tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30250796739839145542024-02-07T20:49:40.924-05:00Eli RichardCourtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-73613411803571899592010-06-27T22:29:00.005-04:002010-06-27T22:56:46.205-04:00Eli's second birthday, and other updates<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGji41c6KEqtHrVdyGuOnl814-8xDSya47zzKwW7hxo-oLi6zorJIzbVsTDMKrjadgG0abpWFr-4jrXjbwGf6fxjSxq_Ctc5rPF_UzG1jVzDKR60zxqBUHhTulgkYQznRUmQ3WG0oB0s/s1600/zoo+668.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGji41c6KEqtHrVdyGuOnl814-8xDSya47zzKwW7hxo-oLi6zorJIzbVsTDMKrjadgG0abpWFr-4jrXjbwGf6fxjSxq_Ctc5rPF_UzG1jVzDKR60zxqBUHhTulgkYQznRUmQ3WG0oB0s/s400/zoo+668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487651113904916482" border="0" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On the train at the zoo<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7J7RbVY19GOiqVTL6ON2El7dOMM40rlVhezi9rdF6Ne6Qpu7cUDuYxXBs3dc_5ftVpv2rMsM4nCyz4TFYnzJfKqoN8ZqwyVkLR0h4LerY-Zg3v2SVEyffs4vtZSyIbPGbX3fQKaztL0/s1600/702.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7J7RbVY19GOiqVTL6ON2El7dOMM40rlVhezi9rdF6Ne6Qpu7cUDuYxXBs3dc_5ftVpv2rMsM4nCyz4TFYnzJfKqoN8ZqwyVkLR0h4LerY-Zg3v2SVEyffs4vtZSyIbPGbX3fQKaztL0/s400/702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487651106885255634" border="0" /><br /></a>Riding down the big slide at the carnival with Pappy<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwrCDeQqFJOqDpL2Fty25R6DlcFrLZSKaC4SwLhNDO9HxW8VYhzRTii5xO3XIzTuTd4mdFzL8VyYFnfQ_FH0GFlKAGAic509ks84C4DXUD-kKEivCzWAuJVzfMsO16rBHs58Cuo82kHo/s1600/689.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwrCDeQqFJOqDpL2Fty25R6DlcFrLZSKaC4SwLhNDO9HxW8VYhzRTii5xO3XIzTuTd4mdFzL8VyYFnfQ_FH0GFlKAGAic509ks84C4DXUD-kKEivCzWAuJVzfMsO16rBHs58Cuo82kHo/s400/689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487651093146130130" border="0" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Eli and Daddy watching the parade<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbo1bCh9T626D_8WdTb8NntCC2upaaYwSxqI4lJJ_ny_Sp7j-cz9aEKkEUv6R_k22MAEWhAcg3P8uPYbFzHxsvFcNOuCt4aISPFtsQrOwTnJ_wy3CWTxoL4Z6mKNe8ZGwR95JDa-6N2s/s1600/firetruck+party+714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbo1bCh9T626D_8WdTb8NntCC2upaaYwSxqI4lJJ_ny_Sp7j-cz9aEKkEUv6R_k22MAEWhAcg3P8uPYbFzHxsvFcNOuCt4aISPFtsQrOwTnJ_wy3CWTxoL4Z6mKNe8ZGwR95JDa-6N2s/s400/firetruck+party+714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648955116142498" border="0" /><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">From here down are from his birthday party<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BIFJ-BJ0X3qkvg6st4zzjHAvhp27PCj_7sHIi1aKd2NhvxulthvKQFxSVj4LtBfW5lju6gnBsj5rYTLaO94IAQ4SVWItuOpzBCrz5-ygDOL3o5fyhXLZVNYMaWx1ywlWU0ttwHoXb7Q/s1600/firetruck+party+697.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BIFJ-BJ0X3qkvg6st4zzjHAvhp27PCj_7sHIi1aKd2NhvxulthvKQFxSVj4LtBfW5lju6gnBsj5rYTLaO94IAQ4SVWItuOpzBCrz5-ygDOL3o5fyhXLZVNYMaWx1ywlWU0ttwHoXb7Q/s400/firetruck+party+697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648953304091346" border="0" /></a><br />e<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjDrE_-guGKZBD_0YKlbK_NXuZgjFZ6AQxVAJuImqE0MINanfJI0MLr1AiGnQoY5dXpTpbeF53zuDlFnICgQAxkvIi5O4U71gjo2mACvO0LjQYTtblle2B5vvj8FQ4uuUSc7BNxjv8II/s1600/firetruck+party+681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjDrE_-guGKZBD_0YKlbK_NXuZgjFZ6AQxVAJuImqE0MINanfJI0MLr1AiGnQoY5dXpTpbeF53zuDlFnICgQAxkvIi5O4U71gjo2mACvO0LjQYTtblle2B5vvj8FQ4uuUSc7BNxjv8II/s400/firetruck+party+681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648943190605826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvky_NCzP7X9kjzbHXzCBwI-bxIwPtRhZYiaUf3tEyngkPjyS0mSHCJT7sg0e4Uh_yi6tOEQblI_RT_KVU3gvWOqXnsiWg2qblTEDigDBqIU5n9-RHPOsQoJnq98bX-P89-9kjYUNg2ms/s1600/firetruck+party+676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvky_NCzP7X9kjzbHXzCBwI-bxIwPtRhZYiaUf3tEyngkPjyS0mSHCJT7sg0e4Uh_yi6tOEQblI_RT_KVU3gvWOqXnsiWg2qblTEDigDBqIU5n9-RHPOsQoJnq98bX-P89-9kjYUNg2ms/s400/firetruck+party+676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648099116100402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rDqJQND-ysyu29V1kSQEBSe7eKiq1XFH-GaIkrPO7KHXfiHMg6ZqQ7KHrmuDZub3RT9C67Z2rVWIoSDvCenlo7Erm7LMrqzRHMvyLJkj3KFTBAyxHPnIn5kOYwuVzPSyQ75We2Xw2iQ/s1600/firetruck+party+670.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rDqJQND-ysyu29V1kSQEBSe7eKiq1XFH-GaIkrPO7KHXfiHMg6ZqQ7KHrmuDZub3RT9C67Z2rVWIoSDvCenlo7Erm7LMrqzRHMvyLJkj3KFTBAyxHPnIn5kOYwuVzPSyQ75We2Xw2iQ/s400/firetruck+party+670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648092429693762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlgVjYVRHszP89wfh4Ot6-r6DHTBWObv-1fKPfuAP-aopCxSQd_0xpNdjY4xMYFHJawHvy9eYfLdbVuJQ4zNanh4F6DzXBbCwwkv-1x85wQsshi9okjO-A8oKqK7fQiFN4OpzXcQrME8/s1600/firetruck+party+666.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlgVjYVRHszP89wfh4Ot6-r6DHTBWObv-1fKPfuAP-aopCxSQd_0xpNdjY4xMYFHJawHvy9eYfLdbVuJQ4zNanh4F6DzXBbCwwkv-1x85wQsshi9okjO-A8oKqK7fQiFN4OpzXcQrME8/s400/firetruck+party+666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648083724735730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRcePu6dGHgqc1xKthL7tqwYXwG1GRO1RUEguBcF2odYbYv99o35AjmeS9B-UtFJTRF21Hc5yL-1c3rkDekNSWncNeBL0J6UYc2CPueQsEvoV8UCAxdmiSCL93m-7pSCbVpQXJVjSTEc/s1600/firetruck+party+687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRcePu6dGHgqc1xKthL7tqwYXwG1GRO1RUEguBcF2odYbYv99o35AjmeS9B-UtFJTRF21Hc5yL-1c3rkDekNSWncNeBL0J6UYc2CPueQsEvoV8UCAxdmiSCL93m-7pSCbVpQXJVjSTEc/s400/firetruck+party+687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648079834968258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ez0DdM4APDBTeEs5uyM_aPFbK-GcNZcAqyZ2dOJDB8_YV4dc3oZ2U37ZfPbLnQWfJrUtSGg6ZUHWz1tJuPZr5gXc-ip1tgHrM5AvMG_za-amV7DNkZzQpfG_RLHBqOr_hPkKRKQbdb4/s1600/firetruck+party+661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ez0DdM4APDBTeEs5uyM_aPFbK-GcNZcAqyZ2dOJDB8_YV4dc3oZ2U37ZfPbLnQWfJrUtSGg6ZUHWz1tJuPZr5gXc-ip1tgHrM5AvMG_za-amV7DNkZzQpfG_RLHBqOr_hPkKRKQbdb4/s400/firetruck+party+661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487648071694855810" border="0" /></a><br />Well, every time I post, I say I'm going to update this thing more regularly, and every time, I go several months before the next update. Eli is now 2 years old. He turned two on the 11th and we had his birthday party on the 20th. It was a fire truck party as he is <span style="font-style: italic;">obsessed </span>with firetrucks! We were even able to get the local volunteer fire department to drive a fire truck down to his party!<br /><br />He hasn't been to his 2-year-old well-baby checkup yet, so I'm not sure of his weight and height, but it seems like he's been getting a little taller and looking more like a little boy and less like a chubby baby these days. He's quite the picky eater, but some of the things he likes right now are pizza, hot dogs, FRIES, GRAPES, cereal, toast, and ice cream. But who wouldn't like those things? Other than fire trucks, he likes any kind of vehicle--helicopters, trains, boats, school buses, motorcycles.... He loves books too. I'll often go to check on him to find him sitting in our recliner with a huge pile of books on his lap. He enjoys looking at them himself, but prefers to be read to. He will let you read to him for hours.<br /><br />Some of the other things he loves: His cousin "Baby Toey" (Chloe), dogs, his Aunts, Uncle, and grandparents, Oscar the cat. The moon-he is always looking for the moon at night. He'll ask me, "Mommy, the moon at?" And I'll say, "I don't know Eli, where is it?" He'll usually either say "up in sky" or "hidin' tees," which means "hiding behind the trees." He's been doing very well at communicating and puts together simple sentences on his own. The other day I was surprised by the way he answered me when I asked who made a mess: Daddy did. Not just "Daddy," but "Daddy did." He also said something in the past tense not long ago: I saw it. The little guy's clever!<br /><br />He's been starting to sing a little bit. He won't sing if asked, but I'll often hear him when he thinks no one is listening sing "bitsy bitsy spider" or "twinkle twinkle hittle star." Sometimes when I'm singing him to sleep at night, he'll sing the next line to me if I pause.<br /><br />The terrible twos are here, but for the most part, Eli is a very well-behaved kid. The only time he really misbehaves is when he is tired. And then he really likes to throw around the words "no" and "mine." Boy, do I hate "mine!" Speaking of tired, the sleeping schedule is just as crazy as it's always been. Most days, I can't get him to go down for a nap, so he falls asleep around 7 or 8 and then gets up at 9 or 10 and won't go back to bed until after midnight. Then of course he sleeps in the next day. It's something we've been trying to work on for a long time, but any time we seem to make progress, things somehow manage to go back to this schedule. I was hoping to have him on a more normal schedule by the time his baby sister gets here, but it's not looking like it's going to happen; she is due in less than 7 weeks. If this were my pregnancy with Eli, he would be a month old already. It's really hard to believe!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-47116457488853469782010-04-01T18:30:00.003-04:002010-04-01T19:07:30.670-04:00a List.I've been meaning to do this for a while. This is a list of all of the things Eli says now, at 21 1/2 months. If his pronunciation differs from the real way to say something, I am going to put it in parentheses. I don't want to ever forget the way he talks now!<br /><br />Mommy<br />Daddy<br />babe, which he sometimes impatiently calls Daddy!<br />honey, which he often calls Mommy<br />dog/doggie<br />kitty<br />duck/ducky<br />fishies (sishies)<br />cows (tows)<br />Brutus (brutus or bru-ass)<br />Zeke (heke)<br />hay<br />frog/froggy (srog)<br />baby, and also baby cows, baby ducks etc<br />truck (tuck)<br />firetruck (siretuck)<br />sleep (feep)<br />Peek! I see you!<br />up<br />down<br />please (peez)<br />thank you (day cue, day coo)<br />you're welcome (alcommm)<br />drink (dink, deek)<br />bite<br />eat<br />cereal (seer-ull)<br />fries (sies)<br />candy (tanny)<br />M&Ms (Ems)<br />cookie (tookie)<br />chip/chippy (pitchy)<br />apple<br />Bri (B)<br />Mic (Bic)<br />Pappy<br />Grammy (Bammy), also calls her by name, Jody<br />Sierra (Si)<br />Baby Chloe (Baby Toey)<br />Brandon (Bandon)<br />Uncle Jeremy (Uncle, although he often gets confused and calls him Brandon)<br />Terry (Tury)<br />Susan<br />Oscar (okker)<br />Todd<br />Hunter<br />Parker<br />house, and also So-and-so's house ie. Si's house<br />ball<br />block<br />book, sometimes bookie<br />phone (sone)<br />box<br />bye/bye-byes (byes)<br />night (hight)<br />nice (hice)<br />outside (side)<br />walk (hawk)<br />no<br />eyes<br />ears<br />ice<br />milk (hook or ilk)<br />juice<br />stars (sars)<br />again<br />all done<br />sorry (sawwy)<br />bath (bas)<br />empty<br /><br />That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure there are at least a few more. If I think of them later, I'll edit this!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnQt_L_hi77sWdJM6hH1PvpbsOghwKp5H1J8_txCgR9I1Doc3TjHLUj2Jgu5GTFiXuZMLq4znSNjrNveO9IAD1M7VEUdA1TQgn0CGUQWqU2dVEd0JmPt9RdD9Z3TmMHEFjH5WtEeH1ys/s1600/105_0831.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnQt_L_hi77sWdJM6hH1PvpbsOghwKp5H1J8_txCgR9I1Doc3TjHLUj2Jgu5GTFiXuZMLq4znSNjrNveO9IAD1M7VEUdA1TQgn0CGUQWqU2dVEd0JmPt9RdD9Z3TmMHEFjH5WtEeH1ys/s320/105_0831.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455308652874859346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HDdEnwSPFXc_b1CTJJgzByd5j6RabhAUq6dM2hL8m5jFIbH3JFw3uwsDYjp_K0_JYJIIX4nExLydLMtyK9c7zWQ8ZLcteSeA7rYp8yk6yt5JX7_nDwK4QJlH2LjX1oSpSdX1xbw2dnY/s1600/105_0833.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HDdEnwSPFXc_b1CTJJgzByd5j6RabhAUq6dM2hL8m5jFIbH3JFw3uwsDYjp_K0_JYJIIX4nExLydLMtyK9c7zWQ8ZLcteSeA7rYp8yk6yt5JX7_nDwK4QJlH2LjX1oSpSdX1xbw2dnY/s320/105_0833.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455308640549701906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj1SbC4Ce4-yOP2JJ_O2ZhyX2IgbH3rQu5URZotYyVDpbDpdZrcwvMH10CuBwvPrmxgE7SqUmcm7I6rXo_5d4K7hTbYegDo_WBa08GP7zTxkhuziBCclKXAksT0JRIs0CrplInoWDrjU/s1600/105_0815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj1SbC4Ce4-yOP2JJ_O2ZhyX2IgbH3rQu5URZotYyVDpbDpdZrcwvMH10CuBwvPrmxgE7SqUmcm7I6rXo_5d4K7hTbYegDo_WBa08GP7zTxkhuziBCclKXAksT0JRIs0CrplInoWDrjU/s320/105_0815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455308631178428434" border="0" /></a>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-61033931896624684872010-03-22T11:23:00.005-04:002010-03-22T13:26:30.110-04:00Yet again, I've succeeded in neglecting this blog! I've recently started to get involved in the March for Babies, as well as some online message boards supporting women who also had pProm (preterm premature rupture of membranes), and it made me realize that it's time for an update!<br /><br />Eli is now 21 months old. It's hard to believe that he'll be two in 2 1/2 months. I'm so proud of him, and I love to tell his story to those struggling with pProm. Eli started taking steps back in October. He was about 16 months. He now runs and walks well, and loves to push the stroller instead of riding in it.