9 months old!

Dear sweet little Eli,

You are becoming such a big boy!  You are an absolute joy and we are loving every second with you.  You have had such a big month -- I hope I can remember it all here!

Chair pic was a STRUGGLE this month!

You are a sweet, sweet boy, extremely curious and active, and you love people!  Well, you love being around people, but when strangers talk to you, you just stare back at them!  Not even a smile!  But, generally you love being around friends and family... especially if they are all loving on you and passing you around!  You are moderately shy when you see people for the first time in a while, but warm up to them fairly quickly.

Please note Bill's "hat picture" behind his right shoulder.  Eli will have one just like that when he's 5!  Wasn't he cute!

You are roughly 19 pounds (you were 19.2 today) and were 28.5 inches at your last appointment.  You wear 6-12 month clothes and mostly 12 mo PJs.  Your aunt Tia got you some 6-12 month jeans from The Gap, and your second cousin Kelley got you some cargos from The Gap, and I'm obsessed with both.  They are just so adorable!  I'm finding that I'm a bit over onesies and love putting you in just pants and a teeshirt!  You are SOO squirmy... I usually have to finish snapping snaps once you are standing or playing.  I also have to chase you with diapers!  I rarely use the changing table anymore because you are so active.  Sometimes you help out by showing off a new trick - you raise your legs for me when I say "It's diaper time!"  HA!  You pull your legs up and play with your toes!  It's very helpful and I thank you often for this little trick!  :)

Your tongue has been out of your mouth a lot this month.  I'm not sure why, but it's super goofy.  Hoping this phase passes quickly - it's not exactly the best first impression.  ;)

You are a great eater -- you eat 3 meals a day.  You prefer diced finger food these days.  Sometimes I can trick you into eating from a spoon, but you are happiest when I put food in front of you and let you go at it!  You are quite proficient at feeding yourself, which makes lunch time fun for me as I can eat my own lunch and watch you!  You feed yourself most meals these days!  You prefer cooked peas, green beans (canned, rinsed), and roasted butternut squash (still your favorite!), pieces of bananas and diced fresh pears.  We have added the occasional fish stick or chicken finger cut into small pieces.  You love both!  You still love yogurt, but we have slowed on giving you so much as it seemed to affect your regularity.  :)  You're welcome for sharing that little piece of info.  ;)  We tried little chicken weiners (?) and I gagged.  You handled them OK, but I could tell you didn't love them, and I definitely didn't, so I imagine it will be a while before we try those again.  You are a pro at using your sippy cup and drink water with each meal. 

You nurse 4 times a day.  Typically, during the work week, you nurse when you wake up, and then I pump the two day feedings and give you bottles, and then you nurse before bed.  Lately, we have been nursing rather than pumping.  I'm starting to run low on my supply of frozen milk, so I think we are going to introduce a formula bottle every day and I'm going to drop an afternoon pumping.   When you do get bottles, you drink between 6-8 ounces at each feeding.  You also respond to the sign for milk, and you get excited when it's time to eat and I make that sign!

Rare precious moment of holding my sleeping baby after nursing.

You are SOOOO much fun to play with these days!  I seriously am a huge dork and play with you in some fashion most of the time you're awake.  We play peek a boo a lot -- it's your favorite.  You even play with me sometimes by covering your face with the burp cloth and then pulling it down and looking at me with smiley eyes.  Of course, I play along by saying "Peek-a-boo!"  Sometimes all it takes is me looking at you quickly... tonight we were shopping and I'd turn my back to you, then quickly whip my head around... you were laughing so hard!  I couldn't stop...  I think we exhausted each other!  You are just such a joy - I love every minute with you!  I guess I should mention that you are bit of a daddy's boy.... you are still such a huge fan of your daddy!  and... I LOVE that!

