Our 3d Sneak Peak

Today was our 3d ultrasound to get a sneak peak at our new little guy. He looks a lot like Eli did in his ultrasound about the same time. So much fun to watch him move around. He opened his eyes a little bit and had his legs crossed at the ankles just like Eli! 

Sweet little face - amazing how you can count the fingers!!

So peaceful - check out the cute nose

And the crossed ankles - just like his brother

Inside Shots - New Room Before + After (FINALLY!)

I finally took some inside shots of the new room today to post. Sorry it has taken so long. We're completely loving the new room and very happy we did it. You'll see in the pictures who really has control of the room (and yes, the answer is Eli!).

Before - looking into our walk in attic

After - the view from the entry door

Before - Looking back towards the closet from the attic

After - Looking back at the door

Before - side of the attic that faces the back yard

After - new windows facing the back yard

The fun of a trampoline and friendship

This morning Eli's buddy Ryan came to spend a few hours with us. Of course, he + Eli had so much fun. They started off watching a few minutes of 'Thomas' and then we went next door to Amy's house to play on their new trampoline. Eli + Ryan had a blast running circles around the trampoline and playing with the big boys. I couldn't believe that they were still going after an hour and 15 minutes! It was fun for me because I was able to hang out with Amy + our other neighbor Kelley and catch up a bit. Trampolines + friendship - hand in hand for the jumpers and the watchers. =)

Hanging on the couch watching "choo choo"

They look like out of sync Riverdance dancers

Jump Jump

Running ALL OVER

They got so tired and just laid down letting Samantha + Henry tickle them

WWF take down

28 weeks 3 day - Me & Him

28 week doctor's appointment today. All went well. Had a follow up ultrasound to the 17 week one and all looked good. Baby is about 3 pounds right now and, according to the technician, is running about the 82nd percentile for his "age". Got to see the brain, heart (151 bpm), lungs, other organs, sweet legs and hands. Actual doctor appointment was uneventful (good!), weight, blood pressure, "how are you feeling", took some blood for anti-body test and got my Rhogam shot. Crazy now I'm on the 2-week doctor schedule. Can't believe it's going so fast. Monday we're having our 3d/4d ultrasound. So excited for that!

Me

Him =)

Boys' Weekend Recap

I think that Boys' weekend has been officially deemed a success. Tim + Eli left Friday night about 7:15 and Eli was good the entire drive down, finally falling asleep about 8:30. Once they got to Grandma + Grandpa N's house, Tim tried to put Eli to bed in the pack and play. Wrong - Eli wanted NOTHING to do with the pack and play. He is now Mr. "I'm a Big Boy and I only sleep in a big bed" so Tim put him in bed with him and they had a great night of sleep.

Saturday brought a gorgeous day and Eli was able to do some early morning walking around the yard with Grandpa. A trip to visit Ray and Thomas (Tim's friends Preston & Maria's boys) included lots more outdoor play, riding in a golf cart, splashing bird bath water everywhere, snacks and Tim catching up with friends. Eli was so tired when it was over that he fell asleep going back to Grandma + Grandpa's. After lunch and nap, more outdoor exploration and running around in the leaves. Eli had his first shrimp for dinner Saturday night and apparently loved it. Bath time and it was off to bed - this time starting in Grandma + Grandpa's bed until Daddy went to sleep.

This morning, after a big breakfast and a little dose of 'Bob', they headed to the aquarium. Eli wasn't quite as interested as we thought he would be but he still had fun looking at fish and he loved the turtles. Lunch and then it was on the road back home to Mommy. 

Eli was apparently very good on the drive home and when he got home, he was wide open - running around everywhere, acting silly and trying to jump. We played for a while and then went to the park to meet Carol + Ryan. How could Eli possibly go the entire weekend without seeing his best bud? We let the boys run around and burn off energy. They loved the swings and sliding down the big slides. Dinner, bath and now Eli's sleeping in his own big boy bed. 

Tim said it was a good weekend and that he'd try it again solo. Guess that's good news for me and also good news for Eli as I'm sure there will be many beach and boat adventures in his summer. Thanks Grandma + Grandpa for taking such great care of the boys this weekend. 