<br /><br />Speaking of pushing a stroller, Eli will be getting a little sister! I'm 19 weeks pregnant now, due 8/13. Actually, today I'm 19 weeks 3 days, and that's exactly 4 weeks farther along than I was when my water broke with Eli. My new OB and her team are amazing! They tested my cervix at 9 weeks for a bacteria that has been associated with pProm. I tested positive for it, and received antibiotics to kill it. They retested me last week, to make sure it was gone and ease my paranoia a bit, but I don't have the results yet. There is another new baby around, too. Two actually! My best friend had a baby boy, Braxton David on March 9, and Seth's sister had a baby girl, Chloe RaeLynn on March 13. Chloe was also premature--4 weeks--but thanks to God, had no complications! Eli seems to like her, but doesn't really know what to think just yet. He calls her "baby Toey."<br /><br />Back to Eli! He says so many words! I'm going to estimate that he says somewhere near 75 words (this includes people's names) that he uses well, without prompting, or with little prompting (like for thank you, I usually have to say "what do you say?"). There are other things that he will repeat, but doesn't use frequently. His newest language improvement is 2-word phrases/compound words. He most often uses this skill to show posession, i.e. Brandon's truck, Daddy's drink, Mommy's phone. He also says big truck, firetruck, Peek! I see you!, thank you, baby cows, and baby duckies, but no "baby sister!"<br /><br />His favorite things right now are rubber ducks, dogs, cows, and fire trucks. He has loved dogs and duckies for quite some time. He often sleeps with several rubber ducks, and carries them around all the time. He also has some of those zhu zhu pets (hamsters) that are popular right now, and loves them. He got two for Christmas and we named them Rosey and Hammy. He called them by name and took good care of them. When we got two knew ones, they also became Rosey and Hammy, so now there are two Roseys and two Hammys. He is absolutely obsessed with cows! He takes about cows morning, noon, and night. My Mom and her husband have a dozen or so cows that Eli loves to feed when he visits. We feed them produce when it starts to go bad, as well as leftovers and kitchen scraps (as long as it's not meat or onions!). Eli then goes and tells people "Cows, eat, apples, Brutus, hay." He also loves to visit the new babies, aka "baby tows."<br /><br />At Eli's 18-month visit, which was actually just last week due to weather and other scheduling issues, he was on the charts for size. He weighed 23.4 lbs, which was down a little from the last visit, but he had also just gotten over being sick. That put in him between the 20th and 25th percentile for his weight. He is only 31 inches tall, which puts him at the bottom of the chart, but Seth was always short for his age as a young kids, and is now 6-feet, so I'm not worried by that.<br /><br />Here are some pictures that have been taken since the last update. I don't have many recent ones on the computer, though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPfPgIK1Xz25Q7WbFbnvFplLhi2eV6v_pKPXOufiQ9mcMQOdpU2cNkw5uQp85qGKdmy1TFKWsQdeotbJ-9-U0ggMqzuSuyK_V5jpolOSArGO-TU40J-mQkFkM57GS2BZ1cbE-sYc30hg/s1600-h/l_933e7a92337f407f9e8177c1b8dd1988.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPfPgIK1Xz25Q7WbFbnvFplLhi2eV6v_pKPXOufiQ9mcMQOdpU2cNkw5uQp85qGKdmy1TFKWsQdeotbJ-9-U0ggMqzuSuyK_V5jpolOSArGO-TU40J-mQkFkM57GS2BZ1cbE-sYc30hg/s320/l_933e7a92337f407f9e8177c1b8dd1988.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451506251869648882" border="0" /></a>Daddy (Seth) with Eli, meeting his cousin Chloe for the first time.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzXfaT0zeb1ay31d4HZIZ6ZhAP7hoxMJV3FsHXtOUd_UVHoCxf4lRsop4NRX_bTJ8NC9VslaGbhV1Mwj0DpjBD_p-byzKZ6axNoeh-OS_TQ2zoPdP98HByIlF6MtxMCu34BMxlPRqmwE/s1600-h/duck+belly+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzXfaT0zeb1ay31d4HZIZ6ZhAP7hoxMJV3FsHXtOUd_UVHoCxf4lRsop4NRX_bTJ8NC9VslaGbhV1Mwj0DpjBD_p-byzKZ6axNoeh-OS_TQ2zoPdP98HByIlF6MtxMCu34BMxlPRqmwE/s320/duck+belly+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451506243540724850" border="0" /></a>Playing in the tub, about 19 months<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxbJOe49zSBO6aTGuCAq5Vwm4rRVwtwpL4rU-qvLzOwauReIi0U2328sRukaHciJOqjRsCwkz-_igzebPyMX2B839dUn_Ec5Rie2WCfhnMrTwHxrTc_EGg39r3U5ZV1rBVbvTYdbJeD0/s1600-h/christmas+2009+053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxbJOe49zSBO6aTGuCAq5Vwm4rRVwtwpL4rU-qvLzOwauReIi0U2328sRukaHciJOqjRsCwkz-_igzebPyMX2B839dUn_Ec5Rie2WCfhnMrTwHxrTc_EGg39r3U5ZV1rBVbvTYdbJeD0/s320/christmas+2009+053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451506236687264882" border="0" /></a>New toy box for Christmas, hand-made by Uncle Todd, with help from Pappy Edgell<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70JvV36IeQtYkePkTwbyHNzmxSX_QzAM0D9Eh_ffpLsUTZyI3wkRKk1PWrmNPghgMJS2iiZ9pYLOashJcRtdmACjO31QxNiIdFZCIY0EEHqYuJ5Zwmd9ndDjmiXt9n8ZR-RVWPqXdJPI/s1600-h/christmas+2009+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70JvV36IeQtYkePkTwbyHNzmxSX_QzAM0D9Eh_ffpLsUTZyI3wkRKk1PWrmNPghgMJS2iiZ9pYLOashJcRtdmACjO31QxNiIdFZCIY0EEHqYuJ5Zwmd9ndDjmiXt9n8ZR-RVWPqXdJPI/s320/christmas+2009+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451506227604874402" border="0" /></a>Daddy, Mommy, and Eli on Christmas Eve<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqhDQcbR2Z22OOEn-Nm0_GAI9I5ZfuYLD98An09ZrMiET8ABMmqnwuz9tgLNibtiXA_FXjgO8C-PRbnldkJNtN3Yh9Qu06W5l1Yx8ixSELEuNxAwrt8b_MSI7u22g-UmTehK4ZxowdEI/s1600-h/eli's+first+haircut+053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqhDQcbR2Z22OOEn-Nm0_GAI9I5ZfuYLD98An09ZrMiET8ABMmqnwuz9tgLNibtiXA_FXjgO8C-PRbnldkJNtN3Yh9Qu06W5l1Yx8ixSELEuNxAwrt8b_MSI7u22g-UmTehK4ZxowdEI/s320/eli's+first+haircut+053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451506216556645138" border="0" /></a>After his first haircut. We distracted him with ice cream :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7WJprwzgVu7Eqgc6cfH6Lq2tsR_JswrmsOX_WKmB9CaJ_2-_UT8DSULbvIgu9R9ppRvqGo5whsBnmrOXUl6bRfun8SMgS_T1DqnCF_CRSdkpo_hrUcXchPoGI4y7UtiWY5KFfm5hvok/s1600-h/surgery+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7WJprwzgVu7Eqgc6cfH6Lq2tsR_JswrmsOX_WKmB9CaJ_2-_UT8DSULbvIgu9R9ppRvqGo5whsBnmrOXUl6bRfun8SMgS_T1DqnCF_CRSdkpo_hrUcXchPoGI4y7UtiWY5KFfm5hvok/s320/surgery+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451487371325017202" border="0" /></a>Recovering from the surgery for hypospadias repair. <br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6otjP5PghpGKfUcf8Xq2nG88QKGbbQBIOX8U-LArbChX9PfY913AKcIYJ6usbAXzH44ew5lxGUcsaCL9J_EmPcF_taQGyukoqnCV9pNBGZIOBycQH51qPixqeCFW-cbrv3bs_sRo-uU/s1600-h/random+061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6otjP5PghpGKfUcf8Xq2nG88QKGbbQBIOX8U-LArbChX9PfY913AKcIYJ6usbAXzH44ew5lxGUcsaCL9J_EmPcF_taQGyukoqnCV9pNBGZIOBycQH51qPixqeCFW-cbrv3bs_sRo-uU/s320/random+061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451487347688483410" border="0" /></a>Holding his stats at his 1-year corrected-age developmental checkup at Children's Hospital back in September<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNWhK7pKTD66wwZmmfhgMKYoEB4Hyrp80MpHNQgcxnpQCVswEq_BX-_xt8CALtpVg2iVuc0aKkdICTAW-tLOzneNFY76_TnmsgmZOyx5EVi9XuuIcRjwDKeQn0XKj9BT1sdhr9DKve9E/s1600-h/random+053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNWhK7pKTD66wwZmmfhgMKYoEB4Hyrp80MpHNQgcxnpQCVswEq_BX-_xt8CALtpVg2iVuc0aKkdICTAW-tLOzneNFY76_TnmsgmZOyx5EVi9XuuIcRjwDKeQn0XKj9BT1sdhr9DKve9E/s320/random+053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451487345930386834" border="0" /></a>Playing on the front porch last fall, when he was beginning to become very mobile<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcMWoAJoV0El7P4OeZxHtsKjwAm6Jt-tGgWlafjd0rw5eTIA9SDO6-klzKWhMGF_TR2WhHVDJOl6p7t0-7-L9szNicYmt8JE5YYKBRI-2EZH3Pv_to5FLr1oVslYiomLBJvRw8uuJSQI/s1600-h/eli+leaves+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcMWoAJoV0El7P4OeZxHtsKjwAm6Jt-tGgWlafjd0rw5eTIA9SDO6-klzKWhMGF_TR2WhHVDJOl6p7t0-7-L9szNicYmt8JE5YYKBRI-2EZH3Pv_to5FLr1oVslYiomLBJvRw8uuJSQI/s320/eli+leaves+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451487336824559138" border="0" /></a>Not so happy to be having a photoshoot in the leaves.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUVEEJxR-V-pNNSS2p3LxTddCj2UK-NprenGrJ1WjMabSVMYn7-71csY3IWJJaf6-tzoZeB5rIQmkfwScgzOTtSAKSWhnsRVh3z7RY_v25ZXN7MZnFmOzlM7Btnea3eWT8TsUQ-aAFHU/s1600-h/trick+or+treat+031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUVEEJxR-V-pNNSS2p3LxTddCj2UK-NprenGrJ1WjMabSVMYn7-71csY3IWJJaf6-tzoZeB5rIQmkfwScgzOTtSAKSWhnsRVh3z7RY_v25ZXN7MZnFmOzlM7Btnea3eWT8TsUQ-aAFHU/s320/trick+or+treat+031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451487326995590178" border="0" /></a>Halloween 2009-biker boy!<br /></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-42353179074140058362009-09-04T23:28:00.004-04:002009-09-04T23:43:05.220-04:00Duh!Eli totally understands the meaning of the word "dog" now. Up until this week, I would prompt him: "Do you see the dog? Say dog!" Now, we go for a walk and every time we pass a dog, he says "dog," which really sounds more like "duh!" The other day, we were even inside the house and could hear a dog barking and he said it! I was so proud of my smart baby!<br /><br />He has been repeating a lot lately. Every time I hang up the phone, he says "bye," or "bah!" Pretty much anything that starts with a 'b' is "buh!" There are some slight variations in the tone or the sound of the vowel. Ball and block are both "buh!" Bath sounds normal, but without the 'th,' and buck (as in, the deer his Pappy has mounted in the den) is also "buh!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoc1mt4s6jo5fRQOLFcUkMgELvyEvHMpcitQzeG1mmcwCmRyFE7vItYlg6l2rGTTU-_hdp7ctCwCOIyxSYcE6EONwDdKJ6K5AzxjlQQ3UwlbjEb2_QaiMHI_Dcstscehzkt4gj9Bf-2c/s1600-h/cupcakes+and+bath+time+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoc1mt4s6jo5fRQOLFcUkMgELvyEvHMpcitQzeG1mmcwCmRyFE7vItYlg6l2rGTTU-_hdp7ctCwCOIyxSYcE6EONwDdKJ6K5AzxjlQQ3UwlbjEb2_QaiMHI_Dcstscehzkt4gj9Bf-2c/s320/cupcakes+and+bath+time+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377822342860034034" border="0" /></a>Oh, and rubber duck? It sounds pretty much like dog :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnvxPrbfyT5nxT1UeD7JPqQD7pN766nFsX1sJQG3R7UuFTA_xhoO-CA4o_z9r0RVV22Vgf_6qNtPAGfiNRW_m0hzvKaRRzMIE8d-I5G83BdpP_l5GU9fOaDYaNrXV86HIdTy70EEkdlI/s1600-h/new+camera+experimenting+063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnvxPrbfyT5nxT1UeD7JPqQD7pN766nFsX1sJQG3R7UuFTA_xhoO-CA4o_z9r0RVV22Vgf_6qNtPAGfiNRW_m0hzvKaRRzMIE8d-I5G83BdpP_l5GU9fOaDYaNrXV86HIdTy70EEkdlI/s320/new+camera+experimenting+063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377823050490188226" border="0" /></a>I was playing around with my new camera and got this. I love it!<br /></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-73319281243860312402009-08-30T14:08:00.004-04:002009-08-30T14:37:16.571-04:00Corrected Age Birthday Party<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lxSZSFCcSBE3iXnL4VyNm5ljjWgVSuGWW7JeZivexdX1R6vLqQTuUttTAMPu9v-kTQr4HLe5wX0vWPSpd8IBcAg1gHqPYPbWauod3spCrY80Hy05voljeXMlonTH_bPkiPJrRj_nf6o/s1600-h/courts+new+camera+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lxSZSFCcSBE3iXnL4VyNm5ljjWgVSuGWW7JeZivexdX1R6vLqQTuUttTAMPu9v-kTQr4HLe5wX0vWPSpd8IBcAg1gHqPYPbWauod3spCrY80Hy05voljeXMlonTH_bPkiPJrRj_nf6o/s320/courts+new+camera+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375821021894425442" border="0" /></a>The cake was supposed to be made to look like blocks,<br />but I ran out of time and didn't get to add the detailing<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0vUu1RcNPAEIL8xcmxqC6RNg0U5G7ZGaBhUqVdKCrAwJwZ-x7ZsoLVG7mE-F5dOevY2XDkXfEptrPidFhwnkt40F-Vb0JJ_GlVPFXxJkGrgPKapL-B4fmcisX6Ftqc4xA7_eR4MhEdo/s1600-h/courts+new+camera+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0vUu1RcNPAEIL8xcmxqC6RNg0U5G7ZGaBhUqVdKCrAwJwZ-x7ZsoLVG7mE-F5dOevY2XDkXfEptrPidFhwnkt40F-Vb0JJ_GlVPFXxJkGrgPKapL-B4fmcisX6Ftqc4xA7_eR4MhEdo/s320/courts+new+camera+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375820985043461938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViuQqdJVhj1KyHcCfx1D5C_LLBJnIalR_JjV6YzRd9UKOVWiLpKE4qsMns_KOcm1TtawwwqPnH9VeJugwFl_1WXDeUwNQGnBntYkKPonxu7qiN6-guTVIWBovFN1S4XnUCdL1HkA8t58/s1600-h/courts+new+camera+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViuQqdJVhj1KyHcCfx1D5C_LLBJnIalR_JjV6YzRd9UKOVWiLpKE4qsMns_KOcm1TtawwwqPnH9VeJugwFl_1WXDeUwNQGnBntYkKPonxu7qiN6-guTVIWBovFN1S4XnUCdL1HkA8t58/s320/courts+new+camera+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375821000777815138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI3fN1DFGz1hR_frG_FdVHwUXj1OuZggNQb43jwauq3F_W1aMcJ8OYbBNWSWfRURiVH8E95i9tMjTpcVEoyeSdj3fglS5YM0qOV-4PYNToaA-GGYenPyez2s-0upFrKDMlOnDzBJcBAU/s1600-h/courts+new+camera+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI3fN1DFGz1hR_frG_FdVHwUXj1OuZggNQb43jwauq3F_W1aMcJ8OYbBNWSWfRURiVH8E95i9tMjTpcVEoyeSdj3fglS5YM0qOV-4PYNToaA-GGYenPyez2s-0upFrKDMlOnDzBJcBAU/s320/courts+new+camera+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375821011958640018" border="0" /></a>He was much more interested in cake this time around<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUisxo4HMvlZKi6iQ6j9gfhgV1xwhJIBguzH7DUrQTmOUP3yg6H0uJhSMNJ0SmY8QSYf44JcHrN2pIOReYi_2Hvhl6Wf0Qs10fT5Os0o_dHIsa1Gw8UmQ1_gfT7U4Feo7XRsRPy1Uztzs/s1600-h/courts+new+camera+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUisxo4HMvlZKi6iQ6j9gfhgV1xwhJIBguzH7DUrQTmOUP3yg6H0uJhSMNJ0SmY8QSYf44JcHrN2pIOReYi_2Hvhl6Wf0Qs10fT5Os0o_dHIsa1Gw8UmQ1_gfT7U4Feo7XRsRPy1Uztzs/s320/courts+new+camera+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375822642891372226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNB5l-Ay6YacQ3Ur-wx6SxJl06sn9AR9hUFiuBcy065CO18dt-JUwiwRDjJ7RWmU0tF4em0AwUfJtGoIj54smV1rQRbibh6Q7dvHN8G68U9-wKlFa-_bnut9uH6McCYBciiJmotbejbg/s1600-h/courts+new+camera+025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNB5l-Ay6YacQ3Ur-wx6SxJl06sn9AR9hUFiuBcy065CO18dt-JUwiwRDjJ7RWmU0tF4em0AwUfJtGoIj54smV1rQRbibh6Q7dvHN8G68U9-wKlFa-_bnut9uH6McCYBciiJmotbejbg/s320/courts+new+camera+025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375822658669903874" border="0" /></a>He was trying to get on the 4-wheeler before it was even unwrapped!