Goobers being goobers

Oh!  You also started clapping this month and will clap on queue pretty well.  If we say "Clap, clap, clap" or "Yayyy" you will start clapping.  You also give high 5s.  Well, I guess they're just "5s".  If we say "Gimme 5" and hold our hand out, you'll start clapping it.  It's so cute!  We're working on waving and blowing kisses.  Sometimes I think you wave, but we can't do that one on command yet.  You love showing off your tricks!

Yayyyyyyy!

You have 6 teeth now and have at least one more coming very soon.  You are such a goof ball - you have a toothy little grin you have started doing, along with a really goofy laugh.  I just die every time you do it!

Love this goofy grin of yours!

You are still a great sleeper, for which I should thank you!  You sleep from 7/7:30 - 7:30 every night and take 2 - 2 hr naps during the day.  Your napping is getting a little off schedule lately because you typically crawl, sit, and stand before falling asleep - all while laughing and talking to yourself.  Sometimes this can last up to 45 minutes!  I watch you creeping around your bed in the video monitor - it's almost like you are trying to wear yourself out before sleeping!

Squishing your face during naptime.  I couldn't resist taking the pic!

We did Albuterol treatments for a few days this month to help with your cough.  Sometimes you would get a little wheezy, which made this asthma-suffering mom of yours a little nervous!  I'm still praying that your wheezing was the result of a cough and not something you'll have to battle later!  Unfortunately, with this little cough, you have started a small fake cough.  I can't help but laugh when you do it, which only encourages you!  I really should stop... it's just too funny!

You had a wonderful Christmas with family!  You were so wonderful through all the festivities.  You received several new toys, but your favorites are your new phone from Grammy and Pops, your John Deere push/ride toy and barking doggy from Papa and Grandma, and your new drum from mom & dad.  We took your jumperoo down this month, which ended up being perfect timing for some new additions!  You love standing up and will even push your little toys around on your own.

Christmas morning joy!

Big boy on his new tractor!

There is never a dull moment with you and I love it that way.  You are full of life!  I thank God for you every day.

Love you, my little man,

Mom

Christmas 2010

Soooo.... Bill bought me a Christmas present!

haha... poor guy.  I gave him a hard time for not getting me a birthday present (he did tell me to go shopping, which I did... so I guess that counts) or anniversary gift (no excuse for that one).  ;)

I'm kind of obsessed.  It's different -- I haven't seen it on anyone -- and I love that about it!

What do ya think?

PS - I'm due for Eli's 9 month post.   I think I should be able to crank that out tomorrow.  :)

LOVE!

Learning to Love

You'll be amazed at how much you'll love him.

I remember hearing this before Eli entered the world.  Mothers would warn me - I'd be smitten at the first sight of my new precious bundle.  I thought, "Of course, of course... I know I'll love him!"  But, they're right.  Nothing can prepare you for the moment you lay eyes on your child.  A piece of you.  A piece of your love.  All wrapped up in a bundle that only God could create so perfectly.

I distinctly remember waking up the morning of Eli's 1st week birthday.  I'd been a mom for a week and could not possibly put into words how much I loved my son.  That's when it hit me -- God loves Eli more than I do.  How is that possible?  I love every inch and ounce of this creature.  Every cry, every diaper (seriously, and they are starting to get baaaaad -- gone are the innocent breastfed baby diapers!), every coo, every laugh, the perfect slope of his nose... oh my goodness.  Have I stressed to you that I'm obsessed?

The morning of his 1st week birthday

  
And, almost as hard to believe -- God loves me more than Eli does.  It was only upon having a child that I truly began to understand the enormity of God's love and the excitement God feels when he considers my potential for good in this world.  I feel the same excitement when I think of Eli's future.

Through Christ, Eli will do great things. Through Christ, I can do great things.

Realizing these things only deepened my love for Jesus Christ.  It won't take having a child for all people to realize the capacity of Christ's love, but it did for me.  I mess up daily trying to serve Him, and yet He looks at me with love and excitement in His eyes.  He longs for me to be with Him in the same way that I long to be with Eli.  I eagerly wait for Eli to wake up from his nap so we can play -- does God not eagerly wait for me to be with him in just the same way?  Knowing that motivates me to honor Him in that way.  I have always struggled with daily quiet time reading His word and listening to Him.  I have a daily devotional that I read, but I've been craving more and am having a hard time making it happen. 

