Eli 16 Months

Yesterday Eli was 16 months old! I can't believe how time flies. I posted pictures of the last month but since I am using this as a sort of baby book I wanted to post all the developments in Eli over the past month.


He is talking a ton! Eli has several new words including "NO" I was sad to hear this word.
He is getting better at using mama and dada correctly. Eli also uses mama when he wants something and dada when he is excited about something. He can say "more" and has just started signing please (not 100% but doing better). He 'sings' all the time! Eli also tries to repeat words you say to him.

Eli has three new teeth, that puts the count to, three on the bottom and six on the top (two molars). He started refusing to let us feed him at 15 months, so has been eating finger foods since. He has just started attempting to use a spoon and fork. He picks food up and puts it on his fork or spoon then eats it. I also gave him yogurt with a spoon. It was a mess but he ate all of it!!

Eli's three favorite things are: dancing, climbing, and playing ball. He dances whenever there is music, in a store, in an elevator, at home (he likes to use the fire place as a stage), and when we sing to him. As you saw from the previous post Eli is a climber. He loves climbing on anything he can. Eli plays ball all the time. He will throw the ball and then case it, he will even bounce the ball to you for you to bounce it back. Being outside is also a favorite!

I'm sure that is not all but I can't think of anything else right now!

The Climber

My child is a climber. I have taken the chairs that go to his table away, he drags them around and uses them to get what he wants off the kitchen cabinets, he also uses them to help him climb onto things. I have taken the legs off his music table because he climbs on top and then tries to stand up, this as always ended in a face plant to the play mat, window, or wall. (Luckily not the tile!)

He is now tall enough or strong enough to pull himself up on the his eating table. He can also climb on the table blocking the fire place.

Eli standing on top of his table.

When I went to grab him, Eli sat down and smiled like he was saying,

"What mom, it is not big deal to stand on a table?"

Eli climbing on fire place table.

Eli starting to get down off the table.
Most times he does this without falling, although I try to be there to spot.

Today he emptied the toy box (the brown crates at the ends of the fireplace table, to help with the climbing), climbed on his eating table, got in the toy crate, and then climbed up onto the fireplace table. He then stood up and smiled at me. I asked him to get down. Instead of climbing off the table like normal he decided to go back the way he came. He climbed into the toy crate, but as he was climbing out of the crate onto the eating table the crate fell back off the fire place, with Eli still half in it. I was not spotting close enough. Eli fell while still half in the crate. (Eli is fine, not even a bump, but it scared both of us!)

I decided that since the crates, table, and no chairs were not keeping Eli off of the fire place and adding a fall hazard to my playroom that the tables and crates would have to find new homes.


Eli walking on the empty brick wondering what happened to his climbing playground.

Eli handing me a treasure found under the table!

Now my hope is that Eli does not start trying to climb through the fire place!!

This first day of spring in Texas

This last weekend it snowed!! The snow started the 20th and stopped sometime in the early morning of the 21st. We are not use to seeing snow on the first day of spring in Texas but it was a beautiful sight.

Our front yard, and Brandon's truck

The back, not as much as last time but still pretty.

Two Months of Pictures!

Sorry it has been so long since I posted pictures of Eli. Can you believe that Eli is almost 16 months?? Here is February and March in photos!

Eli taking a rest

To tired to look at the camera


Oh, the fun we have had with the climber! Thanks, Mimi!

Everyday trash can be such a treasure

Eli at his 6 week post surgery check up.

On that note, all is well. You can hardly see the scar and Eli is using his hand like always, not seeming to have any pain!

Uncle Blake had a class in Dallas and came to visit!

(yes my son is holding a box of feminine hygiene products, what a treasure)

Look at me Mommy!!

The nice staff at the paediatricians office gave Eli this hat to keep him happy while I was sick.

The hat has been a favorite!

Nothing like a construction worker in a diaper!

