Eli: 32 Months Old

Dear Eli,

Life with you is a roller coaster.  One minute I will be so frustrated with you I want to scream, and the next I will want to kiss you all over because you are so darn cute.  You are spunky, opinionated, sweet, feisty, happy, and hilarious all rolled into one little three foot tall package.  I seriously don't think I could love you any more.

You mastered your colors a few months ago and have moved on to learning your letters and numbers recently.  You point them out wherever we go and always yell things like, "That's a B mommy! That's a B!" until I acknowledge your efforts by saying, "You're right Eli.  That is a B!"  You don't know all of them by any means, but I have to say I am pretty darn impressed with how many you do know (upper case and lower case).  You got in a little fight with your friend Charlie yesterday when he was identifying the letter "D" as an "R."  Every time he called it an "R," you would yell, "No, Charlie! It's not an 'R!' It's a 'D!' It's a 'D!'" You were so mad that he could be making such a mistake.

The past few days, you have started referring to everyone as "sweetie" or "sweetheart." Until you started doing it, I didn't even realize how much I call people that, and now I realize that you picked it up from me.  When you woke up yesterday, you walked into our bedroom where I was still in bed, saw me, and said happily, "Oh, hi sweetie!"  When you hand Oliver toys, you say "here you go, sweetie."  It is unbelievably cute.

You were sick for a good portion of your 32nd month.  It started with a nasty virus (runny nose, cough, diarrhea, and a fever) and turned into an ear infection.  Again.  You get a lot of ear infections!  And when you get ear infections, your #1 symptom is always vomiting.  You vomited multiple times a day for 8 days straight.  It was horrible for many reasons.  I mainly felt bad for you but I have to admit that I felt a little bad for me too.  Oliver was also sick so between the two of you, I was cleaning up a lot of vomit, wiping a lot of running noses, changing a lot of diarrhea-filled diapers, giving a lot of baths, and getting very little sleep myself. I caught the bug too and didn't feel well myself, so it has been a horrible couple of weeks.  Your Ama felt so bad for all of us that she even flew up here to help out.  We took you to a pediatric ENT and he suggesting possibly putting tubes in your ears, so we'll see..... You lost quite a bit of weight while ill (almost 10% of your body weight), so naturally, I'm worried sick.  I'm trying to help you gain it back, but it's a hard task when your kid hates eating with every fiber of his being.

Your relationship with your little brother gets sweeter every day.  The other day, you two were playing with some cars together and out of nowhere you said to him, "Oliver, you're my best friend."  I about fell on the floor.  That sentence right there made the stress of having you two so close together worth it.  Those words were music to my ears.  All my dreams for you two are coming true!  You like each other, you play well together, and you're best friends.  I am so happy and hope that you will always feel that way about your brother.

You sing the ABC's nonstop.  NONSTOP, I tell you.  Usually, it's pretty cute for the first dozen or so times during the day, but by the time I've heard it a hundred times, it's not so cute anymore.  I get so sick of it!!!!  I find the tune playing in my head even when you're not singing it, even when you're not around.  I've caught myself singing it in the shower and I've found it running through my head as I'm trying to fall asleep at night. I know that song is educational and all, but would it kill you to learn a new song?

While you were in the car with Grandma Janie a few weeks ago, she explained the concept of stoplights and stop signs to you.  You picked up on it immediately and have become quite the backseat driver this month (thanks, Jane! ;)  Recently while your dad was sitting in the middle of intersection waiting to make a left hand turn, you kept yelling "Green means go, daddy!  Green means go!"  You were frustrated that the light was green but that he was just sitting in the middle of the intersection, waiting for the cars going straight in the opposite direction to pass.  I guess you wanted him to turn right in front of them.  Now, every time we approach an intersection you instruct me on how to proceed.  I am so grateful to have your knowledge as a  valuable resource because if you weren't in the car helping me, I wouldn't know what to do!

