A New Spin on Lunch (and my masterpiece - I added more)

I don't know about you, but I often find myself asking Eli the same questions repeatedly during any meal:

"Are you done?"
and
"Do you want down?"

There's something about a toddler and their food that just because they are not eating, doesn't mean they are actually finished. Heaven forbid if you get them down before they are truly finished either. Yeah....that doesn't always go over well. Today, Eli insisted on having his car with him while he ate. It was a great prop and added to my questioning. Here is roughly the last 10 minutes or so of lunch today, and yes, it is a photo commentary (and a little reading into what he's was really thinking). How else can you describe this scene?

Me: Eli, how's your lunch? Are you finished?
Eli: No.
Me: Do you want down?
Eli: NO! (Can't you see the fork? I'm still EATING!)



Me: Eli, it looks like you're playing. Are you finished with your lunch?
Eli: No.
Me: Do you want down?
Eli: Nooooo. (I'm feeding the passengers in my car, can't you tell?)



Me: Eli, you have quite the mess. Are you ready to get down now?
Eli: NOOOOOOOO. (And if you ask that question one more time, Mom, I swear, I can, and will make today miserable for you. No, go. Leave me to my passengers.)



Me: Eli, I think you're done. Let's get down.
Eli: Yeah. (I'm done. Take this pea laden car away from me. I need a nap.)



Ahhhhh, yes.

Today is also Liam's last day over here for the summer. We've had fun. Eli and Liam have had a blast playing together and enjoying our summer (where's the summer weather?). Both kids have runny noses today, but here is a picture for our final summer '08 day together.


*****************EDIT*****************


Ok, so most of you know I have some sewing capabilities and do random little things here and there. Blankets, sheets, pirate costumes, whatever tickles my fancy. Well, I just finished my latest....concoction(?).....project....yet this time added an extra degree of difficulty. Our fabulous neighbor, G, was to be the target in a dunk tank today and wanted to carry out the theme of the event and wear a turn of the century swim suit. Unfortunately, neither of us could find the right pattern for this or even a place to buy one online/costume store/etc. Using a t-shirt and pair of shorts he had, I created something similar. The fabric was definitely eye-catching as it was bright, bright orange, but I guess it was a major hit. People were stopping him and asking for pictures with him. The legs are a little wide, but we were cutting it short on time and he was very pleased with them. I was able to get pictures of him this evening when he picked Liam up (thanks again for wearing it over G-Dogg). Keep in mind, this is after the event so it's all chlorinated and whatnot.

It's been a while since I last blogged, we haven't been too busy the last few weeks, but I figure I should update anyhow.

Oliver has been a pill lately. Whenever we left (yes, this even involves just leaving the room to go to the bathroom or upstairs for a minute) his little beagle nose would get him in serious trouble. He would climb on the back of the couch, venture on to the counter and start grubbing on that was left on the counter. Not that we often left food out, but if there was anything on a plate in the sink, or a pan that was too hot to wash, this little thing was chowing down. So, we pulled the crate out and Ollie is crated anytime we go outside: to play, to get the mail, or when we aren't home. He's actually doing a great job with it. I thought he would be putting up more of a fight, but he is being quite cooperative. Eli truly loves the crate too. We've known about his obsession with crates since before he could walk. He loved(s) getting in and out of Marco's crate-one of my parents beagles-heck anyones would do. Here he is having a fabulous time inside Oliver's crate.

Oliver doesn't quite know what to think about Eli being in his crate. He's just sitting back and waiting for him to get out. Oh, and because you're wondering, Eli closes the gate on his own. We do not lock him in there!
I had to prove one more time that Eli really is my son too and he did get something from me. Whenever anyone sees Eli, their first comment is always "Wow, he looks just like his Daddy." I am totally ok with this, but every once in a while would be nice to hear he has something of mine. We have all seen Eli's hilarious little "cheeseball" face, if you don't remember, look at some of my early posts. One day I decided to cheeseball with him, and CLEARLY he has my mouth. It is a dorky picture, but hey, he looks like me! hee hee
The other morning I realized how big he is getting. Not thinking about it, I was giving him his breakfast when it dawned on me. He was sitting at the table. Eating a bowl of cereal. Drinking milk out of a cup. This is what happens when he keeps giving his goofy cheeseball grin and I ask him to smile normal. What a cutie!

Today we went to the Red Hook Brewery, had lunch and did the tour with my parents and an old family friend. Not old as in age, but she and my mom were best friends when they were in school. They grew up together in MT and have been friends ever since (seriously, they've known each other for 54 years. Now THAT is a friendship!). First, Eli ate like a champ at lunch, and had a good time weaving in and out of our legs and going back and forth during the tour. You would have thought he had some beer while we were there, of course he didn't. He was just in a fabulous mood and was having a super time with "Gaampah" and "Gaamma".

