken by my little brother Darren who has taken quite an interest in photography recently and spent most of the wedding day trying to learn as much as he could from the photographers. I particularly love the way the yellow flowers and pink dresses look together, such a Springy pop! The reception was held at Sunset 44 in Kirkwood and the food was great and the company was even better!

Eli got to come to the ceremony and the reception so that he could show off his adorable outfit and visit with family and friends, but he stayed home with his Grandma and Grandpa in between while momma and daddy were busy being in the wedding party. It was so great for us to know that he was safe and well-cared for while we couldn't be with him! We sure were glad to see him when he was around though!

Baby Parts

All the little bitty pieces that make up my sweet boy

I could just eat him up!

Practice Practice Practice

Rehearsal night for the wedding was a great time. Uncle John was in charge and everything went smoothly. After rehearsal we all went out to dinner at Pujols 5 it was yummy and lots of fun to sit around and relax and chat.

We worked really hard on helping Erin and Andrew learn how to walk down the aisle together.

By Saturday they had it mastered!

Silly Flower Girl

Darren and Cole at Pujols 5

The boys!

Father of the Bride

I think we looked a little less distracted on Saturday...

This is one of the super cute new outfits Cousin Carrie made Eli! This one has a baseball tie and belt! It was so precious to have him all dressed up like a little man!

If you ever want to so more pictures there is a "My Photos" link on the left. I am a "picture-aholic". So, there will probably always be more pictures than you ever care to see if you follow that link!