the ENT

 Yesterday we FINALLY had our ENT referral.  Eli made friends with everyone in the waiting room, which is no surprise!  He was in such a good mood at the doctor.  He wore himself out speed crawling around all the chairs in the office.

At the visit Dr. Morpeth checked Eli's ears and said that they were a little red and dull, but not too bad.  He also agreed that tubes were the route to go.  He said that once the patients start getting shots of Rocephin (sidenote:  Dr. M said this is a very painful medicine and a painful drug...made me feel bad for my little man and explained why he cried SO MUCH after those two shots) it's pretty much the end of the road for what the pediatrician can do.

The scheduling lady was out of the office today, so we'll be expecting a call from her next Monday or Tuesday to set up an appointment for Eli to get his tubes put in.  So now we wait some more I guess!

11 Months Old

Does time fly when you're having fun or what?!  Eli, we cannot believe you are 11 months old.  Just in the past two weeks it has really hit me how much less you look like a baby and how much more you look like a toddler!  You bring immeasurable joy and happiness to your Dad and me.  Every night I lay you down and think I couldn't love you anymore than I already do, and yet each morning I wake up loving you more than I did the day before.  You are such a happy and content baby (*most* of the time).  People ask us all the time if you're always this happy, and the answer is yes!  We pray that you always know contentment and joy like you do now.  I'm so excited for the month ahead and your first birthday, and yet a little sad at the same time.  Time is going by so quickly.  Sometimes I wish that I could hang on to these days just a little longer, but I love watching you grow and find new things to explore!

Firsts: time becoming a big cousin, Jones/Taff family reunion, celebrating Mommy & Daddy's anniversary, trip to NOLA

News headlines: Casey Anthony is found not guilty (except for lying to law enforcement) and is released from jail, The duke and duchess of Cambridge (Will & Kate) visit America, Women's World Cup (USA loses to Japan in the finals), NFL lock out is officially over

Milestones: in addition to everything that you were doing last month...you can stand on your own for 4-5 seconds at a time, you get around by crawling or walking (holding on to furniture, walls, etc.) VERY well, still only eight teeth, you are feeding yourself well and basically eat three times a day, you nurse three times a day still and take a sippy cup (we said bye bye to the bottle) of either breast milk or whole milk the rest of the time, you love to climb and are pretty fearless (you try to scale anything that stands still), and you know where all of your favorite things are in every room-including the things you are not supposed to play with.  You will hand things back and forth with Daddy and me.  You have also gotten MUCH better when getting in your car seat.  It's not the battle it once was.

Measurements: Size 3 diapers, size 12 month clothes, 22.5 lbs, and 28 or so inches long

Like Mommy: eyes, books, and our toes are kind of alike

Like Daddy: you love being outside, laid back personality like Daddy

Favorite Toys: cell phones and remotes, keyboards, balls, playing peek a boo and patty cake

Sounds: /b/, /m/, /d/, /n/, you say 'mmmm' when you eat and you like it, you can say 'mom-ma' (it melts my heart every time!), 'da-da', and 'bye bye', you're pretty close to the /p/ sound also.  You can also say 'grrrr' and blow your lips where you make a sound like a motor boat!

Challenges: Those pesky ears!  Learning to walk, and you've begun to throw fits (head is thrown back, back arches, and you lock up) if you don't get your way - I told your Dad just this week that your sin nature is really beginning to become evident!  : )

Our Days: You stay up much later than most babies your age, but that will change when we go back to school.  Right now we don't go to bed until 10:30 or 11-yikes!  You sleep until 8-9 am, but are still waking up about 2x a night crying and pulling at your ears.  You basically eat three meals a day.  We don't do baby food unless we're traveling, and only then because it's easier and we're unsure of what we'll be eating and when.  You pretty much have all table food - a lot of fruits and veggies!  You nurse three times a day-morning, afternoon nap, and bedtime.  In between you take 6 oz of breast or whole milk two to three times.  You play hard during the day and either take two naps (an hourish morning nap, and a longer afternoon nap) or one long (3 and a half hours) afternoon nap.  It just kind of depends on how long we slept and how your night was.

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's Favorite: Seeing you with your little cousin, Madelyn!

Daddy's Favorite: Eating beignets with Eli and Mommy!

Nicknames: Squirmy or Squirmy Bug is what we usually call you, but there's Little Man, Buddy, and now Big Cuz too.  When you've just woken up we call you Drunk Monkey! : )

Upcoming Events: Back to School and First Birthday!!!

