zoo date

Eli's MDO teachers organized an outing to the zoo last Friday. This week at school they made lion t-shirts to wear. When we first got to the zoo it looked CRAZY. There were, no kidding, about 50 school busses in the parking lot which equals loads and loads of kids. Parking really wasn't bad and once we got up to the gate, it wasn't as bad as it appeared. The only reason it took longer to enter the zoo was because traffic was worse than we thought and it made people late getting to the zoo. Anyway, so once in, it didn't feel crowded or overwhelming. The weather was just right, warm with a slight breeze and overcast. Eli was an angel, Praise The Lord! And Lucy was, too. :) AND, Nathan was able to take some time away from work to go with us. It was over all a great day. Thanks Mrs Kim and Mrs Stephanie!!!!

9 months

I can't believe that Lucy has been with us for 9 months!! It has flown by. She is such a precious gift. Here is what she is up to these days: crawls very well, pulls up and has now mastered standing and then getting back to sitting position (she was standing and then crying cause she couldn't get back down), she eats table foods like it is her last meal ever, when we are preparing her food she does this excited dance thing in her chair and her eyes get real big and excited, she responds well to scheduled times EX: we eat between 5 and 5:30 each night and no matter when she last ate that afternoon she is soooo ready for food and lets you know it. Also, she is ready for bed at 7. One day she took a later than normal nap, woke up around 5ish or so and I thought she would fight sleep, but she goes down like clock work at 7 no matter what her naps have been like that day. She does fight her naps a little, but I believe a good part of that has been my fault for not being more consistent with when we nap. We are working on that. Her body seems to have a very good sense of time :) She is pretty tough, Eli has really been testing his limits with us in regards to her, but one day she will fight back! Watch out Eli :) Lucy is totally into putting all things in her mouth. I included one picture that shows her putting rocks in her mouth. She would get them to her lips and I would swoop in and get them out, but she does it over and over and over......etc....we have to watch her pretty close, she will put anything in there. Overall, she is healthy and happy! I am currently working on breaking her of her early morning bottle. She wakes up between 5-6 for a bottle and then goes back to sleep. I am confident that she doesn't "need" this bottle, but it is so convenient to just give it to her. So, I am trying to prepare myself to actually break her from that habit............one of these days........sooner rather than later I hope. I know it will only take a couple of days, but it takes work, ya know!!! I just don't think she will voluntarily give it up, although she has slept till 7 or so without it on a few occasions. These are the pictures Whitney L took to document her at 9 months. What a precious subject. Thanks Whit for the beautiful pictures. We enjoyed our day with you.

A fun fact about these pictures: this dress was made by my grandmother Abbott for me when I was a baby :) I know she would love seeing them on Lucy.

Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

My nephew, Will, asked us to video him doing a little dance of sorts to the song It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time and then post it on U Tube. Well, that's just what we, and when I say we I really mean Nathan, did. You can see it on Nathan's blog: http://nathans-soliloquyme.blogspot.com/ Check it out.

family

This past weekend we had to say goodbye to my Mema's sweetheart, Carl. He went to be with the Lord a week ago after suffering a severe stroke. We will miss him. Because of this sudden passing my brothers came to town for his funeral. I hate the circumstances that brought us together, but it sure was good to get to spend a little time with them and my sister in law and 2 nephews and niece. Eli LOVES his cousins. I wish they were closer, but really I guess we are blessed that we aren't too terribly far away. Here are a few shots from our day together. Todd, Me, Jeff

Jeff and Eli

Me and Nathan

The boy cousins: Drew (1), Eli (2), Will (6)

Sydney (10) She really enjoyed goofing around in my large shades.

The girl cousins: Lucy (9months) Sydney

Spider Man!!! and Savers

Last week we went to the grand opening of the new Savers on JFK. I really enjoy Savers and am so excited to have one so close. They offered free face painting and popcorn for their grand opening, so of course we went to help them celebrate and get all painted up. Eli was so still while the woman painted his face. I was impressed. After she was done she held up a mirror for him to see himself. He thought it was pretty cool. I think he was a little shocked and confused and happy all at once :) Anyway, it was a good time. That evening we started trying to wipe it off and he was not having it. It started to look like he had on eye liner. AAGGGHHH!

Eli throwing out his web

"I hold her"

Eli isn't crazy over babies. I have no doubt he loves his sister, but he just isn't one to be all about a baby like some kids can be. So, needless to say, he rarely asks us to hold her or anything of that nature. He will find her toys to play with and let us know when she needs her paci or bottle. He notices when she isn't around and asks for her. He is very interested in what she is doing or eating, he is always asking questions about her. So, this afternoon he decides he needs to hold her. In the past I have tried to get him to hold her and when he agrees I tell him to sit down first, which of course is usually not what he wants to do, so it doesn't work out. Well, this afternoon, he said "I sit down and hold her" and that's just what he did. He was very proud for a few seconds until she started to squirm and cry at which point he started to hold her tighter.........I then took her back...........but for a few brief moments he was being so lovey!!!!!