Eli - 19 weeks

Having Eli is the best thing that has ever happened to me and is the coolest thing I have ever done. I use to feel bad for people who would say that their children were the pinnacle of their lives. But Eli is my legacy. This is embarrassing to admit, but I keep telling myself, "don't mess him up, he is going to be amazing." I know my son is destine for greatness, I am just glad I get a front seat to watch.   

I should make wish lists more often, my dad ordered a Johnny Jumper for Eli, and he is having so much fun playing in it! 

I don't know if you can see this, but Eli is trying to nurse the bars of his crib 

Big milestone - He has been rolling over for awhile, but now he does it all the time! He rolls from front to back and back to front (which is supposedly harder) 

Weight - 14.5 on our bathroom scale 

St. Augustine - Last week we went to St. Augustine for a few days to celebrate our 5 year anniversary and we had so much fun! We got to visit all our favorite places and see two of our favorite people, who also happened to be celebrating an anniversary! 

Flagler College - Christian and I met at Flagler College's orientation on the first day,... He spotted me and told his best friend (and later best man) "I want that one" ha! So cheesy, but true. We ended up having a speech class together (which is the best class to get to know someone in), and he would come to the pool while I was life-guarding. The rest is history... I would like to start sharing some of me and Christian's love story because one day I will print this blog, and I want Eli to know those stories, and share them with his children. 

The reason I wanted to go to Flagler is because I wanted to live in a castle...

Eli thinks it's pretty too!

Had to get a Flagler onesie! 

I'm adorable!

Christian and Eli outside of Flagler College

Mr. Henry Flagler statue

Inside Flagler

Sweet kisses

Bike Rides - Christian and I love to go on bike rides in St.Augustine. So much to see and such a fun bike city. So before we left for St. Augustine we had to get buddy man set up to ride!  

Riding around the city 

Eli practicing resting his head

All set to ride! Needs help holding up his head :) 

 Marineland - My first job after graduating from Flagler College (BA in Communications/Public Relations/Advertising) was working at Marineland's Dolphin Conservation Center. I was the assistant to the Director of Sales and Marketing. Mostly I worked with the weddings. It was a dream job (maybe not dream pay though! :) ) Anyway, we went to visit my former boss and the dolphins!   

Walking around Marineland

 

This dolphin stopped swimming to come check out Eli!

Eli and Christian at Marineland

Pretty cool!

                                      

                                     

                                      

Fun in the Gift Shop 

                                                  

At the park entrance 

                                            

                                   

                                          
 

 Pictures of Eli Throughout the week (in random order)

 

Playing on St. Augustine Beach 

Eli is 2 inches too long for his 3-6 month footie PJs he is now in 9 month sizes!!

Crab legs from OC Whites 

Christian went on an errand one evening so Eli and I went on a walk 

You can't go to St. Augustine without visiting the outlets! 

Christians parents brought him up his restored 1968 Triumph TR250 

LOVE him!

Eli - 18 weeks

This week Eli turned 4 months old! I am so proud of my amazing E! On Tuesday we had his Dr. appointment. And I have to say again that I adore my pediatrician. She puts my mind at ease and answers all my questions even the dumb ones. 

Anyway, Eli is still in the 95% for height, 55% for weight and just under 50% for his head size. He is our growing buddy!! 

This is a list of my 3 month must haves and my 4 month wish list ... the items in bold and italics are things I want to get for Eli this month. 

1. Angel Blanket – using this for sleep training
2. Take along arch – this can be attached to almost anything and Eli LOVES it!
3. Kick and Play Piano Gym
4. Udder Covers
5. Britax Convertible Car seat – This is on my wish list…. I think I will wait until Eli can sit up on his own better. Because I use his carseat now when we go into stores
6. Bumpo Tray – I plan on getting this when we start feeding Eli solids on a daily basis… we do have a high chair but this will be easier to travel with
7. Sophie the Giraffe – heard this was great for teething babies… but is it too girly?
8. Johnny Jumper – Eli would LOVE this!
9. Instant Ear Thermometer – The one I have now is an under the arm and it takes FOREVER! 

