Exciting times!

Eli has had his first taste of "solid" food! I gave him some mashed banana yesterday morning and this morning. He likes it okay, but doesn't want much of it. He kept pulling my hands toward his mouth, but when he tasted it he made a funny face. When he had enough, he wouldn't open his mouth. You can see by the pictures he's not real sure that he likes it. Brynn was here, and she got some good pictures of it.

Also, Eli has his first tooth!! It literally suddenly appeared this afternoon. He was chewing on my finger as usual, but this time I felt something a little sharp. Sure enough, I could see the top of a tiny tooth on Eli's gum. I've been thinking he might be teething for months now just because he drools so much, and lately he's been putting everything in his mouth. I never noticed him acting fussier than usual or anything like that, so I didn't think he was teething. This week he's been resting his tongue on his bottom gum, sucking his bottom lip, and humming...I guess those were signs? I hope all the teeth come in without a fuss like this one!

John has been gone to San Jose, CA this week for work, and he hated missing these milestones for Eli. It's hard NOT to miss something because he changes and does something new daily!

Belly Laughs

Here are some videos of John getting Eli to laugh...John is the best at that! Eli loves his Daddy! In the last one, you can see Eli shake his head to try to get John to shake his. He was doing it more, but he didn't do it when I was videoing of coarse.

5 Months Old

Eli officially turned 5 months old yesterday! It's going by so fast! He weighs about 20 pounds and is about 28 inches if my measurements are accurate. He's been so much fun lately. His personality comes out more and more each day. He's so easy to make smile and laugh, I love it! I'm starting to sign to him so he can learn to communicate with sign language. He seems interested already, but does look at me like I'm crazy sometimes. I'm also looking for signs that he might be ready for some solid foods, but he doesn't seem like he's too interested or hungry yet...we'll see! I want to continue solely breastfeeding as long as possible (at least another month)...it IS free!

Steam Roller

As of yesterday, Eli can roll from his back to his belly! When I heard him wake up from a nap, I went to the crib and found him on his side working his way to his belly. He was trying so hard and was so close. I got it all on video, of coarse...sorry it's a little long! Since then he's rolled to his belly several times without help. In fact right after he woke up this morning he rolled to his belly, I think just so that he could make sure he could still do it! Now I officially have an active, mobile boy...better get my running shoes on!

Cool Pics & Pool Pics

I guess I got carried away when I put this hat on Eli. It was just too cute!



On Saturday, Eli had his first pool experience! Our friends Bubba and Anna were in town staying at a hotel in Austin, so we decided to go swimming. I wasn't planning taking Eli in the pool, but it was so hot and seemed like a good idea to strip him down and go in the pool. He loved it! We'll be doing more swimming soon for sure!


We've brought out the exersaucer, and it's been so fun to watch Eli explore all the toys. It's nice because he's entertained and stays in one spot for awhile.

New Tricks

Eli has been discovering new things! This past Friday, he rolled over three times in a row. He's been rolling over to the left, so now we're working on the right. I've also been wearing him in a new position in the sling called the kangaroo position. He looks so cute all bundled up in a ball! He likes it because he can face out and see everything. He also discovered this weekend that it's fun to suck on his top lip. John got a good pic of that one! He's been doing some crunches as well, I guess to get rid of his big belly. He's also trying out new noises with his mouth, which is always fun to hear. It's been fun to watch him discover his world!

Big Weekend

Eli had a big weekend! We were in Dallas for a wedding and stayed at my sister's house. Eli not only got to see my family, but he also got to meet our friends at the wedding. It was fun to show him off! Sunday we took Eli to Decatur to meet John's gramma, Nanna, and his aunt and cousins. It was so nice to see them and for them to meet Eli. How special that Eli got to meet his Great Grandmother! He was a good sport with all the driving and going in and out of the car. He loved all the attention, though!

Big Boy!

Well Eli was 4 months old yesterday, and he had his 4 month check-up today. Here are the stats: 19 lbs. even and 27 1/2 inches long. He's greater than the 97th percentile. The doctor said he looked happy and healthy...just a big boy! He also got his shots, and he did pretty well. He had a delayed reaction...I thought for a second that he wasn't going to cry, but he did and I'm sure the whole office heard it. He calmed down pretty quick though. It wasn't as bad as last time. He is now very sleepy. Glad that's over with!

Muddy Buddy

Here's a picture of John and his sister, Courtney, after they finished the Muddy Buddy race last weekend. It's a mountain bike and running race where you switch off with your partner and then crawl through the mud pit together at the end. John and Courtney had lots of fun and were quite a team! Next year Eli will have to participate in crawling through the mud!

Family visit

John's mom (Gramma) and his sister and her family came for a visit this past weekend. It was nice to have some extra hands to hold and entertain Eli. He loved all the attention. I wish we all lived closer so that could happen more often. It was a good visit! We love you!

Couch Potato

These are for you, Aunt Laura and Uncle Steve! I found some baby-size "wife beater" tanks and had to get them for Eli! He broke it in with lots of spit-up and drool, which is probably appropriate!

Pics of the family

I realized there's maybe one picture of me and Eli, so I took this today. I think I get more carried away with the picture-taking than John does...therefore, most of the pictures have been of Eli with either John or Boone.

Here's John and Eli after John shaved his beard off.

And we can't forget Boone...here they are playing together with their toys.

Friends

Eli got to play with his friends today. Oldest to youngest (in the first picture) is Eli, Ellaiden, Cash, and Naomi. They had lots of fun posing for pictures...well maybe we had more fun taking them!

What are you doin' Eli

As you can see, John and Eli had fun over the weekend! I don't know what's funnier, John or Eli! John got some good laughs out of Eli with this crazy song he made up. I've had the song in my head ever since!

Darby

3 months old

Yesterday, Eli officially turned 3 months old! I've posted some 3 month old pictures. As you can see the Bumbo is back. Eli enjoyed watching World Cup soccer in his seat.

Today, I had to look at the manual for his carrier car seat to see if he has outgrown the weight/height limit. I don't think he has yet...it's 29 in. and 23 lbs. It won't be long for him to reach that! We've also started putting him in 6 month clothes, and they fit so much better. I guess I'll have to give up the cute clothes he's outgrown for now.

Things are going well, and we are having so much fun with our boy. We do the new parent thing and sit around and stare at him and try to make him laugh a lot.

Darby

No more Bumbo

Well, the Bumbo has seen better days. Eli and I went to the mall this afternoon for a couple hours, and this is what I found when I came home. We are taking care of John's brothers dogs right now, and I guess them and Boone got bored. They've been in the house alone before, but I guess peer pressure took over...Boone probably started it. They couldn't resist the Bumbo...and a magazine and a book. At least it's all replacable!

Darby

The Bumbo seat

Eli is holding his head up pretty well now except for a few occasional bobbles. He loves his Bumbo seat now that his neck is stronger. He can sit up in there and feel like a big boy. He'll sit in there for awhile...it's so cute! The dark spot on his shirt in the picture is from drool!

Eli's friend Ellaiden, a day younger than him, tried out the seat, but as you can see she doesn't fill it up quite like Eli...she still enjoyed it though. I love how she's lounging back with her arm propped up.

Weight update: according to our scale at home, Eli now weighs 19 lbs! Just yesterday I decided to move up to a size 3 diaper due to the fact that he had 3 blowouts 3 days in a row. They are working much better. My friend Jen said that one of her boys was 19 lbs. at one year old. I can't believe my boy is so big!

Darby

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