22 Months...

I really don't know how it is possible that you are 22 months, Eli. Last night I got a sudden burst of energy and we went through all your clothes. We cleaned out your drawers and closet and washed all of your cold weather clothes...good thing too because this morning you woke up to snow!

You played in the snow for a little bit last year, but you really didn't understand. This year you were fully aware of the change happening outside. After daddy and I explained the snow to you, I asked you to go get your Mickey Mouse and show him the snow...

Gosh, you are a cutie.

This has been a huge month developmentally for you, big boy! You have stopped saying those cute little variations of "real words" like "Nana" and "Flouw-flouw". They have all been replaced by the real words- like banana and flower and you are clearly saying four syllable words. Daddy and I are a little sad because we know it is just one more sign that you are growing up.

You are great at constructing sentences and we are amazed at what you can put together.

Just a few mornings ago when I was walking into the bathroom you said to daddy- "Mommy, bye-bye. Go potty. Right back." Chris and I just looked at each other...and I said slowly, "Yes, mommy has to go potty. I will be right back."

We are still working on colors, but you are starting to catch on to more and more. You are even better with your numbers this month, but sometimes you get confused between "5" and "9" because they sound the same.

You have also started to tell us "tummy hurt" or "eyes itch".

You know all of your shapes and you have started memorizing phrases from your favorite books and will "read" to daddy at night. You use to repeat each letter of the alphabet to me, but now you repeat the ABC's in whole phrases instead of just letters. You also picked up the Mickey Mouse song rather (like in a day) quickly and can sing it. Every time I turn on the TV you say "Doppler Dave" because you know that we are going to watch the weather- you still don't watch any TV besides the news at night. You love trains, tractors and big trucks. You carry your guitar around all the time and love to wear your cowboy hat. You call yourself "Cowboy E". You also love to kiss mommy and daddy's boo-boos and will ask us to kiss yours.

We are "phasing" out your ball pit in the living room. Here you are with your tractor and train in the pool. I have no idea how you got them in there, nor why you would want them in there...:)

We had our very first stand-off with you. It involved a late dinner of chicken pot pie and you sitting in your highchair refusing to eat for over an hour.

I was certain that you would love this chicken pot pie- it had all of your favorite things in it. But, it took over an hour in the oven and we had already gotten home late from your music class. It was your bed time when we sat down to the table. You refused even one bit...you wanted yogurt and a banana instead.

We held firm. I don't want to start fixing something different for you every meal. Daddy was a champ and we stood our ground together. An hour later, you fell asleep in your highchair, we put you to bed convinced that you would wake up in the middle of the night starving. It didn't happen- you slept great and we haven't had a food issue since.

That being said, this week you have just been the happiest, cutest little thing. Simply heart-melting. This week I have been so glad that I get to stay at home with you to see everything you are doing...

You decided that you wanted to take your cars on a tractor ride. So you lined them up on your tractor and pushed them around the living room. I had to take pictures...and maybe a little video; it was too adorable to let go.

Eli, we are so, so proud of you. I can't wait to see what you will learn this month and the path that God has chosen for your future. We love you, baby boy.

Halloween: the rest of the story.

After we ate a late lunch in White Deer, we dropped off the dogs and headed to Canyon to trick-or-treat with Mema & Papa.

Here is Eli making his way up to the front door. We parked a few houses away and when to the front door to ring the doorbell. Eli was a little unsure of everything because we go in through the garage usually...

Everything was much better when he realized that it was Mema at the door! 

After visiting with them for a bit, we headed down their street to load up on candy! Eli had more fun ringing the doorbells and looking for puppy dogs!

Here is daddy, rationing out the loot... 

And, just for proof for my mother- yes, I did let Eli have Halloween candy. He got a sucker; he was thrilled.

My mother thinks that we are depriving our poor child because he rarely gets candy.

And here is our Halloween card that we sent out this year!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

I needed to read this today.

Excerpt from http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/ Bring the Rain
"On a related note, I've been struggling with a lot of fear related to Charlotte. I was sharing with my sister in law the other night about how Charlotte has started flipping over to sleep on her stomach and for awhile I would go in every half hour and put her back on her back. Again. And again. And again. I could feel myself starting to panic whenever I walked into the room, my mind telling me that she might not be breathing anymore. Finally, after I had done this more times than I can say, I felt the Lord stop me midway over to her and say gently, "Angie. How long will you do this?"

So instead of turning her over I sat on the floor and prayed. And prayed. And prayed.

And then I closed the door behind me and took Him at His word. I know that God is good, and that He doesn't go off duty and let things just fall apart. He has a plan for Charlotte, and whatever that plan is will not be enhanced by me obsessing over every single thing I think I can do to control her safety. It's appropriate to be cautious and responsible, but I can't let myself believe that it's up to me...but that is so hard."



I was reading one of the blogs that I follow today (above) and this part really spoke to me. I can totally relate because I feel myself starting to panic about our upcoming delivery of "Sweet P". I find myself questioning our decision to attempt a VBAC over and over again. I know that a successful VBAC is less risky than a planned C-section, but on the other hand a C-section resulting from an unsuccessful VBAC is more risky than a planned C-section, not to mention a few more side effects for the baby that I thank God I didn't know about with Eli. All of that on top of the fact that a C-section limits the number of babies you can have safely....but I digress.

Honestly, I don't think I can do it. There, I said it out loud. It is hard to think that it is possible for me to have a natural birth when no other women on my mother's side of my family could. I have prayed for God to take away my desire to have a natural birth and my desire to have a big family, but the more I think about not being able to have another baby after this one, the more upset I get. Honestly, if we end up with a C-section I might be asking about adoption information while recovering in the hospital.

Anyway, I just wanted to share because I know that we are all going through things in our life that we have a hard time letting go of. Hope this helps.

Halloween Weekend!

Last Saturday morning I drove Eli down to White Deer while Chris stayed and put in a few hours at the office. Eli's cousin Emma was in town and I thought it would be fun to let them play together for the day.

I dropped him off and headed back to Amarillo where Chris and I had two photoshoots and then made our way back to White Deer for the Halloween Carnival there. We were super excited about it, but we really didn't get to stay long because everything is a little more difficult with an almost 2 year old running around...when he is ready to leave, you might as well leave or you will end up paying the price! Ha!

Sunday morning we had another photo shoot in Pampa, so we left Eli with Emma and Memamaw. When we got home we walked in to find two little rugrats that had just finished baths. It was adorable to see them both running around in their diapers. It made me smile to think what it must have been like for my mom to have two little twins running around like that. :)

Chris thought it would be fun to pull out the air mattress and bounce the kiddos on it. It was hilarious to watch and they had a blast! Here are some of the pictures!

Eli is giving Emma kisses...

Memamaw might have regretted sitting down on the air mattress...Eli loves to tackle right now!

Oh, daddy. I am sure Eli wishes that I was as much fun as he is!

After naps we tried to take a few pictures of the two kiddos in their Halloween gear, but we quickly learned that they would have none of that! I have never walked away not being able to get a single good picture, but it has happened. After a late lunch we headed to Canyon to trick-or-treat at Mema and Papa's!