Storm of the Century

Wednesday night I was watching the news after everyone had gone to bed and they were saying it looked like snow for Christmas Eve! Snow?! I thought, how exciting! And on Christmas Eve?! Even better. I haven't seen snow on the ground, let alone snow actually falling in years. Still, even though they said it was coming, I wouldn't believe it until I saw it. The wind had picked up while I was watching the news and I headed to bed wondering what the next day would bring.

I remember JR telling me goodbye in the morning as he headed in to work a shortened day, after all it was Christmas Eve. He wasn't quite sure what he was going to see when he opened the garage door at 5:30, but it didn't look too bad yet. He made it to work safe and sound. Around 6:30-7:00. I could hear the wind gusting and sleet hitting the window in the bedroom and the kitchen as I lay under the warm covers. I heard Eli on the monitor anyway so I got out of bed, grabbed him and we checked out what was going on. At that point there was just some sleet on the ground. Nothing to exciting, it was still slightly above freezing out there. We were watching Sesame Street when I looked out the window and saw a collection of white stuff on the roofs behind our house. Hmm, was it snowing yet? I looked outside and finally saw a few flakes mixed in with the sleet. This was around 8:30. Within a half hour the landscape had changed dramatically. Although, with all the wind blowing around, it seemed the neighbor was getting more snow then us, her yard was completely covered and we had a light dusting.

When Eli went down for his nap (around 11:00) I bundled up and went outside to snap a few pictures. The driveway was completely iced over so I had to be careful when I walked, especially when the wind blew (the wind was constant at 30mph and gusting over 50mph). I felt a little off balance. I only stayed out for a few minutes, it was sooo cold! JR called me and told me he was headed out in a little while. He was thinking to himself he better get out while he still can. Good thing he left when he did, there were news reports all over TV saying how many cars were starting to become stranded. He never went above 20 mph on the way home, and only fish tailed the car a little on the way into the neighborhood. There was a decent sized snow drift in our driveway though, and he got a little stuck, rocking the car back and forth in reverse and drive until he made it into the garage. He even stopped by the liquor store on the way home to pick up some wine for our Christmas dinner.

The rest of the day passed by, and we were continually amazed at the gusting winds and swirling snow. The reports on the news of stranded travelers were too familiar now, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for those who weren't going to be able to spend Christmas with their families.

After Eli fell asleep, we brought out the presents. I still had a few to wrap, and we wanted to put together the train table so he could wake up to it on Christmas morning. We crawled into bed shortly before midnight. It was a little hard to sleep with all the excitement. I feel asleep to the sound of the gusting winds outside our window.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My baby's 14 months old! (warning...brag session)

Hard to imagine Eli was born fourteen months ago. I still remember the day like it was yesterday, although my memories can be a little foggy sometimes. I am still finding it incredibly amazing how much Eli has changed since he was a helpless, squirmy, little newborn...barely able to see. Week to week he learns something new, sometimes even day to day.

Even though he cannot say very much, his comprehension is amazing. I have taught him some kitchen safety. When the oven timer goes off, he runs to the kitchen and motions towards the oven. I grab my oven mitts, and tell him to sit down on the rug in front of the stove (which is a few feet away from the oven). He sits there while I take everything out of the oven and close the door, all the while I say how hot the oven is. Yesterday he was taking items out of the refrigerator because he wanted a snack. I told him I would get him some grapes but I wanted him to put the items away. He picked them up and put them back in the drawer. Then I told him to close the door so we could go sit down and eat. He closed the door and then clapped, he is so proud of himself sometimes! He even puts his shoes on the shoe rack when I ask him to, if he's not too busy.