The hat is a little big so when Eli goes to fast, off the hat comes

Eli loves riding his lion! Thanks, Grandma Liz!

All smiles

A few weeks ago Amanda and Jane invited Eli and I to the newly remodeled Museum of Scenic and History. The kid area is great.

Eli under a train table

Eli playing with a train track

Playing with the trains

Eli doing a little shopping

Eli and Jane

Eli is a great checker, maybe a high school job??

Jane and Eli trying to shop together, this doesn't work from early on.

Eli loves playing outside. He throws the ball then chases it!

This one is not of Eli, but Jane is just too cute!!

Jane giving Eli a hug, I'm not sure he is excited about it.

Amy Curry and I at lunch with our boys...

Eli not eating but having a great time playing

Eli giving his fries to Hogan, this might be why Hogan is bigger?

I did not get the pic, but Eli was feeding Hogan at one point

Taking the boys picture... not easy to get them to look at the same time!

Eli and I went to the zoo for the first time since he has been walking.

Eli loved the birds!

Eli trying to catch a bird, they kept flying away?

Eli having fun with daddy

Saying goodbye to Aunt Lauren.

Uncle Blake and Aunt Lauren are all moved to Las Vegas. We are sad.

Eli loves Aunt Lauren, and I don't think he understands that we will not see her for awhile.

5 Years!!

On March 12 Brandon and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary! I can't believe it has been 5 years, not because they have dragged by, but because I feel like we are newly weds! Recently my brother and Lauren asked us to speak at their wedding (March 6th) and give a marriage blessing. In preparing it became a great opportunity to talk about what makes our marriage so wonderful. We decided to read 'The 10 Commandments of Our Family' that Brandon bought for me for our 1st anniversary. It was a reminder to us to keep the Lord first in our marriage. We have had a lot of ups and downs in the past five years, from buying a house, Brandon having job changes, having Eli, celebrating the birth of our nieces and nephews, celebrating many family weddings, to my mom fighting cancer, losing Micah, my dad getting sick, Brandon's mom having a cancer scare, and all the other crazy but wonderful things our families have going on!!


For our anniversary Brandon and I went to eat at Eddie Vs, a great restaurant in Fort Worth, then spent the night at the Worthington Hotel in down town.
It was a great night of fun, laughs, and sleep!! Yes, sleep. We slept in until 10:00 then had a nice breakfast at the Worthington. It was nice to eat a dinner and sleep without worrying about Eli.
I asked Brandon what he wanted to do after dinner, hoping he would want to go back to the Worthington and hang out (read and watch TV), but wanted to be open to a movie or walking around down town since we don't do that much. He wanted to go back, I new there was a reason to marry him!!

Here is the only pic of the night, us at Eddie Vs.

Tears

So have you ever started crying out of no where? Thursday night I was in the shower and started crying. I think it is the first time I have really cried for this last baby. Baby #4 has been gone for over two weeks and I thought I was OK about it. I know there will be hard times ahead (my brother and sister-in-law are due 12 days after our due date) but I felt like I was doing well. I guess I was wrong. I cried for like 30 minutes (the hot water was starting to turn cool). Even after I got out (who wants to be in a cold shower AND crying) I had trouble stopping the tears. I am not sure what started the tears, maybe looking down at my not flat (will it ever be flat again??) but not 15 weeks pregnant belly? Or it was late and I was tired? Or was it because my hormones are out of control still (my body still thinks it is pregnant but my numbers are coming down the way the doctor wants)? Or was it a just because? Or a little of everything?? I felt better after crying and I know I needed to grieve for baby #4.

The nurse that called to tell me my hormone numbers said it would take at least 2 more weeks, maybe more for my level to be down to normal (not pregnant). After that we are going to run some test to see if we can find any answers to why we have had two miscarriages. Then I think we are going to sit back and enjoy Eli for a bit (not that we are not enjoying him now). I need time and so does my body.

Thank you for all your prayers! Don't forget to cry when you need to!!