Your eating...... I don't even know what to say.  You have been in feeding therapy for a month now, and I'm really trying to implement what we're learning at home.  It's very hard though because you have so many bad habits.  I feel so incredibly anxious about your eating, weight, health, etc, that I can't even explain it.  It's a helpless, stifling, claustrophobic, hopeless feeling and I don't know what to do.  I wish that things were different, but I am working on accepting that this is just how you are and this is one of the burdens I have to bear in life.  I don't expect people to understand how I feel about it because they haven't been through it, so I mostly stay quiet about it.  But I really am suffering inside.

One very interesting milestone that has happened this month is that you've begun to lie.  I walked into your room to get you up from one of your "naps" (you know, the ones where you sit in your room for an hour destroying it and stripping yourself naked) and asked you why you had made such a mess.  You said, "I didn't make a mess!  Oliver did!"  Your lies are becoming more frequent and more far-fetched.  They always sound so lame and laughable.  You always lie so fervently and passionately, but little do you know that I don't believe you for even a second. I was thinking the other day about how Heavenly Father must feel the same way when we try to lie to him. He probably gets quite a kick out of it!

I love you so much, Eli.  Every day I get to spend with you is a gift.  You're my everything.  I feel so incredibly blessed to be your mother.

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be,
Mama

32 Month Stats
Weight: 32.0 lbs (67th percentile)
Height: 38 1/4 inches (82nd percentile)
Head Circumference 19 1/2 inches (51st percentile)

Doe A Deery

I just realized I haven't mentioned this on here yet!  My friend Rachel started an awesome blog called Doe A Deery and she asked me to be a contributor.  The whole concept behind the blog is that it's devoted to personal development and progress at home, but it is real.  You won't find posts in which everything looks perfect.  All of the writers strive to put a pinch of reality into every post that they write.  Although we're all lovely, talented women, we know we're not perfect and we don't want to pretend to be.  We're only human and we're okay with that.

I will be writing a post every month or so about a variety of topics.  Today, I wrote a tutorial for about doing your own gel glitter nails at home.  Go check it out!  I am so excited to be a part of this blogging project!  Rachel is amazingly talented and so are all of the other ladies that contribute.  Add Doe A Deery to your Google reader, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Eli Stalling with the ABC's

Adam and I have always been Nazi's about bedtime. When we put our boys to bed, there is pretty much nothing they can do to get out of their rooms.  That doesn't mean they don't try!

Eli has become the master of bedtime stalling.  He always wants to sing a dozen songs, read a big stack of books, and say more than one prayer.  After we go through the whole bedtime routine with him and finally leave his room, he usually continues to beg for attention by laying on the floor by his door and yelling different things.  Tonight's tactic was to show off for us by singing his ABC's under the crack.  It was totally adorable, but I'm sorry to say that it didn't get him out of his room.  Better luck next time, Eli!

Oliver: 9 Months

Dear Oliver,

As of today (as of last week actually because you came a week early), you've officially been a part of this world longer than you were in my belly.  The time has flown by!  Your 9th month was the best month yet.  I know I say this all the time, but you are seriously an angel!  You are such a good baby and are such a joy to have in the family.  Your personality is starting to shine even more and you crack us up daily.

Your most important development this month is that you finally decided to start eating food!  I am so thrilled, I can't even tell you.  It sure took you long enough to decide that you wanted it, but once you did, you haven't looked back.  We offer you food and you eat it.  It's that simple.  You love any kind of baby food (aside from peas and green beans), yogurt, applesauce, bread, rice, pasta, little pieces of fruits and veggies, cheese, waffles, muffins, and much more.  While you're eating, your dad and I always watch you with stupid grins on our faces because we can't get over how awesome and normal it all is.  Unlike your brother, we don't have to sing and dance while you're eating.  We don't have to force feed you, we don't have to play shows on our phones, we don't have to read to you while you eat.  We just offer you food and you eat it.  It's awesome!  Your dad and I always joke while you're our favorite child (but we are only allowed to say that while you're eating :).