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KTC7rUPEKoIFkkJ6cZBsDgYJwj6IeAwOMlpkGQc-Ko3473m0RxVMF7jNBStPHMGyJ_EArvSJOMHDztM18G1mDmKxLpNiCGujsSHLch3vvchCO8IKkFjh5HT4b7fz2zcb9mDGSVB4vn0/s1600-h/courts+new+camera+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KTC7rUPEKoIFkkJ6cZBsDgYJwj6IeAwOMlpkGQc-Ko3473m0RxVMF7jNBStPHMGyJ_EArvSJOMHDztM18G1mDmKxLpNiCGujsSHLch3vvchCO8IKkFjh5HT4b7fz2zcb9mDGSVB4vn0/s320/courts+new+camera+030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375822681360747442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On Thursday the 27th, our little man turned a year old corrected age, meaning had he been born on his due date, this is when he would have turned one. It also means that he is developmentally like a 12-month old. We had cake to celebrate this birthday, as well as the anniversary of him being home for a year. He came home from the hospital on August 22nd, 2008 after 10 weeks of being in the NICU. It's hard to believe he's been home for so long, and such a blessing to be celebrating his corrected age birthday! <br /><br />The party turned out really nice. All of his grandparents came, plus his Auntie Bri, Uncle Jeremy, Crystal, and Gage. Everyone enjoyed watching Eli play as we reminisced about how far he has come. He got all of his current favorite things as gifts: blocks, cars, and balls. Mommy and Daddy got him a small ride-on 4-wheeler, which he just loves! <br /><br />Mommy got a present on Thursday, too! Seth got me a new camera. My regular digital camera broke when Seth and Eli dropped it a few months ago, so I have been patiently waiting for the day that we could afford a new one. Seth is supposed to be getting a profit-sharing check from work, so I am now the proud owner of a Nikon D40! All of the pictures from the party were taken on it, but I had just received it about 30 minutes before the party started and hadn't had time to practice. It's a DSLR, so it's going to take some playing around before I become a better photographer. I'm already improving though. More to come! :)<br /></div></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-30501779564857978192009-08-24T20:36:00.015-04:002009-08-24T22:24:06.716-04:00Home for a year!Wow... it's been almost 4 months since I've updated this site. I've been super busy, and after it had been so long since I updated, I kind of gave up. For some reason, tonight I decided to get started again, so here is the rundown!<br /><br />In May, Eli started to get a stuffy nose, and rather than rush into the ER like the crazy-first-time-Mom whose kid just has a cold, I decided to keep my eye on him. For days, he seemed fine--nothing but a stuffy nose. One night, though, he took a sudden turn for the worse. I took him to the ER when he spiked a fever and was breathing heavily, as if it was a struggle. His temperature was 104.8 and his oxygen saturation was only 73% when we arrived. Our local hospital determined that he had pneumonia and we traveled by ambulance to Columbus and Eli was once again admitted to Children's Hospital. It was a relief to feel that we were in good hands, and for a second time, the Ronald McDonald House became my home away from home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUrwZKylz_EkSMOXnCQ5L53l3U_nlnsZdfhESsdsPNsSnFN1B5Yxm7mOI_uz39AQIF11ThVXDUSEL8_bcOQt-45RQDl2l1QHhYmFCCh8Xz1VIrnF9MdzVauEhdT0o00rtOrvaD4Cogr0/s1600-h/777bc783684a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUrwZKylz_EkSMOXnCQ5L53l3U_nlnsZdfhESsdsPNsSnFN1B5Yxm7mOI_uz39AQIF11ThVXDUSEL8_bcOQt-45RQDl2l1QHhYmFCCh8Xz1VIrnF9MdzVauEhdT0o00rtOrvaD4Cogr0/s320/777bc783684a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373699155666147666" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Eli was stable within 24 hours, and he was feeling better after a few days. He ended up being treated for a viral infection and not pneumonia. He was put on oxygen and inhaled steroids. It took a while to get him weaned off his oxygen, so we were in Columbus for almost 2 weeks. In the mean-time...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErmZhFuQXnNNDlVluySbCw-OjrVeM-vItLU_lqADFkmky2NHFe38aeBozGuBrlK-qVn4UUq3E6Q6LBs-SJ4rIFruzVi-4FZh7ULrrgjTW6-pw-PLqWIfoUld9bu-SHgt-1dnCQZ-433I/s1600-h/4e9b13c649ba.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErmZhFuQXnNNDlVluySbCw-OjrVeM-vItLU_lqADFkmky2NHFe38aeBozGuBrlK-qVn4UUq3E6Q6LBs-SJ4rIFruzVi-4FZh7ULrrgjTW6-pw-PLqWIfoUld9bu-SHgt-1dnCQZ-433I/s320/4e9b13c649ba.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373699920720132690" border="0" /></a>...he began to try to crawl!<br /></div><br />Once we were home, Eli was feeling as good as new. It seemed like it was just a few days before he was a pro crawler. After only 2 weeks of being home, however, poor Eli started to show some of the same symptoms he had been showing before I brought him to Children's. This time I was able to spot what was happening earlier, and I brought him to the ER before he got as bad. This time, we were admitted to our local hospital and only had to spend 5 days there.<br /><br />Unfortunately, he was discharged the day before his big birthday party, so we decided it would be best for him if we cancelled it, which was a dissappointment to me but honestly somewhat of a relief. Who knew how much work it was to play a first birthday party?! Instead, we had a smaller get-together with some family at his grandparents house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2ungkjmYgZmhyphenhyphenHkjGIKLGsAkARg5A1g9piiTCcmuydFDIL-hZYAsz89kmEXtB5PI3D1fTCjsXusPs17Keq2OC4pRdm38J9ZQkqB4obrrzrmD0JTbBFmt9n1Hs5cFZjWQDOQELQwev0w/s1600-h/bday+069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2ungkjmYgZmhyphenhyphenHkjGIKLGsAkARg5A1g9piiTCcmuydFDIL-hZYAsz89kmEXtB5PI3D1fTCjsXusPs17Keq2OC4pRdm38J9ZQkqB4obrrzrmD0JTbBFmt9n1Hs5cFZjWQDOQELQwev0w/s320/bday+069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373703325940593170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehaKjoGNdlYcrl31c3MRXt0R_neDtK1QTQFvFW-YfYnRrSS8j3L8BKg_SM3EVbXVeDy2lCLOpvXYvlDjNVWCZ_1QsXNFH_qMe_cKYFYfeoUyzUl73fHGuNA5iT6YgY2DSx4Pr0toq7-U/s1600-h/bday+076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehaKjoGNdlYcrl31c3MRXt0R_neDtK1QTQFvFW-YfYnRrSS8j3L8BKg_SM3EVbXVeDy2lCLOpvXYvlDjNVWCZ_1QsXNFH_qMe_cKYFYfeoUyzUl73fHGuNA5iT6YgY2DSx4Pr0toq7-U/s320/bday+076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373703339590352290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1y3SKkB2gIgzEgl2RHn9ohLBRbh1sE0tI_zo7KgHBeq4UJ36J_e7B_hiIX3t66Wm5MKEpc_UdeShddPHKQXIVNTIQb6lSzkDaGyRdCqzwzbTTwQp5TsaQA3ODOX5GLE_LgJrOiRL3Oo/s1600-h/bday+087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1y3SKkB2gIgzEgl2RHn9ohLBRbh1sE0tI_zo7KgHBeq4UJ36J_e7B_hiIX3t66Wm5MKEpc_UdeShddPHKQXIVNTIQb6lSzkDaGyRdCqzwzbTTwQp5TsaQA3ODOX5GLE_LgJrOiRL3Oo/s320/bday+087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373703347796823170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62CB8vFdBS07Io2asyPDUCcAthEvyM4PgGLwDExEcXH8gdy0IZ50cacy6YN4ZHWVBAKUk6Rn1DgIQjIm5pbFW-5ZaSsMYTqSxF0h2biDo76VDl59XVVdzTNcOul8fgXGdG3cJLAedv-0/s1600-h/bday+098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62CB8vFdBS07Io2asyPDUCcAthEvyM4PgGLwDExEcXH8gdy0IZ50cacy6YN4ZHWVBAKUk6Rn1DgIQjIm5pbFW-5ZaSsMYTqSxF0h2biDo76VDl59XVVdzTNcOul8fgXGdG3cJLAedv-0/s320/bday+098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373703356852022674" border="0" /></a><br />June and July were busy for Mommy and Daddy. Seth was in the hospital for a month, during which we only got to see him twice because he was 3 hours away. Now that he's home he's feeling better than ever, and it really shows. I put in my two-weeks notice at Walmart back in June when I got a job working at a nursing home. I was put through a 2-week course to become a Certified Nurse's Aide, and have since become state-tested. I worked full-time as an aide for the rest of the summer on the 6 a.m.-2 p.m. shift. It's a tough job, but all-in-all I like it, and I love having my evenings free to spend with my family. Today I started taking classes at a nearby community college. I plan to apply for the nursing program next fall to be an RN. It feels good to be back in school! Now that I'm a full-time student and Mommy, I'll be dropping down to 3-4 days per week at work.<br /><br />My family reunion was at the end of July for a full week at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. Seth, Eli and I went for the final weekend and Eli spent his first night in a tent. He loved it of course, because he loves being outside. When it rained the next night, Eli stayed in the cabin with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins while Mom and Dad got wet in the tent. All of the family loved visiting with Eli, and he adored the attention. I have some great pictures, but they are on my sister's camera, so maybe I'll post them later.<br /><br />Eli had his 1-year well-child visit in July, but was sent home because he had a low-grade fever. Last week was his resheduled appointment and he weighed in at 21.6 pounds, a pound and a half heavier than he was at his July appointment. He is on the charts for both height and weight for his real age. He is just below the 25th percentile for weight, and at 29 inches, he's just below the 5th percentile for height. He also had his vaccinations for MMR, Hepatitis A, and chickenpox. He didn't like that too well, but he only cried for a minute. In September, he'll go for his developmental assessment at Children's Hospital. He'll be 13 months corrected age, so they will make sure he is on track for that.<br /><br />Today, Eli is 14 1/2 months old. This past Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of his homecoming, and in 3 days, he'll be 12 months corrected. We plan to have a cake to celebrate, so hopefully I'll update again after that. He is walking around furniture, but has yet to take his first steps. He sometimes lets go of whatever he's using to balance, and had stood alone for maybe 10 seconds. It won't be long. He has no trouble getting around, or getting into everything, though. He loves to climb. He loves the outside, and I swear sometimes he gets cabin fever. He will fuss and carry on, and the only words of comfort are "do you want to go outside?" or "wanna go for a walk?" His favorite toys are blocks, balls and cars. He drives his cars around and says "brmmmmmmmm." He also likes to ride (we push him, he can't reach the pedals!) on his Harley Davidson trike he got for his birthday. He says a handful of words, including Mama, Dada, PapPap, ball, truck, stuck, dog, and uh-oh. He's finally getting some hair. It seemed to be growing quickly for a while, but now it's just kind of stuck. It's still very blond, and in the sun it looks white. He has six teeth now, and he eats pretty much anything. He's not very picky. I still don't allow him nuts, too much sweets or "junk," or drinks other than milk, water or the occasional juice. He's a big fan of food! His favorite thing is definitely popcorn! He drinks from a sippy cup most of the time, but can drink from a straw, a water bottle, and still has a bottle of 2% milk before bed, but I'm trying to get away from that.<br /><br />Oh yeah, he can play cards, too. Here's a video fI took tonight on my phone.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy2X8dRovnFiY149b_YFbREBOPiL2ZKLITRhTKDSWCAe5ugYX6EcST7b2Xk10dKpZghun9XEAowjaLLpAKkZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />Here is a link to the slideshow I made him for his first birthday: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTAjIoup8Sc">Small-fry turns one.</a> It turned out really nice, so check it out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And here are some random pictures:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx2fifOluQAIvUsJ5g0X8maT8wCBSLwI1EtO5LctBBDoObh5CcqS9yjY1gZbczgYODpB-H2waf42lSVpxdiqRgozn09KkPiJgN08gYbHfCbCBSc4t0xculg5uwCtdbfJ14yXr5l9XW7w/s1600-h/105_0486.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx2fifOluQAIvUsJ5g0X8maT8wCBSLwI1EtO5LctBBDoObh5CcqS9yjY1gZbczgYODpB-H2waf42lSVpxdiqRgozn09KkPiJgN08gYbHfCbCBSc4t0xculg5uwCtdbfJ14yXr5l9XW7w/s320/105_0486.