One Month Old

Eli, where has the past month gone? A month has NEVER gone by so quickly. You are so big to me; you look less and less like an infant each day! Daddy and I love you soooo much, and you make our lives better than we ever imagined they could be!

Firsts: Everything! We have finally started making some trips "out into the world." We've been to places like Wal-Mart, Target, and Hobby Lobby. You went out to eat for the first time this weekend. You went to Daddy's church volleyball game last week. We've been to the pediatrician twice for well-child visits. You love to ride in the car! Mommy has left you with both Nana and Puddin' and Ginny and Pops while she got away for a little bit. You also got your first piece of mail: a birthday invitation to Kherington's 1st birthday party.

News headlines: Daddy thinks of you as his little good luck charm: you have yet to see Auburn or Central HS lose! Not much is happening in the world right now - or maybe it's just been that we've been too busy with you to notice!

Milestones: You lost your belly button stump at about 2 1/2 weeks. You are working hard to hold your head up (and are getting pretty close)! You also have some very strong legs - Daddy always tells people about that, but Mommy has been trying to tell him that for MONTHS! : ) Your pediatrician told us we no longer have to wake you up to feed you every four hours at night and to let you dictate your schedule a little more. You are going about six-seven hours at night before Mommy wakes you up to feed you (which makes Mommy and Daddy VERY happy)! You are becoming more and more alert and are able to focus a little more every day. You also are finding your hands. I love it when you hold them.

Measurements: At your last doctor's appointment you were 10 lbs, 14 oz, and were 22 inches long. We are certain that you are over 11 lbs now. You have outgrown all of your Newborn size clothes and some of the 0-3 month sized clothes. You are now in size 1 diapers.

Like Mommy: You love to sleep, and sometimes you just need a good cry!

Like Daddy: Your good looks and laid back personality!

Challenges: Sometimes you don't like being put down to sleep at night, but once you do go down you always do great. You have also started to spit up frequently, so we have started putting a bib on you to save ourselves from having to change clothes (ours and yours) so many times a day.

Our Days: We loved having Nana and Puddin' stay with us for about 10 days after Daddy first had to go back to work, but now it's just Eli and Mommy at home! We are starting to get into a routine - we usually get up at 4 and 7:30 to feed you. After Daddy goes to work, you and Mommy usually take a morning nap until 10-10:30. Sometimes we go surprise Daddy at school and have lunch with him. I think you both really like that! The rest of the day we eat, sleep, and play (and change lots of diapers)! At night we love to watch our shows with Daddy: the news with Katie Couric, Jeopardy, and Wheel of Fortune. Daddy gives you your bath at night. You love bath time! You love to hang your legs over the side of your bathtub hammock and run your feet back and forth in the water. Mommy and Daddy say prayers and sing to you before we put you down to sleep. Sometimes we read you stories too (sometimes we skip the stories because we're so tired). Your favorite songs are 'You Are My Sunshine', 'Jesus Loves Me', 'I Love to Tell the Story' (really, you love any hymn), and 'War Eagle'!

Funny/Favorite Moments: We LOVE to see you stretch. You stretch SO BIG when we get you out of your car seat or your swing. It's one of our favorite things to watch you do (we even video taped it). We also love the face you make as you sneeze! Your smiles make us melt. One night you were asleep in the pack n play beside our bed and you let out a LOUD toot. Mommy and Daddy both laughed so hard. It was even funnier because we both thought the other one was asleep, but we were really just listening to you sleep!

Nicknames: You have several nicknames! Sometimes we call you Stretch (or Stretch Armstrong), Baby Burrito (you love to be swaddled and you look like a little burrito when you're all wrapped up), Burrito Supreme (if you are swaddled very tightly), Billy Goat (you sound like a billy goat when you get really upset and are crying), Little Piggy (you snort when you get very hungry), Squirmy Wormy, Little Man, Dude, and Buddy.

Upcoming Events: Next month you FINALLY get to meet Uncle Clark and Aunt Caitlin; you are SO EXCITED! You will also be going to Auburn soon, we hope you get to meet Aubie. Finally, Mommy has to go back to work in a few weeks. She dreads leaving you and can't believe how fast it's approaching.