I'm sure the birth of Jesus is especially poignant to me this year because of the birth of my own son.  Can you imagine being Mary, knowing that this child you are carrying is going to be the saver of men?  Her dedication to accomplishing God's will is humbling and inspiring.

Just as Jesus was put on this earth to accomplish God's will, so was Eli.

So was I.  

So were you. 

I pray that we each take time to not simply remember the "reason for the season" but also take time to seek God's will for our lives.  How can we better serve Him?  Is there something He has put on your heart lately that you need encouragement to pursue?  I know I need it.  I have a heart for the meek and insecure.  I gave a small gift to one boy I found last week, and it has only whet my appetite.  I want more.  My gifting is not bold evangelism.  But, I can encourage those that He puts in my path.  I pray that I will never ignore that prompting from the Holy Spirit.  It's not comfortable.  But, each time I obey His wish, I assist in a small victory. 

Lord, use me.

I intended to write a more Christmas focused post, but perhaps this is what God wanted me to write.  I can't get my mind to think of anything else. 

Have a very Merry Christmas!  I hope the time with friends and family brings you great joy this week!

Love!

Our relationship in Christmas Gifts

The other day I started thinking about what Christmas presents Bill has gotten for me since getting married.  I guess I've been wondering lately what Bill has gotten me this year (it's wrapped and under the tree - resisting the urge to shake is taking every inch of me!), so it prompted me to remember what he's gotten in years past.  It was actually kind of fun and is only 5 gifts, so it didn't take long to remember them.  The gifts are so indicative of what was going on in our lives that I thought it was kind of fun to share!


2005 Christmas - Jewelry Box

Bill and I had just gotten married on Nov 19, and had been blessed beyond our dreams by our friends and family by their presence and presents.  :)  We needed NOTHING.  We had said we would not to get presents for each other, but.... I found some shoes I really thought Bill might enjoy/use.  Couldn't we just do something small?

I'm sure I handled it awkwardly, being newly married and not wanting to sound like a diva.  :)  I do remember my mom having a conversation with Bill basically to the tune of, "Even if she says she doesn't want anything, you still need to get her something!"  Definitely an important lesson I am grateful my mom was willing to teach him!

Resigned, but still holding on to his belief that we didn't need to spend money on gifts or add stuff we'd just put in storage (we were, in fact, moving to Sydney, Australia in less than 3 months), Bill proceeded to use Pottery Barn gift cards from our wedding to buy me the pictured jewelry box that still sits prominently on my dresser.  I needed it then for my beginning collection of "real" jewelry (my $5 cheap stuff had never demanded it's own storage box).  It didn't make the trip to Australia, as with most of our other belongings, but I was excited to receive it that Christmas!  And... Bill liked his shoes, too!  Hmph!

2006 - Designer Bikini in Australia
Several things worth noting here - seasons in Australia are reversed to ours at home, so receiving a bathing suit in December is completely NORMAL there.  :)   Also, we were living on one salary while Bill sought his Master's degree and were on a fairly tight budget with rent costing $1000 AUD/month.  Again, presents were decided to be small because we didn't want to accrue things, but wanted to travel and accrue memories.  Also, I've never owned a designer bikini.  JCrew and Victoria's Secret end of season sales are the times when I buy, if I buy.  Never over $25 for the whole suit.

One of my favorite places to be in the world is on a beach all nice and toasty.  Australia and I became friends immediately.  I had admired this bikini in a store window, but never dared try it on or even go inside to check it out - it was daunting to me $-wise and figure-wise.  Bill made a mental note of that expressed affection and surprised me Christmas morning with another reason to head to Bondi.  I'm sure he approved.... it's a tad on the small (read: skimpy) side, you might say.  ;) This bikini was reserved for beaches far from our home beach of Cronulla.  I definitely felt cool in it and loved that Bill would splurge on something so fun!

