Christmas morning

"Santa' Little Helper"

Looking at Christmas lights in Saluda Shoals Park

This is Jay smiling for me

Identical expressions...

Right before they went on a hayride!

Sporting his Christmas suit on Christmas Eve

Fun with big bro

Sweet kisses

Jay trying to tickle Eli....Jay was the only one laughing

 

Love this one

Another bath...this time he just gave me a huge frown

Ahhh.....starting to realize it isn't so bad

Looking at Daddy....and wondering why he isn't trying to save him

Christmas morning!  We left milk & cookies out for Santa and Jay was amazed to see all of the milk gone when he woke up

Trying out his "noculars"

"I found you, mama!"

How Eli spent the morning...

Jay hopped in his porch swing long enough to get a picture, then told Wes, "that's scary daddy" and got out. We will have to work on that.

Josh, Jane, and Joshua spent the day with us...we got worried when we both boys became very quiet...we found them in my closet, happy as can be and, miraculously, not getting into trouble

 

Another adorable Christmas suit!

Opening presents from Papa and Mama Ross...Jay told Wes, "no, daddy, don't touch it, it's mine." as he put both hands out

Choo choo book!!

"Soldier pants!"

Once again, Eli was not impressed by the presents

His own blanket...now he will stop stealing mine!

More presents from Carrie and Oren!

 Christmas was very different this year since we didn't make it home but we enjoyed it as a family of four and it was so much fun since Jay actually understood what was going on this year. We have been giving him presents from Mom since Eli was born but he knew some would not get here until Santa came. He wasn't sure what to expect that morning when we walked him downstairs and showed him all of his gifts. He looked at me and said, "can I open them?" Once I gave him the okay, he went through them faster than we could blink, then moved to our presents to help us open gifts. After that we went to church to "tell Jesus happy birthday" and then had lunch with the Maddox's. Jay and Joshua played all afternoon, Eli slept through most of it, and we enjoyed spending time with Josh and Jane. We missed being with our families but are so thankful that we got to spend it with such special friends.

We are spending this week with Papa Tim, Mama Ross, Carrie, Oren, and Sunny. Jay "taught" everyone how to shoot chickens and drive a car with the Wii this morning. Carrie, Sunny, and I got pedicures this afternoon and now the boys are playing around town. Jay is in heaven with his Papa, of course. Eli is being spoiled rotten as we all take turns holding him. I will have pictures of all the fun by the end of the week.

2 weeks old!

Eli had his 2 week well check yesterday. He is 7lbs 1oz, 22in long!  Everything is right on track and the doctor said he looks perfect. Nothing new to talk about, he is still eating and sleeping a lot and is getting cuter by the day. :)  I am starting to see the differences between him and Jay as he changes and develops his own look...which is just precious. I think he may have my hazel eyes because I see hints of green/brown when the light hits them just right...only time will tell.

Jay has toned the "i need my mommy" attitude down a bit and is still so sweet with Eli. A few minutes ago he ran over to him, put his arms around him, and said, "the monsters are coming! I need to hold Eli so they don't get him." A few minutes later he looked at me and said, "I need to wrestle with Eli" so, again, I explained why that wouldn't really be the best idea at this point. But he was satisfied knowing that when Eli is bigger they can wrestle all they want to. It is really cute how Eli loves looking at Jay. When he is getting a little fussy and I need a minute or two to finish something, Jay goes over to him and talks to him. He immediately calms down and just stares at Jay, completely calm.

Jay has been pretty good about me nursing Eli, considering that takes up about 8 hours a day!  And he will usually cooperate when I tell him to wait until I get done feeding baby brother. And since he is "Mr Independent" anyway, he jumps at the chance to do something all by himself, which is my solution to most things he asks about when I'm nursing. Jay was so excited yesterday when I said I needed him to help me take Eli to the doctor. He ran and got his "Dr kit" and said he needed to get his shot out. The doctors office was super busy so we had to wait a while but Jay sat right there with me and stayed quiet the whole time.

I am realizing every day how big Jay is, how old he is getting. It breaks my heart a little to know he is a "big boy" now but is also so sweet to see him grow into a little person who is learning to solve "complex" problems and show more abstract thinking...for an almost 3 year old, anyway. That's it for now, I will get Christmas morning pics up after the weekend.

