Boy's Night Home

Eli, Boone, and I are at home watching the Pistons and the Heat in gave 5 of the NBA Eastern Finals. Darby went to get a well deserved massage. Despite crying for about 10 minutes while I got his bottle all ready, things have gone smoothly. Right now Eli's asleep in his swing, Boone's asleep on the other couch, and the Pistons are beating the Heat 43 to 40. Life's good.

Here's Eli doing a great "Ellaiden" impersonation with his hands up while he sleeps. The other is of Eli getting ready for an outing....gotta love the hat.


45-41 Pistons.

Smile!

We've discovered the bouncer! I love this picture! He's wearing my favorite froggy onesie, but he might not be able to wear it much longer because it's getting too small. We weighed Eli this morning, and he weighs 12 lbs. and he's 24 inches long! He's growing so fast!

Ups and Downs

The picture on the bottom is bath time, which he likes as you can see. It's hard to get a good smile picture because Eli gets distracted by the camera, or he shuts his eyes from the flash. I'm sure there will be much more smile photo opportunities to come, and he'll get used to the camera! The pictue on the top, he's mad because after I dressed him up real cute, he peed on himself...and then I took a picture.

Grandpa Mike and Grandma Ninny came for a short visit this weekend. Eli and Grandpa have the same hairdo...they must go to the same barber! We also agree that Eli is looking more and more like me and the Richardson side after comparing my baby pictures with his. It's still hard to tell though, especially since John and I have similar features. I think babies' faces are always changing, but it's fun to see some of my features in him nonetheless! He's been giving us some good smiles and coos lately, but we have yet to capture it on camera. We'll get a smile picture posted soon! He'll be 6 weeks old tomorrow!

Darby

Chicks Dig Me

Bill Murray said in Stripes, "Chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear, and when I do it's usually something pretty exotic." I think a diaper qualifies as exotic. There's lots of things that are distinctly male that Eli and I will get to share. This is both terrifying and exciting at the same time. For instance, Eli will relish in standing up while peeing. I'll have to teach him how to shave his beard (or not...). And eventually I'll have to school him in the arts of pitching woo or in the common vernacular, how to "throw your game". See, the problem is that my woo when pitched is more of a slow, knuckler that most of the time fails to cross home plate. And I don't really know how I pitch it...it sort of just slips out in an unintentional manner like a poot-sneeze. I'm sure when the time comes something will work out. Besides, from the pics Eli may not have that problem (check out the shoes!!!).

Quick update: Brynn, David, Grayson, and Garrett visited us this weekend! MUCH MUCH fun!!!! My boy has some good role models. Also, Mammy and Steve have been here since Sunday!!! I tell you....11 years in Waco and we never had this kind of attention.....Move to Austin, have a baby, and the next thing you know you're more popular than George Bu...than Brittany Spea...than Desparate Housewives.

I Wanna Rock

Been a while since I've done this. Just wanted to talk a little about our outing on Saturday afternoon. Pretty fun. Darby went to Target while Eli and I went to Guitar Center. I had him in the sling for a couple of reasons. First, it keeps my hands free so I can REALLY wail on the guitar (not really). Second, it prevents the "less than ideal" clientele and employees that frequent places like guitar shops from breathing their rock sickness on my pristine, never been rocked son. This reason alone is worth the investment of the sling. Anyway....I bought some harmonicas and a neck brace. That's what I call it, but it's the thing Dylan made popular where you wear the harmonica in an easily accessible manner while you play the guitar and sing. I finished my shopping much earlier than we expected, but Darby was to meet us there which meant I needed to kill some time. So...I put on my neck brace and harmonica and Eli and I put on a show for all the people in the shopping area. By the end of our set, people were chanting Eli's name and women were throwing their unmentionables at us. Well...Actually after about 30 laps around guitar center and 3 uncomfortable "is that a dog or a baby in there?" exchanges we went to Target and waited for Darby to notice us, which believe it or not, took a while.

Balding

Eli is growing up so fast! He already has a receding hairline! I think he wanted to look like his Grandpa Mike (my dad)...and they do look more alike now. I wonder if all his hair is going to fall out. I love his hair now b/c his head is soooo soft and fuzzy. I hope he's not bald until he's three like I was. We'll see!

Darby

Bath time can wait

This is about the cutest thing I've ever seen. Apparently, I took too long getting the bath stuff ready. Eli was crying and crying when I was about to give him a bath, so I picked him up in his towel, got him calmed down and warmed up, and then he fell right asleep. I guess bath time can wait until later!

The Grind

Not so much the grind as just nothing really new to report. He loves the jiggle. It's really all about the jiggle. The technique when he's out of control: wrap him as tight as you can. Turn him on his side. Shsh in his ear as loud as you can (this stops the crying almost immediately) and then jiggle and jiggle and jiggle. The best part is the way it tails off...You asymptotically approach zero jiggle, but you can never REALLY stop until he goes completely limp. I love it when he's that relaxed (see previous blog). Good sense of accomplishment...

Eli's 3 weeks old today, but the picture is a oldie but goodie. The story of the blanket is that one of my two favorite nephews, Grayson (6 years old), has a blanket that is similar. He calls it Ra-ra. It's not just a lion-blanket, but a very real personality that has given Grayson quite a bit of reassurance and safety. To Grayson, it was VERY important that Eli have it right away. If that ain't cute and profound I don't know what is. Eli appreciates it very much.

john