You're sleeping pretty well lately.  The past two nights you slept through the night, like really slept through the night.  I put you down at 7:30 p.m. and when I woke up at 6:45 a.m. and looked at the clock, I couldn't believe what time it was.  I had to think really hard about whether I'd gotten up with you in the night but when I realized I hadn't, I was very pleased indeed.  Before I had kids, I didn't appreciate the wonderful gift of uninterrupted sleep.  You wake up for the day around 6:45 a.m., take a nap around 9:30 or 10:00 a.m. and another around 2:00 p.m. (if I'm lucky).  You're always ready to go down for the night by 7:00 p.m.

You still love to nurse, although you only do it when you're really sleepy, so I usually just nurse you before each of your two naps and before bed.  Most nights, I go in to feed you again before I go to bed around 11:00 p.m.  I talked to your pediatrician at your well-check today because I've been a little concerned about you only nursing 4 times a day.  But when I told him that you always eat a ton each time I nurse you, he reassured me that it was fine.  You're still having wet diapers and you're growing beautifully, so there's nothing to worry about.  Your dad has been working with you for the past few nights on taking a bottle.  I have over 900 ounces of breast milk stored in Grandma Janie's deep freezer that I don't know what to do with, so I'm really hoping that you'll start taking one soon and that all that milk won't go to waste!

You have two teeth (the bottom center ones), but at your appointment today, your pediatrician said it looks like your top four are coming in all at once.  I feel so bad for you!  No wonder you've been a little crabby and clingy to me the past few days.  You need comfort!  Your two little teeth are so darn cute.  I love seeing those little flashes of white when you talk and smile.

You have picked up the concept of waving lately and wave back when someone waves to you.  Although it's more like you're doing a "hail Hitler" than actually waiving.  You just straighten your arm out in front of you and put your hand up in the air while you make eye contact with the person who waved to you in the first place.  It's hilarious.  You've also become quite vocal this month.  You frequently say mama, dada (you just picked that up over the weekend), and you also yell.  You have both a happy yell and a mad yell, and I adore them both.

You're not crawling yet, but you still manage to get around.  If I lay you down on your belly, you can turn in a complete circle and also "scoot" backwards.  The other day, I set you on the rug in your room and left the room.  When I came back in a minute later, you had turned yourself around and scooted all the way underneath your crib.  Only your little head was poking out.  You looked surprised, scared, and proud all at the same time.  It was hilarious.

You are energetic, funny, sweet, calm, and just plain cool.  Thanks for joining the family and for making every day so magical.

I love you little one,
Mama

9 Month Stats (from the pediatrician this morning):
Weight: 21 lbs, 6 oz (65th percentile) 
Height: 29 inches (76th percentile) 
Head Circumference: 18 inches (50th percentile)

Videos From the Week

I've been making an effort to take more video of my little ones.  Pictures are great but don't capture the full darling-ness of my boys.

Adam was changing Oliver's diaper on Sunday and starting yelling for me to come into the room when Oliver started saying "Dada."  I couldn't believe how clearly and energetic he said it.


After Eli had eaten lunch one day, I decided to "interview" him and ask him a few questions.  He is so smart and so cute.

Christmas 2012

I'm finally getting around to blogging about Christmas!  Can you even believe it?  I debated whether all of this was even worth sharing because it was over a month ago, but I decided that it was better late than never.  So if you're so over Christmas, feel free to skip this post.

Adam and I trade off years spending Christmas with our families.  One year we're with mine, the next we're with his. This year, it was our turn to spend the holidays in St. George with my family.  I was especially looking forward to it because I knew it would be the last Christmas where we would all be in the house er grew up in together.  My parents are putting their house on the market in a month or so (they're downsizing now that they're empty-nesters) and I'm sure it will sell within the next two years before it's time to spend the holidays with my family again.