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373716425744596994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QdlxgCYMrGgHbeN7KokROOtNIYD4STDdbGfBxOQHAV_byB8u_htNQ1TjyMVYOK_sZTyQHZy4mVNgHM1YiP9r4dwbtdBl-zTyYdpvVrEXFlr1mp3KiLiRy0N2vG6SfmIp_BPdvcbCaDk/s1600-h/105_0478.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QdlxgCYMrGgHbeN7KokROOtNIYD4STDdbGfBxOQHAV_byB8u_htNQ1TjyMVYOK_sZTyQHZy4mVNgHM1YiP9r4dwbtdBl-zTyYdpvVrEXFlr1mp3KiLiRy0N2vG6SfmIp_BPdvcbCaDk/s320/105_0478.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373716416591021314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZI9VIU3LfbEGuF-3RQA0ADrI-yMuN__ZJ2LQEt250fziVmwqipG_IgFXsDh8QFWQf_zpIAN_4JmbYG4HpWqOtfe3wJc3iucN14WqZ35xPRvlBFXHK9aVniPITtF7o0nF1iyuBwvbd338/s1600-h/105_0500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZI9VIU3LfbEGuF-3RQA0ADrI-yMuN__ZJ2LQEt250fziVmwqipG_IgFXsDh8QFWQf_zpIAN_4JmbYG4HpWqOtfe3wJc3iucN14WqZ35xPRvlBFXHK9aVniPITtF7o0nF1iyuBwvbd338/s320/105_0500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373716440866540882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwcDoqVmd3u2FEO46wMO-xi2lGtjvlFl12oTG9UWU8X8Lwlzoh48dEDedk_BrrceeIXD7OIBKZHvVawOmYnIce_gnaFtP2ifqyiDvRaYhqcAtCDKh1fRVhpOTQtT4yOGoTm_xMwAv0kQ/s1600-h/105_0494.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwcDoqVmd3u2FEO46wMO-xi2lGtjvlFl12oTG9UWU8X8Lwlzoh48dEDedk_BrrceeIXD7OIBKZHvVawOmYnIce_gnaFtP2ifqyiDvRaYhqcAtCDKh1fRVhpOTQtT4yOGoTm_xMwAv0kQ/s320/105_0494.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373716452178249586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38O8IRK85LFTSC2xJjgQZhNlfrKIpMi0_AfxdjLXipJIG5ADtcsxXQTzh3i4YorAQKYJyQvBpclKX5yVF97sllkCujObOwDNBueaHzgq1EQoHatGnr7MP5dzjZB6C8RWwlivHhzVSDLQ/s1600-h/105_0496.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38O8IRK85LFTSC2xJjgQZhNlfrKIpMi0_AfxdjLXipJIG5ADtcsxXQTzh3i4YorAQKYJyQvBpclKX5yVF97sllkCujObOwDNBueaHzgq1EQoHatGnr7MP5dzjZB6C8RWwlivHhzVSDLQ/s320/105_0496.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373716460164830322" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-13066506091283821092009-05-04T10:52:00.002-04:002009-05-04T11:17:05.372-04:00Peek-a-boo!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy2Ir2EVQY6ypjZIfzG6qS6Krd6XTuI6biX8us4dBOpB2dBUki95sn8h6QqsPZmBhcQYOQyySqwQjbqqoUIqQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-14965647382459848072009-05-01T18:50:00.005-04:002009-05-01T19:15:14.204-04:00The switch to bottles...I don't have any new pictures, since my old rechargeable batteries only hold a charge for about 3 pictures these days, but there has been a lot of changes recently and I figured I'd post an update.<br /><br />About two weeks ago, Eli nursed for the last time. He was gradually becoming less and less interested in nursing and putting up a fight sometimes when it was time to eat. He fussed because he was hungry, but then fussed because he didn't want the breast. It wasn't a pleasant experience for either of us (he was actually physically hurting me), and I didn't think he was getting enough to eat, so I decided it was best to switch to formula. I was really sad about it at first, and I wasn't looking forward to having to make bottles after the convenience of just pulling up my shirt, but it's actually working out very well. He's a happier baby, and even holds his bottle himself most of the time. I'm excited about having my breaks at work back to myself without having to pump. I also bought a new bra the other day and was very happy about that.<br /><br />On the Tuesday after Easter, the tooth Eli was working on finally poked through, and now it is very clearly visible. It's really cute, and I believe he's working on another one. The weaning worked out nicely timing-wise; he never had a chance to bite me! He's chewing a lot of his food though, and we are working on some finger foods. He is a pro with big things like graham crackers and cheese puffs, but has a hard time with smaller foods like cheerios. He gets them into his fists and then can't figure out how to get them into his mouth.<br /><br />It's possible that might decide he wants to crawl after all. Lately he's been doing a combination of rolling and scooting on his belly, and sometimes gets up on all fours. He can go the whole way across a room sometimes, but other times he still gets too frustrated and wants help.<br /><br />His new hobbies include peek-a-boo and dropping things. The kid has no fear. He likes to sit on the couch with his Daddy, push the tv remote onto the floor and then dive after it. Seth has to grab his legs while he hangs upside down and picks up the remote. Once Seth sits him next to him, he throws the remote and repeats the whole thing over again, about 20 times. It is both humorous and exhausting!<br /><br />And he's really starting to grow again! He had been kind of lingering around the 15-16 pound mark for a few months, but last week at his appointment for his last RSV shot, he weighed 17.4 pounds, and then several days later, at a WIC appointment, he was 17 pounds 13 oz (clothed) and 26 inches. He's finally putting on some height! "Eli the small fry" is becoming "Eli the big guy!"Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-84454538896527505732009-04-13T22:19:00.005-04:002009-04-13T22:48:12.176-04:00Easter<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1amIuo0Dk5YeaC1DLbvsXi7pBKmPbEqvtKtTtABA9GLZrQx24fCPdOIyw5yZQp0kZR4z4VSaxLLI6Spx4IRNpqbyOVKGuNnGTb3vL4cTzBUGdVKJAn5SuPYFTbbkYAzXqIZTfWR4gZU/s1600-h/easter+155.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1amIuo0Dk5YeaC1DLbvsXi7pBKmPbEqvtKtTtABA9GLZrQx24fCPdOIyw5yZQp0kZR4z4VSaxLLI6Spx4IRNpqbyOVKGuNnGTb3vL4cTzBUGdVKJAn5SuPYFTbbkYAzXqIZTfWR4gZU/s320/easter+155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324369727350968834" border="0" /></a>The Easter Bunny brought Eli this huge lollipop! <br />I think he liked the stick more than the candy....<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39yQBUAXrTPurN-rzPDnW0RkfiY5D1fVreD6Cs_jXaPen6txcTD0nWoACjb_xjDD8JmKEn1dxg5eqOnVFAqbk8kA01oNYyYwh8LyVrt7Xlz8c7YIEkaqF4WCcH15wkUvqjdy5xPUctLU/s1600-h/easter+152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39yQBUAXrTPurN-rzPDnW0RkfiY5D1fVreD6Cs_jXaPen6txcTD0nWoACjb_xjDD8JmKEn1dxg5eqOnVFAqbk8kA01oNYyYwh8LyVrt7Xlz8c7YIEkaqF4WCcH15wkUvqjdy5xPUctLU/s320/easter+152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324369723467016114" border="0" /></a>Daddy, Mommy & Baby on Easter<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTmEx8JSLnS735uWettiJExMfr5w6KFe_2k5d4NMY1Au-HfOdWzi4gQmlJRO60XTlh0ZRbFdoXo4Pmq8NF7XtEpQjgFrXFCaqL2IX_KrR_3hhiTkDMprv4GJUT9onnpLLsaYdMto0XaM/s1600-h/easter+150.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTmEx8JSLnS735uWettiJExMfr5w6KFe_2k5d4NMY1Au-HfOdWzi4gQmlJRO60XTlh0ZRbFdoXo4Pmq8NF7XtEpQjgFrXFCaqL2IX_KrR_3hhiTkDMprv4GJUT9onnpLLsaYdMto0XaM/s320/easter+150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324369716742012386" border="0" /></a>About to dig into his Easter crate (1 of 4)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBOE2C8NSaCLgtWR58tQRWgIhrq916GwfdkV9jWEVbQ6m_eI5IDg_6xx6U6lqe5sU6Fy08rfSnxYwlhYRqled6El4hmGjyb-A18USmFk3UEhiC231LCQAwzHNj59qwk4sgmnmF-P1m3s/s1600-h/easter+147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBOE2C8NSaCLgtWR58tQRWgIhrq916GwfdkV9jWEVbQ6m_eI5IDg_6xx6U6lqe5sU6Fy08rfSnxYwlhYRqled6El4hmGjyb-A18USmFk3UEhiC231LCQAwzHNj59qwk4sgmnmF-P1m3s/s320/easter+147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324367272107911106" border="0" /></a>His first egg hunt. He didn't want to put the eggs into the basket.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlynnOEMZfsR2tWpTTmfV8xww499L-28fbIvD4ogZYco9SaZaAwrLXtjTfsWdLy5f8dQCIpNHaSYoeXGGTOck6zqdIESoGCbJIg2l12sqRYULOLqdwrYuDE34wMpELxmwfenKb5Gceog/s1600-h/easter+140.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlynnOEMZfsR2tWpTTmfV8xww499L-28fbIvD4ogZYco9SaZaAwrLXtjTfsWdLy5f8dQCIpNHaSYoeXGGTOck6zqdIESoGCbJIg2l12sqRYULOLqdwrYuDE34wMpELxmwfenKb5Gceog/s320/easter+140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324367270095812066" border="0" /></a>Grandpa Smith let him suck on m&ms<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDED4s0I34gb6fBUXf6Yb8NO_SZYSvUeQ2GrF5H0lRSX5N1J6lIEE0qSzprjQSfJlIzhAUDqtQ4_nnf2QE7pGme3pX5vs8xsbhyV9n1vvnqVqqUqeVBMn1byCSEABAbIucB_1WJ1ity_Q/s1600-h/easter+128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDED4s0I34gb6fBUXf6Yb8NO_SZYSvUeQ2GrF5H0lRSX5N1J6lIEE0qSzprjQSfJlIzhAUDqtQ4_nnf2QE7pGme3pX5vs8xsbhyV9n1vvnqVqqUqeVBMn1byCSEABAbIucB_1WJ1ity_Q/s320/easter+128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324367267494077666" border="0" /></a>Basket from Nana<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u_yE35OmfuoFl0PgQaMX2AOE4EJbeFxSZgaeCzUo34dJ0OqeP3NwQm3YBn_ObRHTDRWjlsHQnKOBzlPk-mYtXB-8dsDLwDy6EIIQw_yOCMtvHsZN_fPCW3sCdujDwOTFqIPJHf8577Q/s1600-h/easter+118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u_yE35OmfuoFl0PgQaMX2AOE4EJbeFxSZgaeCzUo34dJ0OqeP3NwQm3YBn_ObRHTDRWjlsHQnKOBzlPk-mYtXB-8dsDLwDy6EIIQw_yOCMtvHsZN_fPCW3sCdujDwOTFqIPJHf8577Q/s320/easter+118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324367263280105186" border="0" /></a>He totally posed for his picture before we left for church.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmUN-jUndEWHEDndmtutapUdj5Ylqfucbuvfwd8AF2A2POlfs-GW4aDd4NtTaFM4_AfpxodszdAcrg4x0MHcvDWP_uws2_LKBctKnCgJ5ZV5MEcAuo4BdzLK1Bbc3yXJlZUV4djYsmt8/s1600-h/easter+134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmUN-jUndEWHEDndmtutapUdj5Ylqfucbuvfwd8AF2A2POlfs-GW4aDd4NtTaFM4_AfpxodszdAcrg4x0MHcvDWP_uws2_LKBctKnCgJ5ZV5MEcAuo4BdzLK1Bbc3yXJlZUV4djYsmt8/s320/easter+134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324367257100486210" border="0" /></a>My favorite pic of the day!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hopefully, all of you had a wonderful Easter. Ours was very nice, but very busy! We got up early to get ready for church. It was the first time Eli had really been to an actual service, and he was a very good boy. I was quite impressed! After church, we went to Nana's for brunch, and then to visit with Grandpa and Rita. Of course, Eli got presents at both places. Later, we went to Grandma and Pappy's for an egg hunt, and more presents. It was basically like Christmas for Eli, in terms of gifts! He was very spoiled. Unfortunately, I had to be at work by 3:30, but at least I got to spend a good bit of the day with family.<br /><br />In other news, Eli is working really hard to cut a tooth. I can feel it, but I can't see anything yet, other than swelling. He's been rather unpleasant and irritable at times, especially at night. Mommy and Daddy are very sleepy! I hope he works it through soon, so he can feel better. I'm just a little scared about what is to come when he nurses with teeth!<br /><br />Eli has been working really hard at walking and standing. He loves to do both with assistance, and actually demands help often. He still doesn't seem to be getting any closer to crawling, so who knows? maybe he will be one of those babies that skips it. He's getting less and less wobbly when walking and he goes right towards what he wants with no guidance, just balance. He tries to pull himself up, too, and he's almost there.<br /><br />Oh yeah, and he waves now! It's adorable :)<br /></div></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-34680139636906746852009-04-02T14:23:00.008-04:002009-04-02T14:59:22.599-04:00An overdue update<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Eli is nearing 10 months--I can't believe it! I'm already planning his birthday party, and I'm quite excited about it! I have a cute idea for a theme, but I'll leave it a surprise. If anyone especially wants an invitation, leave me a comment on here or myspace or give me a call!<br /><br />Eli is still not crawling (nor does he seem interested), but he is surprisingly mobile. He can roll to get what he wants, sometimes scoots, and often whines until you grab his hands and he will then stand up and walk. He wants to get into everything, and I'm actually hoping he is a late crawler (lol). His new favorite things are the computer keyboard/my laptop, his singing mirror, and blocks, along with the classic favorites: paper, plastic bottles, his jungle, and the exersaucer.<br /><br />My sister, Makayla, and I went to Columbus on St. Patrick's Day for Eli's developmental assessment. His corrected age at the time was 6 months (nearly 7, really) and he tested above average in all areas. In most areas, he was at about an 8 month level, which is right between his corrected age and his real age of 9 months. Everyone there was very impressed with him, and had no concerns of any kind! It was a great day--I was a very proud Mommy--and I love going to the clinic there, because my questions are always thoroughly welcomed and answered.<br /><br />His next appointment in Columbus will be in September, where he will have his 12-months-corrected-age assessment and he will also see a urologist. If you don't remember, Eli may have hypospadias, a birth defect involving an abnormally placed urethra. Plus, Eli is still uncircumsized, because he was too fragile to have the procedure done at birth. I am thinking that is the way it will stay, but I want to get some facts from the doctor before Seth and I finalize that decision.