Soup's On!

At long last, it's time for Eli to start eating food.

After six months of nursing (and refusing to take a bottle at all), Eli is officially ready to branch out into the exciting world of mush. That means I can leave the house for more than two hours and know I won't return to a mad baby.  Woot!!

Eli entertained while Daddy prepared the grub.  First, he showed us how to make raspberries.

Next, screaming at the top of his lungs for no reason but because he can.

(The big kids think this is HIGH-larious.)

Okay, on with the show.  Don't be scared.

Well, be a little scared.  Rice cereal. Yuck.

Let the feeding begin.

He liked it...okay...I guess.  He ate a couple of tablespoons, anyway.

  Eating Lesson #1:  Do not make raspberries while eating.

A good daddy knows how to make the "feeding the baby" face.



 



Feeding the baby=entertainment the whole family will enjoy.  Who knew?

Making Room

With baby number one, you're ready. You have the nursery planned to every last detail. Maybe you even have a little mural painted on the wall. You buy one of those bedding sets where you can only use 2 of the 6 pieces (but you don't know that yet). You own at least one of every baby gizmo ever created and things are done weeks and weeks before your due date.

But number three...number three is different. When our number three turned 5 months old, we realized it was time to figure out where the heck to put this kid.

So, a couple of weeks ago we bumped Nate to Brooke's room and Eli took over. I risked waking him to take a few sleeping baby pictures. Aren't sleeping babies the best?

G'night!

Birthday Party!

Nate got two parties this year!

Okay, so the first was a little thrown together. We met some friends at a nearby cupcake shop.  This is Nate with his most favorite person in the world, Bryce.  Bryce is a "bigger boy."  He probably gets tired of hearing his own name when Nate is around.  He's a good sport about it, though.

The second was our usual small family gathering.  You won't find anything Pin-worthy here, but it is such a sweet time.  We order a cake and balloons and the kiddos can't wait for the grandparents to come.  Here's my mom sneaking Nate a pre-birthday-cake cookie.

This year Nathan wanted a Spiderman party.  We've never seen any Spiderman movies or shows and, until recently, didn't own any Spiderman books.  I have no idea how he even knew what Spiderman was.  But once he decided he wanted Spiderman, all of Mama's cutesie tractor party ideas were out the window. 

To get icing this bright add 56 parts food coloring to 1 part icing.

Nate blew out the candles like a champ! It was so, so fun to watch.

A birthday kiss from the sister.

At the end of the day, he said blowing out the candles on his cake was his favorite part of the day.  Every time we ate leftover cake he asked us to get out the candles and sing. :-)  I love him.    

Then...presents!

Brooke made Nate a bracelet and book and wrapped it.  She couldn't wait to finally give it to him.

Can you tell I had planned on a tractor party?  Oh, well.
Such a fun day celebrating three sweet years!!  Thank you so much to the grandparents.  And happy birthday to you, Nathan!! :-)  We love you so much, buddy. 

Downtown

Last week we ventured downtown to the City Garden.  It's a cool little park right in the middle of downtown St. Louis.  It has tons of sculptures and water features for kids. 

Fun!

The park has a splash pad.  I thought Nate would be all for it, but he wouldn't go near them.  So Brooke had enough fun for the both of them.

Eli was such a little angel!  He sat and looked around and didn't make a peep the whole time we were gone.  He must be trying to make up for those first few months.  It's hard to imagine his little feet will be splashing next summer, too. 

This is what Nate loved.  A flat pad with a thin layer of water running down it. Who knew? Anyone know where I can pick one of these up? 

Happy summering! :-)

Three!

My big guy turned three on Friday!  

If you're at all familiar with this blog, you know that I get a little sentimental when it comes to birthdays.  I say things like, "He's getting so big!" or  "She's four and then she'll be five, then six..!" 

And...I'm probably going to do it again this year. :-)

So let's get started. 

Nathan.  He has so many great qualities.

 He's a manly man.

...with a sensitive side (they're hula dancing) (I don't know why).

He appreciates fine literature (and dinosaur books, too).

He's a total comedian...

...with a bit of a wild side.

But he can be seriously sweet, too.

He loves trains, playing sports, going to Aldi's, his blanket, the color green and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

He doesn't like most foods, taking naps and the notion of potty training. 

When I tell him I love him he says, "Awwww." At night he asks me to "tuck in my two feets"  and snuggles "the puppy that lost his nose."

And he does and says a million other things that make me smile everyday.

I so love that little boy.  Happy 3, Nate!!

Love, Mama  

Baby Fix

Need a baby fix?  Come on in.
Eli is a little more than four months old already.

The newborn fussies have fizzled and he's entered my favorite baby phase. He's content, happy and...dare I say...easy-going.  He's squishy and his little body is covered in dimples and rolls.  He's finding his feet and sucking his toes. He loves to talk and coo.  He smells absolutely, completely amazing.
He's so there. 

Oh, he is yummy right now. Oh chubby thighs!  How do I love thee...

Can chubby thighs be the new black?  Please??

Must go.  I have cheeks to smush.  (And drool to wipe.)

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge: All Boy

This week I'm entering the photo challenge over at I Heart Faces.

The theme is "All Boy."

For me, a certain little someone immediately came to mind.

I love this picture because it is just so him right now.

This is often the scene in our dining room-turned-playroom.  Nathan, age 2, lost in his make-believe world, where trains talk and Cranky the Crane can always save the day.  And with no pants on, of course.

I so love my all-boy boy.  :-)