13 on Thursday

13 Things I Did Today:

1.  Eli and I drove to Auburn and ate lunch with one of my Cohort C friends (college bff's).  I forgot to get a picture!

2.  Eli and I napped on the couch this afternoon.

3.  I bought groceries.

4.  I talked to my Dad on the phone.

5.  I watched 'The Facebook Obsession' on CNBC - very interesting.

6.  I ate a bowl of cereal-Frosted Mini Wheats, my fav.

7.  I started painting my new treasure chest for my classroom.

8.  Eli and I played with balls and shovels.

9.  I loaded the dishwasher.

10.  I should have done Eli's 11 month blog post-but didn't, maybe tomorrow.

11.  I watched a documentary on Milton Hershey and the Hershey Company.

12.  I changed more diapers than I remember.

13.  I loaded the dishwasher.

And that's been my day!  Only one week of summer left.  I plan on soaking up every minute of it!

Ears...AGAIN

After our last visit to our pediatrician to check Eli's ears (the fourth in three months and still having fluid present on both ears) we determined that a referral to the ENT was necessary.  Our visit is this Friday.

However, Eli pulled at his ears a lot while we were in Texas.  He wasn't sleeping well (as usual), not eating and drinking regularly, and was cranky and irritable (very uncommon for my good natured baby).  On our way back from Texas Eli began screaming and crying around Meridian.  We called the on-call nurse and she sent us to after hours at the Medical Center.  We came flying back in the parking lot and made it there about 3 minutes before they locked the doors.

I did NOT like the doctor we saw.  He told us his ears were red, but not the worst he'd ever seen.  He wasn't going to do anything for us since we already had an ENT referral, but 6 days is a long time to wait it out with a screaming baby.  So his intern recommended a shot of Rocephin, a very strong antibiotic.  We took that and went home.

Sunday night/Monday morning, just past midnight Eli woke up screaming like nothing I've ever heard before.  It was a cry like extreme pain.  Nothing Wesley or I could do soothed him.  We tried walking, singing, soothing, feeding, and more.  He finally cried himself to sleep.  I was about 2 minutes away from loading the car up and heading to the emergency room.  It was that bad.

Monday afternoon we found ourselves back in the pediatrician's office.  Little man weighed in at exactly 22 1/2 lbs.  Dr. Y took a look at his ears and said that they were VERY red, had puss behind them, and the fluid was still there.  She gave us another shot of Rocephin and a prescription of Tylenol with codeine to take the edge off of the pain until our ENT visit on Friday.  Dr. Y also said that Eli had some type of viral infection, but it appeared he was getting already over it and didn't need treating, but this could explain why he wasn't eating/drinking much.

She also said that tubes are definitely in our future and Eli would certainly benefit from them.  I'm ready to get them so my little man can finally get over this!

(I'll be back later today with pictures and Eli's 11 month blog post!)

13 on Thursday

13 Random Things I Should Have Posted Yesterday (Thursday)

1.  We've been gone from home 2 weeks now.  I'm ready to be home.  I miss my bed and running the air how I like it!  : )

2.  The past week I spent with my sister (more on that later).  I hate it's been under the circumstances it has; but God is good and it has worked out just fine.  I have truly treasured the time I've been able to spend with my sister.  I don't get to see her often.

3.  There are just less than two weeks left in summer.  We can't wait to spend them at home and filled with some good, quality family time.  However, I've got to squeeze a little time in my classroom in there too.  I've done notta in there.

4.  I am going to miss my big boy baby boy terribly.  I get a little teary eyed just thinking about it, but at the same time I'm ready to see my kiddos from last year.  They were a unique, hard working group and I grew quite attached to them.  Even though they won't be mine anymore, I'm ready to see them and hear how their summers were!

5.  Eli is soooo close to walking.  Part of me wants him to do it before we go back to school (August 4) because I want to be the one to see it first, but part of me doesn't mind it delaying because I want to hold on to the last little bit of baby that there is in him.

6.  I finally watched the Justin Bieber documentary, Never Say Never.  Despite all the teasing I've received about it, I liked it!  I think he's got such a neat story, although I think he definitely owes his expedited rise to fame to social networking.

7.  I know it's hot everywhere, but Texas is HOT.  Trust me.

8.  I certainly don't want to wish away life or rush our days, but I'm looking forward to the fall.  I love fall weather, fall decorations, fall activities (football), fall clothes, and yummy fall recipes!  I think all of these things will be so much fun with Eli this year!

