This may just be the mama talking, but really, does it get any cuter than this? Holy mackerel, this kid is adorable!!

This thing is like baby crack! Kevin had the fantastic idea to hang a cool mobile over Eli's changing table. We had an extra, so up it went. We had no idea he would be so fascinated by the thing! He stares and talks to it long after the diapering business is done. I have been known to read a book next to the changing table while the stinker entertains himself wiht the mobile. Crazy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA MARTY!!
Eli can't wait to see you soon and give you a big birthday slobber.

Eli is obviously a mover and a shaker. This weekend, he went with us to Mobile, Alabama to see our friends Paige and John get married. The wedding was beautiful, the bride simply gorgeous and the reception was scrumptious (candy apples-- yum!). Eli was a perfect gentleman and slept in his Bjorn the whole time. He even refrained from spitting up on his mama's nice outfit or his daddy's tux, which we found particularly winsome. Eli is a good little traveler!
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Bottle day! Eli took his first bottle of breastmilk a few days ago. We had tried before, but didn’t have the right nipple or atmosphere (he’s a sensitive little guy). This attempt was very successful and it means that dad can get in on the act of feeding, which is much more fun than diaper-changing. Does this make Mommy obsolete?

I’m a believer. I do not want to regularly make this blog an place for product endorsements, but I’ve finished reading a book that has changed my day and maybe even my month.

As previously mentioned, sweet little Eli really doesn’t like to be put down. Ever. Ever ever. This is mostly fine and his daddy and I are happy to accommodate since we live to hold the little guy. He’s so soft and warm, he is pretty much irresistible. But occasionally, one needs two hands, or a shower, and every so often, Kevin and I would like to eat a meal together. Like, at the same time. At the same table. And a couple of hours of sleep would be nice, too. Not that we’re picky.

So this book, “The Happiest Baby on the Block”, talks a little about how to get fussy babies to feel safe and comfortable enough to be put down for a little while, and it describes some gentle, comforting techniques for getting little babies to sleep a little longer. Nothing drastic, just a few different things layered on top of one another to make the little fussies a little less fussy.

Ladies and gentlemen, I must tell you, right now, Eli is swaddled like a burrito (which he previously hated), in his swing (ditto), with an untuned radio playing static in his little ear. And he has been ASLEEP for 2 hours. And I’m typing with two hands. Miracles never cease! I promise not to overuse this technique and abandon my son to the swing, but it really feels great to know that something works.

Thank you Dori for recommending this book and encouraging me to keep at it.

Now, I will go write all those thank you notes I’m behind on!

And now for the best news ever!

We're not pushing our luck, but it seems that Eli is beginning to get the concept of sleep. Between the good reflux medicine and his Mama and Daddy's gettign their act together, he is starting to sleep for a few hours at a stretch every night without any major screaming fits. It feels like a milestone and a miracle all wrapped up in a Christmas package.

Hooray!

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandma and Grandpa Simmons house we went. Eli was an angel in the car and slept most of the five hour drive.



Eli got to meet many of his Pilot Mountain family members. He had a great time with Uncle David and Aunt Jaime and got kisses from their Jack Russels, Abby and Ibis. Aunt Jaime is a champion shopper and now Eli has some spiffy new outfits.



On Sunday, Eli met his great aunt Sandra and great aunt Martha Rae and his cousin Judy. He really liked meeting his Great Grandmother Reeves, too. He is named after her daddy, so that was a special meeting.

A good weekend was had by all!

An apology to all of our faithful readers... I've been having some trouble getting photos up on Blogger, so I haven't posted much. I hope that photos will work more often and I'll be able to keep you updated on the little monster! Thanks for your patience.

The sponge bath days are over! Eli's belly button is all healed so he got his first real bath! Oddly enough, he enjoyed the bath much more than he ever enjoyed getting sponged off. I think he may be a water baby, just like his mama and daddy.

Is there any better smell in the world than the smell of a clean baby?

Eli's not so fond of sponge baths, but he is so sweet-smelling and cute when it is over!

Whew. It has been a challenging couple of days. Eli has been a cranky little guy. Two great nights earlier this week (each with a four hour sleep stretch!) have been followed by two wide-awake nights (1 hour 15 minutes is the longest he slept) and fussy days. What is this all about? Gas? Hunger? Growth? Maybe it is just because he is a baby and the world is just too darn big to figure out right now. In any case, we're all pretty exhausted around here. Please send some sleep vibes in our direction!

Eli continues to be amazing and hilarious even though he doesn't do much of anything. His Grandma and Grandpa Simmons came to visit last week and brought all sorts of love and presents from Pilot Mountain. He got a kick out of his Grandma and Grandpa and they in turn loved to cuddle and squeeze on him. We can't wait to see them again!

Uncle David and Aunt Jaime sent a rockin' swing. Eli is still not so sure about sitting in anything that isn't directly attached to one of his parents, but he did manage to spend about ten minutes swinging before having a meltdown. Tomorrow, we'll try for 11 minutes. Baby steps...



Eli is also getting better at tolerating nighttime. Doesn't look like any of us will be getting a a full compliment of sleep any time soon, but we're working out the kinks and getting a little at a time when His Lordship deems it appropriate. Oddly, this never seems to be during the hours of midnight-8am.

Eli's honorary Aunt Alison came by all the way from New Haven, CT. Eli liked her a lot. Alison brought some fancy soap and lotion for me and now I smell like camelias for the five minutes a day that I don't smell like sour milk or diaper deposits. The joys of parenthood!