Thought Process of a Four Year Old

As Eli was getting ready to sleep tonight, we had the funniest conversation.  I'm really good at sharing these with Jess and a few people, but really need to start capturing them for future reference.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me:  We really need to start sleeping with your door closed.
E (after leaning in close):  I don't EVER want to start that.
Me: After *your brother* comes, when he cries at night, you're going to want to have your door closed so you don't have to hear him.
E (matter-of-factly): I will just tell him "ENOUGH of that! There is no need to cry."
Me (chuckling):  Oh.....

Eli's Perspective

We've been talking a lot lately about what to name Eli's little brother.  Some of his suggestions include:

• Little Big Jack
• Twinkie
• Cars Three

He has come up with more, but for the life of me, I can't remember them right now.   Shoot.  They were good.  We thought we had actually come up with one for the new little guy, then remembered that one of our cousins has already chosen that name.  Oops!  Back to the drawing board we go!

Summer...Finally

Today is the second day in a row that we've actually had some sun and warm weather.  

Eli loves it.  

Jess loves it.  

I love it.

We have been waiting what seems like AGES to have nice weather to set up the pool and do some of those outdoor things that are always there to do.  OK, we could have done more of those outdoor things, but who wants to do that in the rain? Not me.  

This morning actually started with a quick trip to Urgent Care as Eli was complaining about an ear ache for the last   couple days.  Last night was exceptionally bad and he was actually crying when he woke up at midnight because of his ear hurting.  Upon inspection, Dr. B. said that he has an outer ear infection in his left ear and his right was a little swollen.  Nothing big but can cause some serious discomfort.  We asked what impact this might have on his swimming lessons this week and he said NONE!  Since there wasn't anything wrong with his inner ear or eardrum, he was good to go.  Other than the coldness of putting the drops in, he is his typical self.  Running, eating, playing, being our usual four-year-old.  

So....after clearing it was Dr. B., we let Eli set up his pool today since it is in the mid-eighties, but did tell him we didn't want him to get his head wet - just because.  

We took a break from the afternoon sun and made a trip to Home Depot.  Who would have EVER thought that would have been MY store of choice?  I know Mom, it's a miracle isn't it?!?!?  While we were there, we made the BEST $50 purchase yet.  We got a Black and Decker Hedge Trimmer.  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  AMAZING!  

I have HATED the bushes in our backyard for quite some time now.  They are were ugly, overgrown, and just plain awful to look at.  After spending 10 minutes on them myself, and Jess another 15-20 (while I type this), they look simply amazing.  I can't believe they're the same bushes!  Now comes the fun part and cleaning up all the branches and leaves that are all over the ground around them.  Still, what a difference already.  Now it's my turn to go back and finish 'sculpting.'    YAY!

Here is Jess playing with my new toy.  

Seriously? What is with this weather?

Today has been off and on with the weather.  It's like having the little jokester hiding behind the door frame and every time you turn your back, they either flip the switch on or off.  Sun and rain being the result of our switch.  Summer.  Hello.  Summer should be filled with sunshine, blue skies, and warm weather.  Apparently Mother Nature missed the memo.  Consider this your memo.

After today's swimming lesson (which was grade day and we got to register Eli for the next class!  Preschool 2 here we come....on Monday) we headed to the Museum of Flight.  Again, this is one of Eli's favorite places.  Woodland Park Zoo and the Museum of Flight, what more is there?!?!  If we went every day, I think we would have the happiest boy on the planet.  They were working on some new exhibits so we're excited to see what's to come!

Space walking astronaut

Learning about the types of wood used to build different parts of airplanes.

 Pilot Winkey in his Blackbird - watch out, he was all about the little red button...

....still wondering what that button was all about.  Missiles?  Ejection?  Radio?

Megan and Eric flying the Blackbird

Eli and I ventured to Alki Beach for the first time.  After a yummy lunch next to the water we ventured on to the beach.  We ventured, and ventured, and ventured.  We had to have been walking for at least an hour before we got there.  I thought it was going to be a quick little jaunt up the road, it ended up being a 1.9 mile walk - one way!  Yes, I googled it later to see just how far we walked.  We went with our good friends so we chatted the whole way, the boys got to play in the sand while Jeanne and I chatted and Melissa and Leigh-Ann walked back to get the cars.

Overlooking the Puget Sound and downtown Seattle

 Our good friends, Eric, Leigh-Ann, and Megan.
Poor Scott and Jess had to slave away at work while we played.

 Posing in a kayak.

Another wonderful friend, Melissa.

Walking along the beach.

After the walk to get to Alki Beach, we all felt like laying down and taking a little snooze.

0.5. Half. 1/2.

This week marks the halfway point for little Sherwood Seymour Winkey.  (Oh, and NO, his name is not really going to be this.  It's a great nickname. If you haven't said it outloud yet, it's a definite must.)

It's a little unreal that we're half-way already.  Part of me thinks, "oh my gosh, I've been pregnant forever, how can I only be half-way?" while the other part of me keeps thinking, "holy cow!  How can we be half-way!?!?!?!"

It's hard to say where we are exactly, when we had our 7 week ultrasound we went in on what was 7weeks 2 days, but he was measuring at 6weeks 6days but the ultrasound tech didn't think it would change anything.  At our last appointment, which is when we found out it was a "he" my doctor kept saying 18 weeks, when by our knowledge should have been exactly 19 weeks.  Really, not that 3 days makes a difference in the grand scheme of things.  :)

Soooooo.....here is where we are now.

Eli's little brother a week and a half ago.

Swimming through the stages

Eli started swimming lessons this week!

Yesterday didn't go very well.  In fact, once I finally got him in the water - yes, I had to plop him in and walk away - all he did was hold onto the edge of the pool and bounce up and down.  At least he was in the water I suppose.  Last night we took him to open swim and he and Jess played in the water for nearly an hour.  They laughed and had a blast!

Today, we went back for day two.  Oh my goodness!  What a difference a day and a daddy make!  He was so excited to jump in the water and he did everything his teacher asked him to do.  He would have done more if he could have.  He was still apprehensive with a few things, but he did not let that get in his way.  He did great!!!

Practicing kicking with his hands out in front of him.

Still kicking!

Climbing out of the pool all by himself.

Getting back in by yourself is a little more challenging.