Summertime & skill mastery fun!

This week has been filled with summertime activities & working on "mastering" Eli's crawling & pulling up skills. He still has a little ways to go but is definitely getting more into the idea of it. He is showing more frustration when he can't crawl or pull up, which is a good thing because he's becoming more determined! We also practice walking which he is doing better with putting one foot in front of the other. He'll be crawling OR walking before we know it! Enjoy this week's pictures!

Uncle Blake & Cousin Sammie visited last weekend. Cousin Sammie is fun to play with!!

We got new deck furniture and broke it in while Uncle Blake & Cousin Sammie were visiting

We keep meaning to visit parks more often but it seems to be so hot all of the time! Hot weather makes my cheeks red. But I still had fun at the park with mommy!


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Swinging & sliding is fun but it's TOO hot out here!


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What a funny boy I am....I like to make mommy & daddy laugh


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I like my fun baby pool that gives me shade so I don't get burned!

Mommy thinks this is a a sweet face I make sometimes

Playing in the laundry basket provides endless entertainment

How did I get inside of here!

Okay, now I'm outside....phew!

What happened....I've been smashed!

Look at me getting ready to crawl!!

Whoops, never mind!!


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Here I go....rock, rock, rockin'!!


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Pulling up & crawling attempts....I'll get it someday soon!

Standing is my specialty!

Mmmm.....biter biscuits are YUMMY!!

I enjoy watching Baby Einstein & eating biscuits....I make quite the mess, though!

WARNING: THE BELOW PICTURE IS A LITTLE SCARY!! Okay, nature has been getting on my nerves lately. We've been fighting carpenter bees, wasps, ants, and now this!! This week Eli & I were out on the deck & I heard a terrible screeching sound. I look in our neighbor's yard & can't quite make out what it is but it was a black mound of something. I ran inside and got our binoculars & saw this:


I then took a couple of pictures & looked it up online. From my research we have a Black Rat Snake slithering around our neighborhood. They are constrictors so what I heard was him squeezing to death a bunny....yuck!!! This is a little concerning to me since we are in our yard often. My research says they stay away from humans but that they can get pretty big. I even went as far as to send this picture to the Missouri Conservation people to see if I am right in my identification & if we should try to do anything about it. Snakes are not my favorite anyway but to see one do this was pretty traumatic!! Until I hear back from the conservation people I'm a little leary about the back yard. I'm no country girl, that's for sure!!!

We had to reschedule our G-land playgroup to this week so we look forward to playing with everyone. Eli also turns 11 months on Friday.....1 year, here we come! Have a great week everyone!

Teeth, standing, pulling up & rolling!

I was finally able to get pictures/video of Eli's achievements I mentioned last week: new teeth, standing, starting to pull up & rolling. He is working really hard at pulling up but hasn't succeeded yet. He can stand holding on to the couch, crib or a person really well and doesn't usually topple for a good while. Eric said he stood by himself for about 3-4 seconds but I didn't see it. I'm sure that will come next! He has been able to get up on all fours, looking like he may crawl, but then almost immediately lets his legs or arms out from under him. He has mastered, though, maneuvering himself around by rolling & scooting to get to things in his crib or around the room. I left him in his crib in one position and come back less than a minute later and he's in a totally different position, usually trying to pull up or grab his mobile. Here's some pictures & videos of our week:

I have 4 teeth now! All the more to bite you with....ha, ha, ha, ha!

I am very contemplative outside....lots to look at!!

I love the feel of grass on my feet!

What's going on over there?

Look at the little friend daddy & I found while outside....he's cool lookin'!!

Standing up in my crib watching daddy mow the lawn!

Hi mommy!

Standing up with the help of my new buddy Mr. Zebra. He has been in storage until mommy decided he would be a great pull up toy!

Here's what mommy often finds me doing in my crib....trying to pull up to touch the animals!

Whoops! Here's what happened next!

Videos of my pulling up ability:


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Video of my rolling skills....it's my current mode of transportation


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Are you taking another picture of me, mommy??!!

Mommy thought this face was funny...I didn't like it too much.

Playing with my chunks of food


Video of me actually putting a biter biscuit in my mouth but notice no chomping down!


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I love bouncy balls of all sizes....this is the biggest one yet!

Awww....make it come back!


My sister Sarah's good friend, Kylie, offered to make our invites for Eli's 1st birthday that is rapidly approaching. We decided to do a photo shoot today to get a good picture for the invite. We won't show you which picture we chose, but here are some out takes from the session (the out takes are the best part!!)

Hmmm....what am I supposed to be doing right now....looking at the camera??

This monkey always seems to get his arms around me and I'm not sure I like it!

Are we done yet??

They'll like this face for sure!

Shake, shake, shake!

This week we have a playdate with some G-land crew....fun! Grandma Bidney is back from out of town so we will work on adjusting Eli to Grandma. Found out I start my job August 11th instead of August 4th so we have an additional week to transition. Tomorrow Eric & I are doing brunch & a movie while Grandma Bidney watches Eli. Should be fun! Have a great week everyone!