Wonder if it will ever leave my drawer again?  

2007 - gift certificates to my favorite stores
This one wasn't too exciting - for the average person.... but, we had recently returned from Australia and had built our home in Muskogee.  I hadn't had much time for shopping, nor funds, and had actually been enjoying "shopping" my closet of treasures that I'd had to leave behind during our time in Australia.  Bill got me 4 or 5 gift certificates from stores I loved - a Bill endorsed shopping spree!  :)  I have no clue what I bought then, but I know I loved every minute of it!


2008 - Camera

As we settled into life in Muskogee, and I into life as a farmer's wife, I decided I needed the ability to take pictures of a higher quality than my 5 year old point and shoot camera.  Bill and I had started taking pictures of the crops and landscapes and wanted something with a higher quality output.  I also wanted something that would take several shots in a second... that feature is called "Burst" shooting on my current camera.  At the time, I was afraid to enter the DSLR realm - intimidated by the skill & pieces required, and the price tag.  In retrospect, I should have made the leap.  But, our little Panasonic has been a great camera.  It has a great zoom, burst shooting (the ONLY way I capture smile pictures during Eli's monthly chair pics!), and high quality for nice printed pics.


2009 - Cowboy Boots

I always thought Tulsa would be the smallest town in which I'd live.  I just love the bustle of big cities... love the creativity, the energy... the food.... the adrenaline.  Wellllllllllll.  I married a farmer.  Our small town can't exactly be considered "bustling" or "energetic".  Don't get me wrong - I do love the lifestyle of a smaller town.  I actually feel as though I can be a truer me without the distractions that I would undoubtedly face if I lived in a bigger city.  It's refreshing.

I had always loved the idea of owning cowboy boots, but I was so neurotically picky about what they looked like that I never really considered owning any because I had NEVER seen any I really liked enough to buy.  I'm not a traditional country girl, therefore I don't tend to like traditional country girl attire.  I don't dislike it (for all the country girls reading), but I just can't wear it authentically.  Anyway, I found these and knew it was a match made in heaven.  Bill didn't need much convincing - he wanted me to own a pair.  He liked that they were different to the average cowboy boot.  They tend more towards "urban cowgirl" than "real" cowgirl -- or, towards grandpa-vintage if you're my bro-in-law, Steve.  :)

I love them and love wearing them. 

2010 - ?
We'll see what Bill comes up with this year.  He kinda sorta didn't really do much for my birthday (which I later made up for by buying a couple of coats (on sale)).  :)

I wish I could say the gifts I buy Bill have been as interesting, but I cannot.  He makes gift giving quite a challenge.  For his birthday, he got a subscription to the Wall Street Journal on his iPhone.  and a sweater.  and some shoes.  :)  There's definitely a sweater/shoe trend going on here.  Bill and I love shopping together for the perfect gift for others -- he's usually better and finding it than I am. 

Anyway, this is definitely not the highlight for this time of year, and I'm trying to not feel silly for posting this due to it's superficiality, but I'm going to hit "Publish Post" anyway.

Do you have a favorite gift you've received over the year?  Do you think your gifts tell a story, too?

Love!

Hello, Blue Eyes

I get weekly emails from Baby Center (www.babycenter.com) and use the site regularly for looking up quick questions about teething, coughs, constipation, etc.  In the early days, I would hang on every word the emails said.  It was all so new - I was afraid to miss that one little detail that would impact my child forever.  Oh, thank you God for relieving me of that pressure!  Remembering this makes me want to sit back and take a deep breath.  Ahhh.  Relief!  We're all A-OK!  :)

Anyway, today I received the weekly email and it said that my baby's eyes are basically at their final color.  They may still change, but only slightly.

Just reading that nearly brought a tear to my eye.  Yes, I guess I'm still hormonal.  Will I ever not be, after all this??

