The Eli Monster

We've been having so much fun with Eli! He's been very smiley and laughing alot too. You'll see in the video that he likes Dalmations (sorry Boone). They make him smile each time the come around. On Tuesday he pushed up when he was on his tummy, and it was like a whole new world to him (of coarse I got some pictures). He's also been pretty hoarse the past few days, so it was pitiful hearing him, but he's better now. Tomorrow Eli and I go to Dallas to visit my family for a few days. The drive should be interesting! We'll see how it goes!

Darby

Eli and Grover

Things here are running smoothly. Darby is a natural, and she's EXTREMELY patient with my inabilities. This video is of the stuff I never thought I'd want to do...but I just have too much fun doing it...this video is for Bub. Somehow the video and sound are off, but you'll get the picture...

The Tux

We feel a sense of accomplishment now that we are back from our trip to New Orleans. I was a bridesmaid in my friend Sarah's wedding. I was worried about how Eli (and me and John) would do on the trip, but he did well. The trip there was harder than the trip back. On the trip back Eli went three and four hours between feedings and mostly slept, so it took about 10 hours. I think it was a combination of being worn out and getting used to the car. He did well with wedding festivities also. I took him on the dance floor at the reception, and he liked it so much he fell asleep! He was a hit! Sarah got him a baby tuxedo. I love it!

Eli also went to the doctor today to get his 2 month shots. He's been sleepy all day as a result, and he's probably still recovering from the weekend...poor baby. He now weighs 15.2 lbs and he's 25 inches long! He's off the charts! He's a happy and healthy big baby boy!

Darby

The Darby-mamma

So the darby-mamma celebrated her birthday on Friday. Here's a couple pics with her new camera.

Also, here's a video of Eli getting a bath. This is for you grandparents. They won't all be this long. Hope this works. It's our first time to try this:

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

The Narcissist

Eli got an update in his room tonight. A ceiling fan!!! He's been griping about it for a while now, so I finally got around to installing it. Today was another lesson in patience. We BEGAN I repeat BEGAN getting ready to leave to go to see Ellaiden, Chris, and Jenny at 11:30 am. We left at 2:15. HOLY CRAP! Where does all that time go? You feed him, but then he needs a diaper change, and then he's fussy...Or his spits up all over his clothes so you have to change him again, but woops...There's another need for a diaper change JUST as you put the fresh one on...So you change him again and by that time he's REALLY pissed so you have to calm him down. And he finally goes to sleep (or at least settles) and so you put him down, but the act of putting him down wakes him up again, but by this time he's hungry!!! My brother Steve (who is a twin himself) is having twins. Good luck, bro. Plan on getting ready to go somewhere 5 hours ahead of time!

At any rate, once we got in the car he fell asleep and stayed that way for 3 hours. We had a GREAT visit, though I missed the annual Eayore's party that Chris and I were planning on attending. Luckily annual means it happens every year.

The good thing is that though he's demanding, there's this switch that gets turned on (or at least it's in me) where I'm frustrated but I don't really mind it. Maybe that will change in the future as the "honeymoon" wears off, but I doubt it. As soon as that diaper gets changed and he's swaddled and calm or he smiles at you (probably due to gas or the passage of poo), it's like the feeling you get when you take your shoes off at the end of the day. Man...It's addictive.

The picture is of Eli checking out his own blog. He likes to do that. The narcissist...

Baby Einstein

So last night the little booger wouldn't sleep. He wasn't fussy...Just awake. The only time he'd close his eyes was when I'd walk around our house jiggling his head. So I walked from 11:30 pm to 1:30. Someday, I'll just use that against him like when he won't help me in the yard or do the dishes or something. I'll probably change the story and make it walking uphill in snow etc etc. And then he'll ask, "what were you doing outside walking in the snow with a 2 week old?" And I'll tell him to just be quiet, and he'll ask "why", and I'll say "because I said so...That's why!". That's what parenting is about...Dangling your authority over your kids as much as possible...Until they get old enough to cause you real physical harm. Right???

Here's a pic of Eli looking bored...

