One Time

One time I had a blog that I actually kept up with! I hate not having the time to do this anymore. I'd love to be able to say "I am committing to posting a blog every day/week/month/whatever but I know I won't hold the commitment. Maybe committing to just blog more? Maybe...

Christmas is COMING and A Giveaway!

Y'all. I know Christmas is technically months away but I am excited already. I am trying to buy gifts sooner rather than later this year and just being in the Christmas spirit earlier makes me HAPPY! Speaking of happy and Christmas, are you pumped about HOLIDAY CARDS? Well, you should be. Why not start looking for cards now so you don't have to make rash decisions in a moment's notice once you get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays? When you want to start looking, hop on over to Shutterfly and check out their holiday cards! They have so many options. Go here: Photo Christmas Cards I really like the simplistic look of this card.

Or what about this one? I love blue for Christmas!

Be sure you check out the Shutterfly special offers they have going on right now by going here. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter too! Shutterfly is graciously going to give one of my readers $50 off their total order (excluding shipping and cannot be combined with any other offers)! All you need to do is comment below and leave your email address. Tell me your favorite thing about the Holidays and you will automatically be entered. Contest ends October 29, 2012. *This is a sponsored blog post by Shutterfly.

Giveaway!

I partnered with a Scentsy consultant and an Avon consultant for a neat giveaway in August! Check out the link below if you want to enter. Click Here to enter. In other news, we are planning Eli's second birthday party! SECOND. Lord. Hold me. I'll post a picture of his invitation soon!

News and such!

Well. I have failed my blog. BUT.. I have some news. I have decided to pick up a hobby, do something for me and meet new people while maybe earning some cash for savings on the side. I have been to several Thirty-One parties in the past and have hosted two. I just love the products and their functionality. So, I am diving in. Let me know if you'd like to host a catalog or online party.

www.mythirtyone.com/emilyholmes There you go! I am excited. I need to get around to updating the blog since it is really 6 months plus that I have had time to devote to it. I'll get around to it.

Time Away

This past week I traveled to Boston for work. It marked the longest time (6 nights) I have been away from Eli since his birth. I learned that my life at this point really isn't worth it unless I am with my family. I enjoyed my time away but I appreciate and love the precious time I have to spend with my son so much more than any time away would ever give me. I pray that I will always remember the longing I feel when not with Eli when I am cursing away the day or exhausted from running around chasing him all day. That is life. Those days are always worth it. He is always worth it to me.

A Post about Love

In honor of Valentine's Day. A letter to Eli.

Sweet (not so baby anymore) Elijah-

I want you to know how important it is to love other people. Not just becasue it's the "right" thing to do but becasue it is the Christ-like thing to do. Loving people isn't always easy. It is much easier to judge others, look down on them, hold grudges against those who are mean to us. But this is not what we are called to do. We are called to love one another no matter who they are or what they do.

I hope your dad and I will raise you to be a God-fearing man but even more, I hope you spend each day bringing joy and spreading love to others. It is so important to care about other people. We are to build up one another. I pray that you will see the value in each individual person regardless of their gender, race, sexuality, and social class, etc. Every person has worth, Eli. Every person deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. Life is too short to be mean to others. Remember that Christ's love spreads to all. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love you so much. Happy Valentine's Day baby boy.

Love,

Your Mama

Valentine's Day!

I must admit, I get way more excited about Valentine's Day now that I have a kid. I love having a reason to send out Valentine cards and make goodies to send to his daycare class!

Speaking of cards, I know I want to order some for Eli but Tiny Prints has this card that makes me laugh. This would be something that Dale would appreciate getting!

http://www.tinyprints.com/greeting/product/32166/valentines_day_cards_i_like_you.html

I love Tiny Prints. I think I have ordered Christmas cards from them for the past 2-3 years. They have great quality cards for affordable prices! They are giving away 50 classroom Valentine's Day cards to bloggers that post about their V-day Cards! How cool is that?



