Earlier this week we went to Panama City Beach for a little get away. We caught a little bit of the rain and wind from Tropical Storm Debbie at the beginning of the week, but things cleared up nicely and we had a great trip!
Proving we made it to the beach, despite 30+ mph winds!
The view from 20 floors up.
Note to self: Setting up a super-brella during a tropical storm warning is quite comical. Notice my husband holding down the umbrella. Some lady felt sorry for us and sent her 12 year old to help set up the umbrella. As soon as I took this picture we gave it up and went to the pool for the rest of the day. The wind gusts made the sand feel like glass hitting your skin. Eli was not a fan!
They had an awesome, albeit freezing, kiddie pool. It had a sloping entrance, which was perfect for Eli.
Eli had just as much fun playing in the shower as he did the pool or ocean. That's our boy, easily entertained.
By Tuesday afternoon the winds had really calmed down and we were able to really get out and enjoy the beach.
Wow, I can't believe that you are about to be TWO, Eli! In fact, we've already taught you to say that you're two; you're now trying to get the whole fingers thing down. You have really grown so much in your play and vocabulary. You are such a fun little boy and bring so much joy to all of those around you. We love you!
News headlines: Jerry Sandusky found guilty, Miami Heat wins the NBA play-offs, the LA Kings won the Stanley Cup (Uncle Brian's team, NJ Devils lost), politics as usual continues between Obama and Romney
Milestones: More conversational speech instead of just words, you are also becoming QUICK! You keep Mommy and Daddy on their toes.
Favorite toys/games: You
LOVE the iPad and the iPhone, and ask for them often. You love anything with Elmo or Buzz. You have a fireman's hat that you wear frequently. You love to play chase, read, and be outside!
Words: Several! You repeat words and phrases frequently now, even if you overhear things and are not being talked to. You also are becoming quite the conversationalist. You tell us things, respond to things people say, and ask/answer questions! You can count to three, but can repeat your numbers all the way to 10 and all of your ABCs. You can name your vows and spell your name (all though sometimes you get these mixed up...all of those vowels).
Challenges: Not too many. You're very easy going and are such a good boy! You have had to sit in time out a few times this month, and it breaks your little heart. You don't like to disappoint. You also don't like to wear clothes! You'd prefer to spend your days in only a diaper.
Our Days:
Our days are VERY laid back; summer is fantastic! You go to bed around 10 (yikes, I know), but sleep until 9:30 or 10:00 the next morning-always sleeping through the night (this time last year that never happened). We all wake up about the same time around here. We eat a small breakfast and run errands or play. We try to do the pool or splash pad several times a week. You take a 2ish hour nap around 2:30 or 3. We love all being home together! You and Mommy are getting very spoiled!
Funny/Favorite Moments:
Mommy's Favorite: Mommy loves it when you give her kisses. Sometimes you come up to me and hug my neck or lean down and kiss my forehead and cheeks all over (although you don't pucker your lips, it's more slobber than anything). You also tell us "luuuub youuu!" and it melts my heart every time!
Daddy's Favorite: The sun set cruise with Ginny and Pops. You loved the water and kept talking about the boaps (boats).
Upcoming Events: the beach, visiting with ALL of our family, a trip to Texas and little cuz's first birthday!
I'm hooking up with Kelly's Korner, Show Us Your Dining Rooms today. When we were house hunting, one of the things that I really wanted was an actual dining room. I love our little dining room. It's probably one of my favorites in our home. We use it daily because we don't have a kitchen table. So we eat all of our meals in here!
Here's the view from the kitchen.
Our little table.
The seashells on the table. Some I bought, but most have been collected from family beach trips. I have several seashells around the house this time of year! I think they're so serene and pretty. I change out what's in the bowl depending on the time of year - pinecones and other autumnal things in the fall, etc.
The wall to the right. I love my letters. I've seen several versions of this on blogs/Pinterest.
This is the view from the opposite corner. Notice little man's chair at the head...it's just easier that way, keep him in between us!
I also have a coffee filter wreath hanging on the mirror. I saw several floating around on blogland a few years ago. It was very easy to make, but I think I scarred my fingers with the glue gun trying to do it!
I love my curtains. I made them myself, thanks to a tutorial about pinch-pleat curtains via pinterest!