Blake's Wedding

Last weekend my little brother got married. He married a sweet girl named Lauren. She is a wonderful, caring person who we all love!! They will be living in Las Vegas for now but we pray that they will be moving closer to home soon. The weekend was filled with fun, family, and friends. We had a wonderful rehearsal dinner where we got to see the kids grow up in pictures. It was great to see all the pictures of Lauren and Blake growing up.
The wedding and the reception was also a great affair. Dancing, food, friends, and family.....

Here are a few pics of me with Lauren and me with my little brother Blake!

I have been so blessed with a wonderful sister and three wonderful sisters-in-law!!

BBQ at Our House!!

A few weeks ago Brandon and I had some friends over for a BBQ. We had a great time eating and talking. The kids were great fun also! Watching them run around and play is wonderful entertainment. Here is a pic of the kids:

Jacob Sivak, Hogan Curry, Anabelle Wall, Eli Fleming, Sarabeth Wall, and baby Adelyn Wall

Unfortunately Jane Wood was sick and not able to make it.

Here are the kids last May.

Jane Wood, Anabelle Wall, Eli Fleming, Sarabeth Wall, Hogan Curry, Jacob Sivak

How they grow!!

Eli 15 Months

Eli is 15 Months old!!

He is weighing in at 22.1 lb, 15 %
His height is 30 3/4 in, 45%

Eli is always on the move. He loves to go in circles! His daddy thinks I let him watch a little too much ice skating and ice dancing!! Eli loves to dance and is very big into anything that plays music. He will stop in the middle of a store and dance if there is music playing.

Eli is an expert climber. I am asking him to get down or grabbing him off something all the time. I have tried to take things that can be used as a step stool away or put them up to help with the climbing problem Eli has a climber that helps get some of the urge out of his system.

Eli loves being outside. With the weather that has been a bit hard but as the weather gets better I can see us spending hours playing outside!!

Eli loves to play ball. He throws the ball and then chases after it. He gets upset if the ball goes some place where he can't get it. Eli will even play ball with you, by bringing you the ball then wanting you to throw it to him.

Eli is a big daddy's boy. He loves when his daddy comes home and wants to play. Daddy always is ready to take on his little boy.

Eli is feeding himself now. He will only eat something off a spoon if he thinks it is from your plate. His favorite thing is grapes.

He has a few words, he is still saying ball and has added, uh-oh. Eli can say dada and mama but does not always use them correctly. We are working on more words!!

Eli is a big laugher. He gets to laughing so hard he will sometimes fall down. He likes to play the tickle monster game, but will start laughing before you even touch him.

I will post pictures later this week!!

Play Time

Eli loves to play with mommy and daddy in our king size bed. He finds his treasures right away, the hand held baby monitor and my chap stick, and starts rolling around holding onto both treasures. I have had to hide the monitor as of late because he has a good arm on him and has busted my lip a few times swinging it around. My favorite times are right before bed when we are trying to calm him down and he just seems to get more worked up, it is fun to watch. Although he is worked up he tends to go right to sleep when we do put him down, I think due to the fact he has used all his energy up.

Yesterday Eli and I went in to wake daddy up for church (Eli had been up for a few hours at this point). When I opened our door Eli let out a squeal and headed for the bed. He stands by the bed with his hands up, repeating dada, dada, dada. Daddy, not fully awake just looks over the edge at Eli. This makes Eli laugh and fall down. After we are all in bed, Eli with his treasure of chap stick (the monitor is safely hidden), Eli stands up and jumps on daddy. This happens over and over until daddy gets up to get ready. Eli starts crying because his playmate left him (I'm not as cool as daddy).

Although I love watching Eli play in our bed I miss those times when I could bring him in to bed with me at 6:00am and we could both sleep a little longer. Now Eli thinks that the "big" bed is for playing in, not sleeping!! Oh, well....


I love that we can spend hours just watching Eli and laughing. It is good for my heart.