Click on the link below to be taken straight to their card selection. It's not too late to buy cute Valentine's Day cards!

http://www.tinyprints.com/tiny-prints-valentines-day-cards.htm



Other cool ways to stay in touch with Tiny Prints
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TinyPrints
On Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/tinyprints
On Pinterest (gosh, I love this site):http://pinterest.com/tiny_prints/


Are you ordering Valentine's Day cards this year???? If you are, you better send me one! :)

Somewhere between here and there I know have an almost 1 1/2 year old. The strangest thing happens when you have children. You finally, for the first time, start living for someone other than yourself. You have to throw your selfish desires away because you don't really have a choice anymore. Fortunately, I am okay with this. Unfortunately, it has left me with very little free time to blog.

Suffice it to say that I am SO incredibly, unbelievably happy God trusted me to be a mom to Eli. I would be straight up lying if I told you I don't have bad days, that I never wonder what it would be like without him, that I never wish for a break- I do think those things. Sometimes often. But I would also be lying if I never told you that this sweet, handsome little person has taught me more about myself and life and love and patience and giving in the past 17 months than I ever thought was possible.

He's pretty rad and I love him a whole lot.





Merry Christmas a month late!

Time flies...

I admit, I am bad at blogging. Must do better. Must do better.

Eli is 14 1/2 months old! I don't want to forget what he is doing at this point in his life so read on for some fun stuff.

-He loves books now. This is a recent change as a couple weeks ago, the kid couldn't care less. He will grab a book and bring it to us, want to sit in our lap and go through it. Now his attention span is still about 30 seconds but it is slowly getting better.
-Loves playing with Molly. She will even get a little rough with him and he cracks up.
-His favorite part of the day is when his socks and shoes come off when we get home from daycare. He is hilarious. He takes after his daddy and has sweaty feet so I think he likes "feeling free" if you will.
-He is a good sleeper and eater. Sleeping through the night- still going down before 7 each night beacuse he is NOT a napper. I'm over that battle so it is what it is. He sleeps well at night- I'll take it. He loves most foods. He isn't a big meat eater, which is weird to us but he'll at least always try stuff.
-No more milk problems which is great. He is completely on organic whole milk (yes, I am that mom that gives organic because the hormones in milk freak me out). I think it just took him a solid 2 months to get used to it.
-My reflux spitter-upper is CURED. No more spit up. I don't know if I ever thought I'd see the day that we wouldn't need a bib or burp cloth but we are there, FINALLY.
-He loves to play outside. He would be out there all day if we let him. He has some cars and outside toys he likes to play with so he, for the most part, occupies himself when he is outside which is nice. He's still too young to get the playground idea or do much climbing but he'll love that when he is big enough too.
-He babbles constantly. He doesn't have many words yet but he is always making noise. I think within the next couple of months his vocabulary will get a lot better.


Ok. I am sure there is more. Must do better. :)

Eli is ONE

How does time go so fast? HOW?

Dear Eli-

Today you turn one. I made Daddy take a picture of you asleep before you woke up this morning so we could have the moment captured forever. I sent you to daycare in your "It's my birthday shirt" with matching "birthday boy" bib. I didn't use to be this way. I am usually not this sentimental. Maybe I should say, I wasn't this sentimental before I had you. But you've changed me. In so many wonderful ways. And you challenge me- to become a better mommy, a better wife, a better friend...

I really don't remember what life was like without you in it. Which is okay because you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love watching you grow, take steps, feed yourself, play with Molly and enjoy life so much. I can't wait to watch you grow up into a wonderful young man. You are a true joy in my life and I love you SO much.


Now please don't start those toddler tantrums too early, okay?


Love,
Mommy

AHhhhhhhhhhh 11 month old.

I have an 11 month old. That's one month away from a year. Someone hold me.