Morning coffee and chat with Grandpa

Cruising with my buddy Thomas

Splish Splash in the bird bath

Swinging with Grandma + Grandpa

LOVE the turtles

Didn't I tell you he loved turtles? Trying to give this one a kiss (or lick, not sure)

Swinging big boy style at the park

Mommy's Weekend

This has been a very busy and productive weekend. While I have enjoyed the time to get some things done, I have missed Tim + Eli tremendously. I realize that I love noise in the house and having my boys home. I remember the days of living alone and how much I grew through that time and was completely content.....that's no longer me - I'm a wife and mother and chaos is part of my life now. =)

So here's the quick rundown of what I've done:

Friday night: picked up my computer, stopped by the scrapbook store, played with said computer for quite a while. 

Saturday: up early, started cleaning house and de-cluttering, unpacking baby clothes / washing them / putting away, finished a few things in Eli's new room, did I say laundry - LOTS of it!, went on a great 3 mile walk in the sunshine, went to see 'Bride Wars' with Carol, helped Amy + her family next door put the frame for the net on their new trampoline, dinner, lot of time organizing / editing photos (LOVE the new computer) while watching a movie on tbs, read some of my new book.

A note about the baby clothes: while I was going through the clothes, washing and putting away, I spent some time reflecting on Eli. He's so big now that it's amazing that some of the little clothes used to be huge on him. It's surprising how quickly you forget (or at least I did). While I'm looking forward to a second chance at babydom, I absolutely love where Eli is and how much we interact. I talked to Tim many times this weekend and each morning Eli came to the phone with a "Hi Mommy". This morning he said "Hi" very quickly and then "Bye" - turns out they were watching Bob the Builder, how can I compete? 

Today: read a bit of my book this morning, cleaned the kitchen, read the newspaper, a little more picking up upstairs and did some actual paper scrapbooking. I'm working on a mini-book that shows off my favorite photos of 2008. Now I've got lunch cooking and waiting for the phone call that my boys are on their way home. I'll probably make a quick run to Target, do some exercising and maybe more reading before they get here. Because once they get home, it's Mommy On! 

Thank you Tim for a weekend off. 

Stories and pictures from the boys' weekend later. 

Mac Mommy

I'm officially a "Mac" Mommy now. Earlier this week I took the plunge and ordered myself a nice present - a MacBook. I'm sitting here playing on it now. So much fun!! What makes it even more fun is that Tim + Eli went to Grandma + Grandpa N's house at the beach this weekend, leaving Mommy alone at home to learn how to use it. They left a few hours ago and it already seems very quiet and lonely. I hope to get lots of projects done this weekend - this is the first weekend home alone since Eli was born and I'm certain it will be the only one for a long time! I sent the camera with Tim so hopefully I'll post pictures when they get back. And I'm hoping they have a great weekend at the beach. Miss my boys already. 

Pizza night and bath time fun

As is our normal Thursday night tradition, we had pizza for dinner tonight. And, as is our at least once weekly tradition, dinner included Ryan and Carol. Eli & Ryan are such good buds (as are the moms!) that it's almost like having a second son. It's so much fun to watch two of them run around like crazy little boys. After dinner and some serious play time, the boys enjoyed bath time together. Tim was pretty soaked when it was over and, of course, being the supportive Wife and Mother that I am, I sat there with camera in hand laughing along with the little ones. I'm a sucker for cute bath shots so here you go.....

Probably smiling before he soaked Daddy with water
Ry-Ry with shampoo horns

Easter weekend fun

Lots of family time hanging out at our house this weekend. Little bit of Easter festivities. Highlights include:

Saturday - Eli & I baked sugar cookies. He helped mix them, roll the dough and cut the cookies. After nap we put icing on them although Eli was much more interested in the icing itself (with sprinkles who could resist?!) than putting it on the cookies.