<br /><br />Enjoy some recent pictures!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJ4pf5PojgKZyH5G23WFokEbKyWdy_3YxrYJm3_Vca5UDSuNloXj4UToST_llkyMdR5qE6Yu3uqjSp5Z3H6LPealLEeRY_ui1v1kCogMt37gktU_t8R3Y5jvmjv8bM04yy5PPiJv_NaU/s1600-h/ohio+state+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJ4pf5PojgKZyH5G23WFokEbKyWdy_3YxrYJm3_Vca5UDSuNloXj4UToST_llkyMdR5qE6Yu3uqjSp5Z3H6LPealLEeRY_ui1v1kCogMt37gktU_t8R3Y5jvmjv8bM04yy5PPiJv_NaU/s320/ohio+state+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320167891066976610" border="0" /></a>I had a little fun with the camera today :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-Y-6sPFmx7Z8oZh-1zTC-9e0BRv0sHVFoyWvXwoEX8l_4Wi4EWA1P8NKlkdLLWRhJLr-THk1XotSXPml-SyhczvEcZyvx8Qzz0AzaHgOAeYgW2znbWGldzY7dtSURZNAXt0nmrU3Wio/s1600-h/ohio+state+029.JPG"> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-Y-6sPFmx7Z8oZh-1zTC-9e0BRv0sHVFoyWvXwoEX8l_4Wi4EWA1P8NKlkdLLWRhJLr-THk1XotSXPml-SyhczvEcZyvx8Qzz0AzaHgOAeYgW2znbWGldzY7dtSURZNAXt0nmrU3Wio/s320/ohio+state+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320167895774203362" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvJkUk5Jn8e6dVvgX7kkdoXzHdWAwJmUE0oMlz00kSek-TTZKUOspn7LGbYpde6M7Q3QcaQGuJejMpNQvwREc1UaFN0vsTUp65Q46IKaHvAoN-Z0_YTMQGgJ8x0oaEHb-emNXd1oudAo/s1600-h/096_96.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvJkUk5Jn8e6dVvgX7kkdoXzHdWAwJmUE0oMlz00kSek-TTZKUOspn7LGbYpde6M7Q3QcaQGuJejMpNQvwREc1UaFN0vsTUp65Q46IKaHvAoN-Z0_YTMQGgJ8x0oaEHb-emNXd1oudAo/s320/096_96.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320170134521004626" border="0" /></a>This was about 9 months ago.... What a difference!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMIanBEpxBgNZEld81P6GxI09-cR40W8V2Fz6h1C9c1wi6YpA2HCehOQ22iVxq0Et8_tyBAyWtMDvARZrMyDAImDlBV0k24-qKkFARER81t2m4AjK37wlH_uV7HyqFq5H_I7gZg_Nfkc/s1600-h/ohio+state+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMIanBEpxBgNZEld81P6GxI09-cR40W8V2Fz6h1C9c1wi6YpA2HCehOQ22iVxq0Et8_tyBAyWtMDvARZrMyDAImDlBV0k24-qKkFARER81t2m4AjK37wlH_uV7HyqFq5H_I7gZg_Nfkc/s320/ohio+state+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320167890630583746" border="0" /></a>Can you see the fuzz growing up there?!<br /></div>i<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4i6DcgtN86iqKR6-8VH8WjCzLbO5sUJxqea5SpNUKvsbI3D4aa8emWkkIikUNz5hZT5mXKpstY1n2wCZxOmEQ6O3nngzhF4rfSAO7-6xbiwUA8uoa-tm7_o1YnrhoNqPexHYUQ9LLN0/s1600-h/ohio+state+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4i6DcgtN86iqKR6-8VH8WjCzLbO5sUJxqea5SpNUKvsbI3D4aa8emWkkIikUNz5hZT5mXKpstY1n2wCZxOmEQ6O3nngzhF4rfSAO7-6xbiwUA8uoa-tm7_o1YnrhoNqPexHYUQ9LLN0/s320/ohio+state+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320167885822131554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vxmmtgr4Jjnq_s_feVrAQ1xZjf4WB76-ZLz2yXvSg0_2sAOkRBFZJiSOf6opTm5K6Gr14xTgU3ikdrWD7h_ntR0NA44xB2MLu6-sGJeyjdB8217B3doOrHBE22SaZqPL0QTzCDjVatg/s1600-h/125.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vxmmtgr4Jjnq_s_feVrAQ1xZjf4WB76-ZLz2yXvSg0_2sAOkRBFZJiSOf6opTm5K6Gr14xTgU3ikdrWD7h_ntR0NA44xB2MLu6-sGJeyjdB8217B3doOrHBE22SaZqPL0QTzCDjVatg/s320/125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320167874465045442" border="0" /></a>My big boy standing up!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tPkzyxt5QbFMsVzo8pmESZwVDJzQFA7g4kGhqKTSRL0g8LO5Busr6K3J3Da879c4HT6yjvjSZ6zPv942pDwNn8lhZN4cGlzQYbqvKRLkw_1ccgEIcGPPrXf4r1qpimKLTijKSG2rpdc/s1600-h/134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tPkzyxt5QbFMsVzo8pmESZwVDJzQFA7g4kGhqKTSRL0g8LO5Busr6K3J3Da879c4HT6yjvjSZ6zPv942pDwNn8lhZN4cGlzQYbqvKRLkw_1ccgEIcGPPrXf4r1qpimKLTijKSG2rpdc/s320/134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320166564659640434" border="0" /></a>Posing with his stats: he is still small for his real age, but pretty normal for the corrected age. He was 16 1/2 lbs at this appointment.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH56DNlM8EfZ1u1Vhh9S2Zi-4uCIdfjRJXaLcqC9Jd3ppF3o6X9mdkR0Gr0tcP6ZufLsA537NpSbFYIocUCp066SAyhEIDSN8RFaRlGnF5B3DXERsS23NaIt2bCdZpVvHMatyIyvKaTE/s1600-h/133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH56DNlM8EfZ1u1Vhh9S2Zi-4uCIdfjRJXaLcqC9Jd3ppF3o6X9mdkR0Gr0tcP6ZufLsA537NpSbFYIocUCp066SAyhEIDSN8RFaRlGnF5B3DXERsS23NaIt2bCdZpVvHMatyIyvKaTE/s320/133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320165857169114914" border="0" /></a>Playing with the physical therapist during his assessment<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJIiEiSx8RyDoM8SRIqIkIYv7tjtnoL3i3sMED6SXddREvIesGw4CBYIwWzjHpVvZKBvDtlGK27goaZggeQfkTQ8j6KLiWlE8LAkpRgNHWEJ98UOdGUfCRNNdiSUjy_F9kRboUu66TXE/s1600-h/105_0090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJIiEiSx8RyDoM8SRIqIkIYv7tjtnoL3i3sMED6SXddREvIesGw4CBYIwWzjHpVvZKBvDtlGK27goaZggeQfkTQ8j6KLiWlE8LAkpRgNHWEJ98UOdGUfCRNNdiSUjy_F9kRboUu66TXE/s320/105_0090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320165147545999234" border="0" /></a>A family pic at an anniversary party for Seth's Aunt and Uncle<br /><br /></div></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-3015733475522426122009-03-08T14:47:00.017-04:002009-03-08T15:08:51.856-04:00oOBubblesOoI haven't had the chance to update in a while, so I thought I'd share some pictures from today. We took a ton, and there are even more on my Mom's camera, but here are some of the better ones from my sister's. The first one is my favorite!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz6wN_CiYNqnGZ4YD4EJxnVZCjl5_om493zKNCv4Ey1___cc4GnkBku6W2mYyRsVKKNMGbNwvEtBserlbN4a2eZ45NArrnw6ix-TZlSKH6EzBppp46t8iikJyckTJ7KcSTxrD8kipFuM/s1600-h/115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310894389040231762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz6wN_CiYNqnGZ4YD4EJxnVZCjl5_om493zKNCv4Ey1___cc4GnkBku6W2mYyRsVKKNMGbNwvEtBserlbN4a2eZ45NArrnw6ix-TZlSKH6EzBppp46t8iikJyckTJ7KcSTxrD8kipFuM/s320/115.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GcNeBe4dH4cbWr1wMISASf-BqAhuCztTRee98Fg_KlyRI2GYueAoes35EOoTXqJToahynaMfkUFF8S828arAGKJHBKdetQ343-uQ1XEuEEG-vUuQoqHMyYJe3PlQ_N136rh3huaVyUc/s1600-h/113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310894272341683874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GcNeBe4dH4cbWr1wMISASf-BqAhuCztTRee98Fg_KlyRI2GYueAoes35EOoTXqJToahynaMfkUFF8S828arAGKJHBKdetQ343-uQ1XEuEEG-vUuQoqHMyYJe3PlQ_N136rh3huaVyUc/s320/113.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoHWABegUtZsYnkTIwZPomppCYaWteliBSUBlG2ZEYo9-4TvSC1DuZNItoVTUxV2mIl7Dn5uI7MpCBw8N-STYr2to3dYzr0xPWPDeot5xiMOxto6HMxeh_z_bQuFmcgfMyrhyphenhyphenFn4HBNI/s1600-h/110.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310894177940077298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoHWABegUtZsYnkTIwZPomppCYaWteliBSUBlG2ZEYo9-4TvSC1DuZNItoVTUxV2mIl7Dn5uI7MpCBw8N-STYr2to3dYzr0xPWPDeot5xiMOxto6HMxeh_z_bQuFmcgfMyrhyphenhyphenFn4HBNI/s320/110.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzjdUJZzzEmK6xqzVM9rct_LCqQ943DogsJXHb_LjjNxPndXg94sgjB-8xbmAyP_UQiE-BlhxKRSqnotQd73HeerfQolXsB_3R_yg6K5ZeHOtDk1iPuGrruQl8NFOGoNcAEyMMhA2VE8/s1600-h/108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310893966857774674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzjdUJZzzEmK6xqzVM9rct_LCqQ943DogsJXHb_LjjNxPndXg94sgjB-8xbmAyP_UQiE-BlhxKRSqnotQd73HeerfQolXsB_3R_yg6K5ZeHOtDk1iPuGrruQl8NFOGoNcAEyMMhA2VE8/s320/108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvcothU3hxbIDAo338O0CQCPn9zxC2MVhx6c-sNIs3Wrfr6TD7gErXnyp2BWgLR_q-p1Z4A-QCTezaQgkZWmRO3b2EcYk3U0BHIg4G8LumShSfsTlHZcya4j4hn35xgsWmUeXqmNT3Kk/s1600-h/107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310893573028540274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvcothU3hxbIDAo338O0CQCPn9zxC2MVhx6c-sNIs3Wrfr6TD7gErXnyp2BWgLR_q-p1Z4A-QCTezaQgkZWmRO3b2EcYk3U0BHIg4G8LumShSfsTlHZcya4j4hn35xgsWmUeXqmNT3Kk/s320/107.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf_1qy9aWoppI8Tffcko5oojgX9zfmXNbBwHvFp3qGz4A5jGlym06cYFgtFQViebg9e904w-OIzFlD3WTkgBKXAXFrRAkYQ03o1QmC0cgsbifBSZioNIxo6XbJLb_u7fcLTPHtbqrA2s/s1600-h/105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310893411063534978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf_1qy9aWoppI8Tffcko5oojgX9zfmXNbBwHvFp3qGz4A5jGlym06cYFgtFQViebg9e904w-OIzFlD3WTkgBKXAXFrRAkYQ03o1QmC0cgsbifBSZioNIxo6XbJLb_u7fcLTPHtbqrA2s/s320/105.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IuTdAoefUGZ4kf4_MW_A-mmqF9N9_S4Nvc5vIB-wb2y8j6plKKrNkr-XFtf1iVHQUGlC8R1FzdQe9IxMoljs1_fSiEa2TZt0tSskdWDjZNxiHhUH8wsNyj92ssIC7Fqld4EnkZZ4skA/s1600-h/104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310893225821380226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IuTdAoefUGZ4kf4_MW_A-mmqF9N9_S4Nvc5vIB-wb2y8j6plKKrNkr-XFtf1iVHQUGlC8R1FzdQe9IxMoljs1_fSiEa2TZt0tSskdWDjZNxiHhUH8wsNyj92ssIC7Fqld4EnkZZ4skA/s320/104.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLws2X7sw5bNLxO6TG8J__dB1bRXbeDak0cstpACf6JqP99leiAaEwBZtptYY4eFNKqpzxF0ySe54RI-iZaJtn0pJYloPoKN5L76vzTZd-rhRpg5MHP792NGZz8dY5jv4WWP2r0KyO3Hc/s1600-h/093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310892808804995970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLws2X7sw5bNLxO6TG8J__dB1bRXbeDak0cstpACf6JqP99leiAaEwBZtptYY4eFNKqpzxF0ySe54RI-iZaJtn0pJYloPoKN5L76vzTZd-rhRpg5MHP792NGZz8dY5jv4WWP2r0KyO3Hc/s320/093.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKRfI9L8DgWVYkDywWlIF4XTTd7jDGSHrcjHuPBR1wbGoQEyvEsxbYHk7HsNo83TxbhRaVBafZx1-lnC50jjT1__LtmiM4ggdCekMefuS81XnStlVxQbAoAzWvREUDyP9_6EqpS64xw0/s1600-h/092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310892393767787746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKRfI9L8DgWVYkDywWlIF4XTTd7jDGSHrcjHuPBR1wbGoQEyvEsxbYHk7HsNo83TxbhRaVBafZx1-lnC50jjT1__LtmiM4ggdCekMefuS81XnStlVxQbAoAzWvREUDyP9_6EqpS64xw0/s320/092.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziQCvtBiXFx3cgunoXyh5t1RuzCh6v9ajbpYUmrVbgQKvQSaT1yu7r_dBzWlpabY8Z0C7ckPjQOY0NGLCEJGV4JxvwpcKIcQ62I60Z4q4I2KlFxxk6RepQtVF6B3c7zw47Q-YYNrKiss/s1600-h/086.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310892018484564626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziQCvtBiXFx3cgunoXyh5t1RuzCh6v9ajbpYUmrVbgQKvQSaT1yu7r_dBzWlpabY8Z0C7ckPjQOY0NGLCEJGV4JxvwpcKIcQ62I60Z4q4I2KlFxxk6RepQtVF6B3c7zw47Q-YYNrKiss/s320/086.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn-2xwGaw0OmxUQKI_X1u7nK_pFu_VLnwyF3ZW6eCq5EPttsD4lh0PRUPsAozg8QjrXbfn99f-o3CtHIGyaCLyPlfKI-YXkvKCGU3Svcd0mdTD811VUgscjkFpPblo55sb6CAF5D-ZwA/s1600-h/085.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310891754781380354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn-2xwGaw0OmxUQKI_X1u7nK_pFu_VLnwyF3ZW6eCq5EPttsD4lh0PRUPsAozg8QjrXbfn99f-o3CtHIGyaCLyPlfKI-YXkvKCGU3Svcd0mdTD811VUgscjkFpPblo55sb6CAF5D-ZwA/s320/085.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCQs9SltVF6aVoJXNcbQNkAdwl9wHgM9eiisl8TWIkr18BOa-oxwydIePFgK7_PCFfz36CLIoetyCZkHolvuyabDJ4oI28RA50BaGeGMVLNxZHCggfqW8tbRttK99IXHflGBQsSInOqs/s1600-h/078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310891515909592402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCQs9SltVF6aVoJXNcbQNkAdwl9wHgM9eiisl8TWIkr18BOa-oxwydIePFgK7_PCFfz36CLIoetyCZkHolvuyabDJ4oI28RA50BaGeGMVLNxZHCggfqW8tbRttK99IXHflGBQsSInOqs/s320/078.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjUHhsjp8hIlje07YCRQF2cJEQ7MFb7dFwoI65q409DgjUcmha6nTrHaGQkDRt3j9do0gRpxVEa153yMbUjC0E3f6SCEKOQxvcQVNOjrpjK-0RwxdKuXJ72YOnBKiQajI0kobHEHIyP4/s1600-h/077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310891349901969298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjUHhsjp8hIlje07YCRQF2cJEQ7MFb7dFwoI65q409DgjUcmha6nTrHaGQkDRt3j9do0gRpxVEa153yMbUjC0E3f6SCEKOQxvcQVNOjrpjK-0RwxdKuXJ72YOnBKiQajI0kobHEHIyP4/s320/077.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Eli has been doing pretty well, except for the little cold he has now. His developmental assesment in Columbus had to be canceled because I didn't want another child to get sick, so we'll be going next week instead. I'll most likely update again afterwards!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-49417074235544931652009-02-23T21:50:00.006-05:002009-02-23T22:24:43.932-05:00Today's Doctor's Appointment<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRGXmRwUkum908SdXYPyUXQjfTNvbQlKXXL2v6lrj8QzHaZmjUdNFlQpWuM34DvA3eE-oxht2wRQvELgk4tOil01C0D_gVXoJ3kbnO3GDPq3Uq19MXKU_PCjFeVciTCWO-Uv_QKApO3c/s1600-h/b&w+033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRGXmRwUkum908SdXYPyUXQjfTNvbQlKXXL2v6lrj8QzHaZmjUdNFlQpWuM34DvA3eE-oxht2wRQvELgk4tOil01C0D_gVXoJ3kbnO3GDPq3Uq19MXKU_PCjFeVciTCWO-Uv_QKApO3c/s320/b&w+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306196682577400354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A recent family picture</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMEiCojjt9ReFXgINW5QbQaP2rqiUqize5yQNLUaDufVn9SiIH-XC2_7Irply6eO9nI9FICvImbHxtw_WXEigJ5xkHOokug_4gb9RlQs9pXIG4MGu6u_37D7SVJMIjc1E3PmuxvOW-bM/s1600-h/105_0013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMEiCojjt9ReFXgINW5QbQaP2rqiUqize5yQNLUaDufVn9SiIH-XC2_7Irply6eO9nI9FICvImbHxtw_WXEigJ5xkHOokug_4gb9RlQs9pXIG4MGu6u_37D7SVJMIjc1E3PmuxvOW-bM/s320/105_0013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306196304687796610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Peekaboo! This is what he does if you talk to him<br />while he's in his exersaucer and he can't see you</span>.