At 11 months Eli is:
-sleeping through the night still and we have officially gotten rid of the sound machine.
-No new teeth this month which has been good for routine.
-Eating well. Breakfast, lunch and snack at daycare and dinner at home. He likes food and it's been an easy transition.
-Still in 12-18 month clothes. He will be in 2T soon though. The kid is big.
-His balance has gotten better but he still isn't walking.
- Has officially started tantrums where we take away something he can't have and he launches into screaming fit mode. At first it scared me, now I laugh.
- Size 4 diapers still and size 4 shoe.
-Takes 4 bottles a day still but we have started the switch to milk. In a couple weeks, he will be off formula! This is nice.


Eli had a great summer staying home with daddy 3 days a week. He had trips to both grandparents houses and the aquarium. If I was a good mother, I would post pictures from that but I haven't uploaded them yet.

Soon....

The next post will be ONE YEAR.

Holy 10 Months Old!

How did this happen? I really can't believe how fast time flies. It will be a year in no time!

At 10 months:
-consistently still sleeping through the night
-4 teeth on the bottom and 4 on the top. This changes pretty much weekly as another tooth will pop through.
-Eats all solid food now and no more purees... even at daycare! I like this but it is also harder because I have to pay more attention to what we are eating and what he can and can't have. We'll get the hang of it eventually.
-LOVES cheerios and goldfish crackers. Eats sweet potato fries, rice with peas and carrots, graham crackers and cheese are favorites. And ALL fruit. He loves fruit.
-In all 12 month clothing. Some 18months already.
-Has taken a few steps here and there and I am sure he will be walking by a year.
- Is in a whiny phase. Wants to be held a lot but still plays independently a lot too.
- Size 4 diapers still and size 4 shoe.
-Loves to be out and about and to ride in the carseat. This is nice!
-Loves to people watch.
-Takes 4 bottles a day still. I know he isn't ready to go down to 3 or he will wake up overnight to eat.
-Mastered the sippy with water. He has never had juice and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible.
-Loves to play with the dog. They give each other kisses and he grabs her tail. Molly does great with him.
-He babbling and talking pretty much constantly. It's not real words but he is always saying or squealing something.
-He has been in the pool a couple times this summer. He tolerates it for a few minutes but it's definitely not his favorite. :( We will keep trying, maybe it will grow on him.

I love this kid!

9 Months Old

Good lord time is flying by and I can barely keep up. Eli is now OVER 9 months.

Sweet Jesus.

At 9 Months:
-26 11 ounces (98th percentile), 29 1/2 inches long (87 percentile!)
- Takes 28oz (4 bottles a day)
-3'ish meals a day
-Eats puffs, baby food, ground turkey, peaches, oranges, green beans, rice, carrots, peas. A lot of stuff!
-Has 4 teeth... and at least 2 more popping through the top. He pretty much gets fussy and refuses to eat for 1-2days and we know he is teething but we can't see anything. Go to sleep and the next morning, he has a new tooth or two!
-Most of the time, sleeps through the night. Thank you Jesus!
-Loves to MOVE. It not okay sitting still- true boy. Pulls up on everything!
-He has no favorite toy or favorite thing to look at on television because nothing holds his attention more than 15 seconds!!!
-Crawling all over the place!! Non stop.
-Can pull up on things like a couch and hold himself up for several seconds
-Loves to play with Molly and give her kisses.
-Will smack his lips back at you when he eats
-Can wave now!
-Mumbles words very close to "dada" but I am not sure he really gets it yet. But it sounds close!!
-Uses the sippy and actually gets stuff out of it

I want to post some pictures but it won't let me! Bah. I'll try again later.

8 Month Breakthrough

It appears that 8 months is going to be a huge developmental month for Eli.

Just this month alone he has:
Mastered the sippy
Started crawling
Started pulling up
Had to have his bed lowered
SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT (can I get an amen?)

Here he is going straight for the dog's food:


We took his 8 month shots but they are on the computer at home so I will update later. I feel like my baby is a little boy! Growing up so fast.

