Last Weekend

Last weekend we headed to Auburn to see our Tigers take on Florida Atlantic.  Eli has been to Auburn several times before.  He tailgated and did Tiger Walk numerous times last year, and even attended the homecoming game, but this was his first game of the 2011 season!

We didn't 100% sure we would be going until Saturday morning.  Eli was still sick through Friday evening.  Thankfully, that seemed to be the last of it and our boy is finally back to himself!

This was Eli's first time to meet his pal Lily!

 What's left of Sewell Hall.  It was so odd to see the former athletic dormitory torn down.  Wesley lived here his first two years at Auburn.

After seeing this sight, we walked to see the new indoor practice facility and outdoor football practice field.

Eli loved getting to stretch his legs and Puddin enjoyed watching!

Family photo in the Jordan Hare

 Here we were last year in Jordan Hare!

(same seats)

Eli was such a good boy during the game.  He slept through about half of it, and the most of the other half he sat like this.  We left at 9 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

We loved getting to see the band!

YAY band!

Go TIGERS!

Towards the end of the game E got a little restless and began to enjoy play time with Nana and Puddin!

We are a little disappointed about our lose to Clemson last week.  Like all good things, Eli's streak of never seeing Auburn lose came to an end; but we enjoyed seeing Auburn defeat FAU 30-14.

We are excited to be back in Auburn and at another game when the Florida Gators come to town!  This time lil cuz (and her parents) and Uncle Z will be with us!  WAR EAGLE!

13 on Thursday

13 Random thoughts going through my head

1.  Payday is tomorrow-woot, woot!

2.  There are about a zillion things that I want to do on Pinterest right now.

3.  My husband rocks.  He cooked supper last night-bbq chicken, potatoes, and green beans.  Delish!

4.  I ordered Toms.  I know they're ugly shoes, but I've heard so many great things about them.  My brother is a huge Toms fanatic.

5.  My brother says he's starting a blog...I'm waiting, Zach.

6.  I'm still reading Water for Elephants.  Such an interesting story.  My next book is The Hunger Games.

7.  We have two birthday parties to go to on Saturday.  One of Eli's friends is turning 3, the other is turning 2.  A trip to Toys R Us is in order soon.

8.  There's been much talk about the Braves and the wild card in this house this week.  My husband has been stressed, haha.

9.  Two more weeks until my brother, sister, brother in law, and niece will be here!

10.  PBJs and animal crackers have been my lunch this week.

11.  I am a creature of habit.  We ate out and had Mexican Tuesday night.  First time I haven't gotten a quesadilla.  I shared fajitas with Wesley.  Next time I'll go back to the quesadilla.

12.  I need some new earrings.  STUDS.  Little man pulls hair, ears, etc.

13.  For a Relay for Life donation, we get to wear jeans on Fridays.  I'm so excited!  I love wearing jeans. I only have three pairs of pants that fit for work.  I'm in trouble when it turns cooler because none of them are pants!

(mostly) Wordless Wednesday

Daddy is so mean....

Monogram Shower

In August Mom and I threw a monogram bridal shower for my friend Emily.  Emily and I have been friends since third grade, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding two years ago, and I am so excited to be in her wedding in just a few months.

This was the drink table...I took it to show off the painting above - Emily painted that herself!

Mom got so many of our ideas off of pinterest!  These flowers (I can't remember what kind) in green apples were on the bar and were so pretty and such a bright pop!

My mom, Emily, and I

Emily and her mom

I didn't get a good picture of the food table, but I got to use so much of my china and serving pieces I got as wedding gifts a few years ago.  It was fun to pull all of that out!

In addition to the apple baums (sp?) we made, we used a lot of white, burlap, and crystal in decorating.

And, what's any good shower without petite fours and cheese straws?  mmmm, soooo good!  Emily got several great gifts and a lot of new monograms to help kick the wedding festivities off!

13 Months Old

I couldn't decide if I was going to continue with these monthly surveys during Eli's second year of life, but he is continuing to grow so much and learning so many new things each week that it just makes sense to continue!

Eli, one year and one month old...wow!  You continue to capture our hearts and fill us with joy.  You make Daddy and I so happy and our lives so full!  You make every day exciting and fresh.  We love you Squirmy Bug!

Firsts: seeing Toomers rolled, stomach virus (first time being sick other than ear infections)

News headlines: NASA satellite fell from space to Earth, 10 year anniversary of September 11

Milestones: You are a busy boy!  Your climbing skills are improving.