Opening presents from Mimi before she left. Jay was beginning his normal downward spiral of emotions that night until I mentioned presents.

He instantly did a 180 and exclaimed, "presents! yea, let's open presents!"

After his were gone he helped the rest of us open ours...

Jay started to help us clean but somehow I ended up doing most of the work

Maybe it was because he was distracted when he decided to wear the trash instead of throw it away

Eli was very excited about his presents...

Look at that pudgy little face!

The best for last, Jay was so excited about this one from Mimi!

"It's a big work truck!!!"

picking up trash with his new toy

he spent most of yesterday digging in his sandbox outside...when he came in he said, "i was working hard, mom. i had to dig all that sand up!"

if he keeps "working hard" this will be my new favorite toy too!

Eli's first bath!

he wasn't thrilled about this milestone

getting over it

now that's better

i just couldn't resist another picture of my sweetie sleeping

his first official piece of mail!

loving on baby eli this morning

11 days old!

We showed Eli the mobile a few days ago and he watched it for a little while. This was a lifesaver with Jay so I am sure Eli will love it more as he gets a little bigger.

Following the blue frog

Cutie Pie Face

I thought this was such a cute pose....it seems like we get the goofiest faces when Wes is burping the boys...

I think his big hands and firm pats send them into a state of shock. :)

Reading through the mail

Eli is sorting through the junk mail...

This one requires some serious concentration

Jay made sure to get in on the fun

Wes and I took Jay for a few hours while mom watched Eli. We took a train ride together and he was so happy, as you can tell. It was nice to be able to spend time with him one on one....as if he doesn't make sure to stay the center of attention  at home...

Today Eli is 11 days old and getting cuter and cuter. We have had a long few days as Jay goes through the normal transition of sharing mama's attention. He is very sweet with Eli but always has to be right with me, especially when I am trying to nurse. And if the days weren't enough he somehow manages to know exactly when I wake up to feed Eli in the middle of the night and demands my attention then also. Mom gets up and tries to take care of him but he says, "no, I need my mommy" and won't let her do anything for him. So I am learning how to get things done with a toddler on one arm and an infant in the other. Good practice for when all of my help leaves!  I told mom the other day that I don't know what I am going to do when she goes home. It has been such a blessing to have her here. She and Jay have spent a lot of time playing inside and outside. With me constantly feeding Eli I would not be able to do half as much as she has with him and I know he would be a mess by now. And I would probably have lost my mind. :)  Next week Wes' parents are coming up after mom leaves and that will be wonderful for us also. The following week will be my first without anyone else here and I will be ready to get us on a pattern of normalcy by then, I'm sure. Jay starts part time preschool then also so every tues and thurs mornings he will be entertained and I will have some time with just Eli.

As for baby boy, he is still as sweet as ever. He is eating well, sleeping well, and burping well (which is why I think he is always so content). We could never get Jay to burp so he was gassy and screamed all of the time. Eli does have a strong pair of lungs though and if I take too long to feed him he will let us have it. But it is so rare that we all just watch him and laugh. He only wakes up once at night for me to feed him and I am hoping it stays that way. The only thing is when I feed him around 10pm he gets wide awake and doesn't want me to lay him down. So he have had some late nights. Of course, he sleeps until 8am or later so it wouldn't be an issue if I didn't have wild man coming in my room at 7am or before saying, "mom! the sun came up! it's time to get up!" Sometimes he will climb in bed with me but after a few minutes he says, "mommy, i gotta go poopey" or "i need some drink" so then I have to get up and take care of him. Maybe I can get them on the same sleeping schedule soon.

I can tell, already, that he has his Daddy's personality which is exactly what I was praying for!  Jay has way to much of my firey, bossy, stubborn, and dramatic tendencies that I don't think this house could hold another type A family member!  He is so chill, will let us just put him down, and goes along with whatever is happening around him. As he grows I hope I just see more of his laid back daddy in him and that Jay doesn't rub off on him. I will have to make sure that he has enough spunk to put Jay in his place though. Otherwise big brother will, no doubt, bulldoze right over little brother. ahhhhh! what I have to look forward to!