I was sorting through some girl clothing today (that I picked up for free at a rained out garage sale!) and thought how the 6 month pink sweatshirt should be fitting around Valentine’s Day. Then I realized pretty much all girl clothing is made for Valentine’s Day. It is a pink bonanza!
The exciting thing I realized in sorting and organizing all of Eli’s too small clothing as well as the girl items is that we are pretty much set for boy or girl. I may try to buy a dozen or so cloth diapers in infant size so I don’t have to wash quite as often and I do hope that someone makes new baby his or her own special blanket. But as far as needing anything, we really don’t and I haven’t spent anything on the new baby yet!
Elias is such a joy to us. He is full of smiles and giggles. He chatters without end, so verbal without saying many real words! He thinks all animals are ‘dah’ (dog) and that they bark. He eats well and likes almost everything, though he’s still considered skinny for his age. It is very encouraging to see how he can obey even at this age. If I say ‘no’ to something, he will stop and move away most of the time. Occasionally I need to discipline him but it seems that for the most part he understands. We are so thankful for the joy and delight he brings us. What a privilege to parent him.
I’ve just gotten Eli up from his nap and we’re having a pretty lazy morning. After I fed Eli this morning, Matt got up with him so I could sleep in a bit. Then we all played in our bedroom, watching the snow fall, big, juicy flakes of it. Matt got ready for work, Eli pulled out all the ‘toys’ in our closet, and I folded laundry and checked internet stuff.
It’s almost noon and I’m making myself breakfast. There’s a bag of chocolate chips on the counter from last night’s baking but I think should start the day off with something a little tamer. I bought about 20 lbs bruised organic bananas on markdown for less than .10/lb so I’m blending them up with some yogurt, blueberries and strawberries. So tasty. Eli just gets frozen blueberries and cottage cheese. (I bought the honey yogurt this time and he’s too young for honey.)
Here are some recent pictures of our sweet guy. I was feeling bad for only posting pics of him but I think it is just that we like him so much.
With Grandpa in Bend. He’s wearing his Halloween outfit that was a gift from (great) Grandma Jean. He also has a bumblebee costume that is hilarious and we are very much looking forward to dragging him around in it. Unfortunately he isn’t a little older so we could just make him wear it all the time and say he likes it.
This is a face he was making all the time for a few days and then suddenly gave up.
With one of his favorite things. He loves books (mostly non childrens), paper, spoons and anything else that isn’t colorful and his.
Elias kisses himself in the oven glass while I try to work in the kitchen.
Eli go his very first tooth today! No pictures of it yet (cause everyone wants a pic of a tiny tooth, eh?) We can’t see it, really only feel it. Milestones are very fun.
There are two pieces of mamahood that I really had no idea about. Well, I’m sure many more than two but these seem to be the more important ones!
The first is the worry. I didn’t know the thoughts and fears that I could have. I don’t think I invite these worries and I try not to dwell on them but I have sometimes terrible, unspeakable thoughts about what could happen to our son. Mostly at night when I’ve just put him down or as I’m trying to fall asleep. The best way to combat them is certainly with scripture and I’m thankful that my husband is so faithful to remind me of those truths. Even when I’ve broken down in tears, he’s been patient and gentle.
The second issue which seems to be always confronting me is the better-thans. I hear it from well-meaning older ladies (‘he must be so cold!’ or ‘he must be so hot!’ all on the same day!), from family members of ours, from internet mamas, and in my own head as I unintentionally compare my son to every other baby we meet. I think there are two elements to this: a my parenting philosophy is better than yours attitude and a my baby is better than your baby mentality. Both are really so irrelevant and so easy to be sucked in to. Both neglect grace and humility. Sometimes I think to myself ‘He’s a baby genius!’ But he isn’t. And I really don’t want him to be. I want him to humble, to love Jesus, and to put others before himself. And if doesn’t learn to read until he is 12 or he doesn’t potty train until age four or just isn’t very smart? We will still love him to pieces.
Eli played so hard this afternoon that he fell asleep as he was playing. He has never done this before and it was pretty cute to find him asleep in his toys.
being packed!