Measurements: Size 3 diapers, size 12 month clothes, just over 22 lbs and about 29 inches

Like Mommy: We love books!

Like Daddy: You love playing outside.!

Favorite Toys: blocks, opening/closing doors, and you love to play a game when people cough!  You fake cough and then get a sly grin on your face.  It's adorable and we love to play along!

Sounds: /b/, /m/, /d/, /n/, you say 'mmmm' when you eat and you like it, 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!  You love to make a sound like an Indian!  You pat your hand over your mouth and say /ughhh/!

Words:  momma, dada, bye bye, and baby (although it sounds more like "bebe")

Challenges: The stomach virus that you had a very hard time getting rid of.

Our Days:.  You are finally sleeping well through the night again.  We're so glad those tubes have been beneficial for you.  You get up on school mornings between 5:30-6:30.  You get dropped off at school around 7:30 and picked up just after 4.  You take a 2 1/2 hr nap at school, and then usually another hour nap when we get home.  We play hard in the afternoons.  After supper you get a bath and we try to have you to bed by 8:30.  You are also still nursing three times a day (morning, after school, and night), otherwise you drink whole milk or apple juice/water.  You eat pretty much anything we do. You love fruit!

Funny/Favorite Moments

Mommy's Favorite: Even though I hated you being sick, I loved getting to stay home with you and all the good snuggle time we got together.  I love taking you to Auburn too!

Daddy's Favorite: You and Mommy completing the Diva Dash

Nicknames: any variation of Squirmy (Squirms, Squirmy Bug, and more), Daddy calls you Big Man, Mommy calls you Little Man

Upcoming Events: Birthday parties for friends, more Auburn games, and cousin Maddie (and her parents, and uncle Z) coming for a visit

A Rough Few Days

*Disclaimer:  Skip this post if you don't want to see words like "throw up" and "diarrhea" on your screen!

We've had a rough few days around here.  It started last Sunday with Wesley battling a stomach bug which knocked him out for the day, but has kept him at less than his best most of the week.

Tuesday morning we got a call that Eli had been throwing up at daycare.  Wesley left to go get him (we had JUST pulled in the parking lot at school) while I scrambled to get a sub.  I took Eli to the doctor and it appeared to be just a bug that he got from his Daddy.

Four days later my sweet boy is still throwing up and having daily diarrhea.  Wednesday Eli went back to school but they said he was very lethargic and clingy all day.  Wednesday night and early Thursday morning he got sick.  Thursday he stayed home with his Daddy.  Friday he went back to school, but by 8:00 they had called to say he was throwing up again.  We are changing sheets and clothes daily, have washed toys, cleaned house, etc.

We went back to the doctor today and from there were sent to the hospital to have lab work done.  Thankfully everything came back normal, but it was a very traumatic experience for Squirmy Bug.  Then, we get home from the hospital and he's throwing up again and having more diarrhea.  They are still sticking to the story that it's something viral and just taking awhile to work its way out.

While I have loved a week full of snuggling, I really want my boy to feel like himself again.  Pray he does!

And because no post is complete without a picture of the cutest little face....

(even if it is a face that was caught off guard!)

Get Your Rear in Gear

My new year's resolution this year was to complete a 5k.  Wesley (and even Eli) has done several, but I've never done any.  I'm not really a runner.  In fact, I didn't start "training" until 6 days before.  I did a lot better than I expected.  I ran the first 1-1.5 miles and then strolled the rest with dad and Eli.  I crossed the finish line at 42:30 (don't hate...got to start somewhere, right?).  Mom finished in under 40 minutes and second in her age group!  Go Nana!

We ran the Get Your Rear in Gear Diva Dash to benefit colon cancer research.

This is our friend (in a round about sort of way) Shea.  She was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 28 and no family history of cancer.  She finished her final and 11th round of chemo in July.  Her mom, who coaches PE with Wesley, is a runner and organized this 5k in Shea's honor.

Eli loves Harden!

Eli and I before the race began.  It was a great morning for a race!  We had to break out the cool weather clothes.

Puddin and Eli discussing their race strategy.

Wesley loves running, but he didn't get to run this one.  He helped to organize and work the event.

The inflatable colon!

I think the next few pictures speak for themselves....

The Taffs

A few more Eli pictures.  He fell asleep about mile 2, but woke up after the race was over and was ready to explore!

I enjoyed running the 5k.  We have plans to run another one in October that our church is putting on - Miles for Missions.  Hopefully I can make it in under 40 minutes this time.  I'll start "training" sooner for this race...just as soon as I can get rid of the burning in my shins!  : )