Daddy and Eli are checking out the brewery.
Us at the end of the tour.
My Dad, Becky, and Mom. What silly kids. :)
Playing at the brewery.
Me and my sweet boy during the tour.

What a great day (two weeks)!

Happy Anniversary to US!

Can you believe we have been married 5 years tomorrow?! It has been a great beginning to our marriage, with many, many more years to go!

It's funny how our wedding was that long ago, yet seems like it was just yesterday.

So much has happened since that beautiful July day five years ago....

There have been many Cougar Football Games. GO COUGS!

We've helped many friends/family celebrate their weddings by attending their special events, or even as participants on a few occassions.

Had the most perfect little boy, Elijah Henry.

Born December 18, 2006
3:33 p.m.


We've spent lots of time with family...
...and of course a TON more...

Of course, I could have included a million pictures of all the important people in our lives, parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, all our relatives and friends, but this would be the longest blog ever. Everyone has been so important to us and helping us grow together and become what we are. We appreciate everyone's support and love.

Happy Anniversary babe. I could go on with all the cliche' comments and gag everyone. But these last five years have been wonderful. I can't wait to see where the next five take us.

I love you!!
(more, smore, greater than, all of it and then some!)

It's been a while...

We've been having a relaxing long holiday weekend. It's been great having Jess home for 3 days, it'll be sad to see him head back to work tomorrow. Elijah and I have been having a great time so far this summer. We've played, inside and out, done art, gone on walks, you name it, we've probably done it.

I'm really bad at getting pictures of the three of us, so I set up the timer today to get a picture (which is pretty tough with an 18 month old! We at least got him to look at the camera for this one. "Eli, look at the camera, c'mon! Look at the camera and smile" haha) Yeah, this is what we got! Better than nothing and it does show that we do spend time together and actually LIKE each other. HAHALast week I took him to Toddler Time at the Maple Valley Community Center. He loved every minute of it. Of course there were other kids around to play with, but he had a good time by himself, too. He's still at that age where kids play next to each other, not necessarily with each other. His favorite things were the bike area (oh my goodness, how he loved the red car with the yellow roof. He climbed in and out of that thing, drove it from the inside and pushed it around. He also truly enjoyed the little slide. I would help him up it then let him go down by himself. SO CUTE! He would pop up, climb up the little ladder, then wait for me to help him get situated again. I just love his little laugh!

Three days a week, Eli and I are also watching Liam, our neighbors little boy. He is 8 1/2 months old so I have my hands full during those days. It is fun having him around though. Eli continues to work on social skills in addition to learning how to share his own toys. It's really cute when he goes searching for something he thinks Liam would like to play with then stands there waiting for him to take it from him. SO CUTE! One day after our walk (yes, it was one of the sweltering days, and no, neither of them are actually burnt in the pictures) they were sitting having some Cheerios and I grabbed the camera. They were awfully cute!

"Hey Eli, whatcha doin'? Are you still eating Cheerios? Can I have one?"

Sharing with Liam.Liam helping himself to more snacks.

Our fourth was pretty quiet and uneventful. Perfect. Our wonderful neighbors came over, we bar-b-que'd, watched movies, chatted, and just hung out. Gordon made wonderful FRESH watermelon margaritas, and Dusti and I dyed her hair. Actually, I did the dying...she did the sitting! :) We had a great time just visiting and catching up (because we never see each other - HAHA). My family was going to come over, but Mom wasn't feeling well. We missed them and hope she feels better soon.

Today we were reading his book out on the patio and Jess took a picture of us.
I actually like this one! It's a miracle!

Shhhhh....I don't think Ryan and Sarah look at this, but I finally finished their onesies for Brooklynn. Two of them I just love, the other two, eh, I'm impartial to. They're ok, I wish they had turned out better, but I'd never done an appliqué before so the crown came out a little goofy and the font I used for the "Princess Brooklynn" just turned out weird. Then the heart one the thread doesn't seem like it covered like it should have. I know I'm being picky, but that's just the way I am. I really want to make her a small stroller/car seat/taggie blanet, but don't want to upset my sister-in-law. I'll have to call her and see if she'd mind. For now, it's just the onesies. Of course I backed the inside of the shirts with an extra soft interfacing so they would be soft next to baby's skin.

Not my favorites, but still kind of cute. Sorry, dark picture!

I love the way these two turned out.

18 months and all is well!

Today was Elijah's 18 month check-up and he is fabulous! Of course, it was a couple weeks late, but close enough. He did wonderfully at the appointment and while getting his immunizations. I always feel bad for the PA's that have to give the shots, but I think they take it with a grain of salt. As soon as his 3 shots were finished and I was able to pick him up, he instantly stopped crying. When we were leaving our nurse let him pick out a sticker and he wanted nothing to do with her...until we turned to walk toward the door and he waved and said "bye bye" to her. Such a sweet kid.

