Eli: 5 months!

Gary and Jay!

Mimi and Eli!

Mimi and her boys...

The boys are about to go stay with Mimi while Wes and I head to Fort lauderdale

The only picture we took that week....there just aren't that many picturesque moments without our boys...

Eli at just over 5 months

"mommy, take a picture of me eating!"

Relaxing on the couch after church

We have been busy this month and I can't believe it is so close to June already!  Last week Wes and I went to Fort Lauderdale so Wes could present some research. We decided to stay through the weekend and make it a vacation.
This was the first time I've been away from Eli so I was a little nervous about how I'd handle it but, I have to admit, it was WONDERFUL!  :)  I slept through the night....every night...5 whole times! I watched the news in the mornings with my coffee, not missing our usual Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for a second.  The calm and quiet were much needed. Wes asked me about half way through if I was ready to see the boys yet. After thinking for a moment I said, "No, I'm okay...I can wait until Sunday."
I always had a hard time without Jay when he was our only one but apparently having two kids broke me. :)  It was a great break but I was so happy to be home with them by the time it was over. Jay was so sweet the night I came home and, out of the blue, said to me, "mommy, I'm glad your home."  Which, as you can imagine, instantly turned my heart to goo.
Next week I will leave them again to go to Mexico for Kurt's wedding but Jay is thrilled that he will be with Papa and Mama Ross so I doubt he will even think about me! So sad Wes won't be able to come though...one, because it will be the week of our 8 year anniversary! and two, because we are going to the same area where we honeymooned....dang residency!!
I feel a little guilty about leaving the boys twice in one month but they LOVE being with their grandparents and our parents LOVE having the boys so it really is such a blessing for everyone. And I am so excited about Kurt and Ashley's wedding...it is going to be so much fun!

So back to the kids....
Eli is 5 1/2 months now!  He really gets more fun every day. He finally rolled over from tummy to back last Thursday. I have heard that most babies roll that way first because it's supposed to be easier but Eli just couldn't figure it out!  He has been rolling from back to tummy for a while now and now that he's good at both ways he will roll from one end of the room to the other before I turn around.

He loves to squeal...started this last week....and does it all day long. He has just started trying to say the "bah" sound but usually just gives up and goes back to squealing. Jay loves it and cracks up the whole time saying, "Mama, Eli is squealing at me...haha...he is so silly!"

He is sleeping through the night!!!!  Mom was able to get him on a pretty good schedule for me (thank God for grandmothers!) so ever since we've been home he's slept through without any "tricks" from me....not that they worked anyway. It is amazing how wonderful it feels to sleep again. I am so much more patient with Jay and feel like I can actually enjoy playing with him. As Wes said, "you're not mad every day when I get home anymore."  haha....that is sooooo true!  I am a nicer mama and wife when I've had sleep!

He is eats rice cereal and oatmeal two to three times a day and enjoys it but I think he will love when we start tastier foods. He stares at all of us while we eat and when I offer him his "yummy" oatmeal he just stares at me like, "this is what you are giving me?"

His little muscles are getting so strong but he can't sit by himself just yet. He wants to and gets frustrated as he watches Jay sit, run, and flip around while he just has to rock in the bouncy seat. He is ready to move on to the sitting and scooting stage but I know that as soon as he masters that he will be looking on to the next milestone....and I am not ready to chase after a crawler just yet!

Jay is growing and learning so fast!  His last day of preschool was today and I am going to miss his teachers (and my quiet time) terribly!  It is very timely that Eli is at such a good stage just in time for summer activities so we will have a lot of fun, I'm sure. My next post will have to be dedicated to Jay since Eli has dominated this one!  More to come after I get back from Mexico!