Valentine's Day for 3

he can't wait to drive


pretty sunset on the lake


modified dining for toddlers


i like this chair


RJ surprised me with a Velentine's getaway to a new resort in Lake Conroe, TX. Since we have no grandparents locally,the little monkey tagged along. We had a very nice time. The room was gorgeous and we got a bottle of champagne, a dozen roses, dinner, breakfast and couples' massages in the room (although we had to go separately so one of us could entertain said monkey). We spent some time at a park in Lake Conroe the next day and the weather was fabulous. Although Eli couldn't have any champagne, he enjoyed milk while mommy imbibed... it was very nice family time...

happy boy


mom and dad


the wagners


the boy loves to slide


Looks real, no?

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

Eli celebrated his first birthday January 12!!! We had a birthday party for him on January 17 when RJ's family came into town! It was a lot of fun and we had a great turnout. Unfortunately Eli didn't feel well (we later learned he can't tolerate cow's milk yet) and he absolutely did NOT want any of his cake!!!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! Go Steelers!

Eli had his first Christmas in the Rocky Mountains with my family. It was a blast. We had a super warm snowsuit for him (something unheard of here in Houston) that won't get much use otherwise but he looked adorable in it. My dad pulled him all around Breckenridge in a Baby Boggin (Toboggin "baby-sized") for days. No stroller can make it through all that snow... There is a sledriding hill very close to their home and we finally decided to try him on the hills unassisted. He LOVED it. TOO funny, he smiled the whole way down the hill and laughed and laughed. In fact, the only time he cried was when we stopped. RJ and I actually got on the sleds with my niece, Maya, and I absolutely forgot how much fun it is to sledride! Hysterical! I can't wait to do it again. We also did some skiing which counted as my full second time. The great thing is that I really picked up where I left off and didn't fall much at all!!! GO ME! We had a low-key New Years (it's been a long time since that happened) and spent the night in with 2 bottles of champagne (and vodka/grapefruit, yum). There is a torch light ceremony that involves selected skiers (not me, of course, you have to be good)carrying lit torches down one of the peaks. Very neat. Then there were fireworks that we could see from my parents' living room. We watched the ball drop in New York and didn't even stay awake to see midnight mountain time. Oh well... so it goes. Pretty successful first holiday season for the boy... ho ho ho.

To see more pics from the trip go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/susanbsn/sets/72157612171220427/

Short video of the "sledder" this is a much smaller hill but you can see his BIG smile at the end!

It Snows and He Walks (well, one step)

We celebrated Eli's first Thanksgiving in the privacy of our own home... I cooked for the 3 of us and Eli actually ate some too! I learned he really doesn't like mashed potatoes and rubs them into his hair rather than eat them (just like RJ used to do when he was a baby). The weather was really nice so we ate out on our new deck, yay!!! Now we don't have to worry that anyone will break their ankle on the old one!
i took Eli's Christmas pics myself again... I think we did a little better. It was really tough to get him to sit still and not crawl. He took one step on December 17 but NOTHING since then, I figure he knows he has the crawling down, why bother?
He also has been having some breathing and coughing (mostly coughing) issues for some time now and his Doctor started him on some treatments to help with inflammation in his lungs. I REALLY am hoping and praying that it doesn't turn into Asthma. The Doctor did say that it doesn't always mean it will. It was really hard to get the breathing treatments in him, he was NOT happy and waking him (and us) up every 4 hours is no picnic!!! ANyway, he still plays and plays constantly, he'd never know he was having an issue.... Lastly, we did have night with some real snow. Pretty awesome for us "Yankees"...

Halloween and Family Visit!

Eli's first Halloween was a big hit. My parents came in and brought my niece Maya for the big holiday. The week before we went to pick pumpkins and I had grand visions that I would get the most precious pictures of Eli at the pumpkin patch that I would cherish forever. Instead I got approximately 45-50 shots of him looking anywhere BUT the camera, eating leaves, grass and various bugs and crying. No one told me that taking pictures would be this HARD!!! If anyone has ANY baby cooperation techniques, feel free to divulge as I simply ended up looking like a lunatic calling his name louder and louder and clicking, whistling and clapping. I am, thankfully, lucky I wasn't committed... Here's some pics... the good, the bad and the ugly....

Yummy...


more food!


Kaiya and Eli scheming to keep me from taking pictures

My Baby Boy


The only decent photo from the patch


Inexplicable Number 1 Sign


Our day at the "zoo boo"


He loves to swing


"Is this food?"


Maya was Jasmine and Eli was a Skeleton


Playtime with Maya


Eli learning bongo play

9 Months Old, Swimming and Aiden's Party

Since my last post we have been very busy...
Eli's Nana left after staying with us for 3 weeks. and what a 3 weeks it was (Ike). Eli started swim classes and we have been going to Ellen and Amy's houses often for assistance with Babies A-F... (Ellen has quintuplets and Amy, her sister, is pregnant and on bedrest).
Eli has learned quite a bit... his new nanny started and has already taught him to clap. He is "army crawling" and getting everywhere he needs to go... it ain't pretty but he gets the job done.

We kidnapped Ellen from her busy baby schedule to go to Aiden's (Amy's son) birthday party and Eli got to "hang" with his "guy" friends.. very interesting.





Eli has also learned a new trick...




Eli started swim classes and he is enjoying every minute... I think we have the next Michael Phelps... (doesn't everyone?) Well, I think it's a great possibility.

Eli had his 9 month well baby check up today... he weighs 18 lb 4 oz and is 27 3/4 inches long. Time is simply FLYING by and he is getting bigger!!! I know I was warned about the time warp but, wow!

Here's some random shots from the last few weeks...