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I think it's so cute!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHcN6h8JXTU3m-uxv2wMJbJhQ4Iqtlm5NH8X3EpdpEUIwiPVPeZhvD530P0w84-owFg1FO1vbE-Ys_-sOeWFCJ021ap6KhfNdIjP1Qp2uvnXlFZto2rrNOTxillfV_gbR2O7S6UsD-VE/s1600-h/8mo+067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHcN6h8JXTU3m-uxv2wMJbJhQ4Iqtlm5NH8X3EpdpEUIwiPVPeZhvD530P0w84-owFg1FO1vbE-Ys_-sOeWFCJ021ap6KhfNdIjP1Qp2uvnXlFZto2rrNOTxillfV_gbR2O7S6UsD-VE/s320/8mo+067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306194153999812578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1OIEhAK8rvOtzYfG77EOXbf1_stWS81X1vJd3gJVtIv28YH1e869X1IHCN7y44LbJ-YddwIDfYuwqzurcfyQI1dur40AdxzrvJ_7Rvy8d4u5IU8OTomaP2bOwJL7mpPmZZL78TQ1Mis/s1600-h/8mo+068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1OIEhAK8rvOtzYfG77EOXbf1_stWS81X1vJd3gJVtIv28YH1e869X1IHCN7y44LbJ-YddwIDfYuwqzurcfyQI1dur40AdxzrvJ_7Rvy8d4u5IU8OTomaP2bOwJL7mpPmZZL78TQ1Mis/s320/8mo+068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306196084165775154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I love the way the camera captured his movements here.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Eli had an appointment with Dr. Ekanem today for another RSV shot. It went well--he's starting to take the stick itself much better than he used to. He's been fussy today, and I'm not sure if the shot is to blame or if it might just be his gums. Still no teeth, but they have got to be coming soon! Eli now weighs 15.4 lbs and is a whole 25 inches tall. He's finally getting a little more length on him! Dr. E. was pleased that he is now getting baby food, and he told me to feed him as much as I think he needs. He is currently getting one fruit feeding and one vegetable feeding, but I might increase that to three solid food meals per day. He can't stand it when others are eating around him, so it's impossible to have a snack if he isn't eating also. He's a demanding little guy!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-35210506900023827132009-02-16T12:47:00.005-05:002009-02-16T13:10:00.804-05:00Balloons!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguFWcQxyw7niRJw7OGZBl8uWwKEGLgtlyphz8B-Oc1JBMcv5GrqBRCGcgsSICPCyz23LWNWbs3wDP3uLaluPcWvSUlxqmC_wkSkrrJjvnMjN-Dul2mS4-5tR336q73b4XYGhA_j0wvtU/s1600-h/shower+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguFWcQxyw7niRJw7OGZBl8uWwKEGLgtlyphz8B-Oc1JBMcv5GrqBRCGcgsSICPCyz23LWNWbs3wDP3uLaluPcWvSUlxqmC_wkSkrrJjvnMjN-Dul2mS4-5tR336q73b4XYGhA_j0wvtU/s320/shower+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303458556893411922" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday, we went to a baby shower honoring our long-time friend, Cassie. She and her husband are expecting a baby girl, Hallie, in April. Eli had a blast checking everyone out and playing with the balloons!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-22011531511484457562009-02-12T01:25:00.011-05:002009-02-12T02:06:52.297-05:00Solid FoodsEli turned 8 months old today! And what a beautiful day it was. We took total advantage of the 70-degree-weather and were out and about walking for most of the day. He went to his first ball game this evening, and I think he quite enjoyed himself other than the buzzers. He <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> enjoyed flirting with Baby Presley, a high school friend's 9-month-old daughter. I think it was love at first sight. You should have seen them standing next to each other! Presley was about a head taller than Eli! Unfortunately, the electric went out during the junior varsity game and we didn't get to watch cousin Erika play! High winds had taken the power out in numerous towns throughout the valley, so we had to play by candlelight for a few hours.<br /><br />Eli is turning into quite the little character. He's constantly making everyone laugh. Once the power came back on, Eli's Grandma Jody and I played Skip-Bo. Of course, Eli had to have what I had--cards. We got out an old deck for him to play with, and he picked up two cards and started to study them. He threw one down as if he were playing that card, and then began to scream when he realized he no longer had that card. Seconds later, he realized he still had one in the other hand and immediately stopped crying and began to study the second card, and then crinkle and slobber it. When he later dropped that one, he carried on and "demanded" that I put it back into his mouth and hold it there. I tell ya... he's ornery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuzhS7RIoX9dOmBUoKG-v-3__z6ZZczjb8RSzhaVOrwBnS74gtZklhJpM3lkidPaxJdiG2gZle0JYLz8qZYNL4MsiVp0_qsHi3LP4rtHQECbd-xGJJdc8D6HIAMHIwcNRsSMnISSCscA/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuzhS7RIoX9dOmBUoKG-v-3__z6ZZczjb8RSzhaVOrwBnS74gtZklhJpM3lkidPaxJdiG2gZle0JYLz8qZYNL4MsiVp0_qsHi3LP4rtHQECbd-xGJJdc8D6HIAMHIwcNRsSMnISSCscA/s320/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301798156472501026" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">We decided to try solid foods last Friday. I baked a sweet potato, peeled the skin and mashed it up. I portioned most of the mash into an ice cube try for later use, and left several spoonfulls in a bowl. At dinner, Eli ate with the rest of us.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WM3eNhsjFcZnaH1gwlFfhruiy_sZo7X_Z3f9cFxpkTZuKW4FlTS7uQ1z8C4E7TUSzGwpe7UR7QyYLcjq12Rd8jPTQLYyZFLAcu2nxdPmNLLlBGXU4z4fx3MaHxIdDAZjHGhf2O74uyU/s1600-h/solids+and+vday+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WM3eNhsjFcZnaH1gwlFfhruiy_sZo7X_Z3f9cFxpkTZuKW4FlTS7uQ1z8C4E7TUSzGwpe7UR7QyYLcjq12Rd8jPTQLYyZFLAcu2nxdPmNLLlBGXU4z4fx3MaHxIdDAZjHGhf2O74uyU/s320/solids+and+vday+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301799358298723042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgiaWXNNCvEi8sFZyX98n4hGzVcAUaVi59qS45li49Tq_N6WdVMEJDt8kMJlJHz6A5sTAl8dDX3MUqj0aLo8rXdpG8hNupHwky6uQaK7hCLobL3OJhhrmoX7eSwW0QSxN7JZVSzcHIrc/s1600-h/solids+and+vday+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgiaWXNNCvEi8sFZyX98n4hGzVcAUaVi59qS45li49Tq_N6WdVMEJDt8kMJlJHz6A5sTAl8dDX3MUqj0aLo8rXdpG8hNupHwky6uQaK7hCLobL3OJhhrmoX7eSwW0QSxN7JZVSzcHIrc/s320/solids+and+vday+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301801325481294210" border="0" /></a>He was curious at first.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95nkEGEiZ3O9Z5ao6fLEgRLIW4GF6-Tt2cfy9P1sDPa8OMKspKI5QVImxmeRZYnkor7lbTxGKjV799ceCAdCbUM9_LMiGPaiG0ARZQfoDeR3EIOTPBL_nw1BEJfqLZw_fwYS3gEn59Fo/s1600-h/solids+and+vday+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95nkEGEiZ3O9Z5ao6fLEgRLIW4GF6-Tt2cfy9P1sDPa8OMKspKI5QVImxmeRZYnkor7lbTxGKjV799ceCAdCbUM9_LMiGPaiG0ARZQfoDeR3EIOTPBL_nw1BEJfqLZw_fwYS3gEn59Fo/s320/solids+and+vday+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301801595678962322" border="0" /></a>"Hey what is this stuff, anyway?"<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ajgrw2oQvktJWqvf6dTHNE0zKmT61NzwHfO5rJfQfCWnT4z8XIDVWio-nj7Qr4t47dByykmLrPjjwLzyegdAXW_HHJZ7dcmFzCWILvHm79Zw55dgem7UgNd7KwaIABqVaoZ1hwvkk1w/s1600-h/solids+and+vday+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ajgrw2oQvktJWqvf6dTHNE0zKmT61NzwHfO5rJfQfCWnT4z8XIDVWio-nj7Qr4t47dByykmLrPjjwLzyegdAXW_HHJZ7dcmFzCWILvHm79Zw55dgem7UgNd7KwaIABqVaoZ1hwvkk1w/s320/solids+and+vday+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301802130907557618" border="0" /></a><br />"Ok, I'm done. Just get me out of here."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I think he ended up spitting out the majority of what I spooned in. We skipped solids on Saturday. On Sunday, Nana pureed steamed and pureed some peas and gave those to Eli while they were still warm (I have since found out that it's best to wait 3-4 days before introducing new foods to be sure there is no reaction) and he loved them! He had peas the next day, and then we tried sweet potatoes again, but warm this time. He seemed to enjoy them a little more. Tomorrow, we are going to prepare some carrots and squash to freeze. After he's had the chance to try several veggies, we will move to fruits, maybe banana, mango and avocado, first. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-44516047319320508402009-02-02T20:27:00.011-05:002009-02-02T21:04:32.500-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqPkZMBDljOVn4EO6n4ToD_ndqydzRmakx17VyOKRoOrxxgTULJPwgjRF5f7vEYQ6rZlHyfhC6FgaKtgb6cY0YfN3oabW6XVaUAMPW0V81K-iTfXjFSwJdP90CIGlGe7hZgE2_XGPzKA/s1600-h/cute+029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqPkZMBDljOVn4EO6n4ToD_ndqydzRmakx17VyOKRoOrxxgTULJPwgjRF5f7vEYQ6rZlHyfhC6FgaKtgb6cY0YfN3oabW6XVaUAMPW0V81K-iTfXjFSwJdP90CIGlGe7hZgE2_XGPzKA/s320/cute+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298384302370433490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Playin' around on the couch<br />& sitting up all by himself</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG42DakQS7QKFvIPw5JsYhkVxfR4ZsmI4UzCgJHiU3_Kuz_n3_JyZBEMm4-ZGfBd_WmEK0rtW7sh9sS45SeGatJKVSdBV-09V4ebmkk4BbA0akVQrtevVxkM9v2bZuxKa6DtTeJhDBT-0/s1600-h/cute+024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG42DakQS7QKFvIPw5JsYhkVxfR4ZsmI4UzCgJHiU3_Kuz_n3_JyZBEMm4-ZGfBd_WmEK0rtW7sh9sS45SeGatJKVSdBV-09V4ebmkk4BbA0akVQrtevVxkM9v2bZuxKa6DtTeJhDBT-0/s320/cute+024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298383780598962290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My new favorite.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblvl3hWuautTrul1_aQipKeRbxMYRs0qA7QeJyNhsV_ytCpfsrVodIKF8Vy93mBqNuDJmhHqvTpibZtB6PaN48aOs4GQtn4QioFd1mdV7IeJnX7Hl-399OS-po6k5NypV7yxsyM022UI/s1600-h/cute+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblvl3hWuautTrul1_aQipKeRbxMYRs0qA7QeJyNhsV_ytCpfsrVodIKF8Vy93mBqNuDJmhHqvTpibZtB6PaN48aOs4GQtn4QioFd1mdV7IeJnX7Hl-399OS-po6k5NypV7yxsyM022UI/s320/cute+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298382682140655570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">After tubby time (which we like a lot<br />more than<span style="font-style: italic;"> tummy</span> time)!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm9qIQ1iloI0RwLvC2Ht4JrFnZQXhFuZbm0a4cUkL_3IvhCBIkModTUYdfyk9DZXzR6067zqnXdLVKOShs10Z1YDXqpx_zUn2z_XBb7M3Xwy-m41WUTCk_YD6Mw5EUB_u1vQ7JFIQFwI/s1600-h/cute+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm9qIQ1iloI0RwLvC2Ht4JrFnZQXhFuZbm0a4cUkL_3IvhCBIkModTUYdfyk9DZXzR6067zqnXdLVKOShs10Z1YDXqpx_zUn2z_XBb7M3Xwy-m41WUTCk_YD6Mw5EUB_u1vQ7JFIQFwI/s320/cute+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298382270843162674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Here he is sticking out that tongue</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvDpg8MHDhd0Dei970Fx7EtCGDAdkyIu3MxVGEQwfFGVYStGnUIfHSH7cOlOf9v5wqttZ9chytyR5NuPZe2-pfeRYj7S7-M_FG6mcQpwewnr3G6Q9oFA0OjbD2nSQDFs43j3CZsZSUzI/s1600-h/cute+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvDpg8MHDhd0Dei970Fx7EtCGDAdkyIu3MxVGEQwfFGVYStGnUIfHSH7cOlOf9v5wqttZ9chytyR5NuPZe2-pfeRYj7S7-M_FG6mcQpwewnr3G6Q9oFA0OjbD2nSQDFs43j3CZsZSUzI/s320/cute+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298381872225320674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Little cowboy</span><br /><br /><br /></div>It seems that Eli is growing up faster and faster these days. He's doing new things all of the time. He enjoys sticking out his tongue and doing "raspberries" (aka blowing spit bubbles all over the place), sitting up on his own, grabbing anything and everything, putting things in his mouth, rocking back and forth, trying to stand up, finally rolling over well, and the list goes on.... I think he will be crawling by sometime in March, and we are getting ready to start solid foods.<br /><br />Thus far, Eli has eaten only breast milk, aside from the times in the NICU and shortly after homecoming when he had a few bottles of breast milk fortified with formula. As I recently returned to work, I realized that I just can't pump enough to keep him fed while I'm at work. He's still getting satisfied when he breast feeds directly, but there is a huge difference between nursing and pumping, and I just can't express enough milk. We decided to start supplementing with formula while I'm at work. He gets a bottle of half breast milk and half formula--Similac Advance, as his pediatrician doesn't believe he needs the premie version any more--and it's been working out just fine. I was a little sad at the fact that I wouldn't be his only provider of food anymore, but obviously his full tummy if more important than my full ego.<br /><br />As far as solid foods go, I haven't started them yet for a few reasons. First, starting solids too soon has been linked to food allergies. Second, I didn't see any real reason to start. He was getting full on breast milk, gaining weight, wasn't sitting up well or trying to put anything in his mouth. I just didn't see any reason to rush something that he has his whole life to learn how to do. If he's getting everything he needs from milk, why start on food? I'm starting to feel that now is the time. I was wanting to start him at a corrected age of 6 months, and he's getting close to that. He's sitting up very well, and notices when people are eating and often acts as if he wants to eat when others are doing so. I'm going to be making my own baby food and freezing it. So far, I have carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, so his first food will be one of those things. Of course, I'll post pictures!