First Foods

We started Eli on cereal about a month ago! He wasn't too sure of it!

Milestones: 4 months

I cannot believe Eli is already 4 months old! His baby days are going by much quicker than Brianna's did! He had his 4 month well baby check last Wednesday (it was so nice not to be going for a sick child visit!) and he now weighs 14 lbs 11 oz and was 24 inches long. He doesn't roll over yet but since he has been so congested he hasn't really had a lot of opportunites to lay flat on his back or for tummy time because the poor thing couldn't breathe! He is way more interested in trying to sit up! He loves to play with his hands and talk! Oh, and did I mention that he LOVES to smile! I am so happy to be his Mommy!

Eli's Baby Dedication

Even though somedays are tougher than others, kids are such a blessing! Especially after you have been told that it will be very difficult to have children of your own. Eli was our ninth pregnancy and on Sunday, January 23rd we dedicated him back to the One who blessed us with such a precious little boy!

Eli with Pastor Aaron


The Family (what you can see of us!)

With the God Parents and siblings (The Phillips)!

Winter Yuckies!

Boy have we had quite the winter! Poor Eli has had cold after cold after cold for the past two months! Plus an ear infection! This is why I haven't had time to post anything lately! Sick kids = a lot of extra time! Here is a pic of my little man receiving a breathing treatment.

Hopefully since spring is here all the yuckies are over!

More Insights from a 3 yr old!

I told you Brie would offer some more views on having a baby in the house and the vast majority of them seem to be centered around nursing! She has completely forgotten that hers "are too small" and the other day when she over heard me telling Bobby that Eli would need to eat soon, she pulled up her shirt and said, "He can eat off mine!" Haha!
Also, one day we were upstairs and she was playing with a baby doll while I was doing laundry and she began to "nurse" her baby. I thought it was cute and when Bobby came home from lunch I was telling him about it. He then asked her what came out of them and she very matter-of-factly told him Kool-Aid and Milk while pointing at each of her breasts! I am sure Eli would like to be getting some Kool-Aid but I only have milk!

Potty Trained!

I think I can safely say, Brianna is mostly potty trained! Yahoo! She finally started using the potty for everything a little over 2 weeks ago! She has had some accidents, and I expect her to for awhile but she knows when she has to go and can tell us...which is a major improvement from what she had been doing! I am so happy to only have 1 in diapers! Way to go, Brianna!

Milestones: 2 months

Okay, I should have posted this a few weeks ago but we have been insanely busy! Eli is growing by leaps and bound! At his appointment the 14th, Eli weighed in a whoopping 12 lbs! He was supposedly only 21 1/2 in long but I think the doctor's office may have been wrong on that! He is cooing and smiling! An overall happy baby! He also holds his head up really well and is starting to be more awake and alert! He has moved up a diaper size and is starting to wear 3/6 month clothing!

Christmas 2010 Memories

Winter 2010 Pictures

Earlier this month we had Brianna's pictures taken for her 3rd Birthday! And of course we had a few taken of Eli as well! We also had some new family pictures taken for Christmas!

Insights from a 3 year old... and other things I am Learning

Brianna has offered some interesting views on having a baby in the house. Here are just a couple of them.

Brianna had a difficult time understanding why she can't help feed Eli. The first night we were home she threw a fit because she wanted to feed bubby. She has adjusted and accepted the fact that I nurse and has even told us that she can't feed Eli because hers' "are too small."

Buying your 3 year old a camera for her birthday right before you bring a new baby home (which you plan to nurse) might not be a good idea. She doesn't understand that it might not be appropriate to take pictures at certain times!

Stayed tuned for more insights from Brianna! I am sure that with her personality we will have many more!

Changes...

can cause a lot of stress and anxiety in one's life. They can happen smoothly or come with a lot of bumps in the road. I personally do not like change. I have my routine, my sense of normal, that I like to maintain. When this delicate balance is thrown off course, I tend to be the type that becomes very anxious and stressed.

However, with Eli's arrival, the transition has (so far) happened very smoothly! Sure, I don't like not getting much sleep and there have already been a few times when grumpiness has prevailed but he has come into our lives and it seems like he has always been here! He is a much happier/easier baby than Brianna was. Maybe it is because we know what we are doing this time around and what to expect, I really don't know.

Unfortunately, Brianna seems to be like me in adjusting to change...she is very stressed! While she is obviously head over heels in love with her bubby, she is also very jealous! Granted her schedule/routine has been anything but normal despite adding a new baby to the list. She has been fussy and whiny and prone to throwing temper tantrums! We are constantly on her about not being in his face and having to be careful when she is around him. This has obviously led to some very frustrated parents!

But when she talks to him! I feel my heart melt with love and pride! She is always telling "Look at those beautiful eyes!"...something she hears me saying to him. She is very protective and possessive of him. She is obviously well on her way to becoming a great big sister! And this Mommy couldn't be happier!

Introducing....

