Sleepy Boy

So Eli's "nap" last night turned into a sixteen hour sleep fest.  He woke up to eat a couple times but didn't actually awaken to start his day until 8:30 am.  And then he went down for a morning nap at 10:30.  Apparently fella is worn out.

We Made It.

Eli and I made it through our first week at school.  Yay!  Eli is exhausted (As evidenced by the fact that he's been "napping" since 4:30 and it's not 8:00ish.  I have a feeling he'll be up and ready to party around 3am.)

I'm so grateful for his lovely teachers so far.  They dote on him, call me when he's ready to nurse, and tell me everyday how adorable/easy going/smiley/curious he is during the day.  It makes this Mama so excited to know that he's being loved on and appreciated during his time away from me.  All four of his teachers were super receptive to the idea of cloth diapering...and persevered through a rocky start.  I was expecting a few leaks the first week - it does take a little bit to get the grasp of changing a CD (especially when you've changed ten thousand disposables).   Monday he had one leak/outfit change.  Tuesday - two.  Wednesday - FIVE leaks and subsequent wardrobe changes.  Whoa.  I was wracked with guilt over the fact that here I am asking his sweet teachers to do something out of the norm for them (To my knowledge I'm the first at the daycare to ask about cloth diapering) and here it was making so much more work for them.  I assured them things don't go like that at home and said I'd work on a solution while at home Thursday.  I got home and immediately consulted my CD guru - Mere.  Whew.  Thank you so much for doing all the legwork and being so helpful at troubleshooting!  We talked about what to try and settled on starting with using a larger insert for my growing babe.  Success!  We made it through all of Thursday with no leaks.  This morning I told his teacher that we had tried a few new things, and asked if I could demo how to change his diaper - just to be able to give a few hints on the whole process.  I think the combination of the larger inserts and giving some visible tips helped.  Little Mister came home in the same (Awesome - who doesn't love a baby in an Argyle sweater?) outfit in which he started his day.   Yay!  I'm so glad that his teachers weren't frustrated with me yet and that we could have a successful CD day.  Here's hoping that today's trend sticks around for next week (and all the weeks after that too...hehe). 

And just because he's a cutie, a picture of my Mister chatting up his sheepy.  

His teachers said they could tell that we practice tummy time at home because he does it longer than any of the other kids.  Yay!  And here I was thinking that he didn't put up with it very long.  Way to go, Mister.

His (Second) First Roll!

Yesterday Eli actually rolled over.  For real this time.  Like on purpose.  I've been practicing with him this week, and Thursday was the day.  Yay Eli!  Get ready to view an adorable action sequence - with a super proud and visibly excited baby at the end.

Girlies

Steve and I got to meet the Medved girlies a few days after they were born, but this weekend we took Eli to Strongsville so he could welcome his buddies himself.  I'm pretty sure they're friends already!  We're so excited for these two little girls to be here - happy and healthy.  Here's to more reasons for the Abels and Medveds to hang out.  :-)

  

 I look ridiculous, but only because 

I'm wearing my amazingly, super excited face.

Eli, Eliza, Olivia, and Addie!

 Who knew I could hold three babies at once?  

I learned from Jen, she's been doing it for months now.  ;-)

 

Baby Love!

Eli trying to hold hands with Eliza and Olivia

Hands up!  

I think they're trying to get this baby party started.

 And a little Eleven Week Love for you.  A special thank you to Anna and Benjamin for the amazing tie shirt.  I'm pretty sure Eli has five outfits that I just rotate through because I love them soooooo much and want him to wear each one as many times as possible before he outgrows them.

PS: This is our last week at home before Eli and I head back to school.  A few prayers for an awesome week would be great....today Eli spent the morning trying to make me ready to have someone else watch him.  haha.  ugh.

And a few more pictures now because I can't help it...

 Cutie Cloth Diaper, but he was apparently cold and not feeling the photo shoot....

 Eliza with Daddy after a major diapering experience.

Me with Olivia, and Mama Jen with Eliza!  Yay girlies!

A few weeks ago Eli simply hated Tummy Time.  And while he's still  not overly thrilled with it, he does put up with being on his tummy for longer and longer time periods now.  Here's why......

 Exercise ball.

 Seriously.

This thing was one of my best friends towards the end of my pregnancy, and while I was laboring at home.  I never would have made it at home as long as I did without this ball.  It was honestly wonderful.  I think Eli remembers all that time we spent together on this thing, and turns out he likes hanging out there solo as well.  :-)  We rock, roll, bounce, and drool.  Mostly the drool bit.  He's holding hi head up higher and higher and staying here longer and longer.  Yay Baby Eli!

Reading Rainbow

Butterfly in the sky

I can go twice as high

Take a look

It's in a book

A Reading Rainbow

One of the things I love doing with Eli is reading.  We don't always get around to it in our days, and sometimes he's less than excited, but I'm absolutely set on instilling a love of books in this kid.  I've been flabergasted recently at the sheer number of people I've come in contact with who either can't read at all or have a rudimentary grasp on reading.  I asked Steve awhile ago how it was possible that people we know seem stuck at middle or early high school reading levels.  That's something my brain simply couldn't grasp.  He told me to take a look at my background versus theirs.  What he was pointing out to me was that I had parents who made quality time and reading staples in my early childhood.  As early as I can remember my parents read to  me, and I had oodles and oodles of my own books, on my own bookcase.  I remember sitting on the floor sifting through the stacks to find my favorites.  My parents are a huge part of the reason I've always excelled at reading and why I have an immense love for literature.  When I compared that to people who had parents where reading wasn't important, or perhaps parents who couldn't read that well themselves, it's no wonder reading and books aren't a joy for some.  

Well, Little Eli, you don't have a choice (if I can help it).  We'll be reading to you as often as you can stand it, and probably after that as well.  We're starting out small, you know, with kiddie books.  But mark my words, before the year is out he'll have read some Lewis, Rowling, Austen, and Tolkien too.  Here's to being passionate about learning, reading, and books in general.

Garage

This is where my hubby spent New Years weekend - the garage.  Not because of some sort of punishment, no doghouse for him.  He's actually in there, working hard to build me a pantry!  Score one for having a handy hubby.