Monday, May 31, 2010

HE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!

Need I say more... 10 pm to 5 am :)

Sunday, May 30, 2010

2 months old

Eli went for his 2 month check and weighs 12 lbs 4 oz and is 24 1/2 inches long! Today was also the day for his first shots.... so sad. I am always weary about watching babies get shots... I actually passed out when I saw my baby cousin get a shot when I was 16. I was standing at the nursery window watching and I just went down. I hit my head on the metal door frame of the hospital door and it took the paint off the door. I ended up having a CT scan because I hit the door so hard!

Josh had a catastrophe at work so he couldn't go with me to the doctor so I nicely ask guilt tripped my mom into going. Everything went well though...I looked away as the nurse poked Eli's little legs and he only cried for about 30 seconds. Isaac showed the pediatrician how Eli could smile on command and filled out the development questionnaire for us. When the pediatrician asked if we had any questions, Isaac wanted to know why Eli's chin quivers sometimes. We were told it is a baby reflex. It is fun to watch him grow and change :)

Eli is changing so much each day. He is cooing and smiling all the time. He is putting toys and clothes in his mouth now and has learned to roll from his belly to his back! He is also doing better sleeping and skipping a feed pretty regular through the night. We have not yet had an uninterrupted night.. he still wakes for his passy a few times and has a tendency to poop around 3 am!

Isaac is finishing his 4th grade year. EOG's are over and he did great... 4's again for reading and math this year! He scored in the 99th percentile in reading! He is such a smart, sweet boy and I am truly blessed to be a mother to such wonderful boys! I love my babies :)

Friday, May 21, 2010

8 weeks old and back to work!

8 weeks
So, I headed back to work this week and I am completely exhausted! Eli is not sleeping very well through the night. I sure hope he is a better sleeper than Isaac... Isaac was 2 1/2 before he slept through the night!  I was up with him 4 times counting a nursing session and Josh was up at least 4 times as well. Needless to say we are both pretty exhausted.

Eli is staying with my mom.. aka "Nana" during the day and I am so very thankful! Nana said that he has been an angel baby. He is whoofing down between 5 and 7 oz bottles and has been a snuggle bear. My mom is a wonderful mother and I know he has the very best care... she is even following the Baby Whisperer instructions. The Baby Whisperer (it is a fun and easy read) came recommended from my sister.. she used it and her son Carter started sleeping through the night right away. The book tells you to put your baby down when they become drowsy and then if he cries pick him up and comfort him and then lay him back down. The book also talks about the EASY routine.. Eat, Activity, Sleep, You time. So I guess we will see if it works... so far he is still waking up NUMEROUS times during the night. I am extremely blessed with a wonderful caregiver for Eli... there is no one I would rather leave him with than my mom. Hopefully he won't be too spoiled.

Work has been great.. besides administering boring and pointless EOGs. Everyone was so sweet and welcoming and my kids really missed me too. Of course it was nice to be back with Isaac.. he even admitted that he missed me being there with him. He has given me sweet hugs during the day. Eli's feeding routine is working out well. I nurse before I leave for work, pump twice at school, and then nurse the rest of the evening. Today I pumped 18 oz so I am still making more than he is consuming which is nice. My friend Jennifer recommended a 'pumping bra' so I purchased one and I highly recommend it! It is hands free and so I was able to write an IEP and pump milk :) Here is a pic of the one I purchased online.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Carter's 1st Birthday


My sweet nephew turned 1 year old! We journeyed to Raleigh for his party and had a great weekend hanging out with my sister. What a difference riding with a infant compared to a 9 year old. We never know Isaac is in the car on road trips... he will read, play his game boy, or take a nap the entire way without a peep. Needless to say the trip was not as easy with Eli. It usually takes us 3 1/2 hours to get to my sister's house and it took us 5 1/2! Audra had a monkey themed party for Carter.. the cake was amazing! Happy Birthday sweet nephew Carter Willis!

The cake had 3 different flavors: cookie dough, chocolate, and marble swirl...yummy!

Carter looks just like his Daddy

Thursday, May 13, 2010

My Little Reader


Isaac loves to read and that makes me very happy. I read to him all the time as a baby, toddler, and up until 1st grade when he began enjoying to read to himself. Now, he will sit and finish a book in 24 hours or less if he so chooses. His current favorite series are the Percy Jackson, Rangers Apprentice, and Warriors books.

This year in fourth grade he joined Battle of the Books. His team met every Tuesday morning before school and had a list of 14 Jr. high level books to read. I have to say that some of the books were not very interesting but he managed to read 13 1/2 before the 'battle'. He read books about the Holocaust, the Great Depression, and the Salem Witch trials. They definitely need to pick a few 'uplifting' books for next year. Here are a picture from the event. They wouldn't let us take pictures during the actual battle so this is one I manged to snap during snack time. Isaac did really well answering his questions and he was excited about his trophy.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Spring Ball


Isaac is playing baseball again this year. He has been anxiously awaiting the season to start all winter. Eli has been great at Isaac's games.. he has slept through most of them!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Lost and Found!


Okay so the camera has been found! It was definitely a miracle of God that it was recovered... especially when you hear where it was! Josh and I walked out of the bank and he gasp when he saw that the missing camera was sitting on the outside of my car under the windshield wiper! It evidently has been there all week through rain and multiple trips in the car... we were shocked and even more shocked when it actually worked!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Lost Camera!

Okay... so sad. I lost my camera that had pictures from Eli's six week mark, his first hike and Isaac's ballgame. I have been totally bummed. We have looked and looked for that camera. I know I had it last Sunday when we went hiking to Catawba Falls; but when I got home it was not to be found. Josh and I both combed the car and emptied the diaper bag multiple times. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law even went and walked  a bit where we hiked looking for it. We have sent up prayers for the lost camera.
So to celebrate Mother's day and because my husband loves me is tired of hearing me whine  he bought me a new camera! We had a great Sunday... we celebrated with both of our mothers and grandmothers even though we were exhausted when we got home. I am so thankful for my wonderful mother.. she is the best! It was a bittersweet mother's day... I definitely had tears in my eyes this morning thinking about my grandmother Bubba that passed away in October. She was such a wonderful grandmother who loved us fiercely as my Aunt says.
7 weeks old

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Catawba Falls



Eli's first hike!! We love to hike and went several times even while I was pregnant. It was nice to be able to hike with Eli outside the belly instead of inside. I can definitely tell that I am out of shape. I was huffing by the time we reached top. I carried Eli up and Josh carried him down... what was I thinking!  At least I will know better next time. He slept the whole way up and down but did wake up for the falls. Josh wanted to put his toes in the water but I refused... the water was way too cold. Here are a few pics from the adventure.

6 weeks old