I adore Eli and I ADORE his eyes.

Here are a couple of his newborn pics - dark, deep blue eyes.
 

credit: A Cherry on Top Photography

c redit: A Cherry on Top Photography

And here is one of his 6 month "chair" pics:

  

Happy Boy almost 8 months old.  (please ignore the laundry!)  :)

His eyes have lightened up considerably and are definitely the first compliment I hear for Eli when people meet him.  He has large, beautiful blue eyes.  He also opens them up wide and huge in public - just takin' it all in.  :) I'm utterly and uncontrollably smitten.  :)

This could be dangerous when I'm forced to discipline.  But, surely Eli will be perfect and never need a spanking.

yeah, right!  :)

Love!

Results

Ok, so since I know you all are dying to hear the results...

Right?  You're DYING to know what happened with the potatoes.  Did they win, or did I??

Well, the verdict is still out.  Unfortunately, I arrived late with my little one to this little lunch.  In hindsight, I should have just brought the cookies I had leftover from a (hilariously fun) party I went to last night.  But no, I set myself up to bring a warm dish to an early lunch an hour away from my house.  With my baby. 

Sheesh.  That was D.U.M.B.  Let's hope I learn from this one next time.

As always, I had too many things that all had to be performed at the same time.  This always happens.  I try to prepare as much as I can, but somehow it's always a challenge. 

Take the potatoes from the oven and give one last taste test. 
Get Eli from his crib and put in the jumperoo. 
Get Eli's diaper bag ready and put in car, including a bottle of pumped milk, so this task is always performed last. 
Pump, so that I wouldn't have to until we arrived home after lunch. 
Finish one last work email. 
Grab my makeup bag so that I can apply in the car (don't worry - I only save the parts that I can do without a mirror... does that make it better?)


Anyway, you get the idea.  We arrived at the lunch to find most people already enjoying dessert.  Alas, my mashed potatoes went unnoticed.  They were basically made for my own personal pleasure.  Eli and I thoroughly enjoyed them.  But, if I'd known it would play out that way, I would have scratched that from my to-do list!

Boy, I'm long-winded.

Final verdict (which I'm offering without Bill even trying them, so does it count?) I liked the potatoes and think Bill will too.  :)  Thanks, Stacy...  I didn't think there was such a thing as too much butter, but appreciate your warning!  I think I'm in the clear this time.

Conquering the Mashed Potato

As Bill and I started our married life, I realized quickly that I was lacking in the cooking department.  He didn't have to tell me that - I knew it.  I specialized in casseroles my mom had made when I was growing up (which Bill later banned due to the fact that since there were only 2 of us, we would end up eating the leftovers for a week), grilled chicken breasts using my George Foreman and spaghetti.  I LOVE spaghetti.  :)  Unfortunately, Bill doesn't love it with quite the same fervor.

In an effort to enhance my repertoire, I started trying new recipes I found online.  Now, this was 2005, and searching for recipes online wasn't quite what it is today.  :)  Now, you can verify that a recipe is actually good based on the star ratings and number of comments.  I find that very helpful today, and would have appreciated it then.

One night, I decided to make mashed potatoes.  Simple, right?  In fact, perhaps the most basic of all 'sides'.

Wrong.

I think it probably took me an hour and a half to create my finished product, and it was horrible. Horrible.  Lumpy, crunchy, too wet - simply NOT good.  I think we both took a couple of bites and laughed about the disaster.

I thought I had conquered the beast until last week.  I told Bill I had signed up to bring mashed potatoes, of all things, to our company Christmas lunch.  He asked, "are we sure you know how to make mashed potatoes?".  Ouch.  Well, I had thought I had crossed that hurdle, but apparently not.  :)  Sooo... I began researching.

I relied on my friend (well, she doesn't know me, but I'm sure we'd be friends if she did), the Pioneer Woman.  Everything I've ever made from her cookbook has received rave reviews, and figured she would basically be the expert in the country food staple - Mashed Potatoes.  Click Here for her recipe.

