Tantrum in the Tulips

These tulips were growing and I thought- KODAK MOMENT!  The neighbors dogs started barking and Eli was not a fan of loud/sharp noises, hence the tantrum in the tulips.

E's Emotional Rollercoaster

Eli is a morning man.  No idea how that happened because noon is early for Josh and I.  Eli must be training early to take over the ranch, you know early risers they are.  The mornings he is full of spunk.

 Then he is just plain happy ALL DAY LONG.

 Well unless he has to be in mom's studio with her.  Or maybe because his mom pulled his pants all the way up to his nipples!?  Poor kid, he got a double whammy of 'tude from his folks.

Then early evening brings the laughing.  And I mean, just laugh for the sake of laughing.  But sometimes it lines up, say when dad is having trouble putting together his high chair and is frustrated.  Or he just knows how funny it is that his dad is having trouble.  My taking this photo didn't help matters.

Man at Work

Karen is AMAZING.  She is Eli's physical therapist.  I swear he listens to her better than anyone else.  She says he needs to sit up straighter, roll over, reach, and he will do it at the therapy session or immediately when we get home!  Maybe we should have her tell him to drink all of his milk.

Look Mom!  No Hands!  Karen really pushes Eli and I love that.  He is so proud when he can do something new, like he even shocked himself.

Barbara, Eli's feeding specialist is AWESOME!  She had him tasting graham crackers dipped in apple sauce.  He just might have been more excited about her reactions than the actual food.  Eli and Barbara are having a good time, not sure if Josh is contemplating sawing off Eli's leg with that graham cracker!

You Know You're In Montana When

 You take a stroll up to the post office and wonder why you wore a jacket.

Then the next day, BAM! 16 inches of snow.  Good thing E and I went for a stroll before mother nature got a lil' wild again.  The running joke about Montana weather is, 'if you don't like the weather- just wait five minutes.'  Or maybe the post office should change their pen cup to something springy instead of santa.  Hey I'm willing to work it from all angles, anything for warmer weather!

29 E-isms on the 29th

As promised, 29 E-isms

1. Has had 2 puke free days since this whole puking fiasco started. It's been going so long I can't remember when it started.
2. You can be standing behind him and still know that he is smiling. Those enormous cheeks of his wrinkle up as if his whole body wants to smile!
3. Laughs when you wipe his undercarriage (Josh said, 'uh oh he figured it out down there') dirty boys.
4. REALLY tickleish, just like his mom. Mainly his neck, belly, back, thighs and recently the inappropriate area. Alright everywhere.
5. Wants to sit up or stand up all of the time.
6. Been on some walks with mom. Hoping to get a cart to pull him on the bike too! Ah spring, we have been waiting for you.
7. Can push himself backwards on his back.
8. Can roll himself backwards in the walker, that was a shocker, watch out this guy has wheels now!
9. If he hasn't had much sleep he cries when people laugh or talk loudly.
10. Will ignore you if he's had enough, again just like mom according to my gram.
11. LOVES music.
12. Is a bit chatty when we are driving in to Great Falls now, funny, before he never made a peep which made me think I forgot him!
13. Doesn't like the bright sunlight.
14. But oddly enough loves to look straight into light bulbs or big overhead lights.
15. Is a bugger to get to nap.
16. Sees a feeding specialist, QLC, physical therapy, dentist (in May), eye doc, lung doc, pediatrition, gals at the Basin Medical Center for weight checks and Synagis shots (for RSV, the baby flu shot), the blind school, and a GI specialist from Seattle.
17. Takes 4 meds 2 times a day. Miralax to prevent constipation, Erped to increase appetite, Prevacid for acid reflux, and QVAR for his lungs.
18. Still not a big fan of belly time.
19. Not big on snuggling unless he doesn't feel good.
20. Reaching for everything as if he can use the force to bring it to him.
21. Everyone is saying he looks like a Soulsby boy, mainly Troy (Josh's brother).
22. Then everyone says he has blonde hair like his mom.
23. Then the light hits it just right and it turns bright orange.
24. His blue eyes are here to stay. We are thinking he got them from his Grandma Jackie and Aunt Courtney.
25. Everyone that sees him says he looks so big. He's not growing very fast according to full term standards but for Eli standards everyone is noticing.
26. That's right he's gainin' and is now 14 pounds 1.5 ounces. Don't worry I'm lifting with my legs people!
27. Wants to stand on your lap, but then twists around to flirt with someone else.
28. After his last synagis shot he started drinking from the bottle. Not an entire one all of the time but it's a start!
29. And as tough as it's been these moments make it all worth it. We love our little E.

