turd

The other day, I was coming out of the powder room when I saw it. On the carpet was this 'thing'. I call it a thing because I had no idea what it was.......but I had a guess. Here is the picture, you tell me what you think:

My guess was mouse turd. The worst thing you want to think. Our neighbors had an exterminator come to rid their house of mice less than a week ago, so maybe they flocked to our house to escape certain death. But then I thought, this so called turd is in the family room, which in a three story house is really on the second floor. Would they climb up here? I was not convinced so I thought I would investigate and do the undoable....I would try to pick it up and inspect the so called turd. (Ew, I know) So I got a paper towel and began to pick it up slowly with my thumb and index finger. It needed some pull because it was stuck to the carpet. So as I squeezed it to release it from the furry ground, I felt that it was hard. Would a fresh mouse turd be hard already? My investigation was not over. As I looked at it more closely, I realized what it truly was.











Eli does not chew his Flintstones vitamins, he sucks on them. Sometimes, if not monitored, when he gets bored of it, he spits it out. Well, apparently Bam Bam (or Pebbles, not sure which) did not make his/her way fully into Eli's belly. Investigation complete. But on the bright side, at least we don't have mice! :)

listen

Chad and I try to expose Elijah to all different kinds of music to stimulate his creativity. Chad has always had a really good ear for music and can spend hours on the computer downloading songs and listening to new music that isn't on the radio. There have been a few times where he had me listen to a song he liked and the next month it is the newest hit song on the radio. I also enjoy music. I love music with a strong violin (Damien Rice is my fave) that can just mesmerize me. Also, anything Enya can put me in a wonderful, thoughtful mood. So needless to day, we enjoy music.

So to our pleasant surprise, Eli also loves music too! If you are a reader of this blog, there are several blog posts of Eli stopping in the middle of the mall, grocery stores or just at home, dancing like crazy. He also was able to beatbox at a year old, learning from Daddy of course. So this past Thanksgiving, Eli was given a CD called Choo Choo Soul from his Aunt B and Uncle Chris. This CD was derived from filler programming after the Little Einsteins television show. Eli always loved watching it and so when we got the CD, I broke it out as soon as possible. The songs are about educational concepts (counting, ABC's, etc.) AND self esteem lessons. All of that with a little soul mixed in makes for great learning AND dancing! Of course in the car, Eli is strapped in so tightly that all he can really move is his head. So he has become very proficient in the head bob dance. :)

To take a listen, click here.

boarder

hives

Eli has an allergy. Ask me what it is and I will tell you that I have no idea. I just know he has one. It has something to do with dogs, but not all dogs. And it can happen with one dog one time and then the next time he spends time with that same dog, he is totally fine. This is the weirdest allergy and I feel terrible that I cannot pinpoint the actual culprit. Is it the oils from the dogs? The saliva? Who knows. All I know is that after today, I need to carry Children's Benadryl at all times.

I was visiting with a dear friend and they have a dog. The dog was all over Eli and Eli was actually loving it, giggling and everything. Then, he started to rub his eyes, his nose started to run, he got hives and then his eyes began to swell. So I took that as a sign we needed to leave, and fast! We went home, I gave him Children's Benadryl and I bathed him from head to toe. In an hour, most of the swelling and all of the hives were gone. But I did manage to get a picture of the carnage before it was healed:

My poor baby!!! You can see that his left eye is swollen. I hated seeing him like this and needless to say, he was not a happy camper. But it was nothing that could not be remedied and even after the medication was given, during the bath, eyes all swollen, he still was having fun and splashing Mommy as usual. :)

elf

Apparently our house has a little elf.
I leave dirty dishes in the sink for later and when later comes, they are clean.
I bought a shower curtain and somehow it mysteriously appears hanging nicely in our shower.
I open the dishwasher to unload it and the dishes are gone and put away already.
I leave the bed unmade to get Eli in the morning and it gets made mysteriously every day.
The trash is full one minute and the next, it is empty with a nice new trash bag inside.
I go into the house with the outside Christmas lights off, but when I leave later, they are twinkling away.
I leave a toy cluttered room to put Eli down for nap and when I come downstairs, the room is immaculate.
This little elf is extremely helpful and does these things without being asked, out of the goodness and love that is swelling in his heart.
This little elf means the world to me and I don't know that I appreciate him enough.
So this post is for you, little elf. I love you and I appreciate all that you do for me and for our son. I truly do not deserve you.

17

17 weeks

119 days

4 months and 1 week

However you say it, write it, type it, our baby is growing! :)

I can feel the baby moving now, though it is only little nudges that I have to concentrate on to feel as someone else usually has the majority of my attention. :)

I am out of the morning sickness phase and feeling fairly well, though still tired.

I am still craving salty, fatty foods, as indicated by my girth in this picture.

I see babies and yearn for one for myself....then I excitedly remember I am already having one! :)

Eli thinks he is going to have a sister. We shall see if that is true on the 23rd.

Eli is the light of our lives in such a strong and amazing way that it is difficult to imagine another light shining in our home....but we cannot wait for it to shine on us! :)

thanksgiving

This picture pretty much sums up our Thanksgiving!

It was more about the fun than the food.

More about the kids than the adults.

And more about the love than the tradition!

Cousins Molly and Eli. Though they only see each other once a year, they were fast friends!

Wii bowling brings out the sheer craziness in our son!

Chad and BIL Chris being weird for the camera.

Molly showing off her new outfit....isn't she just adorable?!?!

Getting ready for bedtime!

A little note taking in bed about the fun day had by all!