Eli's Big Day

Yesterday (4/25) was an exciting day for us. Eli went to the doctor for his 2 week check-up. He now weighs 10 lbs. 3 oz., still 23 in., and is very healthy. He's in the 97th percentile for his weight and height. So, he got an A+ from the doctor! Last night we took Eli to meet Ellaiden, our friends Chirs and Jenny's daughter, who was born one day after him...future girlfriend! He didn't make a good first impression as he was very fussy. Maybe he was just nervous. She is very cute and so little compared to Eli! Eli looks months older than her already! It was fun to see them together. Also, last night Eli's umbilical cord stump fell off...yay! It had been dangling for a long time. So now he's got a real belly button, and it makes changing diapers much easier. I think he must have been worn out from the day b/c last night he slept four hours straight!

PS...I love this picture of 'my boys'!

2 Weeks Old

Eli is 2 weeks old today! He's already growing up so fast! He gets cuter and cuter each day!

So it didn't really hit the fan..But it came close.

Last night Eli had quite a few episodes with the body excretions. I think we changed his clothes about 7 times. Here's the best one:

So...I spent all day outside working in the yard. By night time, I was pretty cashed out but enjoyed a beer to celebrate a good day of hard work. At about 10:30, Darby fed Eli and went to change him in the other room. I was watching t.v. and fell asleep. As Darby was changing Eli, she grabbed both his legs and lifted them to slide the diaper underneath him. I guess it was just the thing he needed to shake a little loose. He was in perfect position and unleashed his fury on the wall, blinds, and futon. The room looked like a poo-Dresden. Darby yelled for help, but I was fast asleep, proud of my day. Somehow she cleaned him and everything else up and brought him out to check on me. I didn't wake up until she asked if I heard her yell for help. I honestly had NO idea there was anything wrong, but the kicker to this story...Is that I was watching The Blue Collar Comedy Tour (http://bluecollarcomedytour.warnerbros.com/). I mean you can't get much more stereotypical male than drinking a beer, sleeping, ignoring your wife's desperate cry for a poo-partner and watching Larry The Cable Guy wax elegant on the joys of NASCAR and Fishing Lures! GIT 'ER DONE!!! THAT'S RIGHT ....For those of you who don't know me too well I do my fair share, but I dropped the ball on that one. Darby and I thought it was pretty funny, though.

John

PS Though he has on bunny slippers and a bunny suit in the photo, Eli likes to wear his hat low like the true "playah" he is.

Cabin Fever

Not too much went on today. Eli has gotten this whole nursing thing down to a science. Last night he gave Darby a 3 and a 4 hour break! That's lotsa sleep for her! Bub was here, and he seems to make things go smoother, so maybe that's what happened. I got good friends.

Darby is getting some cabin fever, so we're looking forward to visiting Chris, Jenny, and Ellaiden on Tuesday. Ellaiden was born the day after Eli, so we're doing our best to make him look dashing for their first meeting. I'm thinking he'll go with a sleek orange, green and white frog-print onsie....It really brings out his color and shows his personality.

Finally, this whole church thing ain't so bad after all. Last night a girl whom we'd never met before from church named Leslie brought us a GREAT vegetable ragu with polenta. She also included fruit and cheese. It was not only temptilatin' but it was appetitin' too. Then tonight our friends Kim and Sam from church brought us our favorite take-out. I avoided church for a long time, but if I'd have known there was food like this involved, I might have gone back sooner. This food tastes like the empty tomb (that's for my family...Don't worry if you don't get it).

john

PS In the picture: His belly button is black because it takes a few weeks for the extra part of the umbilical cord to dry out and fall off leaving the "button" behind. I didn't know this before we had him. The thing covering his privates is called a peepee-tepee...Self explanatory.

Life as a New Mommy

I have to live in the moment and take one day (or even hour) at a time in order to stay sane. I don't bother with the outside world for now.

I try to enjoy every moment (even all the poopy diapers and spit up on my shirt) with my son b/c this stage won't last very long. I mean, he's already 11 days old, and this week flew by!

I have a good excuse to sleep in, take naps, and not to take a shower or worry about what I look like...no need to impress anyone.

My agenda each day consists of the usual taking care of baby things, but there are other things that have become challenging like brushing my teeth, eating, going to the bathroom, and the big one is taking a shower.

My toes have become very useful for picking up things.
I'm getting good at doing many things one-handed like typing on the computer.

Thank God for motherly (and fatherly) instincts.

Each day seems so long yet they fly by and I wonder what I did all day.