9.  Pinterest may be my new favorite thing.  It's an ingenious idea.  I'm addicted.

10.  I don't know if I've read a single book this summer....which is shocking for me.

11.  I've got a few burlap projects I'm going to do when we get home.  I'm excited to start them.  I will show them off once they're completed.

12.  I've got some great pictures of Eli and Madelyn to put on here, but I'm too lazy to do it right now.

13.  My brother has officially (as if we had any doubts) been accepted to Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC.  Congrats, Uncle Z!  We are so proud of you and excited for you!

Welcome Baby Madelyn

We left NOLA Friday morning with all intentions of heading home (via a pit stop in Birmingham).  About the time we got to Meridian, MS, we got a call from my sister that baby Madelyn was on her way and would be here by midnight.  We quickly headed west and prayed we'd make it in time.  We were still 8 hours away!

We arrived in Arlington just after 9pm.  We got to spend just a few minutes with Caitlin and Clark.  At 11:27 p.m. on July 15 this sweet girl entered the world!  Meet my niece...

Madelyn Elizabeth

She is the sweetest little girl and I have loved holding her and spending some time with my sister and brother in law.

Eli is taking to his role as the big cousin very well.  We had a little photo shoot.  Nana brought Eli and Maddie matching "Current Family Favorite" outfits.  Here's big cuz (as we like to call him now) holding little cuz!

One of my favorite pictures from the weekend.  Trying to get pictures of the grandkids with Nana & Puddin.  Eli kept knocking Nana out of the way so he could get a better look at Maddie!  : )

"Know that the LORD is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His..."

Psalm 100:3

You Make Me Smile

These are my boys making the Eli face at me.  The face is accompanied by a sound made by heavily inhaling and exhaling through his nose.

Eli makes this face all the time, and we love it!  He started doing it a few weeks ago.  It gets a laugh every time he does it, so he does it often-at least 10 times a day!  Also, if we scrunch our nose up at Eli he takes this as his cue to perform his new trick!

I need to get this on video too.  It's one of those small things I hope I never forget!  : )

NOLA - VI

Thursday, our last day in NOLA, we took Eli to Audubon Zoo.  We've been to several zoos, so we feel pretty confident in saying that this was a pretty good zoo.  We were closer to a lot of the animals than we ever have been before.  We also saw some animals we'd never seen before!

Eli loves animals!  One of his favorites were the flamingos.

See how excited he was!  He laughed over and over again watching them.

Next we saw elephants.

This is how little man looked at the animals.  He was very serious and studied them all very well!

Petting a sheep at the petting zoo!

Eli wasn't so sure about the goats.  I can't blame him; I hate those things.

They had a Louisiana Swamp section of the zoo that featured animals indigenous to the area.  Wesley loved the gators.  This one was covered in swamp goo.  These things can stand ridiculously still.  It was crazy how long they can go without blinking!

They also had white alligators.  The gators almost looked statue-like because they were SO still!

Eli has a zoo animals touch and feel book, so he knew the toucan when we knew the toucan when we saw it.  "This bird hops, it rarely flies; it's hard you see, with a beak this size."  (Can you tell we've read it a few times?)

The jaguar exhibit was another favorite!

After our trip to the zoo we came back to the room to eat a late lunch and we all took long naps!  Afterwards we walked back to the River Walk to grab one last snack at Cafe Du Monde!

I love the look on little man's face.  He was like, 'Who are you kidding?  I'm not posing for a picture, Mom.  I want beignets!"

NOLA - V

We got a very late start on Wednesday.  Our day started with a little drama.  Let's just say I had to google, "my baby ate poop".  He actually only stuck it in his mouth, and he's going to be fine, but it did create some excitement!  : )

After the excitement died down, we ('we' as in Eli) napped and we all some ate lunch before venturing out.  We drove by the Superdome and the New Orleans Arena.

Then we drove down to the Lower Ninth Ward to see what it looks like nearly six years after Katrina.  The land there is so ridiculously flat, it's no wonder they suffered the damage they did from storm surge.

I didn't take very many pictures because while the impoverishment is extensive in many areas, it's still home to the people there.  Many parts have been rebuilt, but a lot hasn't been.  This is one picture of an abandoned house, and this is really mild compared to what was left of a lot of the homes there.

Other areas were nothing but empty lots.  You could see nothing but the foundation of homes that once existed.  Other lots looked like no yard maintenance had been done post-Katrina.  Seriously, we saw grass thicker than anything I've ever seen in my life and weeds at least 6 feet tall.