Sunday - of course, the Easter bunny stopped by and left Eli a yellow bucket full of goodies. Eli's favorite color is yellow and the practical Easter bunny must have come to our side of town. The bucket was full of filled plastic eggs and lots of toys and goodies. Favorites included a bunny on a tricycle, sidewalk chalk and chocolate kisses (Mommy's boy!). We didn't really do an egg hunt as Eli wasn't too interested in the first one at school but he did have fun kicking the plastic eggs around the house and trying to shoot them into his basketball hoop.

Sunday afternoon we walked to Carol & Ryan's house so Eli could play with Ry-Ry. He had been asking for Ry-Ry all day Saturday and Sunday and whenever he was upstairs, he wanted to see pictures of Ryan on the computer. They ran around outside and enjoyed the nice weather. Such good buds.

Other than that, pretty calm around here. Eli has been doing well in his big boy bed. He said bye to the crib very easily and hasn't so much as walked back to it. We're looking forward to Easter next year when Eli will be more into the traditions. Hope everyone had a great holiday and spent quality time with family and friends.

Mommy's helper
Rolling the dough - all that play-doh practice wasn't for nothing!

Yummmmmm, icing

Finger lickin' good

Yellow Easter bucket

Finding treats inside the eggs

Coloring on the driveway with Daddy

Munchkins at Monkey Joe's

This morning, Eli & Ryan went to check out Monkey Joe's. They so nicely let Mommy, Daddy & Ms. Carol tag along. Carol had to go to a class at 10:45 so she got to start out in the fun and then trusted us with Ryan. The boys had such a blast - Ryan was completely fearless, Eli not so much at first. I think Tim had more fun than anyone!! They all ran around, trying to walk on the bouncey stuff and climbing up just to slide back down. It was completely crazy but so much fun. Both Eli & Ryan were pooped when it was over.

Carol & Ryan at the top of the slide
Eli & Mommy coming down
Daddy & Eli - wheeeee

New discovery - the water fountain!

Eli, Ryan & Mommy - taking a water break

Our little Picasso

Hug time - Ryan had just hit Eli in the face so after making him sit still for a 10 second count, I asked him to tell Eli he was sorry and give him a hug. How cute is this?!

Eli punching the orange alligator

Eli & Ryan - taking cover in the little swimming pool. Needed a little break.

BTW - Eli is napping like a champ in his big boy bed right now. Monkey Joe's rocks!!

1st night in BIG BOY BED!

Last night was Eli's first night sleeping in his big boy bed. We figured that it was a good time to try since neither of us were officially going to work today and Eli was out of school. If he had a bad night, we could all nap together. It turned out quite the opposite, he had a great night! To bed around 8pm, Tim & I were hanging out watching tv when he wimpered a little bit. It lasted just a few seconds so we didn't go upstairs to check on him. When I did go up to check before we went to bed, this is what I found.......


Eli had fallen out of his bed and was sound asleep on the floor. So I put him back in bed and he didn't make a sound. He slept all night until 6:50am (woo hoo - that's sleeping in in our house!!!) and was waiting for us at the gate when we came upstairs. We decided to gate his room so he couldn't roam around upstairs in the middle of the night. He seemed so happy and proud of himself for sleeping in the bed. I can't believe it went so well. We're going to continue with naps and try again tonight. I think since his new room has been done for a while, it's familiar and he doesn't wake up wondering where he is.

Back in bed after falling out - still sound asleep

Look at that big boy - such a great night in his new room!

Cute picture from breakfast - sharing his cinnamon roll with his bunny. He has surprised me with his pretend play lately. He's getting so good at it.

Spring Party & 1st Easter Egg Hunt

Today was Eli's spring party at school and his first Easter egg hunt. We weren't sure if he would know what to do. He had more fun kicking the eggs than picking them up but once he realized there was something inside them, he started opening them before putting them in his bucket. So funny! We had fun watching all the kids run around putting eggs in their baskets and then it was inside for yummy treats and the Spring party. It was play-a-palooza at school. All the kids had fun and the parents just enjoyed being part of the chaos.

"finding" an egg
More fun to kick them (ALL BOY!)

Hmmmmm, do I want to keep this one?

Eli, Mommy, Daddy - we were glad Daddy could make it from work

Visit from the Easter bunny - Eli didn't like the bunny too much