For the nitty gritty things that everyone likes to know (the fun part that we're always asking about):

Height: 33 inches - 69th percentile
Weight: 28 pounds - 76th percentile
Head circumference: 19.5 inches - 96th percentile

The funniest part of the appointment was when Dr. Corcoran asked us if anyone in our family has large heads because, as she put it, "clearly neither of you have large heads," referring to Jess and myself. Yes, big heads are from my Mom's side of the family. hee hee [On a side note - this is Elijah's first appointment/check-up with Dr. Corcoran. He's seen her before, but not as a part of his scheduled routine visits.] Thus far, he has come in in the 95th percentile on head circumference since birth - when he was born Dr. Sleeter said "you are glad he didn't come out the natural way! Not with this head!"

To add to today's excitement, Eli had a juice box with his lunch today. It was so cute watching him sip through the little straw. He is definitely not a baby anymore!

Ahhhhhh....mommy and daddy moment.


*****EDIT******
I hate adding another entry today, but I have to put in a picture of the blanket I just finished. It turned out great and I have to share! :) The pictures don't quite show the true colors, but if you look at it closely, you can tell what is really chocolate, tan, black and white - it reverses to a white anti-pill fleece:

Fun in the Sun

If you didn't know, Eli absolutely LOVES being outside. If we are outside at all, you can generally count on having to deal with a crying little boy when you pull him back inside. We've spend a lot of time outside, playing in the backyard either in the sandbox, playing with cars/trucks on the deck, or just seeing what he can get into in back there, walking around the neighborhood, or going for walks. Really, we've only had 3 days that we've been able to spend outside and it is clear that he has acquired my dad and brother's uncanny ability to step in the sun and instantly have a tan.

Eli really likes to climb on top of his toybox in the living room (which we have blocking the fireplace) and either lays there or sits and looks at you like "hee hee, look what I did! Bet you didn't think I could do that! I'm such a big boy."
And here he is just hanging out before bed. Notice his haircut? Daddy and Eli both got haircuts today (yep, another Mommy specialty).
Anyway, I am working on a special project for little Brooklynn, but don't know if Ryan and Sarah read this so I don't want to post pictures until I send said project to them. They're cute though! :) Not much else new in Winkey-land!

I've been working on blankets, have fabric for a couple more, one is even for a toddler bed blanket, which is much larger, it will be CUTE! I'm not sure when I'll get that done, but I'll post pictures when I get that far. haha I have two different Alexander Henry prints - one is in black, white, and a dark beige, the other is a chocolate and pink floral - much cuter than you would think.

My little boy is in a big boy bed!

For the past week Elijah has been sleeping in a big boy bed. A real toddler bed! I am still in shock that my sweet little boy is old enough, and big enough, to be in a real bed, but he is! His room is so cute with the crib gone and a toddler bed in its place. We had his bed diagonally in a corner of his room, but he fell out of bed this way, and it just seemed to take up so much more space, so we pushed it up against the wall. He has only fallen out one other time, and that was during a nap when he slept on top of his sheet/blankets. Yes, I made a flat sheet for his bed which he has not yet fallen out of when sleeping under the sheet. It's so CUTE!
This new shelving system sure makes things a lot more organized in his room and is great in his closet! At night we close the doors and you can't tell there are any toys in there (except for the monster tub of stuffed animals, and the teddy bears on his bookshelf).
Eli LOVES to read. He can sit and look at books for what I think is an incredibly long time for an 18 month old. Today he was really enjoying reading his "Things that Go" book. It's a cute little book of 3 different stories about a "kid" police car, helicopter, and tugboat and how they each save the day. Along with his Disney baby books, this is one of his favorites.

This morning he was having a good time drinking his "coffee" with us during breakfast. There was an extra mug on the table, why I'm not really sure, but he put his sippy cup of milk inside and was extremely happy to be doing a "big boy" thing like Mommy and Daddy.

On Friday Jen and Forest Carson stopped by for a visit. It was great seeing those two, we haven't gotten together in quite a while. I'm thinking the last time was when we had pictures of the boys taken when Eli was 7 months and Forest was 8 months. Maybe we got together once between then and now...anyway, it was a beautiful day, so we took the boys outside and played in the sandbox and in the pool! FUN!

In the backyard - notice Oliver is at Forest's feet looking for anything edible....
Once we came back inside and got 'rediapered' they promptly explored Eli's drawer in the kitchen. They were having a GREAT time cooking together.
After Jen and Forest left, Eli had a popsicle snack. This is the FIRST one he actually ate. I love these though, they're more of a frozen fruit smoothie than popsicle though. It is made from 100% fruit, not just juice. He loved it - I loved it!And yes, this picture is just mean, but it cracks me up like no other! :)