He's 2!

Leah got all dressed up for Eli's brithday. She spent the rest of the morning sleeping, but had to throw a fit about being put in her car seat...but isn't she cute?!

Eli had a busy birthday! We took him to the park to ride the train. It's a 25 minute ride that keeps his head swivelling back and forth. As we were waiting to the leave the station we snapped a few pictures and tried desperately to get him to smile. The most successful attempt was when I asked him to show us his teeth. Looking good!

The train was recently upgraded to a slightly bigger model, which makes it easier for parents to sit with their kids. Our conducter had a dry sense of humor perfected after days of 25 minute train rides in the summer heat.

We prepared Eli for the inevitable end of the train ride by suggesting an audience with the "dirt" going on all over the park. Construction crews were digging up various parts of the park and Eli narrated all of the successful back-hoe maneuvers with the phrase "got it" and all of the unsuccessful maneuvers with "stuck". No picture of the dirt movers, just an ill-choreographed attempt at a mother/son photo opp.

The train took us past some fountains in the park that I have always wanted to get Eli to play in. The other kids look like they are having fun and it's free! I guess he was just waiting to turn 2!

Remember when I said you could see the fountains from the train? Eli loved seeing the train from the fountain!

To end his very busy birthday, we took him to Chuck E Cheese, where he was less than thrilled with the mouse. He did however like riding in the motorized horse race!

Little lady and gentleman

A cute sleeping girl.



Yes, we put his hand around her, but he likes her.

He did this all by himself.

Keep scrolling for lots more pics...

Celebrity

It reminds me of one of those tabloid shots.

How to eat a pudding pop!

Then you strip and hop in the tub!

Outside

Eli really enjoys playing outside, especially with water. Our friend snapped some great shots of Eli, so here is the beginning of a series of posts.

Since we don't let him spray us...

I suggested once that he put it on his head...

Risky...



Just because he can...

Real trains

These are some of my very favorite pictures.

Ringing the bell was a big hit!

This is how Leah enjoyed the trains.

Little Lady Jane

Underpants

We took Eli to the Railroad Museum the other day and found there were tons of great photo ops. Unfortunately after drinking a lot at breakfast Eli's diaper didn't last the trip, and his shorts fared worse. Figuring he is just two and it wouldn't matter, he spent the whole day in his underpants, shirt, clunky shoes, and eventually a hat.

After the museum we decided to go to lunch and then the beach. Eli was still in his underpants.

We ended the trip with even less on!

Ferris Wheel

The days leading up to Leah's birth were pretty full so I could forget about being pregnant for awhile. On this particular field trip, instead of feeling very pregnant, we all just felt very hot. The days festivities included a trip to the aquarium. We saw fish, lots and lots of fish, creepy spiders and bottom swimmers, and white tigers. I don't even think tigers eat fish so I don't really know why they were there. We also rode a train that stopped under 2 tons of water filled with swimming sharks that may or may not have had their meal for the week. Eli thought the train ride was great, except when the train got "stuck" under the sharks.

After the fish and the sharks and the train (which we rode twice) Jason thought a ride on the ferris wheel would be fun and then we would head home. I decided to go with them on the ferris wheel. I also am afraid of heights. We happened the be riding the wheel when it got stuck and maintenance had to be called. That's right, we were the second car from the top, swaying in the wind, with a nice view of the highway. Eli was hot and tired by this point and decided to get fussy and wiggly when we stuck at the top.

Here is Eli. Red faced and sweaty right after we loaded in the car.



This is Eli and Daddy. Happy because we weren't stuck yet. This is Eli's only picture face at the moment so I am assigning it as happy face in this picture.

Eli and Mommy. We finally got Eli distracted watching the trucks and boats and cars driving by on the highway. At this point we were stuck. I was less than thrilled.

Could you imagine if the stress of the whole thing (I really think I was having the beginnings of a panic attack) made me go into labor?!

More pics

Here's a rare shot of Leah with her eyes open and her hands away from her face. She loves to snuggle up with her hands, or wiggle her face next to yours. We still like her.



When you bring a two year old to visit in the hospital, you better have some crafty plans for entertainment. Donning surgical gloves and smacking imaginary bugs on the floor amused Eli, if only for a minute.

We were so glad to be out of the hospital, and Eli was equally as glad to have us home. The only way we could get him to sit still for a family picture was to allow the hospital water jug to be in the picture as well.

Hey! We're parents...again!

Jason keeps asking me this morning: "Can you see how beautiful she is?" I believe he is one proud daddy!

We are all doing well. Jason and I are happily ;) sleep deprived, Leah is not quite certain she likes life outside the belly, but she seems to be adjusting. Eli has sensed that it's time to show off how ultra well-behaved he can be, and Grammy is feeling, well, I think she's happy too.

Once Eli shows up this morning I'll have a new family picture to post. Until then, please enjoy the following picture of my daughter's self-styled mohawk.

Leah

Beautiful baby....

...brown hair, beautiful round head, plenty of pudge, long skinny feet, Matthews cheeks.....all that from one upside down view through a nursery window! Pictures soon!

Leah Jane Matthews

12:48
7lb 12 1/2 oz......

Doctor's Visit

Let the pushing begin....in ONE more hour!

Eli peacefully napping through this bit of exciting news.....

Moving right along....

6cm, 70%.....for those of you that like data (like me!) Epidural is doing the job....doctor is coming back at noon to check on her.

Eli: "Mama? Mama?"
Grammy: "Mama's at the hospital picking up your new baby sister!" (Sounds like she is out getting groceries!)

Update

Well, it turns out that labor had actually started.....4 cm....contractions going....but no pain! Way to go, Julia! Broke the water, started the Pitocin (had to look up that spelling :-))...just a matter of time! Waiting with Eli.......

Let the Inducement Begin!

7:10 AM just left for the hospital.....excitement abounds! (posted by Grammy...on Eli duty!)

Not yet...

Well today is the day! Her due date.

I don't think she cares.

Still pregnant.

Not lovin' it.

I think someone else should get to hold her once and a while.

We'll let you know.

My boys

As I was scrolling through the plethera of photos we have taken of Eli, trying in vain to negotiate it to a lower number, I came across quite a few recent photos starring my boys. I also noticed that when I take pictures of them, they NEVER look at the camera. The effort is there in some of them, but they just don't quite make it!

This first one was after church a few weeks ago when I was trying to get a good photo of Eli in his new clothes. Jason's grandparents sent him (and Leah) outfits and Eli's looks quite spiffy on him. About two seconds after I took the picture, Eli was off and running again, and I believe baseball was on the television.

In order to protect our floors from the constant chair re-arranging Eli enjoys, we needed to put new chair/floor protecting things on the bottom of our chairs. Daddy+hammer+anything else = great fun for Eli too. He first learns and mimics the technique on the same chair as Jason and then...

once confident that he won't mess up on his own chair, he flips it over and gets to work.

A harder days work was never done by two men. Mowing the lawn in Texas is no small feat. After the task was completed they cooled off with some ice water (believe me Eli made sure there was ice) and rested on the porch swing. I believe Eli's hat was staged, but that's all. If you zoom in, Eli's cheeks are as red as beets, but he had a grand time.

Today I decided a visit to the Children's Museum would be fun for Eli, since I have been a bit of a dud being pregnant and all. Little did I know that it would also prove to be fun for Jason as well! Here they are hard at work. Jason is probably playing the right way, and Eli is just trying to get the puzzles that are glued onto the table off of the table. It still looks like fun!

Here is some lego construction. Jason taught Eli that spin move with the red lego. He made that tall tower all by himself!