Morning Rituals

Ray poaches an egg for me.  Well when we were at the ranch.  Man I'm hungry this morning! 

Me and the E get on the computer.

Daddy-O reads the paper with Mr. Sophisticated. Or is it Eli reads the paper to Dad?

Oh Poop!

So what happens if you lift your legs while pooping?

It goes up the front and leaks out of the onsie! This boy has more poop stories than I know what to do with!

Wondering what new tricks Eli has up his sleeve?

1. He turned 1 year on March 29th.

2. Doesn’t like cake to touch his hands.

3. He can see about 4 feet away from him. Without his glasses that is (I lost them and when I called the optical shop the gal said, ‘oh yeah kids lose their glasses all the time’ I told her, ‘nope I think this one was 100% me’. Robot Mom in action for sure.

4. Strokes his button as if it was a goatee; you know like men do when they’re thinking.

5. Shimmies his way up to the top of his wedge in his bed and uses his blanket to pull himself up and sit up!

6. Sucks on his toes.

7. Has 2 teeth on the bottom and looks like his two eye teeth want to come in next. Baby vampire perhaps?

8. Laughs A LOT. It even lines up at the right times as if he knows what we are joking about. Smart baby.

9. Smiles immediately if you say his name. Then his dimpled gummed smile makes you smile which makes him smile which makes you smile. You get the picture.

10. Tosses and turns until he goes to sleep, most of the time with his blanket over his face. So much like his Dad.

11. Eats some milk by bottle and some by the tube.

12. Can roll from his belly to his back and back side to side.

13. Chews on EVERYTHING.

14. Really grabs your face, hair, ears, neck and whatever else he can get his little hands on.

15. Sports #2 diaper and 6 month clothes.

16. Sleeps through the whole night but has to be woke up to eat.   Josh says he looks like road kill when he sleeps. 

17. Consumes a little over 18 ounces of 30 calorie formula a day.

18. Pukes up at least once a day.

19. Which results in many loads of laundry. Good thing I love laundry, too bad puking is what brings more laundry into my life.

20. Gags frequently.

21. Weighs in at 13 lbs. 5 oz.

22. Measures 26 ¼ inches long.

23. A twinkle is in his eye when he smiles at Grandpa Ray and we figure it’s because he doesn’t give any medicines or force milk on him. What an easy job just to love an adore a little baby boy!

24. Wants to sit up or be held almost every minute. Thankfully he has many folks who want to help him with that.

25. Rarely cries and if he does it’s not even that loud.

26. Likes the feeling of going down stairs. Will he be a rollercoaster rider like his mom or prefer to be safe on the ground like his dad? Mmmm, fair rides and fair food. I could go for a Viking right now!

27. Takes a few cat naps throughout the day, 20 minutes max. Then it’s the mad dash to get something done or take a nap yourself. I’ve been mixing it up a bit lately. Right now I am typing this post during a nap. Productive I know.

28. LOVES people. Seriously, if you want to chat he will listen.

29. Eli is a HAPPY HAPPY boy.

I would like to make this more of a regular thing. 29 things Eli is doing. Wouldn’t it be perfect to line it up with the 29th of each month too!? 29/29, kinda like 20/20.

Mr. Man

The Eman.  He's a hunka hunka burnin' love.  These are definitely getting enlarged into BIG prints.  Can't wait to see Mr. Man on my walls.  Thanks Leah for capturing our little cutie!

 This was Eli's mood after the shoot.  Well a bunch during the shoot too.  Poor guy, the tourture we put the little ones through to get some good shots.

Eli's great aunt Deanne made this hat, and when I asked her if she recognized it she said no.  I asked 'didn't you make it!?'  She said, 'oh yeah, but it's inside out!"  Geez, leave it to me and Leah.  Well if your knitting looks this good on the inside you know you are good!

 Anyone zooming in on his teradactile toenails!?  How embarrassing.

 We couldn't resist!

Eli has been holding up 2 fingers like he's saying Peace!

This is by far everyone's favorite.  You can see more of his personality coming out.  I think in reality we need 12 people entertaining the little man to get him to really open up!