A little (but big) update

Oh my, I've been a little MIA! However, it's been for good reason. We've been super busy between these sweet boys of ours, and working.

As far as working, Eric and I have both been working a LOT. However, we only have $2K left to pay on our Pilot, so it's been worth it. We've also paid for our plane tix to California, for our friend's wedding in October. Eric's business is going fabulously, so we are thrilled all the way around.

These boys---B.U.S.Y. Having them not quite 15 months apart is definitely hard on the front end. Everyone who's done this tells me I'll appreciate it later. I'm pumped. I can't wait until they play independently in the back yard, while I drink wine on the deck. I also would love to only have one in diapers. I've heard that cloth diapered kids potty train earlier, but I've also been hearing that boys are HARD. Two girls I work with said their boys didn't potty train until 3 1/2. So, who knows. I've thought about getting a little potty for him to start testing the waters.

Drake is signing more often. That's good, b/c he just isn't a big talker. He says some words, but more often whines and points. It's kinda funny though, because if he really wants to say something, he does with no problem. His physical development is off the charts. He may be small, but the kid is like a monkey! He runs, he climbs, he dances; he is just everywhere!!! On another note, his separation anxiety is off.the.charts. He does NOT like being apart from Mommy or Daddy.

Eli needs to just slow his little self down! He has two teeth, and rolls over. I mean, seriously? My sweet cuddlebug isn't even five months yet, and is growing up before my eyes. He loves to smile and laugh, and play with a few certain toys. He's obsessed with Sophie the giraffe! It amazes me how social Eli is.

A couple of months ago, Eric and I did some talking about childcare, the childcare budget, and our need for help around our house. We decided that the best solution to many of our issues/needs was an au pair. I've posted about some of that here, and the final update is that OUR AU PAIR IS HERE! AND WE LOVE HER!!! Can I just tell you how excited I am? Her name is Fran, and she's from Brazil. Her English is really good; better than I expected. Portugese is her native language, but she speaks some Spanish and German as well. She came to us from a family in Idaho, where she'd been for about a month and a half. I won't get into all the details, but she's in a much better situation here than she was there. She is very sweet and loving to the boys, which is the most important thing. She is also a super clean and neat freak. I can seriously appreciate her OCD. With all that said, Eric and I aren't completely crazy. Our nanny cams should be here any day, and we'll be able to watch live feed online, or on our iphones. That was my one requirement of Eric, to arrange that.

Fran and I applied for her social security card today, and we have to get her driver's license next. She has an international drivers license (whatever the heck that is), but it's recommended she get a NC one. Eric is in charge of helping her complete her college application, and there is a "short semester" from October to December. She has to take 6 credit hours in the year she's here. If we continue to love her to pieces, she can extend her stay for up to a total of two years in the US. She'd have to continue her college classes in the second year.

So, that's a quick update on us. I'm sure there are a million spelling and grammatical errors. Sorry, but the Bachelor Pad is calling.

Tuesday fun!

I'm off every Tuesday, and today I took Drake to a local toy store with our neighbor Aiden. He had SO much fun! I also took a few pics of sweet little Eli. He is growing and changing so much.

Poor baby scratched his face, even with his nails as short as I can get them.

This is as much of a smile I can capture on camera. He is so giggly and smiley, but puts on his poker face when I get out the camera.

Bumbo!
Maracas! (How do you spell that anyway?)

This table was a little high for him, but he managed:-)

Overwhelmed!

One of the train tables
Playing on one of the bikes

In other BABY news, our dear friends Rob and Gen welcomed Henry last week! We can't wait to meet that little stinker! He joins Drake, Eli, and Syler, along with the lone princess Reese. Reese is most certainly the queen of our little group of friends. Also, my newest niece (due in December) now has a NAME! She'll be Nora! I'm so excited. That was Eric's maternal grandmothers name, and we are happy Linds and Brian are using it. I'm going to be an aunt to four sweet kiddos, and can't wait.

