The great outdoors

After a walk around the neighborhood, we parked him on the back deck while we mowed and tended to the yard. The lawnmower captured his attention and as you can see, left him spellbound.....with his ankles crossed.

Eli is also the master of silly faces. Here is his "I'm so exicted and full of energy that I just can't stand it so every now and then I just have to make a freak out face." What you can't tell is that every muscle in his body is tensed.

This is his "I know that I am adorable and that by putting my hand on my knee and looking intently yet with a hint of surprise off to the side I can make mommy's heart melt" face.

A clean mess

The other day, Eli discovered that he could open our kitchen cabinets. I steered him clear of the cleaning products under the sink, the glass by the stove, and the blender. I didn't put everything off limits. I thought to myself, "Self, would it be so bad to let him have some fun in the tupperware cabinet? He can't break anything, he probably won't get hurt, and you are standing here doing dishes. How bad could it be?" What myself failed to consider was just how loud, messy, and adorable it was.

He has just begun. By opening just one cabinet door, he was able to survey the situation and plan a strategy.



After thinking about it, he decided to open both doors and pull the front things out to get a better view of what was piled in the back.

After exploring the lower shelf, he decided that the best noise makers were on the top shelf.

Making such a mess is hard work and eventually he just had to sit in the cabinet to continue playing.

All in all he had a grand time playing with the tupperware. Usually he would be banging a dish only to have it fly out of his hand, strike another dish which would then become the object of his affection. Mommy and Daddy have since made the decision to put baby proof latches on ALL cabinets. Eli still tries to open them and when he sees only a little crack he peeks inside to check on his treasures.

Playing

Eli has recently discovered the "big" toys! Instead of just stuffed animals and soft things, we have cars, tables, and tunnels. His favorite is to be pushed around on his car. The other morning, he drove himself right up to his table for a little drive-thru breakfast. Of course, it was cookies, but I guess since they are plastic it won't ruin his appetite!

When daddy was working nights, Eli and I got really tired of looking at one another. We treated ourselves to a trip to IKEA. The carts there really swivel and the child seats aren't as confining as the grocery stores are, so Eli thought he was on a roller coaster ride, especially the way I was driving! I couldn't resist buying a crawl tunnel for him. He loves it! He'll hide toys in it, carry his cellphone (my old one) in there and make secret phone calls, and crawl so the tunnel rolls around and scares Tanky.

We took another trip to the park where Eli found more cars! He really enjoyed sitting in it and watching the other kids run around. He kept kicking his feet, he just can't wait to be running around too!

Later at the park, I wanted to see if Eli could climb steps. We don't have any at home so we borrowed some at the park. It took a while to find a playground without a lot of big kids to run him over! As you can see, he is pretty good at climbing steps, already working on his second one!

Our 85 degree weather made him hot and sweaty so we had a nice cool bath at home. As he was standing on the bathmat after his bath, his little feet were leaving these adorable footprints that I just couldn't resist getting a picture of!

I've also noticed that Angela is posting pictures of Madelyn's bruises, and I was wondering why I didn't have those kinds of pictures of Eli. Then I realized that Eli doesn't get bruises, he gives them to me. Maybe that is a boy trait?

The Beach

Introduction to the waves went well, until the big four inchers knocked him over.



I'm a little annoyed that my nine month old sun tans better than I do. (I now have sunburn, he's golden brown and wore 50 sunblock!)

Grammy took the initiative to introduce him to the sand.

And he loved it. Here he is eating it. Gross.

Please take special note of his stylish hat. After the wave riding we brought the ocean to him in his wading pool....he loved that too!

The Hat

Grammy was down visiting last weekend and we had a grand time. She brought Eli a hat. I just loves his face in these pictures.

"Now Grammy, if you'll just push the button on top you can take the picture!"

"Do you think you can handle it by yourself?"

The expert crawler

Eli loves crawling and the camera. Here he is crawling to the camera!

Expert

Busy Day

Eli had a very busy day today. After a good night's rest, he started the day at 6 am by cleaning the kitchen floor.

OK, not really, he was playing around with a green bandana and somehow it got tied on his head like this. I'm not sure if Jason is posing or falling asleep, but aren't my boys cute!

Continuous cuteness throughout the day...

Phone book destruction is one way to recycle.

He is becoming such a big boy and loves to show me just how big he is!

He used to play in the Einstein, now he plays in his new "clubhouse".

Row Row Row Your Boat

Eli wore a very snazzy and stylish wetsuit out on the boat this past weekend. It was a little big, but he was guaranteed to float like a bobber if he fell in. Which he didn't. His first trip out on the boat was one of discovery and contemplation. His second trip out on the boat (photos) was one of enjoyment, hilarity, and adventure.

Normally, he likes to eat his sunglasses, but with the wind whipping in his face he bagan to see their practicality.

He threw his hands up in the air when Granddad went fast, just like you might do on a roller coaster ride.

Backyard Oasis

We decided to build a deck in our backyard. I'm glad we did (or that Jason did) because we had an ugly backyard. Little by little it is becoming pretty.

A palm tree so we can sit by it and pretend we are on a tropical vacation. Of course it only comes up to my waist.

While we were at the Home Improvement store checking out with our goodies, the cashier looked at Eli and said,
"Awwww, your first?"
"Yes."
"You should make another one."

Eli's many faces

Beautiful

Curious

Mischievous

Silly

Happy

Tired