Oliver got to meet his great-grandparents (my mom's parents).  They live in Michigan and have some health issues, so we felt very lucky that that they were able to make the trek across the country to spend some time with us.

My mom was in heaven having all of her grandkids in her house at once, and even more, all on her lap at once.  Doesn't she just look like she's in her element?

She is seriously the cutest grandma!  She is getting another granddaughter in May, and she can't wait!

My dad also loves having lots of little babies around.  

These monster slippers were actually a gift for Eli, but he was terrified of them.  He wouldn't get near them, let alone wear them.  Oliver however, had no problem wearing them.  He's tough like that.

My mom bought these darling outfits for the two youngest babies.  I couldn't get enough of their squishy thighs in their leg warmers.

Getting a decent picture of all the grandkids together is always difficult.  It's pretty much impossible to get them to look at the camera at the same time.

We made our annual trip to the local mall to sit on Santa's lap.  Eli was a lot more scared of Santa than he was last year and wouldn't get near him.  Adam tried to sit him on Santa's lap so that we could get a photo of all the kids together, but he had a meltdown.  This is the best we got.  Oh well, you can't control 2 year olds, I guess!  I'm learning more and more that kids have their own personalities and are their own person, and there's not much you can do about it!

At least we snapped a quick family photo.  Gosh, my husband is a hunk.

Eli is completely obsessed with his cousin Lincoln that is 15 months his junior.  All he did the entire Christmas break was follow him around and copy everything he did.  Here is a perfect example.

Oliver looooved snuggling with his great-grandma Gigi and loved laying on her "pillows" every chance he could get.  Hers are softer and more desirable than mine. ;)

My family has a tradition of playing Christmas carols on the chimes every year.  It is so hilarious and fun!  Here we all are trying our best but let me tell you- if this were a video instead of a picture, you would not be impressed.

Sisters.  Some are more handicapped than others.

I insisted on taking a picture kissing underneath the mistletoe on Christmas Eve.  Adam was thrilled, as usual, to be in a picture.  I keep telling him that he needs to look less miserable in pictures or people are going to start thinking that we are actually as unhappy together as he makes us look.  We're happy, I promise!  Adam just hates taking pictures.

Matching Christmas pajamas are a must, am I right?  Oliver wouldn't stop looking at Eli while I was snapping away.  Big brothers are the coolest and their behavior must be observed at all times.

Coordinating pj's for the sisters.  I don't care how old I am, I still like a good set of matching pajamas.

My mom got a Lego table to keep at her house for when the babies come visit.  The absolutely loved it (and so did their daddies).  I swear, Adam probably spent hours "helping" Eli build things.  It was adorable.

My little Oliver is such a doll.  I could snuggle him and kiss him all day long. Most days, I do.

Selfie!

The babies took a bath together one morning.  It only lasted about 10 seconds before they were crying and fighting over toys and wanted to get out.  It was worth it for the picture though!

We managed to get a good photo of G-pa and Gigi with their great grandkids.

My super talented sister Jessica made these adorable sweatshirts for the kids.  She recently got a sewing machine and pretty much figured out how to sew all on her own.  I can't believe her!  The kids looked so cute in them.  My boys wear theirs all the time and I always get so many compliments on them while we're out.

So cute!

While we were in St. George, we also took quite a few trips to the park.  Eli loves the swings and usually ignores the rest of the play ground.  He will seriously swing for an hour straight if we let him.

This was Oliver's first time on the swings and he loved them too.  Sorry, but are my boys not the cutest boys ever?!

Overall, we had a fabulous time in St. George.  Aside from a few ear infections, fevers, and teething pains that put a damper on the trip, everything was perfect.  We didn't go out much or do anything super crazy or adventurous, but it was awesome to just to be with each other.  We ate a lot of food, played a lot of games, and laughed a lot.  I treasure my family and love being with them.