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-45235332816493496222009-01-20T18:56:00.010-05:002009-01-20T20:12:19.980-05:00Follow-up appointment<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHyxVNRVwjeiesRZb1tVj-54QJ8ThbA9IATY-dqGl8wX69wCGooXPUqDBoDoihzbvyqYn6mr0KqYPUZvht2LkzlE-1jX6r04F9MZhO4XCICMICxA1ep6CEIh9ilU4c5gUlZ2NVRZvwus/s1600-h/T+for+tractor+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHyxVNRVwjeiesRZb1tVj-54QJ8ThbA9IATY-dqGl8wX69wCGooXPUqDBoDoihzbvyqYn6mr0KqYPUZvht2LkzlE-1jX6r04F9MZhO4XCICMICxA1ep6CEIh9ilU4c5gUlZ2NVRZvwus/s320/T+for+tractor+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293545994159271746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Hanging out with Daddy on the couch</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYVLoPhKdqFbm0eaXaa3MPXrsvu1zSbtIiplQBG900uLoFrBB7ut7bOL7vtiEm08jtbTtxvwzn7WhbeEDtfXJ7q-j-_CABsnjdpQvELrnDbyyp_P5X4yKWeVoT-9WMHcXR0RC2fm2Yl0/s1600-h/camo+022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYVLoPhKdqFbm0eaXaa3MPXrsvu1zSbtIiplQBG900uLoFrBB7ut7bOL7vtiEm08jtbTtxvwzn7WhbeEDtfXJ7q-j-_CABsnjdpQvELrnDbyyp_P5X4yKWeVoT-9WMHcXR0RC2fm2Yl0/s320/camo+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293533289449815666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Camo overalls from Nana </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickl_CIeAvg_BFNp4-S0bgQm_S83Ilu1gRd3IlgBx9bJplHdnajoJYzE_I9w1EwNv_W0t0DlrlLpkbAyt0iMlc4XO3foi7Q_1vlEWq0NuEHmJP11oSN_928zWH-FlayEGqJToPQDiPJ_o/s1600-h/T+for+tractor+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickl_CIeAvg_BFNp4-S0bgQm_S83Ilu1gRd3IlgBx9bJplHdnajoJYzE_I9w1EwNv_W0t0DlrlLpkbAyt0iMlc4XO3foi7Q_1vlEWq0NuEHmJP11oSN_928zWH-FlayEGqJToPQDiPJ_o/s320/T+for+tractor+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293532672806706674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">From a little home photo-shoot Auntie Bri and I rigged up</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QHp1VNdBPvfICpPICp5pjmq8El1IDO4SIP5j6QyccQK_TT6VOXbpuIzoiTnqXEF9BNcfgvxGDXSsFeNv1EiZlGd7kMz7AS57U9fQ4vzr7YqmrffoqUySqlDIY-GDil9fg3MivcRkxks/s1600-h/T+for+tractor+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QHp1VNdBPvfICpPICp5pjmq8El1IDO4SIP5j6QyccQK_TT6VOXbpuIzoiTnqXEF9BNcfgvxGDXSsFeNv1EiZlGd7kMz7AS57U9fQ4vzr7YqmrffoqUySqlDIY-GDil9fg3MivcRkxks/s320/T+for+tractor+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293532226064519538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">'T' is for Truck and Tractor :)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJVzjzBkV9qmYeqstqlGstFkEo-MGeMYb4z-L9LHMSdEvg5WjyBlwqdKJ4rbSiydr3YsLCpow-Ih_aCCnOsa9mRNlR9SjgOQj1OSYuwqED-DRI0HWHVjz7dlPczPRZi_tLx0xsr0Y2d4/s1600-h/T+for+tractor+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJVzjzBkV9qmYeqstqlGstFkEo-MGeMYb4z-L9LHMSdEvg5WjyBlwqdKJ4rbSiydr3YsLCpow-Ih_aCCnOsa9mRNlR9SjgOQj1OSYuwqED-DRI0HWHVjz7dlPczPRZi_tLx0xsr0Y2d4/s320/T+for+tractor+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293530353508141314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Standing up like a big boy!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwe7LjPb_e20hUdUcw4iuy1rdUe-lPyLjQcXpurqwjYjkE_uIxdNChulvaW1sYXWdKPglp0_HuAU4fPzNDozuEJbpL0DjdWDa-mcFTTo9MTtzIgtJ-zMZIzOfMaEqbrsOQsgPl8OsdiA/s1600-h/T+for+tractor+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwe7LjPb_e20hUdUcw4iuy1rdUe-lPyLjQcXpurqwjYjkE_uIxdNChulvaW1sYXWdKPglp0_HuAU4fPzNDozuEJbpL0DjdWDa-mcFTTo9MTtzIgtJ-zMZIzOfMaEqbrsOQsgPl8OsdiA/s320/T+for+tractor+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293529985082434962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This snow suit from Grandpa Smith and Rita is a bit big, but he looks so cute and it's sooo warm!</span><br /><br /></div>Eli's follow-up appointment with Dr. Ekanem went very well. He said it sounded like his bronchiolitis was all cleared up and he was happy that he had started to put some weight back on. He was 14 lbs when he was admitted to the hospital, and yesterday he was 14 lbs 6 oz. I was pleased.<br /><br />He has been doing great sitting up. I've started to count how long he sits unassisted, Mississippi-style. He has made it to 15-mississippi. Also, he rolled over last night like it was nothing. It's been a while since he's done it on his own. I usually have to "bait" him with a toy like you do when you're teaching a dog to roll over, and then he still gets angry and gives up most of the time. I was so excited to see him enjoying tummy time!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-71843140610512584032009-01-18T18:15:00.007-05:002009-01-18T18:43:57.874-05:00Playin' cards and sittin' up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLbS3ZXgWQr2AYyhL1rOi8V1x0XelRZWcCNth6ZFpMBVNS-iL54UCy3krbGiGjkJXOTPoX9VKmWIn8AWAHpnidUOubSFt9gwAvkeq-SGozPWCEPFHCyHbB3e3JnfaFvrGISNC_7Z7Hkc/s1600-h/camo+026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLbS3ZXgWQr2AYyhL1rOi8V1x0XelRZWcCNth6ZFpMBVNS-iL54UCy3krbGiGjkJXOTPoX9VKmWIn8AWAHpnidUOubSFt9gwAvkeq-SGozPWCEPFHCyHbB3e3JnfaFvrGISNC_7Z7Hkc/s320/camo+026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292782151358706130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />It's been pretty darn cold around here lately--in the negatives. I had to cancel two of Eli's doctor's appointments. One was a follow-up with his regular pediatrician so he could see how Eli's been recovering. The other was actually two separate appointments in Columbus at Children's Hospital: a visit with the urologist and a developmental check-up with the folks at the BPD Clinic (the clinic that will be checking in on him until he is two). I was really looking forward to the BPD Clinic appointment where they would have shown me where he is on the growth chart and compared his development to other babies his corrected age. The test they were going to give him was designed for babies up to a corrected age of 4 1/2 months, and he has now passed that, so there was no point to reschedule. He'll be going for the 6-month test in March.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpNxXX-DDAPBllRq_1fKmu6xLdpnD1dyFx5zK2h19otjDtL4hBrw9tV2vabMG92P1am_IXzMRY-M-GsSIPuAsfNTkjYKVS0CQF9T8QE6nuO4Cl_M7MjmakR6temtetFJcIs6UnbHyXak/s1600-h/camo+031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpNxXX-DDAPBllRq_1fKmu6xLdpnD1dyFx5zK2h19otjDtL4hBrw9tV2vabMG92P1am_IXzMRY-M-GsSIPuAsfNTkjYKVS0CQF9T8QE6nuO4Cl_M7MjmakR6temtetFJcIs6UnbHyXak/s320/camo+031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292783501902192930" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not concerned with Eli's development so far. In some ways, he seems to be ahead of an almost-5-month-old, and in some ways behind, but I don't think he needs any intervention. For example, he is still not really rolling over, but he's almost able to sit up unassisted (can for as long as 10 seconds or so). He grabs at toys, but doesn't really handle them other than to hit them or shake a rattle. I guess I'll have to wait until March to see what they think.<br /><br />We've discovered that Eli enjoys playing cards. He likes looking at them and tries to throw them and put them in his mouth. He's pretty good too. Whoever is on Eli's "team" always seems to end up winning.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3l3remrk-xetFcRRi1qKLAJc1bUiCcEXJaiFPfGqHefHyLf84x1xyS9XSujEmf4gmpnaQOO99vWc7iXjElXLwLr3oTjyT93JGw4BdYGuWlpoDfw4XdmMWaodsNsSa4U9QcEB-p9UJbI/s1600-h/camo+029.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 426px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3l3remrk-xetFcRRi1qKLAJc1bUiCcEXJaiFPfGqHefHyLf84x1xyS9XSujEmf4gmpnaQOO99vWc7iXjElXLwLr3oTjyT93JGw4BdYGuWlpoDfw4XdmMWaodsNsSa4U9QcEB-p9UJbI/s320/camo+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292781183614646354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPf-Pegm1CdLb2sRyLyF29YLirjsItDkJyqGkEx-OBvG1aM3aFjdoLDHXQM0GahqJxsKaJaaCDDYptxbpeYUIqzXhnHHIn0ItkjiEeoky8zo2-J8RlaTu9l_JqeueUx6QwqAoJWVQUq8/s1600-h/playin+cards+033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPf-Pegm1CdLb2sRyLyF29YLirjsItDkJyqGkEx-OBvG1aM3aFjdoLDHXQM0GahqJxsKaJaaCDDYptxbpeYUIqzXhnHHIn0ItkjiEeoky8zo2-J8RlaTu9l_JqeueUx6QwqAoJWVQUq8/s320/playin+cards+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292782530787630546" border="0" /></a>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-9183919816772926552009-01-15T18:46:00.003-05:002009-01-15T19:29:43.757-05:00Now I lay me down to sleep<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-cUbb2fgNE-vJt5bD659V-hCapZUJAi_Ni-BVA9GCVtAcfH5e16SN8fulR8svKbH2Lp12KU0TDrLaTSVksXq_Srp5Zphbovr17AP-ybXhuVV-k3qDYXw0bcpfcaH7hhDpPjJ5aDkPms/s1600-h/sleepy+boy+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-cUbb2fgNE-vJt5bD659V-hCapZUJAi_Ni-BVA9GCVtAcfH5e16SN8fulR8svKbH2Lp12KU0TDrLaTSVksXq_Srp5Zphbovr17AP-ybXhuVV-k3qDYXw0bcpfcaH7hhDpPjJ5aDkPms/s320/sleepy+boy+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291671382267346018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic;">Eli has been falling asleep like this lately. Isn't it sweet?</span>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-60583653042138801412009-01-12T18:07:00.000-05:002009-01-12T20:34:33.889-05:00Bubble Boy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H2QLur4NEZwmCTH0ahsHJxYxRjd56d9DRNDOSdCwUTgGApwU21P9s3Icf22wjZCazrwT_fF3-Z37UIG8BM-rJumgvQ331-4YdS-iD9gIxFIftTd_QWM92ZKuCCU2D1cabbqW3-TXeco/s1600-h/hospital+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H2QLur4NEZwmCTH0ahsHJxYxRjd56d9DRNDOSdCwUTgGApwU21P9s3Icf22wjZCazrwT_fF3-Z37UIG8BM-rJumgvQ331-4YdS-iD9gIxFIftTd_QWM92ZKuCCU2D1cabbqW3-TXeco/s320/hospital+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290578299863914994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sunday</span><br />Eli had been pooping more than usual since Thursday, the 1st, but he started to have aweful diarrhea. He also had a cough and a runny nose.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Monday</span><br />The cough and the congestion gets worse and he starts to sound wheezy. I debate about bringing him to the ER that evening, but I assume they will tell me it's just a cold and send us home. He didn't have a temperature, so I decide to wait it out and call Dr. E., his pediatrician, the next morning.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tuesday</span><br />Eli is no better or worse. There was no answer at Dr. E.'s office. I call the BPD clinic in Columbus and talk to the nurse clinician. She says, yes, it's probably a cold and give him some pedialyte for the diarrhea. Later, I give him a bath in some Vicks-type soothing bubble bath and he goes to sleep. Around 9, he wakes up and sounds aweful. Seth described it as "he sounds like he's been smoking for 20 years." At this point he can't even cry. The only sound he can manage to let out is a whine tha sounds like something you'd hear in <span style="font-style: italic;">Jurassic Park.</span><br /><br />I decided to take him to the ER. Eli's Grandma Jody went with us. He was running a low-grade temperature when we arrived. When the doctor came in to listen, Eli didn't like the coldness of the stethoscope. I'm not sure whether he was merely trying to get away or if he wanted me for comfort, but he appeared to be reaching for me. It was the first time he'd done that and I can't describe how it made me feel. I've never felt so needed.<br /><br />The doctor ordered a chest x-ray and bloodwork. Blood analysis showed elevated white blood cells, indicating that he was fighting an infection (no, really?). The doctor said that he didn't see anything on the x-ray, but after it had been read by the specialist in the morning, someone would call me if anything was wrong. He couldn't diagnose Eli, but he prescribed an antibiotic, just in case. We went home, and a cranky Eli stayed up until 5 a.m.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wednesday</span><br />I had a dentist appointment for a toothache at 9:00. I left Eli with Grandma Jody, because Seth was working. While I was in the waiting room, I got a phone call from Eli's pediatrician. He asked about Eli's visit to the ER. I told him about it, and said that I had been concerned because of the wheezy breathing, that I thought it might be a respiratory virus. "That's why I'm calling," he said. And my stomach dropped. "I think Eli might have RSV, the very thing we've been trying to prevent. We'll need to see him today because he might have to be admitted."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7k2Ga-OoLYLgnBhkajJ-j4TgWoMMCGPP1vfCXrIM2zj3AQm9MLcAdOCF4K3Ue0ua91A7jw9l6RCxfXnKfSfEtxWO9_SI31h-qdGONttwLrvA2euRJOz4_74hYVGKEGJMxykXHAGZ6So/s1600-h/hospital+024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7k2Ga-OoLYLgnBhkajJ-j4TgWoMMCGPP1vfCXrIM2zj3AQm9MLcAdOCF4K3Ue0ua91A7jw9l6RCxfXnKfSfEtxWO9_SI31h-qdGONttwLrvA2euRJOz4_74hYVGKEGJMxykXHAGZ6So/s320/hospital+024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290580522241344930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Right after my appointment, I drove 30 minutes home, packed up some diapers and pj's, and brought Eli to see Dr. E. He concluded that he needed to be admitted so he could be monitored and receive breathing treatments. We went to Wetzel County Hospital, a small hospital near our hometown, where Dr. E. would still be his physician.