Eli: 20months Jay: 4 1/2years

I looked at my phone on the way home tonight and saw an email from Mom with a one word subject: BLOG.  I know what this means, didn't even have to open the email. So here is my update. I really have been planning to post pictures for over a week now but things keep coming up. I have been so tired lately too...I think all of the excitement from the move has caught up to all of us. I've had to wake Jay up every morning this week for school. That is very rare. Usually he's popping in our room at the crack of dawn with his shirt tucked in, belt on, and asking to eat breakfast. Eli has gone back to two naps most days, which I thought he'd given up right about the time we left SC. But I guess he's as tired as the rest of us. I'm sure Wes would sleep more if he didn't have to go make a living! So here is an update on the boys. I realized I haven't talked much about what they are doing and how they are changing in months. And since this is supposed to be about them I better get back to the subject!

Eli: 20months
- throws less tantrums than he did at 18months but still has his moments...and they are big moments!
- bites, hits, and tackles Jay for the slightest reason. he pinches too...a real sweetheart.
- Has 12 teeth and two more are coming in, he still drools worse than a bulldog
- Runs, hops, and kicks. He loves to race Jay and play chase. (I just love it when he starts a game of chase in the middle of the grocery store.)
- Says a lot of words. It was a steady one new word every week or so until this month. Now he is learning them faster than I can count. He latest ones are "chapstick" (he and Jay both have an obsession with chapsticks...I don't get it), "all gone", "tractor" (a true southern boy, just like his brother), "Mimi" (she is thrilled, of course), and "MaRoss" (Mama Ross--he's still working on her full name but it is so cute his way!), "Tricycle", "basketball", "football", and "we-oh-we-oh-we-oh" (police car, for those of you who don't speak "toddler").
- Four favorite books: they are about tractors, on the farm, construction trucks, and another about trucks of all sorts. We read them over and over. He also has his favorite pages and makes me just skip straight to the one he wants. He loves looking at each object on the page and trying to repeat as I say what it is. It is so neat to hear as his little brain works out new words and to see how proud he is when he masters it.
- He is crazy about trucks right now. We point them all out as we ride in the car and when we see a semi, he yells, "big tuck!!"
- He is a picky eater, in the typical toddler way- some days he eats constantly, others he barely snacks. His favorite foods are spaghetti, cereal, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, butter beans, corn, blueberries, and eggs. He will also tear up a bag of goldfish.
- He still sleeps very well. From 8pm to 7 am, with 2 naps in the day (usually 1 1/2 hrs each). Sleeps with the pacifier "haddy", and lovey. I was supposed to break him of the paci by now but he lucked out when we moved because that was one battle I didn't feel like having at the time. So I am trying to keep it only to bedtime...not really doing a good job at that even. Maybe in the fall I'll have more motivation to crack down.
- He is getting much more social. Jay has really brought him out of his shell. I think if Eli had been the first, he would be very timid and introverted. But when you have Jay as a partner in crime, its hard to live life quietly. He waves at everyone he passes, loves going on play dates, and will entertain a crowd at the drop of a hat. Jay has been known to break dance for random strangers in the past, so Eli thinks that is what you do if you suddenly find yourself in a group. Sadly, most people don't understand what crazy boy is doing as he bounces and rolls around in circles so I end up trying to convince people that my child is not a complete nut and is actually entertaining them.


Now for Jay: 4 1/2 years
- started pre-k at Mother's Love (my mother-in-law's center) on Aug 8th. He loves it, his teachers are great. They tell me everyday how he keeps them laughing. One of the other teachers told me they all just take turns going to talk to him "just to see what he'll say"...haha....doesn't surprise me.
- Today they learned about dinosaurs and he talked all about it on the way home. He said, "mom, do you know what a paleontologist is?" And went on to explain everything they do.
- He writes most letters but we haven't really started teaching him to read yet. I guess I need to get more focused on that now that he's in pre-k.
- He does everything "all by himself"...buckles in, pours a drink, picks out his clothes, dresses, finds a snack, brushes his teeth and hair. Most times he completes these things without too big of a mess. But he is insistent that he will do it without my help so I've determined it's just easier to clean up after than to argue with Mr. Independent.
- He is still learning how to be a big brother. Those boys fight so hard and then turn around and laugh like crazy. There are days that he really tries to share, be loving, etc and then there are days when he has no patience for Eli. Now that Eli has no fear of Jay, it might as well be WWF right in the middle of my living room. And Jay carries him around like a rag doll. The funny part is that Eli doesn't even blink when Jay comes up behind him, lifts his little body, and drags him to another room. I guess that's all the poor child's ever known.
- As has been the case for a while now, he is very inquisitive, still talks non-stop, loves to cuddle, and loves all things superhero.  I told him the other day that I love how he is so friendly to everyone and never lets little things get in the way of just talking to people. He is the sweetest social butterfly I've ever seen. I can't wait to see what he grows up to be. I have no doubt that he will make a big mark in the world.

Here are pictures of the new house... and the boys tearing it up:

This is a chalkboard on the wall by the back door. The old owners wrote this for us when we moved in.

Kitty reunited with Jake after she went on a 6 week hiatus around Valdosta. She ran off while we were staying with Mom after we left SC. We looked all over and, after a couple weeks, figured she was gone. Then she turned up at some college girls' apartments on the other side of town. We brought her home and barricaded the yard so she couldn't run off again. She now loves her new yard and, as Wes said yesterday, is "no longer a flight risk"

The back of the house...already covered in toys

This is a perfect yard for the zoo we have found ourselves in charge of

Jay drives his police car all over it

There is an old swing set in the back corner that we will have to fix up soon

Playing in the rain

Eli needed a turn too

This is the driveway. The sellers were supposed to come back and dig up the basketball goal but haven't yet. I'm sure those two will put it to good use in a few years if they don't claim it though!

Two days in the south Ga heat and we had to make a pool

And then moved on to the bigger pool....It was a lifesaver that week!

First day of Pre-K!!

That is a Batman book bag in case you wondered.

Passed out after lunch with the Ross'

Showing off his new shirt from Mimi---Mom, he's worn it every few days to school...his teachers probably think he has no clothes!

Kurt set up our TV wires behind the walls. We love being so close again! We've seen them several times already which is wonderful now that Gracie is starting to change so fast.

Jay is helping

Gracie eating her toes!  She is still as adorable as she was when she was born!!

Look at those big beautiful eyes!

The boys had the best time with her while Kurt and Wes worked

Here is the living room

Sunroom. Kurt picked out this color and we were surprised when we came back from vacation. I love it so much! 

Our bedroom. The gold was already here but Kurt painted the tray since it was white. It made such a difference.

Eli's room...still looking for something to go above the crib.

playing with me

Jay's room

Guest room. Kurt painted this too. I love all the windows in here.

Following me around the house as I take pictures.

Dining room. Wes is almost done building our new table. I will post pictures of it when its in here. I can't wait!

Kurt painted the gold in here and added the judges paneling. I love it!

breakfast area off kitchen

Love the kitchen space. The cabinets are wonderful but we are planning to update the hardware and sink in the next few months.

This was at the Agirama... the boys picked peanuts and we boiled them last night.

Farmer Jay

This is the deck after we stained it dark brown.

Another view of the living room. Behind the two doors is the sunroom.

Hall going back to the laundry room and half bath. Our room is the door on the right.

Eli sprawled out, half-naked, watching tv

Playing peek-a-boo with me tonight before bed

I asked jay to smile and put his arm around Eli....this is what I got.

discussing the pine straw

Now eating the pine straw. Typical photo shoot with the boys.