The Clarksons: November 2007

Sunday, November 25, 2007

3 months!

Here we are....3 months today! Eli is doing wonderful and it is so fun to get these great pictures and videos of him each week. Eli continues to laugh and coo and make such cute sounds, pretty much the entire time he is awake. He can reach such high notes that mommy tries to mimic, but cannot even make it as high as he can :) He loves his play mat and Grandma Bidney bought him some new toys to play with, his favorite being a red bird that chirps when you squeeze it's tummy. Eli continues to love to be read to and just coos and laughs. He really loves to sit up, too, and his bumbo chair is great for this. We also prop him up with pillows which he really likes being able to sit up like everyone else. Eli has also started to use his Jumperoo which he currently can only look, listen and do a little jumping, but soon he will be able to reach everything and jump up and down. He can hold his rattles for a long period of time. He loves putting his fists in his mouth and occasionally his thumb. He is drooling up a storm and I think before long we'll be teething, if we aren't already! Eli's neck is doing so much better and we will be going to the chiro just once this week and probably for only a couple more weeks. Here are some fun pics and videos....enjoy!

Hand in mouth....where it usually is!

I'm a little monkey!

Baby GAP all the way!

Grandma Bidney and Great Aunt Charlene....they are silly and fun!

I'm ready for Christmas!

Me and Grandma Bidney

Just hangin' out in mommy & daddy's bed watchin' some t.v.

Oooo...that's interesting....

Official 3 month pictures!

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Jumperoo time

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Daddy always makes me laugh. (Mommy side note: It's so cute because when Eli sees and hears his daddy he just smiles....he loves how crazy and fun his daddy is!!)

Thursday, November 22, 2007

1st Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! Hope everyone had a great one. We hosted Thanksgiving this year and my mom came in on Tuesday from Iowa to spend it with us. The Clarkson gang then came over today and we had a yummy dinner: turkey, ham, cheesy potato casserole, green bean casserole, pasta salad, rolls, pumpkin pie & pecan pie and cookies. Cherry (my mother-in-law) was nice enough to volunteer to make the turkey, pies, and cheesy potato casserole and Blake (my brother-in-law) bought a Honey Baked Ham to bring over. Maybe next year I'll actually cook a turkey...something I've never done before!! Eli was great all day and hardly napped at all due to all the company. Hopefully he'll sleep well tonight. He's been put down once and only slept an hour and now he is up again (it's about 8pm). He was fine and then he got cranky so I think he is tired again. We'll see if he goes down again and this time for the night. Here are some fun pictures from the day:

Grandma Bidney holding me during my one and only nap for the day (before everyone came over ;)

Cousin Sammie and Uncle Blake playing with me while I watch t.v.

Grandma Clarkson and Mommy after the yummy dinner (that I later tasted through mommy's milk ;)

Me in my jumperoo with Uncle Blake and Sammie

My 1st Thanksgiving picture

Me & Daddy

Gobble, gobble!!

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Grandpa Clarkson is SOOOOO funny!!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

12 weeks!

12 weeks and officially 3 months on 11/25/07! What a big boy! This week was overall a good one and we are looking forward to next week for yummy Thanksgiving. Hopefully it will be yummy as we are hosting for the first time....first time cooking a turkey-YIKES!! I'm sure it will be fun and we look forward to having over family and friends to share food and to be together.

Eli visited the chiropractor 3 times this week and he is making great improvements with his neck. Next week we go 2 times and probably just a few more times after that. We then only have to return during his developmental milestones such as crawling, walking, etc. to make sure all is still going well. I'm SO glad we are doing this as the chiropractor said this will help him to not have scoliosis in the future. She didn't even know that I have scoliosis and when I told her she stated that it is so wonderful that we are doing this so early as it will help in preventing a genetic disorder-phew!! Eli enjoys going (except the car ride-75% of the time he hates being in the car due to being strapped in his car seat) and just seems so much more content and he eats and sleeps better. Amazing and I would recommend for all infants!!

Eli continues to pack on the pounds and now weighs a whopping 15 lbs. 11 ounces. As daddy says mommy must have magic milk!! Eli is still picky about the bottle and will only take in sometimes. Eric gives it to him about 2 times a week and so far I don't fully trust that he can take a bottle if I am gone. We'll have to try it out sometime soon but if he doesn't take the bottle, we'll have to see if he'll take the cup. Since I'm not returning to the workforce until he is 6 months, he can start other foods and should be fine taking the cup for breast milk while I am at work. But, I still hope he can adjust to the bottle.

Eli is so into his hands and is constantly stuffing them in his mouth and looking at them. He also rolled on his side 2 times for us while on his blanket, so that was neat to see. He continues to chat up a storm, too, and makes so many noises that people are always commenting about it. He also loves to kick and wave his arms. I think we're going to be in trouble with a jabber box and a really active toddler. I'm sure Eli and daddy will keep each other busy with their hyper activity!!

Enjoy pics and videos from the week!!

One of the times I took the bottle

One of our pretty fall trees!

Cute boy!!

Getting better in my bumbo chair!!

Chick magnet for sure!

Mommy & me!!

Me with my rattle, Daddy & Mocha

Daddy thought it was funny to put a rattle on my head...but I didn't care!!

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Look at my legs and arms go!!

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Daddy is silly!!

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Cherish your little ones....

The photographer who took Eli's pictures, Abundant Moments, also works for an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. It's an organization that takes pictures of infants who have passed away. Their website is amazing and they have pictures and stories about the babies they have photographed. I have sat here for the last 10 minutes bawling my eyes out over these stories and pictures. All I can say is cherish your little ones as each day is a gift. I'm going to go kiss and hug Eli right now, even though he is asleep, as each day is a blessing. Take a look at the site as it is truly an amazing experience.....I feel so blessed....

11 weeks

11 weeks today....close to 3 months! He grows and changes everyday and it is too cute what a little man he is becoming!! I have some great news to share: I will be staying home with Eli until he is at least 6 months! I officially quit my job this week and will be looking for a more family friendly job closer to home to start in February or March. Wish me luck in my job search as I want to be picky to find a job I really like, that is close to home, family friendly, and has a decent salary. I talked to his daycare and they are willing to keep his spot open which is a great relief to know I won't have to go on a daycare search again!!

Also, we started taking Eli to a chiropractor on Wednesday and he has gone every day since. The chiropractor really believes through her adjustments that she can make his torticollis better and make him over all happier. I have noticed a change for the better as he seems more content, has extended out his feeding schedule somewhat, and has slept longer! Of course these are all wonderful things for mommy and it is due to Eli feeling better, which is awesome! Who knew chiropractic care would make such a difference!! We also are doing the stretching exercises at every diaper change to help relax that muscle in his neck. Hopefully soon with all of this it will all come together and he'll no longer favor that side anymore!

Here are pics/videos from the week to enjoy!