He is starting to point towards all the babies and animals in the books we read and asking what they are. Well, not really asking, he says "Uh, Uh". He got a Little People Farm set for his birthday and he prances the little animals around on the ground. He will even pick up the horse and kind of neigh like I do. The other day I was cleaning him up in the high chair and saying what a little piggy he was. I put him down and he ran off to play. While I was doing the dishes a few minutes later he ran over to me holding his piggy from the Little People set! I couldn't believe it! He went all the way to the playroom, dug through the bucket that all the animals were in, and brought it to me. He's done that a few times since. Also when I am reading to him, it is clear that he has some of his books memorized. I am very animated when I read him a book, trying to make sounds when I can for animals, or pretending to eat, sneeze, etc. His Sesame Street books that have cookie monster in them, well I always pretend to eat a lot of cookies like he does. Eli anticipates this and starts doing it a few pages before we get to cookie monster. He also does this when he sees cookie monster on TV. It's so cute!

Walking wise, Eli is pretty much a pro. In fact he usually runs everywhere! I am teaching him to watch his step and step down from a curb, or step, or whatever. He has gotten pretty good over the last few months. I still have to hold his hand though.

When Eli has a stinky diaper, we'll shout "phew eww" and he'll run to his bedroom for a diaper change, screaming the whole way!

Words Eli says: Down, No, Meow, Moo and I think he might be getting the hang of yes?

He is also starting to give us more kisses and hugs when we ask, even kissing and hugging his stuffed animals. Another funny thing he does, is tickle his belly when his shirt is off. Or say for instance if my shirt comes up a little when I bend over, he'll come up behind my and tickle my back. That one gets me sometimes! He also tickles our feet.

JR said tonight at dinner, "His personality shows through more and more each day."

He tries to help me when I get him dressed. It has become less of a struggle to get him ready nowadays. Sometimes he'll run away, but for the most part he likes to help me. He holds out his arms, helps get his legs through the pants, and likes when I put his jacket on. He now says "Brrrr" when I get his jacket on since I'm always saying we need to put it on because it's so cold outside. He helps take his socks off at bath time and tries to help take his shirt off. What a big boy!

Well, next month will be his fifteen month check up and I suppose some shots :( I'll keep you updated!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Eli's Transportation Transformation

Since Eli was born, he has always hated being in the car. When he was younger we always tried to speculate reasons why. Could he be car sick riding backwards? Was it because he couldn't see me? He hated the car seat? Being confined? Not sure.

I remember leaving to go to the store for the first time by myself with Eli when he was about two weeks old. I was partially terrified he was going to cry the whole time and everyone would be staring at me. While he cried for the first few minutes of the drive, I was so thankful that he slept for most of the shopping. I would have to say for the first month of his life he was a fussy baby, who did not sleep much. Maybe he was a good baby, but it was my inexperience.

My family was perplexed by his hatred for the car. "Most babies love riding in the car, that's how we would get you to sleep." Huh! Not this little guy. I would say for his first year of life, he probably only slept in the car a handful or two times in the car.

His discontent stopped me from traveling too far from home. I stopped going to my favorite store because it was too far (10 minutes away). Instead I went to the store a few blocks away. I just couldn't bare to hear him cry, I felt so awful. And trust me, I tried everything: mirror with little animals on that played music, music on the cd player, singing to him, toys, drinks, windows up, windows down, nada. Even making the drive to my mom's house 12 miles away was a daunting task. By the time I would get there, his face would be red, eyes puffy, cried the whole way there. As soon as I would take him out of the seat, all better!

Needless to say, I couldn't wait to turn him around in his new car seat! As soon as he turned one, I turned the car seat around. I was so excited for the possibility of joyous car rides. I know, I know. I was hoping for a miracle.

Here's a picture with Eli in his new car seat the day we got it!

At first the change was subtle. And it could have been a combination of things that changed. He was now able to eat cheerios, or other little snacks and this kept him pretty occupied. I didn't give him that stuff before because I couldn't see him eating, I was afraid of him choking. I also positioned the rear-view mirror so he could see me all the time. And then....it started. We would go out for errands and he would fall asleep in the car. Once, twice, three times, four times in a row! To some this might not be a big deal. To us, it was momentous! Now it's to the point that if we go out I can pretty much guarantee that he will take a nap. Even if he doesn't nap, his mood is so much better. It's really amazing.


The other day I was watching him in the mirror, he was eating his treat. He let out a huge yawn, eyes got a little droopy, opened back up, and then closed for good. That's it! As simple as that. It's as dramatic as turning on the light switch.