Happy one month birthday to Eli!! He was a little camera shy though...but look at those legs!

He has started smiling now. His favorite times to smile are when he is sleeping. My mom told me that her grandmother (my mom-mom) told her that babies talked with their angels in their sleep, and that's why they smile. It makes me smile to watch him. His second favorite time to smile is after a nice big poop works it's way out after a tense crying bout. We just hold him and wait for the smile, knowing that someday we will be able to bring as much joy to his face as a good poop!

For the moment, this is as close as we get...

The pre-poop grimace...Jase was just trying to help Eli out...

Last night was Eli's first real bath! The new little tub worked out great, and Eli appears to be quite the water bug. We started with just his feet which made his eyebrows shoot straight up, but no screaming (which I was anticipating). We sat him down in the water and he immediately started kicking his legs and moving his arms. Not quite the doggie paddle, but darn close!

Three weeks old tomorrow! I can't believe it. We've had our first doctor's appointment, a visit to the office, and a new belly button. He's been a busy little guy!

His two week check-up was perfect. The doctor couldn't find a thing wrong with him. We've been very blessed with him. We did however go through all the diapers in the diaper bag as well as the extra outfit and blanket. He managed to pee and spit up all over the examing table and ended up in just his diaper wrapped in his burpee (a cloth diaper) when the doctor came in. I can't imagine what he thought about us as parents! He did manage to get dressed again to leave. The doctor gave him a cool t-shirt too (maybe he thought we didn't buy him clothes! ;) )

Everyone at the office thought he was just precious. He showed off all his wiggles and his great sleeping ability.

This morning was pretty hilarious, unfortunately it is probably a "you had to be there" moment, but we'll try anyway. Grammy was holding him after he ate when he started wiggling around on her shoulder. She stood up to put him in his swing when something fell from her lap. We had no idea what it was, but it was kinda loud when it landed on the floor. She puts him down to look for what fell, when I hear her start laughing. It was his umbilicial stump, but she didn't know it right away. In fact, she was half way across the room to show me before she said "I know what it is!" Told you...you had to be there. The point is, he has an "innie" and this was the only possible thing that could have made him cuter...and it did! I'm excited about giving him real baths now...no more spong baths...he might not be as excited though!

Here he is with daddy. Perhaps we'll show off his belly button a little later.

Baseball runs in the family, we'll just have to wait and see if he really grows into that hat! He sure is a cutie though. We drove down to Galveston for a day trip through lots of rain but had a good time eating and walking the seawall.

Tank is learning how to deal with Eli around. He needs to sniff him each morning to make sure we didn't trade him in for another one! (I've taken to calling him pokey nose) He's finally getting the hang of sharing our laps. We taught him not to stand up on the bassinet, so he doesn't put his feet on it, he just hovers on his two back legs until he loses his balance. Trolley still acts like a little protectice mommy and alerts us when he sneezes, cries, or moves. She even lays in front of his swing in case he falls out. They are good with him though, so no doggie worries.

Play Ball!

Eli's First Vacation

Tank Learns to Share

Peek-A-Boo

Baby Daze

Hi, it's Julia's mom again (aka Grammy!). Julia realizes its been "daze" since the last post....but the title says it all! I offered to fill in again. Lots of new pictures posted below....a short chronicle of the last 5 days. What a wonderful time in all of our lives. Eli came home on Sunday. He is a healthy, happy, precious little boy. We are mesmerized by him. We study his facial expressions, marvel over his perfect hands, fingers, feet and toes, and kiss his soft little head as much as possible! Enjoy the pictures!

I love my mommy.

Studying my Daddy's face...

Naptime

Future Longhorn

Check out that left hand....could it be he is rooting for the team already??

Hello Tank and Trolley!

Tank: "Is it a new toy? Does it have a squeaker? Does it roll? Can I play with it? Please? Please?"

Trolley: "Is it a new puppy? Does it need me? Can I help? Please? Please?"

Welcome Home, Eli!

Momma and Papa and Eli

(one more post from Julia's mom....)

It's me again. I have returned.

We are spending our second night in the hospital (thank goodness, I hate hospitals!), getting ready to go home. It will be so much fun to see how the dogs react to Eli tomorrow, and of course how Eli reacts to them! I'm sure there will be a whole slew of pictures for you all.

The three of us are doing fine, although momma and papa are sleep deprived, but still loving their son! Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

Will post again soon...

Eli Evan

What a boy!

Grandparents!

We do love to hold Eli!

The new Matthews family...