Get Up, Stand up

Sink or Swim

Today we went to the pool at our complex for the first time. The temperature outside was 97 degrees, and with humidity it felt like it was over 100 degrees. We had a fun time cooling down in the water.

Being Startled Is Hilarious

Who knew being frightened would be so fun. The video quality is bad because we used our webcam for this.

Back to the Grind Stone

We recently returned from a fabulous vacation. We visited my family in California for a week and then flew to Utah for Jake's family reunion. While we were away we were able to visit some of our favorite friends as well, including Susie, Heidi & Daniel, Katie & Josh & Zach, Lauren, and Lisa. It's bittersweet returning to reality.

Below are some photos from our trip.

Eli with Grandma Criddle

Eli and Grandpa Criddle ("Opa")

Meeting Aunt Adrienne and the McConkie cousins.

Family photos taken by my mom.
Trying to get both Wylie and Eli to cooperate. It never did happen.
A night out with Heidi & Daniel.Farny reunion.

Chillin' with Susie.

Rice Mouth & Ducky Boy

Funny Noises

Eli started making funny faces and funny noises yesterday. Here is some footage

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Church got let out early because of the swine flu today. Both Jake and I were supposed to teach. We're not complaining.

Sunday Fancy Pants

Hello friends and family. I have a little time to write, so I am going to do a brief blog post update on our happenings. Jake is finishing up his first year at UNT. I think he only has about 2 weeks left and then finals. He is almost done with the first draft of the introduction to his thesis, and that has been taking up much of his time. He is still an adviser to the Priest Quorum at church and having a lot of fun with it. Last week they played disc golf for their Wednesday night activity--much to Jake's pleasure. The quorum is getting larger and larger. It seems like every Sunday there is a new young man being sustained to the office of priest.

Life has calmed down slightly for me over the past month. I decided to cut down on working, so I'm working 1-3 hours a day instead of the 4 hours a day that I had been working from January through the end of March. The extra time to get things done around the house has been wonderful. Who would have thought that I would actually start to enjoy the "free" moments to clean the dishes and fold the laundry. Right now I'm looking forward to our upcoming trip to California and Utah to visit family. Eli and I don't get out of the house much (besides daily walks/runs), so it will be an adventure taking our first plane trip together.

Eli just changed overnight again on Wednesday night. All of the sudden he is grabbing for his feet, turning on his side, making a whining sound, and...drum roll please...eating his first solid food! Here are his stats from his doctor's appointment on Thursday: 40% for weight, 60% for height, 30% for head circumference. He's got a little noggin. Below are some pictures of his fancy pants outfit he wore to church today.

Messy Eater and Attempt at Walking

Jabber the Hut

Big Boy

Joanna and I both feel like Eli has suddenly hit a growth spurt so we thought we'd post another video of him.

A little conversation I overheard...

I was doing some homework when Eli started carrying on a conversation with Joanna. I quickly grabbed our camera and this is what I got...

Little Cougar

Here we are out for a Sunday walk.

Can you say "Coooo-gaaaarrrr"?

Sprouting Up and Sprouting Hair

This is a great week for two reasons. Reason #1, I just finished up a big enrichment...another 3 months until the next one. Second, Jake has spring break this week. Party! It's nice to have a little R&R this weekend. I even got a chance to go out with the girls for a little while and get my hair cut while Jake watched Eli.

We've been having fun watching Eli grow day by day. Here are some pictures taken today. He will be three months in a week.

Peek-A-Boo

All we do now is post videos. One of these days we will have time to get more creative with our posts.

Mean Green Bean

Eli has recently become more responsive, and consequently a HUGE distraction. It's amazing what we'll do to get a smile out of this kid.

(We have the seat that goes with this toy--thanks Holly--but Eli pooped on it earlier today.)

You've GOT To Be Kidding

I have always known that I am sensitive to unsolicited advice from relative strangers, but it hasn't been an issue until becoming a mother. Everyone wants to offer their two cents. I know that the people who offer their advice don't mean anything bad by it, but sometimes I come away feeling like a bad mother because they feel like they have to give me advice about how to parent.

Here is one example (of many)...When Eli was 4 weeks old I went on a walk with him in the jogging stroller. It was a beautiful day, with the temperature in the 70's by the afternoon. I bundled Eli in pants, socks, a onesie, a coat with a hoodie, and a hat. He was also snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug in the bundle me that keeps him warm in his car seat. So here it is almost 9:30 a.m. and I'm almost back from the walk. Then a woman in her car at a stop sign pulls to the side of the road and rolls down the window. She asked me if I wanted a ride. I told her, "No thank you, I'm exercising" (it was obvious that I was exercising). She asked how old Eli was, and I told her 4 weeks. She continued to tell me that he must be cold. I told her that I had bundled him up really well, so he was fine. As I started to keep walking she said out the window, "Put something over his mouth--he's going to be cold." Okay, wow. Never did I ever think I would have a random stranger give me advise like that. I know people have the best of intentions when they give advice, but it honestly feels like a put-down to me.

Well, I'm getting off my soap box now. I promise that my next post won't be another rant...although I can't promise anything about the post after that.

Our Little George Costanza

Do you see the bald headed likeness?

Don't Get Jealous Ladies...

...but I have the most wonderful husband in all husbandom. The picture above was not staged. Jake made sugar cookies, held Eli in the Bjorn while I took a shower, and was making my dad's famous potato bread. So domestic!

We're learning how to appease Elijah, and two of those ways is hours and hours of bouncing and saying "shhhh" loudly--supposedly it simulates sounds in the womb. Last night I was up at 2 am just prior to feeding Eli. Eli was fussing a little and from our room next door I hear Jake saying "shhhh" in his sleep. He had no recollection of it the next day.

And for the grandparents: