Eli can tie his shoes!

That's right! Learning how to tie shoes feels like such a big milestone. Once Eli got some shoes with laces and decided he was ready to learn, he picked it up pretty quickly.

It all started with the Y-ties that they were selling at school. For some reason he was obsessed with getting some Y-ties...peer pressure, I guess. His shoes didn't have laces, so once he got the Y-ties (with his own money), he wanted to get new shoes with laces (using my money). Luckily for Eli, he needed new shoes, so we went and got some Shaq shoes, black with red soles, and with laces. They were another peer pressure purchase that Eli decided on because Xander from his basketball team has the same shoes.  Anyway, I guess it all paid off because Eli learned how to tie his shoes in the end. The Y-ties are sitting on his dresser because he decided he didn't want them in his shoes after all.

So, not only is Eli tying shoes, he's reading at a first grade level now, doing all sorts of chores around the house to earn some Lego money, and in a little over a month, he'll be SIX! That just blows my mind! He's becoming such a big kid now!

You can see the identical Shaq shoes (Xander is #34 and Eli #12)

The shoes in action!

The Exersaucer

Time to bring out the exersaucer again! It's hard to believe Max is old enough to play in it already. All three boys have loved that thing, thankfully. Eli and Jed were happy to introduce Max to the exersaucer and show him all the toys on it. The first time I put Max in it (at 4 mo. old), he was already too tall for the shortest setting, but I couldn't have put him in it sooner since he didn't have good head control. Oh well, I guess he better get used to being too tall for things!

whoa...

amazed

Max the Baylor Fan

We got to go to see a Baylor vs. UT basketball game last week. Eli and Jed stayed home with a sitter since it was a late game on a school night. Gramma was in town, so she went with me, John, and Max to the game. Max was great, as usual. He was sleeping in the Ergo carrier when we arrived, so when he woke up, he was very surprised to see where we were and amazed at all the hub bub going on around him. As you can see, we captured the look on his face in the pictures.

It was a good game since Baylor won! As John says, "it's always good to see UT loose, especially when it's to Baylor". Sic'em Bears!

look closely to see Max's expression

check out those surprised blue eyes!

of course we all wore our green and gold with pride!

Jed and his monster trucks

The collection continues to grow. I think it's getting close to 30 monster trucks now. Each one has a name and every one of them is special in some way. I think Eli and Jed could watch Monster Jam videos on youtube for hours if we let them! Jed likes to line them up perfectly so that if you move one just a little, he knows and will move it back right away. Jed also pretends the trucks are his babies. He feeds them num-nums, carries them in his backpack, and sings to them. I love it! That's definitely a memory I want to save for later!

Crunchy Mama

This makes me laugh! After I saw this I realized that I am a crunchy mom. I've done or said most of these things!

In case you are wondering what a crunchy mom is exactly...

• The slang dictionary definition: hippie-esque; ALL-NATURAL. Refers to the crunch of granola, which (as goes the stereotype) hippie-esque people are likely to eat.
• The definition from the Urban Dictionary: Mother who supports homebirth, breastfeeding, baby wearing, cloth diapering, co-sleeping, gentle discipline, etc. One who questions established medical authority; tends to be vegetarian and/or prepare all-organic foods. See crunchy and hippie.

There are different levels of cruchiness. I found a "How Crunchy Are You?" quiz online. I'm just below ultra-crunchy. I'm happy with my crunchiness and glad to know this about myself. Austin may have some influence in my crunchiness and that's why I love Austin! I think I would have some crunchy tendencies, Austin or no Austin.

Now, off to make myself some deodorant and put some garlic drops in the boys' ears...

Third Baby

This is what happens with the third baby: you put him down to play for longer than intended and when you come back to check on him, he's fallen asleep! No crying, minimal fussing, just content to fall asleep on the play mat. Nice!