Elijah Robert! Eli was born Monday afternoon at 1:29. He weighed 9 lbs 2 oz and was 21 inches long! He looks so much like Brianna in his newborn pics it is amazing! He is such a sweet laid back little boy and we are already head over heels in love with him! Everyone is doing well and we are hoping to come home today!

Summer Pictures

Okay, so I know these are a little late but we have been busy getting ready for Eli ever since we got back from vacation. Since he will be here in a few days, I thought I would get them posted! Thank you for the awesome pictures Jada (Eden Photograhy)! You did a terrific job!

Getting Ready for Eli!

In three days, I will be holding our little boy in my arms! I really cannot believe how quickly this pregnancy has gone! We are pretty much ready. I have all the major projects done and several smaller ones! Eli's bag is packed and mine is waiting for clothing that I have to wear for the next few days still so I will be doing laundry Sunday. I haven't even started packing for Bobby and Brianna so I guess I better get moving with that! I have worked Bobby and my Dad to the bone! Thanks to both of you for all you have done! I love the bench my Dad made to sit on our landing to hold bags and such! And Bobby, I know I will be able to enjoy our living room more without looking at all of the toys! I also want to thank Daisy (my mother-in-law) and my Mom and family for throwing me a wonderful Baby Shower! The below pictures are of us getting ready for Eli...including some of my crazy nesting projects! There is also a picture of my "Baby Bump" from about 36 weeks...which was 2 weeks ago. Hopefully I will get some pics up early next week of Eli!

7 weeks!

Eli is scheduled to arrive in 7 weeks on Monday, November 22nd around 1:30! I can't believe it is already that close! He is starting to get very strong and likes to show me that by kicks and jabs that are starting to hurt a bit! It is also very fun to watch him wiggle around inside my belly! He is big enough now that Brianna can feel him and likes to refer to him as a bump (how I described to her how to feel him in my belly)! Nesting is in full swing and has been ever since we got back from vacation so the house is almost ready....except for the 8' long wall I convinced Bobby to build in our living room to separate it from the toy area! I hope to work on that this weekend! After that it is really just getting the carpets cleaned and getting ready from Christmas! I am getting really excited and will keep everyone updated!

Belly Pics!

Can't believe that the second trimester is almost over and the third is about to start! At times it has seemed to go by very quickly and at other times seemed to drag by! I measured my belly the other day to see how big I was already and I was surprised! My belly measured 43 inches! Just for reference my belly measured 47 inches the night before I had Brianna! I figured I better post some pictures up here because I really want to make sure I document as much of this as I can!

8 weeks

12 weeks

20 weeks...Halfway there!

24 weeks...I added this one because I think I got a lot bigger between 24 and 26 weeks!

26 weeks! Do you think I got a lot bigger?

Eli's Ultrasound Pics

Here are the ultrasound pictures from last week. He is just shy of 25 weeks in these pictures! Can't wait to meet him! Only about 13 more weeks!

Profile
Cute little feet
Such a sweet little face

Another Big One!

We are well on our way to another big baby! We went to the doctor on Monday and had another ultrasound. Eli is already in the 85th percentile and weighs approximately 1 lb 14 oz! I guess I can give up on the idea of having a normal size baby! We got some really cute pictures! I will try to get them up here but my scanner is not working to I will have to go to my parents' house and use theirs so it might be a little while! We got some 4D images of his face and he looks very sweet! I am 25 weeks today so hopefully only 14 to go! My OB will schedule the C-section after 30 weeks so I will let everyone know when to expect Eli's arrival! In the mean time, I am going through Brie's stuff trying to figure out what we need for the little man so my house if filled with totes! Wish me luck!

New blog design to come

...because pink isn't going to work anymore! We found out yesterday that Brianna is going to get a baby brother! We are going to name him Elijah Robert and call him Eli. He looked great yesterday and was very active (I already knew that though!). He weighed 11 oz and is already in the 76th percentile! My OB told me to be prepared for another big baby! His nuchal fold measurement was a bit high (6.3mm while the acceptable range is between 5 and 6 mm) but the doctor is not really concerned because everything else looked great. He does want to do a repeat ultrasound for a recheck of this measurement at my next appointment in 5 weeks so just pray that everything checks out okay. We are not worried because we have been praying for healthy child and believe that is what He is going to give us! I will post pics soon and hopefully in the near future have a redesigned blog that is gender neutral!

Baby Update

Okay, just to start our last appointment was over two weeks ago. Sorry it has taken so long to update everyone but we have been incredibly busy! So, yes the baby is fine. It's heart rate was 170 which is quite a bit higher than what Brianna's was at that point. My doctor also asked me if we had already had an ultrasound. I said, "Yes, we have had two." He then went on to ask if they only found one baby each time. I told him yes and not to scare me like that! Evidently I really "bloomed up" quite a bit since my last visit. Anyway, this baby is a lot more active than Brianna was so I am greatly enjoying all the little bumps and kicks I am feeling and can't wait until Bobby and Brianna can feel them too! Our next appointment is Monday and we are hoping to find out if we need to buy pink or blue this time! I will keep you updated!