A Sunday night update

Our au pair was supposed to arrive this week, but her visa didn't come through. I can only trust that God knew something we didn't....so we are searching again. We are in contact with a girl who is with a family in Idaho. However, she's unhappy in their extremely small town, and her host family agrees she'd be happier elsewhere. I spoke with her host mom today, who had nothing but great things to say. Including that she's really sad to be losing her! So, hopefully her loss will be our gain. Her name is Fran, and she's from Brazil. Hopefully we'll know something for sure in the next couple of days.

Eli's thighs are oh.so.ticklish. And I love it. I harass him frequently, all to naw on those juicy thighs and get a laugh!

Drake has some serious separation anxiety. Especially at church. Which has me really worried, because he starts playschool there in a month. One more month until I have to leave my baby twice a week, for three and a half hours. But for playschool, he'll have the same teachers and classmates, so I'm hoping it gets easier for him over time.

No pics tonight, since I haven't taken any recent ones. If I only had 30 hours in a day!

Weekend Fun

Saturday we had a few hours after Eric got home from work, and before I was on call for work. We took those few hours to head to the pool at the Y. It was cloudy, and the temps were finally acceptable for Eli to be outside. There are five pools at the Y, two inside and three outside. One of the outside ones is a little spray park for the little ones, and Drake really enjoys it. Here are pictures from our visit:

When we got there, we went to the cafe and ordered Drake a grilled cheese. He gobbled it down!

At this point, he was still a little unsure of it all.
I L.O.V.E this photo of Drake. We were having so much fun running through the water.

Typical pic of me and the boys. Drake trying to escape, and Eli not looking at the camera.

Eli had his time by the pool, and even dipped his feet in.

Daddy and Drakey had so much fun.
Drake's facial expressions were hilarious.
The water was cold!
Self portrait of me and the littlest little.

He tried to throw my flip flop in while I was sitting at the edge nursing Eli. Thankfully, Daddy saved the flipflop.
I was playing around with the settings, trying to blur the water. Eric and Drake ran by, and I snapped them too. I like how you can tell Drake's mouth was wide open!
Funny boy
Eli was rockin' it out in the shade.

A 4 month Eli update!

Sitting up in his bumbo like a big boy!

I think I see a double chin. Do you?
A half smile. I've really got to get the camera out and get some of his smiling/laughing pictures. He is SUCH an incredibly happy baby.
His favorite place
Big boy, big cheeks

Drooly baby! (How do you spell drooly?)

"Okay Mom, I'm done with tummy time. Get me off of this thing!"

Has it really been four entire months since my sweet baby boy was born? Like always, time is flying by. Eli is so social now!!! He smiles, laughs, coos, and babbles away. He loves his play mat, and his big brother. He LOVES to have his diaper changed, which is so polar opposite of his brother. He had a checkup with Dr. Dorsey on Friday, and got a great report. He weighs 13 lbs and 2.6 ounces, which is the 25th percentile. He's 23 and 3/4 inches long, which is the 15th percentile. Dr. Dorsey was surprised he was only the 25th for weight, b/c he looks so chunky. He said he never would've guessed that; that he figured him more for the 5oth percentile.

My first concern this visit (b/c you know I always go with a list of questions), was his eye watering all the time. His left eye is like a faucet, and Dr. Dorsey said it was a blocked tear duct he'll grow out of. So, no worries there. My other concern was that he's still a little bit of a bobble head. I thought I remembered Drake having more head control at this age. In any case, Dr. Dorsey said that's right on track as well. That his truncal strength was better than average, and that his head/neck strength would come along as well. I love when my worries or fears turn out to be nothing! He ended his visit with two vaccines, both of which he's had before. We did each separately at 2 and 3 months, and now we can do some together since we know he didn't react.

When we were chatting about Eli's bobble head, and rolling over to his side, I called him "lazy". Dr. Dorsey said, "Well, you know what the other word for lazy is, don't you?". I didn't, but laughed when he told me it's "calm". SO TRUE. I have the calmest and laziest baby ever. He is such a sweet snugglebug, and I wouldn't change it for the world. Happy 4 month birthday sweet boy!