20.5 months old

Since I can't seem to get my act together at the right time, I'm just going to start posting when I am able - that way I don't wait for the 26th to come around and then end up missing it completely!  Yes, I drive myself crazy.

I'm going to write a more personal (like, what's up with me) kind of post soon.  Maybe today.  We'll see.

Let's start with a picture overload.  :)

Last farmer's market of the season.  It was a great year!  All of our customers love seeing Eli when they get the chance!

Playing on a pile of pumpkins at Carmichael's.

Of course, any that are ball-sized are just asking to be thrown.

Ham.

shocked shark at Halloween

Shark Eli "chomping"!  He LOVED trick or treating, mostly b/c he was with the big kids!

Watching "tractors!" videos on YouTube.

 Oh, Eli.  Your daddy and I are seriously your biggest fans and are amazed by you and how "big" you are every day! 

Some days you are the sweetest thing in the whole wild world!  There are other days (I've noticed it's basically when I have to work all day long and you're stuck at home with me) where you're a mess! On those days, if I can steal even a few minutes to just sit and play with you, you switch back into sweet, little Eli and it makes me so happy! 

Here are some of your latest conquests:
* You can click on pens and open markers - beware!  No emergencies yet, but I have some magic erasers on hand just in case!
* Obey simple commands - "go get a puzzle and bring it in here"; "go play on your piano", "go get your shoes and bring them here", etc
* Say phrases like "there you go", "let's go!", "I don't know?", "vamanos", etc.
* Answer simple questions like "Who else wears a belt?"  Eli: "Daddy!"
* Say words that are coming in his books and in songs. You say the last word of every page in your tractor book and I LOVE it - "grass," "loads," "gravel", etc.!
* Your imagination makes me so happy!  You pretend like so many things are phones - "Hello?" holding a water bottle to your ear.  :)  You also make flying noises with random things and swing them around in the air.  And, my personal favorite - you make an eating noise while holding an apple slice up the dinosaur on your cup, while you line your animals up in front of the pretend hay bale, and as your hold the bottle up to "sister's" mouth.  It kills me!
* You still love apples, bananas, and grapes and ask for them daily, but, we've found that strawberries trump them all.  You love them!
* You're really a pretty good eater.  We have been able to have "family dinner" the past couple of months and it's really been great.  Your favorite is still spaghetti -- a couple of weeks ago, your grandma said you ate more than your cousins Maddux and Gunner combined!  They must not love it like you do.  :)
* You will now point to your diaper and say "toot toot" or "Poop poop" and "diaper" when you go to the bathroom.  We've even seen you standing in front of the toilet trying to pull your pants and lifting your shirt in order to copy daddy.  :)  Bill made me promise I wouldn't put anything on facebook about Eli going poo poo in the toilet, when that happens, but he didn't include the blog in that warning.  ;)  I don't intend to potty train until after baby girl arrives, but for now we're just flushing poo poo down the toliet (from his diaper - "ewww!") and talking about it more.  I have a seat and toilet for you, but you pretty much refuse to sit on them. 
* You can officially climb up on everything now, my bed included. 
* You've been sleeping in your 'toddler bed' for 1 month now and you're doing so well!  We converted your crib together - you loved the screw driver! - and will soon be moving you into a twin bed.  Someone else has dibs on your crib these days!
* You've started saying "huh?" after I speak.  It's HIGHLY annoying and I am trying to teach myself to not repeat what I said.  It's a hard instinct to suppress!  I didn't think this was supposed to start until teenage years... ?
* You repeat everything we say these days and your vocabulary grows by several words a day! 
  -- watermelon, airplane, waffle, marker, baler, helicopter, etc.
* You LOVE combines and tractors - and can tell the difference between the two!  I'm pretty sure it took you one day to get it straightened out.  I'm ashamed to admit it took me a couple of years!  :)  I'd say "combine", "tractor" and "hay" are in your top 10 most used words.  :)
* You and your daddy love running back and forth across the living room, shouting "let's go!" and "vamanos!" as you run.  When you touch one wall, you shout "Touchdown!", then you turn around and run towards the other wall.  It's hilarious. 
* You can now count to 13, so long as I say 1, 6, and 12. 
* You still throw and shoot the basketball with both your left and right hands.  You mostly color with your right, but you will color with your left.
* You are still a "studier" and love examining things.  So curious!
* We sing "our song" every night before bed -- Jesus Loves Me -- and you finish it off with "sooooo" at the end.  :)

This is getting too long.  :) 

I haven't been able to take many pics lately b/c you immediately come at the camera and want to hold it and push the buttons.  You botched your 20 month chair pic with such antics.  Hopefully we can have more success with 21 months and get back on track!

We can't wait for Christmas with you this year!
Love,
Mommy

6 years later...

Guess what?  Bill and I have been married 6 years today!  I'm pretty sure that makes us pros.  ;)  What's really blowing my mind is that Bill and I have officially known each other since Fall 2001... 10 years ago!  I guess I just forget how old I am, but saying that I've known him for 10 years makes me feel super old!  :)

We actually celebrated last weekend - we already had Eli lined up to stay with my parents and were headed to a convention.  Now, 10 years ago, I NEVER would have thought I'd end up at one of these conventions.  It's akin to the Watermelon convention we planned our vacation around last February.  This time, we attended the Farm Bureau state convention.  Wahoo!  ;) 

Who would have ever thought..... (shaking my head)  ;)

Actually, I attended the lunch on Saturday, and otherwise found ways to occupy myself (think pedicure, shopping and napping)!  It was awesome!  We have made several friends by attending these events over the years and were excited to get some adult time.  I even stayed out drinking virgin margaritas with extra lime juice (still craving anything with lots of limes or lemons in it!!) and chatting with friends until 2 am!!  What??!!  I honestly don't remember the last time we did that!  The fact that I'd had a nap earlier in the day made a big difference.  :)

I still thank God for His impact in my life - the fact that Bill and I were both seeking after Him when we met and trying to live according to His will for our lives helped ensure that we were making the right decision to get married (at the very tender age of 23!)!  I'm so grateful that we were provided the opportunity to move overseas shortly after getting married - and that we had an absolute blast spending that year exploring and learning about each other -- and about having roommates of the opposite sex!

We have had an awesome 6 years together, and I look forward to more excitement in the years to come!  I love how our worlds were so different but we have found ways to weave them into each other.  He is my soul mate, and I'm so grateful for him!

Love!