<br /><br />When we got to the room, some nurses checked Eli's oxygen saturation. It was 85%. He was going to need to be put on oxygen. Because he was so congested, he would be put under a tent that would be filled with humidified oxygen. This tent was to be put over a crib. For those of you who don't know, we co-sleep with Eli at home, and he's not been in a crib since he was in the NICU. We tried a pack 'n' play and a bassinet when he first came home, but that last all of 2 weeks. I did not like the thought of Eli having to transition to a crib when he was sick and afraid. I wouldn't even be able to hold him close to me, because he needed the oxygen in the tent. And how was I supposed to breastfeed him? Get into the crib? After voicing my concerns to the nurses, they allowed Eli to stay in a bed with me, something that isn't usually done for safety reasons. I was very pleased.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thursday</span><br />Eli was getting breathing treatments every 4 hours, an antibiotic and hydration through IV, Zyrtec for congestion, and his temperature and sats were checked regularly. When awake, his sats were in the high 90's, and asleep, in the low 90's.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiMekyS6b5B-CiLX-oyOUp6XXd42hlVLNfSrTc7VoM06fh8ymiTYbaY-OvAW-tA3h6iwdzCo4-5eYsu9Quh7k2kc5rLsBCkyyHjGn9D9QQ4REG3YzvuoTCT-XSaisOnJsRoU75s2ehO4/s1600-h/hospital+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiMekyS6b5B-CiLX-oyOUp6XXd42hlVLNfSrTc7VoM06fh8ymiTYbaY-OvAW-tA3h6iwdzCo4-5eYsu9Quh7k2kc5rLsBCkyyHjGn9D9QQ4REG3YzvuoTCT-XSaisOnJsRoU75s2ehO4/s320/hospital+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290581650929112546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Friday</span><br />Eli started to feel much better. He no longer sounded like a pterodactyl, and he was starting to play and smile again. That evening, Dr. E. wanted him to be taken out of the tent for the evening, as long as he could keep his sats up. If all went well, he'd go home in the morning. The nurses checked Eli's sats an hour later, when he was asleep, and he was at 85%. He went back into the tent. Later, we tried again to take him out, but he was at 85% again when they checked him (also sleeping). He stayed in the tent for the rest of the night.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Saturday</span><br />Dr. E. came in the morning and wanted him out of the tent and wanted his sats checked while he was awake. An hour later, he was at 95%. He took a nap, and when he woke up, he was at 99%! We were able to go home late that afternoon, and we were sent with a portable nebulizer for breathing treatments, and 5 days worth of antibiotic. We've been home for 2 days and all is good. Eli still has a cough and some congestion, but it's not nearly as bad, and you can tell he is feeling much better.<br /><br />I am still not really clear on what he had. The chest x-ray showed pneumonia, which is what rsv looks like on an x-ray. A mucous swab tested negative for RSV, but Dr. E. said that didn't mean he definitely didn't have it. His diagnosis was acute bronchiolitis, which, according to wikipedia (not the most scientific resource, I know, but useful for understanding things in everyday language) is a common virus in infancy caused by RSV, the flu, rhinovirus, etc. Just to note, here is the reason RSV and the like affect Eli so badly. A virus can not be warded off by an antibiotic; it can only be left to run its course and the immune system gradually does its thing. Being a preemie, his immune system is at a disadvantage. It's also a respiratory illness, and as you know, Eli's lungs are not as developed as other babies his age. The moral of the story is: if you think your child is sick, it's better to be safe than sorry, especially if he was a preemie.<br /><br />Here are two pictures of Eli in the hospital. In the first, he is a few days shy of 7 months, and in the second, he's in the NICU and is a few days shy of 2 months. Think he's changed much?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B3lq6ihS5_fganzcvlD966oRdc7sqT6yPP3mHVizmRA496Q36xtkCa63BssFDbh8Gfs1lpvA2xl8q2bA3pZdsRsdiwTkcElFYbRnu0dwKw2m03V7TycD1pp0rgGCt_PZm8Chy4eXwxQ/s1600-h/hospital018-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B3lq6ihS5_fganzcvlD966oRdc7sqT6yPP3mHVizmRA496Q36xtkCa63BssFDbh8Gfs1lpvA2xl8q2bA3pZdsRsdiwTkcElFYbRnu0dwKw2m03V7TycD1pp0rgGCt_PZm8Chy4eXwxQ/s320/hospital018-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290582891350452066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcgdR-Ex1W1Puyb_E4y3vtVFDSGVxXF94MUzoBaikAdxssY4J5WHYMUKA0coNmrCthLh8V7i8O8EdV-jse8pytIGzznXmwF3zYEA_YZJeHpB5s_5m13L6CcZHB5fjMPSLLt_DzxSsv9U/s1600-h/hospital+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcgdR-Ex1W1Puyb_E4y3vtVFDSGVxXF94MUzoBaikAdxssY4J5WHYMUKA0coNmrCthLh8V7i8O8EdV-jse8pytIGzznXmwF3zYEA_YZJeHpB5s_5m13L6CcZHB5fjMPSLLt_DzxSsv9U/s320/hospital+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290584184200711010" border="0" /></a>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3025079673983914554.post-91551887020059526582009-01-11T22:46:00.000-05:002009-01-12T01:36:02.144-05:00WelcomeHello all, and thank you for visiting Eli's new blog! If you are a regular reader, I appreciate your interest and your concern for Eli. If this is your first time, welcome! Since this is the first post here, I will provide a short history.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">My name is Courtney and I am Eli's mother. I have been keeping a blog--for personal record, to update family, to educate and entertain--since shortly after Eli was born. He was due on August 27, 2008, but my water broke on March 9th (15 weeks in). This early breaking of water is referred to as pPROM: preterm premature rupture of membranes. My fiance, Seth, and I were told that I would most likely go into labor too early for the baby to be viable; they expected within the week. If that didn't happen, they said, I would probably not make it to term and even if I did, the baby would be born with very immature lungs (babies need amniotic fluid for their lungs to develop, and mine was leaking about as fast as my body could make it) and there would be nothing that could be done for it. The baby would also probably be born deformed, because with no fluid, the uterus is like a deflated balloon, and the baby has little room. Along with these risks were a terribly long list of complications that come along with being premature, which they assured me, he would be.<br /><br />Despite the odds, Seth and I decided to take our chances, and pray; we continued the pregnancy. I couldn't imagine giving up on my baby...</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >my baby</span><span style="font-size:85%;">... a part of me and the man the I love. I would have wondered my whole life, "what if?" I went about the pregnancy with an optimistic attitude, keeping in mind that it could still end in heartache.<br /><br />Until 23 weeks, I was placed on strict bed rest at home. For the most part, I was cared for by Seth and his mother, but I had a lot of help from many other people as well, and I'm incredibly grateful. At 23 weeks, the baby is considered able to survive outside of the womb. It was then that I was admitted to Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, 3 hours away from home and my family. Since there is nothing that can be done about pPROM, I was there for monitoring and close access to hospitals capable of caring for a very premature baby.<br /><br />At 28 weeks, I started to have some heavy bleeding. An ultrasound indicated that the placenta was beginning to tear away from the uterine wall, something that would be very dangerous to Eli and to me. At the advice of the obstetricians and a neonatologist (NICU doctor) I had been talking to throughout my stay at OSU, we decided I would be induced. Because my body was far from ready for labor, it took a while, but I successfully delivered vaginally and Eli Richard arrived at 12:53 a.m. on June 11th--exactly 29 weeks. He even let out a small cry, which gave us hope for his tiny lungs.<br /><br />I wasn't able to see him up close right away, but the NICU team did pause at my bed side for a moment before wheeling him away in the incubator. A few hours later, Seth and I were allowed to enter the NICU and meet our son. He weighed in at 2 lbs 12 ounces at 15 inches long, and although curled in a ball, he was roughly the size of my hand, he looked remarkably big and absolutely perfect and beautiful to me. At first sight, I knew everything would be ok. Of course I was still scared, but I just had a good feeling.<br /><br />For the next few weeks, I spent as much time as I could with Eli, and when I went home, I called the NICU every day for updates and learned as much as I could about what was going on with my little miracle. I learned about bilirubin, the incubators and alarms, meconium, PICs, bradycardias, and sats. Boy, did we hear a lot about sats. Oxygen saturation in the blood, or sats, are measured by pulse oximeter (or pulse-ox, the little red light they put on your finger). The goal was to keep Eli's sats above 85%. Anything below was considered a de-sat, and anything in the 70's or below was a pretty bad one. The level of respiratory assistance was adjusted according to his needs. Eli started out on the ventilator, or breathing tube, which pumped air into his lungs and "breathed" for him. At about 1 week old, Eli moved to a CPAP, which blows air into his nose with pressure to keep his lungs expanded, but he took each breath on his own.<br /><br />When he was 3 weeks old, Eli was transferred from OSU to Nationwide Children's Hospital because we had a scare with a condition known as NEC in which parts of the bowels die and need to be removed via surgery. Thankfully, Eli didn't end up needing surgery, and the move ended up being a blessing. The day before the move, there was an opening at the Ronald McDonald House which is practically in the parking lot of Children's Hospital. I was able to be by Eli's side for the rest of his NICU stay.<br /><br />Around 8 weeks or so, Eli was able to move from the CPAP to the nasal cannula (which gives him a tiny whiff of pure oxygen), and shortly after, he was able to begin bottle and breastfeeding. On August 19th, 8 days before Eli's original due date, he was released and sent home on oxygen. He came home at 5 1/2 pounds, which is exactly double his birthweight.<br /><br />At home, things went pretty smoothly. We were still living at Seth's parents' which ended up being a huge help. There were many people who enjoyed meeting Eli for the first time or being able to see him more often, including his Daddy. He gained weight and adapted well to being home. He was able to become cannula-free on October 1st, after being home for 6 weeks.<br /><br />Today, Eli is 7 months old, 23.5 inches long, and 14 lbs. His adjusted age is 4 1/2 months. We often think about the things we were told about terminating the pregnancy and about Eli never being able to take a breath. I used to be angry at the doctors for leaving us feeling hopeless, and I'll admit that I was angry that this happened to us. I no longer feel that way, though. The doctors were just stating the facts, and I soon realized it wasn't them I needed for support and strength. And other than the pain this journey may have caused Eli, I wouldn't trade the experience for a normal pregnancy. I learned so much about myself and about prematurity, and Eli and I have created a very special bond. I know it sounds cliche, but Eli is a strong little boy and I know he is going to do extraordinary things. I thank God for him every day.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Here is a picture of Eli at birth and recently:</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVMDtKWwmkVLCKiCYT0Jk18qIimBJX1RL4Hl_qLnokda85oZmUgNgZOgOVS8tPgDeDTGT5xVbX7LBXcTPuQC8RTTvKUT5jv1NQDW4IYjoy7D-W9lm-XUZflMQs_49PknusYLaqx6JId0/s1600-h/christmas+044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVMDtKWwmkVLCKiCYT0Jk18qIimBJX1RL4Hl_qLnokda85oZmUgNgZOgOVS8tPgDeDTGT5xVbX7LBXcTPuQC8RTTvKUT5jv1NQDW4IYjoy7D-W9lm-XUZflMQs_49PknusYLaqx6JId0/s320/christmas+044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290291765215516162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrZFSvo_paf46Tr_em16i1UyjyHQ1mV24RDuLHBJ_12-WaTyVuvwAOvPYtJbwGTGr1IMta0ozM99qjav5CjTpEbl-5NhwOBePXqxDPmclmxlwW9a3kE9v9QHUm9ryj998KLMTTEfoaeU/s1600-h/828b8d5f41a1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrZFSvo_paf46Tr_em16i1UyjyHQ1mV24RDuLHBJ_12-WaTyVuvwAOvPYtJbwGTGr1IMta0ozM99qjav5CjTpEbl-5NhwOBePXqxDPmclmxlwW9a3kE9v9QHUm9ryj998KLMTTEfoaeU/s320/828b8d5f41a1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290291153688953202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span>Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12151439996295041782noreply@blogger.com3