A Smile For You.

Took this little 10 second video for you today. It will make you smile. Ignore the crazy mom voice in the background.

-Heather

Growing Large.

Photos from the last week:
The Boy looks sort of mischevious here.

Not sure why blogger rotated this photo incorrectly... daddy and son enjoying a nap on the couch (Greg stole Eli's Lindvig blanket for a pillow).

Love this guy!

Eli enjoying some good guitar playing by his dad.

And even though the music was good, he had enough.

Our boy loves to sit on his changing pad and stare around.

And then he usually spits up.

I'm hoping Eli doesn't lose all of his sweet hair (the books say red heads will around 6 weeks). It dries into a sweet mohawk after every bath. Speaking of baths, he gets them more frequently now that he spits up oh-so-often. Dad is not a fan of the puke smell. And it is fun to cuddle up to towel-wrapped sweet smelling baby (seriously, it's fun, come try it sometime).

-Heather

Birthday Suit.

Daddy was helping Eli get his birthday suit ready to wish some dear family members a most Happy Birthday!

Eli wants to say:
June 10 - Auntie Amber... I know you are not-so-secretly trying to get me to move to MN because you want to see me all the time. I miss you too.
June 11 - Cousin John... my favorite 2 year old in the world! I know you'll teach me great things someday.
June 13 - Grandma Mary... I'm loved! There's never a dull moment with you, thanks for spoiling me silly! Wish you could read to me right now.
June 15 - Uncle Andrew... I'm biased towards red-headed guys so I already think you're cool even though we haven't met yet.
June 17 - Auntie Jill... I am already excited to meet you, even though we have to wait too long for that, because I already love you so!

Happy Birthday dearest family!

Back Rolls.

I'll post an updated photo of Eli in the next day or so. He's getting large! But first, I thought I'd post this one from our photographer because it shows his cute back rolls. There are just not many times in life when your back rolls are cute. -Heather

Six Weeks and Counting.

My six-week follow-up appointment was yesterday afternoon. I am definitely noticing that it is harder getting from point A to point B with a child. Picture me carrying: Eli in his car seat, diaper bag, water bottle, juice container full of used syringes, and a lovely basket full of snacks (for the office). I'm sure I looked hilarious heading into the office.

It was fun to share Eli with the doctor's office and say thank you for the great care we received. Eli spit up all over himself, the floor, and one of the nurses that was holding him. Nice way to say thanks bud. Thankfully the nurse didn't think it was a big deal (and it was nearing closing so she didn't have to smell Eli spit up throughout the day).

And to remind everyone about the importance of watching your words when dealing with loss...

I had an interim tech lady who took my BP and asked me questions to verify info for a new sheet for my file. She said "and you've been pregnant three times" and I say "yes." Then she looks further down the chart, sees the first two pregnancies didn't end up with a live baby, and says "third time's a charm!"

Wow. Really? Please save the idiom for something trite, not for human life.

Minus that hiccup, things went well. I learned I need to start drinking a lot more water. And the very best thing I learned was I get to stop taking my shots!

Enter cheers and applause and a little happy dance!

I've been giving myself a shot in the stomach every day since the day after I found out I was pregnant. Really not fun. I'll spare the details. But completely worth it because I have a baby in my arms. No more syringes for me!

Six-week old Eli is doing great. He's around 11 pounds or so. I think he has his nights/days somewhat figured out. He now usually goes one stretch a night that is four hours from start to start of a feeding and another three hour stretch... much better than every two that he often does during the day.

He has good awake time on his play mat most everyday. He's a bit of a narcissist. Loves the mirror on the play mat. And yesterday I was working on his announcements, put one in front of him and he stared at it for a long time (most likely thinking "man! that guy is one good looking dude!").

But the very best thing that Eli does now is smile at his momma! It's unbelievably adorable. Way better than the sleepy or full belly or gas relief smiles. If only everyone that feels like no one loves them could have a baby... this little being staring at you, thinking you are the best in the world. Nothing boosts morale like a baby smiling at you.

The last six weeks have been the best of our lives, Eli fulfilling so many dreams and desires. It's also been hard having to come face-to-face with how selfish we really are. Yuck. And we still really have no idea what we are doing. But this new reality, of Greg and Heather and Eli living our lives on earth as a family, is downright amazing. And what those lives will entail... ooh the possibilities!

-Heather

Paper Matters.

I love paper. I love great design. I love matching envelopes. I swoon when in the stationary section of a store. I seriously considered working at a card company for a career (when I was in China in 2004, I met a guy that knew a big-wig at a card company and he was going to get me an interview). Top that with my perfectionism tendencies, my desire to please people, my somewhat extreme thriftiness and.... well, sending out cards or announcements can be a darn big deal. I want everything to.be.perfect. Naturally, I wanted Eli's announcements to be awesome. Ah, but I would need a good bit of time for that. Greg and I spent hours and hours on Maelee's card last year because we could. And it was indeed awesome. I wanted the same for Eli, really I did. But we didn't get the newborn photos from our photographer until Eli was a month old already... and I was in a rush to get them out. So hours and hours of Greg and I designing wasn't an option. Then production time. And cost. So I settled. And you know what? I have a living baby! It doesn't really matter that we didn't get to design something unique to Eli. It doesn't matter I had to go with baby blue (gasp!) and only had three short lines to work with and limited fonts for text. It doesn't matter that I wanted high-grade paper instead of regular photo paper. It doesn't matter that I forgot to order the matching return address labels so I ended up using all the random labels I had around the house. What matters is Eli is here. We GET to announce his arrival to the world. And that, my friends, is what matters. And as I'm typing this, it seems fitting to me, to think that we got it right with Maelee's card. Her parents spent time and designed a fitting, sweet card. A card that was sadly, a birth and death announcement, the only one we'll get for our daughter who we only got to hold one night 14 months ago. With Eli it's okay that it didn't happen in my ideal fashion. We were busy taking care of him! The announcement is still quite cute. And may it be (oh yes Lord may it be!) that we have many opportunities for cards and announcements of Eli's life in the future. And then, yes then, I'll remember to order matching return address labels. -Heather PS - if you'd like an announcement and don't get one this week, please let me know your address so I can mail one to you!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame.

My sister wanted me to make this... so while breastfeeding now I did just that! Featuring: Grandpa Lloyd, Grammy Sherry, Cousins Ali and Ava, and the new Twins recruit Eli Joe!

If the video isn't working (it may cut off part of the screen), you can view it here. Seriously this is mostly funny if you know my parents. -Heather

I Think You Should Know:

If you buy anything at Kohls* for regular price, you are an idiot.

*Also applies to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

--
I'll be posting "I Think You Should Know" posts occasionally. Purely my opinion. Mostly pointless info. But you may just learn something.

-Heather