Eli loves the water! Here is a video of Eli playing in the outside shower at the beach house Haley and her amazing family were staying at...

Big milestone - Eli eating his toes! Last week my bff Haley was in town with her family (staying at my dream house out on the beach,... literally walked through the entire house LOVING everything about it) We were enjoying the view of the sound on their screened in porch and Eli was lounging on the furniture with Christian and then plopped those little toes right in his mouth! 








Special visitors - Haley was in town for Katie and Jakes wedding, which was absolutely stunning! My family kept little man (mom and dad had so much fun playing with him in the pool). The reception was at an amazing location on the water on Palafox with delicious food and fun music! Christian and I had such an amazing time! And I LOVED seeing old friends that I hadn't seen since graduation. It was a spectacular night!

Katie and Jake have been together for 10 years! So precious

Me and my besties! I have known Rachel (left) since 5th grade and Haley (right) since 6th 

Me n Haley

Weight - 14 lbs 5.5 oz according to the Dr. 

Looking forward to this weekend - This weekend we are in ST. Augustine. We are so excited to be in our love town! We are getting to spend time with old friends (Scott and Jane) and see Christians family. We love riding our bikes around ST. Augustine, so we had to hook little buddy up with a helmet before we left! 



Favorite day of the week - My favorite day last week was Tuesday. Eli and I met Christian for lunch at one of our favorite spots (Bagel Heads) then Eli and I came home and it was a rainy nasty day so Eli and I cuddled in bed for a few hours napping and watching recorded shows. He was so cuddly, I loved it! I have decided that I am going to form Eli into the perfect man..., and number 1 on my list is cuddly - I will consider this checked off. Next - be able to fix a flat tire and cars in general .... oh wait, might have to hold off on that for a few years! 

How is Eli sleeping - At around 4 months old, babies sleep cycles tend to change to become that more like an adults. We wake up often during the night but do not remember it... Now that Eli's sleep cycles are shorter (like that of an adult), about half the time he is waking up every 3 - 4 hours at the end of the sleep cycle (the other 1/2 of the nights Eli sleeps like a champ till 7 or 8 am).  And however I put Eli to sleep that is how he is going to look to be put back to sleep when he wakes up from these cycles (i.e. if I nurse him to sleep he is going to think that he needs to nurse back asleep, or his pacifier or patting his bottom, etc.) So Dr. O'Grady says to make sure that he is awake when we put him to sleep (this is 100% Babywise too, and we were doing that in the beginning but then he started falling asleep while nursing so we just let him get into this habit). Also Dr. O'Grady says that we can put his "El" (his little elephant blanket/toy) in there with him and that can be his comfort item when/if he wakes up after a sleep cycle. If you want to read more about 4 month old sleep patterns/cycles check out this article. Four Month Sleep Regression Explained (sometimes 3 months too) and 4 month sleep problems

Nicknames - Christian has taken to call Eli his "Bud-bud" and "Boo-boo" it's really cute! Besides the typical love names, I like to call him Mr. E. He is so precious!! 

Random - Saw this great workout idea on Pintrest and had to steal it.... you put exercises on Popsicle sticks and throughout the week pick a stick and complete them all by the end of the week.... I color coded mine by what part of the body it works and I plan on picking 2 from each color everyday of the week. 

This is mine

This is the pintrest one

Pictures of Eli Throughout the Week! 

Baby you are a dream come true!

How did we get so lucky?

Blessed.

4 months!!

So sweet!!!

Loves eating his feet now! Just like his Uncle Muscles! 

This bumpo would look great with a trey!

Playing with Hay hay!

LOVING the view!

Eli meeting baby Benjamin, my friend Ashley's baby from church 

Swinging in the park! 

I love this phase that Eli is getting in... He wants to be apart of everything Christian and I do... what we eat, what we hold, everything! He is so curious, my little explorer!