I wanted to record some of the funny, cute things that Eli is doing right now. I know this isn't a post that many will care to read, but it's full of things I want to be sure that I don't forget!
*When Eli gets up from nap, he starts asking for a "nack" (snack).
*Eli LOVES to play outside. He asks to go outside a hundred times a day. It doesn't matter if we've just played outside for an hour, we can come inside and within five minutes he is standing at the back door yelling "side, side!".
*Goodnight Moon is one of Eli's favorite books. We read it several times a day. His favorite part is "And a quiet old lady whispering hush". When we get to that part Eli puts his finger on his nose and whispers "hush!". He then usually continue to whisper "hush!" throughout the book, and we end up having to turn back to that page several times.
*Eli loves Elmo. Eli calls him "Melmo." We bought him an Elmo/Sesame Street dvd. If Elmo is not on screen and Bert/Ernie are, he starts asking for Melmo again.
*Eli LOVES to carry keys around. He keeps a death grip on them. After he lost Daddy's keys (we found them a few hours later), we made him hiw own key chain with old keys on it.
*Eli says "mmm, no" all the time...but not in a defiant way. It's hilarious. You always say it like you're considering your options.
"Eli want to go night, night?" "mmm, no"
"Eli do you like Melmo?" "mmm, no"
"Eli, will you give momma sugars?" "mmm, no"
"Eli, want to go swimming?" "mmm, no"
"Eli do you have juice?" "mmm, no"
*Eli has a several funny faces. One of my absolute favorites is when he is confused and his eyebrows fury and he gets this look of genuine concern on his face. Here's a video of some more of Eli's faces.
*Anytime someone goes to the refrigerator, Eli always runs and pulls on the freezer (we have the type where the freezer is on the bottom half) and says, "ice, Momma!"
"Do you want ice, Eli?" "mmm, no"
*As soon as Eli is done eating, he wants his plate, or whatever else is on his tray, taken away. He starts saying, "All done! All done, Momma" and then gives you whatever he has-cup, forks, napkins, plate, bowl, etc.
*Eli loves the iphone and ipad. He know how to turn it on, find the folder with all of your stuff in it, and watch/play all of your games! Crazy-he's not even quite 2! I've told Wesley that Eli is more adept with apple products than any of our grandparents are!
Last week we headed to the Gulf coast to visit with Ginny and Pops for a few days. While down there we enjoyed some sand and sun!
Eli had a great time being silly with Ginny and Pops!
Ginny and Pops took us all on a sunset dolphin cruise!
This was one of my favorite pictures from the boat ride (don't worry, someone kept arms around Eli at all times!).
Eli loved the ride. Although we saw several, I'm not sure that he ever saw any dolphins. By the time we pointed them out and got E's attention, they had dipped back under water.
Little man even got to drive for a few minutes! : )
Practicing kicking in the pool!
Ginny and Pops left to go on vacation, so we headed to Dothan to see Nana and Puddin.
On Saturday Nana and I took Eli to the mall. I thought he would LOVE the merry go round, he always has in the past. That wasn't the case this time though. Eli was terrified!
So instead, we went back to Nana and Puddin's house and played in Puddin's boots! : )
We sure do love summer time and the opportunities we have to visit with grandparents!
Over the weekend we decided to convert Eli's crib to a big boy bed. I can't believe we've reached this milestone!
Our crib came with a toddler bed conversion rail. Eli has had no problems making the switch. He has a toddler bed at Nana and Puddin's house, and is used to it. Although I've got to confess: I didn't sleep well the first night. We live in a two story house, and even though we put a baby gate up in Eli's doorway, I was so afraid he would get out and fall down the stairs somehow. We slept with the baby monitor on HIGH-which is hard to get any rest with it that loud...you hear every little thing!
Last night sleeping in a crib.
Here's my baby boy in the crib at one week old,
and here he is at 21 months old.
In the big boy bed!
We left the bumpers up on three sides because Eli is such a snuggler. He likes to put his back in the corners. Also, I tried to take down the mobile, and he threw such a fit that we put it right back up! : )
I married my best friend in 2009, and have two boys.
I love my Jesus, spending time with my family and friends, teaching third grade, reading, reality TV, law and medical drama TV shows, AUBURN football (really anything AUBURN), Sweet Tea, cooking, and attempting to be crafty!
