Leaving Eli

Eli took to weening really well, and it was really easy. I think he was ready earlier, because life seems to be easier now...oh well he is my first I thought he wanted, and needed it. Anyway Jacob and I leave tonight. My mom watches him tonight, the Gilmore's on Friday night, and then my mom and dad again on Saturday night. I made them this sheet to help them, and I thought it would be something cute to keep for the future so Eli can see what his life was like at this age. So here is a day in the life of Eli

A Day with Eli

Morning~

• DO NOT let him out of his crib until 6 am. He can sleep later, but he cannot get out of his crib any earlier.
• Heat up whole milk right when he wakes up n a glass cup. I usually fill up a small glass one then microwave for 35 seconds pour into sports Sippy then lay with him on the couch. He is very fun & happy after his milk. Not so much before milk. Sometimes he wants you to refill the milk. He will drink it all then cry for more. This does not always happen but if he wants it let him have it.
• You can feed him anything for breakfast. He usually has piece of toast cut in fours and some fruit. I usually let him eat this between 7::00 & 8:00. He eats breakfast and watches Elmo (sometimes) Elmo is saved on the Tivo or it will record at 8 everyday. Turn on Elmo at 8:00 am.
• He will play till nap time

Naps~

Depending on when he wakes up. Most time he wakes up at 6:00 am and so he would nap around 10:00 am. You will know it is time for naptime because he will get clingy and fussy. Use a soft blanket on your shoulder and he melts away. Depending on how long his morning nap is he might take a late afternoon nap. If his morning nap is an hour or less, he will take a 300 min to hour nap between 2 to 4. No naps later than 5!

Afternoon~

• After naps he always wakes up thirsty!! Give him a Sippy cup right away. If you give him juice make sure it is 90% water 10% juice or it will go right through him and you will have 4 poppy diapers. If he wants milk he will point at a sports Sippy or point at the milk and cry. He can have it whenever he asks for it.
• He will play until noon or 1 then it is lunch time. He can eat what you are eating or make him something from his cupboard.
• After lunch he just walks around and plays. Make sure he plays by himself sometimes so he is not bossy or clingy.
• He likes snack so crackers, fruit and stuff like that he loves.
• Just before dinner he gets fussy. Now would be a good time to play with him or take him to the park or for a walk or something like that.

Nighttime~

• At 8 o’clock I give him his bath. I let him play in there for a while. Sometimes you have to tell him it is time to get out, but most the time he will tell you when he wants out.
• I take his bed stuff in the front room and dress him there. Then when I go to put everything up he usually fusses. I let him because it wears him out.
• We do not play with Eli after he gets out of the bath. We dress him and then turn off all the lights except the one over the temple picture and his frog lamp (switch on the wall not plug) Make sure the sound machine is on , and turned to the thunder noise. He sleeps best with that one.
• Putting him to sleep at night is a little different. If you get the vibe he is not fussy or ready for bed. Read him a book, brush his teeth. All bedtime stuff. When he is ready heat up milk and get his soft blanket. Put it on your shoulder, but hold him sideways. For some reason at night this is how he likes to go to sleep. He might rub his face on it a lot and move his head back and forth. That is all fine. Just part of his process. I hold him for a while then lay him in his crib. He usually rolls on his tummy or side with the brown blanket by his face. Then I place the big blanket beside him not on him. Fan on, but then turn off the frog light. If he wakes up and cries in the night DO NOT go in there he will put himself back to sleep in a few minutes. It is more of a fuss while moving around.

Swimming Lessons

In July I signed Eli up for swimming lessons. Since everyone's house has a pool, and no fence Jacob and I feel it is inportant to get started as soon as possiable. Eli took 3 different session and in each group he was the youngest. I think he did a wonderful job and loves to jump in the water. When I start count (this is the que he is going under) he gets the biggest smile on his face. Eli can not swim yet, however I feel we have planted the seeds, and by the end of next summer Eli will be a swimmer.

Currently, Eli kicks and reaches on his own. Will jump in and reach for the side of the pool, goes under, holds him breath for mutiple up and downs under the water, spits the water (no swollowing) jumps off the diving board, and much more. Yesterday was his last lesson, so Jacob came along and took some video, and pictures.

As you can see Eli is our little fish.

No More Mama Cow

Tonight was the last time I nursed Eli. A few months ago Jacob decided he wanted to go on vacation with out Eli. I was still nursing Eli so I told him I had to stop nursing before we could go. This motivated Jacob to help me start weening our little guy. On August 1st we started with taking away the morning feeding. At first it was hard because Eli didn't really like the cows milk, but after one week he was ok with it. Then after Allison left I dropped the two nap time feedings. This was actually a lot easier then I thought. It only took about two days of him pulling at my shirt and me saying no, and he never tried again. Now he really likes milk and asks for it sometimes. (there is one sippy cup for water, another for milk...this is how know what he wants, and he isn't getting milk when he thinks it is water) Now that over 2 months have gone by I have decide it is time to drop the final feeding.

It is kind of a bittersweet moment for me. On one hand I am so excited for the freedom it gives me. Then on the other I am sad because that just reminds me that everyday my baby boy needs me less and less. Not that he doesn't need me or will never need me, but I have to admit I get it. I get it when mother's have a hard time letting go of their little ones.

ps. Jacob and I leave for our little vacation on Thursday.

Kara (Debbie's neice) is having a little baby girl. We had the plessure of attending her baby showering this weekend. I didn't get any pictures of Kara, however I did get this video of Eli. Melissa (Debbie's sister) was playing wit Eli on the trampoline. I thought it was so cute I had to tape it.

The Bewitching Hour!

Every evening just before Jacob is supposed to come home I see a lot of this...

That is why I call it the bewitching hour. I swear every mom goes through this. The day will go go great with out a hitch but come time to make dinner and all heck breaks loose. The good news is it doesn't last long, and Daddy's are as they always should be our hero's.

Pressure Issues

When I was little I remember squeezing my fists, clinching my jaw and kind of squeezing my whole body. I know this sounds weird, however I know a lot of people who do it (i.e. Lee, Ethan, Chase used to) We call this pressure issues. Whenever we see someone do it that is what we say...PRESSURE ISSUES. Well look who got some of my genes.

Photo shoot with Megan

A few months ago my mom took Eli to church. One of the women in her ward saw Eli and wanted to use him as a model. I thought that idea she was going to do was really cute so I said that would be fine. I had no idea how good Megan was!! The pictures all turned out so great! I LOVE THEM ALL. Here are just a few of my favorites.