While this post is a bit premature because no one has actually eaten my mashed potatoes yet, I am writing it in confidence that I will succeed.  I will conquer this beast of the most basic, simple food item known to man.  Surely.  :) 

Do you have anything (I mean food, specifically, but we can go deeper if you want) ;) that you have yet to conquer, or that you struggled to conquer? 

I'll share an update later on the outcome.  Dun dun dun........

Christmas

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Chartreuse

I'm sharing with you some things that may or may not have caused me to drool recently.  To say that I've lacked the desire or time (or figure) to devote much effort to my wardrobe or home decorating lately is quite the understatement.  I work full time.  Luckily, I get to do that from home.  This allows me to keep little E home with me during the week.  He goes to the church two days a week and stays with me the other three.  I am soooo grateful that I have the opportunity to share so much time with little E, but, I do stay in a moderate state of exhaustion ALL.THE.TIME.  I say this to explain my lack of inspiration as of late.  That is actually one of my hopes for this blog - to challenge me to explore things that excite me and to share them with you.  More to the point, I hope by sharing I will be challenged to actually do something about my inspiration.  We'll see about that.  :)

If you've been to my house you can see that I keep a tight reign on the use of color.  Not intentionally, necessarily... I'm just a little OCD and prefer a certain order to things, especially my house.  I guess that means it's very intentional.  My mom calls me "anal retentive", but I prefer to call it "strategic."  :)  My OCD tendencies will make an interesting blog post later.

The trouble is, I love color.  I just prefer an organized use of color.  About a year ago, I introduced chartreuse/citron green into my living room in a large, solid color painting.  I'm sure some people find it odd to have a large solid color painting in one's house, but I find it perfectly soothing and a great bit of color.  I'm picky about art, and don't currently have an "art budget"; therefore, all of the art in my house is homemade.

In an effort to achieve full disclosure, I am going to post the artwork from my house.  You know, just to put myself out there and force myself to share things about which I could be insecure. :)

Inspired by an Aboriginal painting by Mitjili Napurrula, my favorite Aboriginal artist

My attempt at something calming with a burst of color for our bedroom

I wasn't kidding about the green painting. :)

I found some fabric samples of a citron ikat pattern at the Fabricut outlet in Pryor that is going to make a perfect lumbar pillow to support the green painting.  That's on my project list for Christmas.  That's assuming I still remember how to use my sewing machine. 

I also found these online at Anthropologie, and I MUST have them.  It covers three of my current obsessions: ikat, chartreuse, and chevron.  I love all of the colors, but think I'll stick to the chartreuse.  See.  The others scare me.  I adore cobalt blue, but where would I put it?  That might keep me up at night.

I actually saw these in design blogs a few months ago, but only just found them online a couple of weeks ago.  Unfortunately, this picture graced the latest email I received from Anthro, so I have a feeling I'd better tell Bill to buy them soon.  I'm sure these little beauties won't last long!

Have you ever shopped on Etsy?  It's fantastic.  Everything is handmade and most can be personalized to your likings.  I found this shop that includes some fabulous pillows - I just can't seem to pick my favorite!

Ikat & Chartreuse & just a hint of funky.  It's calling my name!!

This is just beautiful and classic, in my opinion. 

 

I've always been a sucker for a great geometric pattern... probably the OCD, again. :)

So, while I was "researching" at Etsy, I stumbled upon this inspiration.  Etsy is seriously amazing.  I think I will devote an entire blog entry to favorite Etsy finds.  What do you think about the table's facelift?  I have a nightstand that is in serious need of a makeover. 

 

I'm losing focus (and I'm sure you are too!), so I'll wrap this up with a picture of my very COLORFUL Christmas tree. Still working on the finishing touches... have you totally Christmas-fied your house?  I'm about 1/3 of the way there!!

 

Have a great weekend!

Love!