One area of the 9th ward in particular was being rebuilt.  They were all houses with a modern twist:  weird angles, unusual siding, funky roofs.  I don't know if that was done to be "green" or, to withstand hurricanes and storms, or if it was the look that a particular builder was going for.  However, all of the houses in this area that are nearest the levee and have been rebuilt are built up tall on cinder blocks.  Some of them were so tall that they were parking their cars underneath.  Again, I felt funny about taking pictures of people's houses, so this is the only one.

A closer view of the house standing on blocks.

A view of the levee.  As of January 1, 2011, FEMA is no longer in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans.

This is a shot I took when we were going over the bridge leaving the Ninth Ward.  The levee is on the left and that's the 9th Ward itself on the right.

Another picture taken from the bridge.  This time the levee is on the right.

After our driving excursion we came back and left the car to do some walking.  We had an afternoon snack at Cafe Du Monde.  If you're keeping up that's beignets 4/5 days so far!  : )

Eli loves beignets.  Notice I'm holding his hand back.

(In case you're wondering, I'm not giving him the sugar.  Just pinches of the inside of the beignets.  He did try the powdered sugar yesterday, but that's been it!)

After our snack we walked on down to the French Market.  It's a Farmer's Market and a Flea Market.  The fruit at the Farmer's Market smelled soooo good!  We didn't buy anything, but it was neat to walk around and look at everything.

After leaving the market we just continued to walk through the French Quarter and look at all of the buildings.  We enjoyed it; it was late in the afternoon, there was a lot of shade, and the heat wasn't quite as sweltering as it has been.  I love ferns.  I wish mine were this green.  So pretty!

NOLA - IV

Yesterday we walked the five or so blocks and met Annette, Austin, and Sophie at the Louisiana Children's Museum.  We went for toddler time, but got there about 45 minutes early and enjoyed some free play time first.

Eli thinks he has become quite the daredevil lately.  He climbs up as high as he can get,

and then climbs down by leaning over, putting his head on the ground, followed by his hands and then slowly the legs come down too.  I will say that he is very careful!

Eli climbs in, Sophie climbs out, and Austin slides down.

Stairs are Eli's newest trick.  He climbed up these all by himself!  He did this several times.  Wesley would then help him slide down the slide next to the stairs.

There were several kids there for toddler time.  All of them bigger than Eli.  They talked about picnics, but this is what Eli thought about that.  He crawled off; he was not interested in picnics or how to make a sandwich!

After toddler time we walked through the rest of the museum with Annette, Austin, and Sophie.  It was lunch time and nap time by this point and Eli was beginning to get fussy.  We parted ways and went back to our resort for a nap.  After we napped we drove to Metairie to do a little shopping and to have dinner again with Matthew (my cousin), Annette, Austin, and Sophie.  Annette made a DELICIOUS tomato bow-tie pasta with sausage.  It was seriously sooo good!  Eli showed off how well he could climb.  He kept climbing up and over Austin's Mickey Mouse chair to the couch which he would try to climb up and over.  Wesley would then lower him to the floor behind the couch and he would do his speed crawl to the stairs and try to climb the 12 or so stairs to the second floor.  He would smile and look so proud of himself every time.

After dinner we came back to the resort and watched How the States Got Their Shapes.  We love this show.  Wesley and I are History Channel addicts.  You must watch it if you haven't ever seen it before.  This is about the only show I watch this summer.  I'm ready for Biggest Loser to come back on.

NOLA - III

Today we went to the Riverwalk and walked around.

A shout out to Mardi Gras.  Last time we were in NOLA for the Sugar Bowl in 2005, we went to Mardi Gras World, which was really neat but not something we'd go do again.

We played a little dress up,

and Eli wrestled a gator.

Daddy even got creative with the escalator.  Eli wasn't sure what to think.  The guy beside us loved this, haha.

We even came across another Cafe Du Monde in the food court, so we got anniversary beignets!  They were just as delicious as the beignets from Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter.  It's a good thing we don't live here.  We've already gotten these 2 out of the 3 days we've been here.  I think my husband wants to make daily trips.

Little man was awake this time, and insisted that he see for himself what all the hype has been about.

Hey Eli, you've got a little something on your lip...

The sugary remnants!

Then we took a stroll down Bourbon Street.

A look down Bourbon St.

Eli kept his eyes closed the whole way down.

I think I've said it already, but I'll say it again:  It's been so nice to be so relaxed on this vacation and not do too much of anything.  We've had a busy few weeks, and have enjoyed chilling out on this trip!