O Christmas Tree

I have been slacking with the Christmas posts...but oh well.

We got a tree a few weeks ago and I LOVE having it in the house. I was thinking we'd just get a little Charlie Brown tree (the only kind I thought Eli would leave alone) but somehow we ended up coming home with cute but larger spruce for the house.

Here's the only decent picture I have of Eli at the Christmas tree lot. Yes indeed...he's become a real camera dodger.

Here it is...

And there he is.

Oh Yeah There's a Baby Coming!

I've been really bad about documenting (at least photographically) this current pregnancy. Maybe it's because I'm lazy. Maybe it's because I'm not super interested in posting full body pics of myself. Or most likely it's because there is hardly ever a moment when I think "Oh yeah, right now I feel like I look put together enough to have permanent documentation of my current physical appearance preserved in perfect digital remembrance". Or maybe it's D) all of the above.

Anywho, little guy is doing great. I'm 34 weeks and measuring pretty big (2.5 weeks ahead to be exact) but the midwives don't think that's much of a worry. It's probably just because I'm so nice and stretchy after my first pregnancy. I'm really hoping I go into labor before my due date (don't we all...) rather than after. To be honest at this point I'd really just like to be induced at 39 weeks, an option my midwife presented, rather than wait it out and have to either birth an 11 pounder or have a cesarean because he's so big. But Dan and I both do want to see what going into labor at home is like (Eli was induced at 41 weeks) so we'll see how things look in a month.

Wow...one more month. Crazy. I really can't wait to meet our little boy. Today I was sitting on the couch and Eli came up and gave my belly a big hug and said, "awwwwww.....baby!". It warmed me heart and soul. I know these little boys are going to be crazy best friends.

Birthday Celebrations

Eli's actual birthday isn't for another two weeks but I thought we'd celebrate early this year. Having a birthday party right around Thanksgiving is just too much of a hassle for all involved.

I booked the church and we had a great time. Since I've become a smart phone junkie I pretty much only take pics with my phone these days. Most of the time they turn out great but the ones from his party look a little jaundice...oh well. Thank to all who came and made Eli such a happy birthday boy!

He was way into presents...but more so carry them around wrapped than actually opening them.

Daddy helps out.

Cake eater.

Singing the birthday song! I figure since Micheal Jackson is dead we don't have to pay royalties. (too soon?)

This was take 2 on the cake. The first had...shall we say...structural damages? It's still sitting in my fridge if anyone wants a piece.

The piniata was a big hit. Get it??!! Oh man.

I love this picture of Eli on the attack.

Playing with "Bumpa".

Last but not least...here's a video of Eli whacking the piniata.

This is Halloween!

We had a fantastic Halloween season this year. Eli loved what I'm sure he thought was the biggest candy haul he'd ever seen and Dan and I loved watching his bewildered face as he took in the costumes and goings on. The above is from our ward carnival. It was one in a series of candy fests that we took Eli to in good faith in which we rapidly retracted the onslaught of sweets leaving a very confused and sad two year old. Live and learn.

He wasn't too excited about pumpkin carving. We tried to get him in the spirit of things, but he was mostly interested in stabbing them with sharp objects.

Dan's pumpkin won first prize in our family carving contest. Pics upcoming...

Stab. Stab.

Blurry but awesome pic of our pumpkins. I mean seriously....look at Dan's...it's the Oogie one.

Amazing...

Now for the important things: Trick-or-treating. Eli liked it overall...but I think he was pretty bewildered by the process. At first he didn't want to move on to more houses before he'd consumed the previous bounty. When he figured out that wasn't going to happen he started running from house to house yelling "TREAAAAT!". It was awesome.

Here he is after House 1 eating his loot.

Best pic of Eli in his costume. We forgot the bandanna for this one...but still...so amazingly cute.

Golden October

We've been enjoying the lovely fall weather around here by spending every waking moment outside. Today we picked loads of apples off our tree and had a great time soaking up the sun and being together.

We went to a fantastic birthday party tonight. We introduced Eli to donuts on a string. He was put off by the no hands rule...

...so I helped him cheat.

Eli wanted to help pick apples...

It was horrifying to those of us on the ground.

Relaxing in the sun.

Bad Sleep Mojo

Two weeks ago Eli waged war on sleep. It was an all out frontal attack and the casualties were many. We guess it was because he figured out how to climb out of his crib and with the new found freedom came lots of attempts to abuse it. It took us a few days to get night-time sleep back on track and a few weeks to get nap time normal but things are settling down. The remedy? Switched him to a twin bed with a railing, moved the locks around so we can lock his door from the outside, and set a very strict bedtime schedule and routine. Here are some pictures from our last few weeks of sleepiness.

Because he was getting such little sleep Eli fell asleep pretty much anytime it was inconvenient.

I grabbed this one right as he was waking up from a cat nap on the couch. I could get him to sleep on the couch if I put on Sesame Street and turned the volume way down.

He looked pretty out of it all the time. 6 hours of sleep a day does that to a toddler.

Sleepy time with his new friend Button the Moose.

Although the lack of sleep was awful for all involved, I did enjoy some more-than-usual cuddle time with my boy.

Story behind this one: Eli was supposed to be taking nap in his room but didn't stay in there long (this was before we figured out how to lock the door). I was sitting on my bed and watched with fatigued amusement as he wheeled himself in on his tummy with the skateboard trying to be as obscure and unnoticeable as possible. Charming child.

Zoo-halloo!

Thursday I met Jody and Mitchel up at Hogle Zoo for a gorgeous fall day of animal watching and, above all else, train riding. Eli loves trains right now and the moment we stepped foot in the zoo all he wanted to do was ride the train. We waited until the end so we could go see some of the animalia attractions, which Eli enjoyed, but he was definitely anxious to get back to the CHOO CHOO (as he reminded us...about ten times...a minute...).

Mitchel and Eli with friends.

Eli gets a closer look at the elephants.

Peg-leg Eli and Auntie Jody.

There they are!

Anticipation!

Finally on the train!

And the 'pic' of the day goes to...

Trip to Instacare

A few Friday nights ago as we were coming in from an evening out Eli tripped and hit his head on the brick wall of the house. It bled. A lot. And being the crazy loony of a mom I am I made Dan haul us down to Instacare to have it looked at. In the end no anything was needed. Not a stitch. But it made for some great photos.

Twawana Baby

Northern Cali Part 2

Here are the pictures Dan took in California. Seriously...so awesome.

This is Eli and Matt's nephew driving in his Escalade...because that's how we roll.

He's pretty much the most awesome gansta eva.

More of the Exploratorium. I LOVE this picture of Eli.

I....don't really know what's going on here.

Dan and his true love.

Eli out with Daddy at the Googleplex.

Sleepy time nappy boy.

Stay tuned...this may be our Christmas card this year. If I can get over the fact that I'm rubbing Dan's stomach like there's a baby in there. Weird.

Batman Baby at Half Moon Bay.

Gorgeous pumpkin patch along the way home from Half Moon Bay.