Happy Mother's Day!

I'll be honest and say I didn't really expect to care about this day much. I am sentimental but I think I was holding myself back from feeling the true feeling of how amazing it is to be a mother. Eli "made" me some art with his handprint at daycare Friday and I cried in the car looking at it. I love that sweet boy so, so much.


Dear Eli,

Today is my first Mother's Day. I cannot even being to express to you how wonderful being a mother is. These past 8 months have been the most rewarding 8 months of my life. I want you to know that I love you so much and I am so blessed to be able to call you my sin. I pray that you can grow up to be a happy, healthy little boy and eventual man and one day a father that gets to enjoy the rewards of parenting that we are enjoying so much now. You are absolutely precious to me and I thank God for you every day.

Thank you for making me a mom sweet boy. I love you.

Mother of the Year

... I am not. Eli was 8 months old on Monday. We have yet to take pictures. We are just so freakin busy and Eli goes to bed at like 6:30 lately and there just isn't time! But I will update with some fun facts about 8 months!

-FINALLY regularly sleeping through the night. This is amazing! I feel refreshed and just better overall about this.
-around 25lbs... STILL a big boy
-eats 4 times a day, 7oz at a time
-Loves to drink water out of a sippy cup. We finally found one that works well for him!
-eating solids well. 2 meals a day and a snack. Has tried rice, chicken, peas, carrots, sweet potato fries and bananas (real food)
-almost crawling. He is scooting everywhere and crawls for about 2 steps before he falls on his tummy and scoots. he will be there soon.
-Babbling a lot more
-Has started to hold his bottle on his own
-Moves ALL over the crib at night. I need to get some good pictures because they are hilarious
-can have a little bit of separation anxiety depending on his mood and the day.
-Loves when we sing "Old McDonald" and "Pattycake". I need to learn more to up my song repertoire. Those two get old fast haha.


I promise pictures soon!

Working Mom!

Goooood morning!

PDXMomma does a Working Mom guest post each week and yours truly is up for today! Check it out if you want to go going here.

It was so fun to write out everything! Thanks for the opportunity!

Happy Easter!

Despite the fact that Eli's allergies are in full force, we had a pretty good Easter. My family met us in Hattiesburg and we went to church this morning and then Dale's parents came over after church and we all ate together at the house. It was nice to not have to travel anywhere but exhausting playing hostess and mommy but it went well!

Of course, I barely took any pictures but we got some cute ones in between the snot and drool. Don't think we took any as a family. Sigh. I've got to get better at that.

7 Months!

Clearly you can see he is 7 months and 1 week old today. Yeah, we're busy ha. here is what Eli is up to this month:

-Had to officially remove bumpers from the crib because some decided he likes to play in the crib and not sleep
-Suddenly loves to sleep on his tummy. He NEVER used to sleep on his stomach. We just woke up one morning and there he was. Now he is like that 95% of the time.
-Still not consistently sleeping through the night but we dreamfeed around 10 and he usually makes it until 3 or 4 and I just give him paci. He doesn't eat in the middle of the night anymore which is an improvement so I'll take it!
-Pretty much all in 9 or 12 month clothing.
-Still loves bath time but now he sits up in the tub and plays with toys and splashes water.
-Loves when daddy sings Old McDonald and when mommy sings patty cake.
-NEVER SITS STILL. He still isn't crawling but he is seriously frustrated with his lack of mobility. He's pushing off of everything and pulls up so I feel like we are close.
-Eats 2 meals a day. We need to go to 3 but it's so hard to fit it in during the work week. He eats purees at daycare and puffs to snack on (LOVES these). At home we try to introduce tabled food. He's had bananas, peas, rice, carrots, pasta, chicken, ground turkey and beef. He seems to like most things.

I know I am forgetting things. Oh well. Here are some cute pics.

Laughing with Dad!

Just precious. Love them!