How to put a puzzle together

1. Make sure you have snacks, this could take a while.
2. Study it. Real hard.
3. Then try throwing pieces on the floor.
4. Take some bites of carrot.
5. Reattempt.
6. Give up. But assure your mom that it is intended for 18 month olds and you aren't all advanced like that.
7. But keep the carrot.

rainboots

Something about them on this little boy was so sweet to me. We were just trying them on for size. But he loved them too much to take off and wanted to march all over, show them to bear, etc.

And they fit! So now to find us some puddles we must...

Just another day

Taking a piano break (nap?) from getting into the pantry and making a toy out of a massive tub of crisco (don't eat it Eli!).

bath time

Not as much fun as it is with daddy, but sometimes mama will just have to do. (not getting home until post bedtime is simply a reality from time to time). But hey, we got a little photo shoot to show for it!

Eli's nursery

ouch.

Friday while running up the stairs to the slide at the play space, the boy slipped (needed grippy socks!), fell, and banged his cheekbone pretty bad. He cried for about 20 seconds while I pretended to be calm and think about what to do. Ice? Head to the bathroom to inspect? Nurse? We did an assortment of the above and he only wanted one thing: to get right back on that slide. The bruising is getting better. But then today we had to get a routine blood draw for him. It was painful for all involved, but his tears were few and I told him all about how brave and strong he was the whole way down the tram. Now to a week free of injuries or hospitals!

Holding on

walking doesn't feel new anymore. 

but the hand holding really started only a few weeks ago. 

it still feels new. 

my favorite is when we walk just the three of us. 

he's in the middle and every now and then he gets a swing.

he loves it.

but today was different. 

it was just us.

and though cold out it was so sunny and clear. 

calling for a walk. 

so out we went. all bundled up. 

and he held on. tight. 

i had to slow my usual stroller pace to his walking pace. 

and it was so good.

to slow down. stop when he stopped. jerk right when he tugged me that way. 

pause for the trucks. the people. the littlest thing along the way that caught his eye. 

and just let him guide me for a bit. 

i've never felt so unqualified for anything as i have with parenting. 

yet there is something intuitive about it. 

like if i just let go a bit and slow down, and let the little person tell me what to do, i might just see the world in a new way and grow up a bit too. 

and it's when i feel his grip tighten that i know it'll be ok.

the rough days. the long nights. 

the tense moments of parenting. 

the baby who oh so happily threw his legos in the toilet yet again.

finding the strength to change the diaper. 

to dig out the legos. 

to put dinner together. 

yet still finding time for the walks in the winter sunshine.

so i can remind myself how beautiful it is to parent this sweet little boy. 

who holds onto me tight. 

Adventures on the bus

The bus we take because daddy has the car for his current rotation. And it led us to a very fun play space where one little man ran like crazy and went down the slide a bazillion times. Now let's just hope the sleeping baby in the carrier and the tired mama can get the bus back home!!

mini-md

he found this all by his little self.

an extra one tucked away in the medicine drawer in the bathroom. 

(don't worry, an all childproofed medicine drawer).

but he snatched the stethoscope right up. 

he loves his daddy's when it's home as well.

and came walking right out with it around his neck. 

like all the cool doctors.

he impressed the medical schools with his dancing skills and great energy.

doctor by day and janitor by night?

(clutching his beloved mop). 

but he does have a nice smile. 

that bedside manner is something. 

how does this thing work?

like this? 

Eli and his ducks

When not pulling his favorite ducks around...
He enjoys rummaging through the kitchen utensils. Anyone need some nuts ground?

carnivorous

Hmmm... Bacon.