A LOT to report (aka LONG post)!

Since Eli has turned 10 months, a lot has happened! We've done a variety of activities & Eli has been practicing a few skills showing what a big boy he is. I have yet to get video of these skills, but once I do, I will post them. They include:

1) Attempting & working very hard at pulling himself up with the help of a chair or his crib. He's a big boy so I'm sure it's a lot of work!
2) Eli rolls & rolls....& rolls! He wakes up in the morning rolling & when he is playing....we may bypass the crawling and go from rolling to walking!
3) Eli is very good at standing when holding on to something. He is yet to cruise the furniture, but he holds up himself very well (although I still stand guard ;)
4) Eli is now bathing in the big tub by himself without any device holding him. He really likes the room & splashes & splashes! He likes to watch the water drain out, too.
5) This isn't really a skill, but Eli now has 4 teeth. The 2 middle ones on top just came in last week! Don't have pictures yet, will soon!

Some funny things he is doing:

-this morning Eric put in 101 Dalmatians (the original) & Eli seemed to be howling with the dogs during the scene where they howl at each other to report the missing puppies....it was too funny
-he will find random things funny & will laugh & laugh at them....but 20 minutes later they are no longer funny if you try to do it again (he really thinks certain people & bouncing balls are funny)
-this maybe isn't funny, but Eli is quite the biter now (thankfully NOT while nursing....ouch!!). He will go in for the "kill" at any moment & I often am saying "no biting....hurts mommy!!"
-Eli loves to have his teeth brushed with a finger brush....he opens nice & wide & laughs...maybe I'll have to sneak some food on it sometime ;)
-Eli talks & talks & likes to make funny noises which I think feels funny in his throat which is why he does it. Here is video:


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Because there is a lot to share with you, I will divide the post by sections (my organization side of me ;)

Emmalee's 1st Birthday

Our friend Emmalee from breastfeeding group had her first birthday on Saturday. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of her (I guess I was too busy holding Eli) but our friend Jodi did. Visit his blog to see pictures :) Eli did enjoy the swings at the park, though, and we plan on going back to enjoy the water part of the park! Happy 1st Birthday Emmalee!

Visiting Great-Grandpa Bidney

We visit Great-Grandpa Bidney in his rehab center every week. I finally got around to getting a picture of us. Grandpa always says "Well there's that little guy....he's a good lookin' one" as he never really remembers his name.

Grandma Clarkson's Retirement Party

Grandma Clarkson retired from her job at a bank after working there for 18 years!! All her co-workers threw her a very nice retirement party. They did a Hawaiian theme & served virgin Pina Calada's & other wonderful appetizer-type food. They had everyone wear leis & had Hawaiian music playing. It was really a great party for her which showed how much they loved her. I'm sure they will miss her greatly!!

They had this amazing cake made that was looked & tasted really awesome:

Playing with Uncle Blake's sun glasses:

Eli had a great time at the party and was making everyone laugh because HE was laughing so much!

Congrats Grandma!!


Fourth of July

For the 4th we went to Grandma/Grandpa Clarkson's. Eli decided to wear his best red, white & blue outfit to show his patriotism:

Eli also swam in a pool (or Grandpa's "big bathtub" as he called it) for the FIRST time!! As you will see, he loved it!! But first, sunscreen time! He wore 50 SPF which worked great as he is very fair skinned. Here is Eli already disliking mommy trying to do what's best for him:

What are those big kids doing in that "big tub"??

Eli wasn't sure if he liked it at first but he warmed up to the idea pretty quick. Here's some fun video of the occasion:


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See the smile on his face?

Eli says: "This is a pretty cool ride!"

Eli says: "Oooo, I think I like this one even better!!"

Eli then got out of the big pool so the big kids could play volleyball. Eli didn't mind, though, because he got to play in his OWN pool!!

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Grandma Clarkson made this yummy patriotic cake!

Eli loves his Grandma!

Jack's New House

This evening we went to Eli's friend's Jack's house from breastfeeding group for their housewarming party. Jack took a nap for most of the time we were there, so we didn't get a picture of him & his mommy, Tori. But, we had fun in our matching outfits! Aunt Holly bought Eli these cute shorts & mommy decided to match him tonight....just for fun!

Just mommy & Eli

We also had a get together with friends I went to graduate school with. For some reason, pictures weren't taken there either!! It was a fun time, though! We ALSO went to visit Sue & Kalani again by bringing them lunch on Monday. He's such a beautiful little boy & so tiny compared to Eli!

This coming week we don't have anything planned yet besides the good ol' regulars (breastfeeding group, visit Grandpa, errands, etc.). We hope to take Eli to the park this week & maybe a play date. I'll post pics of Eli's new & improving skills....& his teeth soon!