Happy New Year!

I've been neglecting our blog again. Not that too many people out there particularly care, which is actually a really good thing because I don't think I could take that kind of pressure from the nebulous blogosphere. My friend Sarah, for example, goes offline for a few weeks and seriously gets hate mail. Apparently she owes it to the world to say something witty every few days.
That's why it's all baby photos and long-winded space dialogue around here. We're only looking for a bare click-in, click-out following.
But here is the thing, sometimes life just get in the way. I wish I had some crazy fun reasons that I have been away, like a fun trip or huge party I have been planning or something, but really my only excuse is my 11 month friend whose energy never seems to dwindle. There are days I feel like I could go to sleep at 730. Eli still cant quite figure out that waking up before 530 just isn't right! No matter what time he goes to bed at night that little alarm clock goes off at the same time every morning. But I just cant help but smile when I walk in his room to sweep him up, with his huge smile, and his arms up reaching for me as hard as he can! And speaking of his big smile, he has started making the funniest grin, ear to ear, smiling so hard his eyes are almost shut. It gets me every time...after each bite of a meal, at strangers, at plants, at the check-out lady at HEB, while he is staring out the window at the cars driving by. I'm not sure where it came from, but here is a little glimpse...

I just want to eat him up!
The last few mornings have been particularly difficult as Eli has decided that 330am is a good time to wake up, and then again at 430, and then again and 5, and heck, since its already 5, might as well get up for the day! I'm not sure what is going on here, but my mantra is This is just a phase, it will pass....
I'm hoping he was just been playing a mean trick on us and things will turn around for us starting tonight, and we are going to start the new year out right, and restfull, and through the night, and restful!!!

We plan to stay in tonight for New Years, cuddle up in our pj's and watch some re-runs of 30 Rock. I know that I have my two precious boys at home safe with me, what more could I ask for. We will toast to the new year before I go to bed (waaay before midnight)with a glass of champagne and Blaine promised to come wake me up and kiss me at midnight. Perfect!!

Happy New Year to Everyone!!!

Is it fall?

Would you believe me if I told you that Blaine raked our yard TWO days ago!!??!!??

A Sigh of Relief

Today is a big day. For me anyway. I am hanging up my pump (it makes me a little bit giddy just thinking about it!). This morning was my official last pump! Over the last 11 months, I have spent more than 400 hours attached to that pump, washed over 3,500 bottles and pump accessories, donated over 300 ounces of milk to The Mothers Milk Bank and managed to somehow exclusively feed Eli breastmilk. Phew. There were days where I felt like this day would never come. What to do with all my free time!

Every Tuesday, Rachel has the day off and she always comes over. She is one of Eli's favorite people!!! Here is his face when she walks in the door...

And this is how she entertains him.......

(his new favorite spot in the house, this windowsill, watching people walk by, cars drive by, and squirrels running across the yard)

Can you see it?

If you look real, real close you can see the snow...okay, so maybe you cant see it, but Eli saw his first official "snow day."


You can tell how excited he was by the look on his face...similar to the look on his face during his first bubble bath, only that time it ended in tears and complete fear! I was so excited, thinking he would love a bubble bath, and that he might even be mad at me for holding back such a wonderful thing, but quite the contrary! We sat him down in the bath, he wouldnt even put his hands in the water, he held them above his head, as far away as he could from the bubbles, looked up at me and Blaine with complete fear in his eyes....and then came the tears. I swooped him up and put him on my lap dripping wet so we could drain the tub and put in fresh water. Anyone that has taken a bubble bath knows how hard it is to get rid of all the bubbles. I was scooping them out with a cup, pushing them down the drain, they were relentless! Bathtime last night was a wash, Im just hoping he isnt scarred from the experience. We will try again in a few months! Who doesnt love a bubble bath???