August Happenings

                                     Troy and Eliana up above
If you click on the picture, you can see her growing locks in the back.

GramE, Kallie, and Eliana to the left

 August has been a blur of events.  I had a baby shower in the middle of the month.  I didn't bring my camera, but I'll get some pictures of the shower from my sister some time in the future.  If I haven't had the baby by then, I just might put them up on the blog. I'm not promising a whole lot of blogging once our newest wee one comes.  We had a lot of family come up from our hometown.  It was great for Eliana to see them, especially her cousin Kallie who she played very well with.

 Eliana and Kallie

 I found that I took my camera several places in August only to realize that I hadn't charged it.  Here are a few shots from the zoo with GramE and Rachelle.  Eliana loves the tigers and the Dino Dig.

 When Aunt Marcie visited later this month, we went to the zoo again.  We were there for the grand opening of the new sea lion exhibit.  It was AMAZING and so much nicer than the former one.  There is a whole section on the other side of the exhibit where you can see through glass into the underwater world of the sea lions and seals.  I meant to snap a picture of Eliana and Aunt Marcie, but alas I didn't.

 Eliana turned 26 months last week.  My how time flies.  Overall I love having a two year old.  She's been having a hard week with her two year molars coming in.  The top two are in, and the bottom two are partially in.  Eliana loves being outside.  Yesterday while Kyle, Eliana, and I were walking in the "cool" of the evening, Eliana said, "Look, I found it!"  Curious as to what "it" was, I asked and she smiled with glee, pointed, and said, "Clouds!!!!!!!!"  Awe.  I too enjoyed the clouds multiple times on our walk and was glad that Eliana pointed them out.

Eliana's memory is cracking us up.  In July, she saw Thomas.  Thomas showed her a giant stuffed animal tiger which happened to terrify her.  If you mention Thomas, she says, "Thomas. Tiger."  After the baby shower, which was nearly two weeks ago, Taylor was holding Eliana when she had an accident (which hasn't happened to anyone else while they were holding her).  Here and there she brings up, "Pee Pee on Taylor."  She is very sorry that she did so.

Things Eliana reads or is read to are very important to her.  She regularly goes looking for the moon outside since in one of her books a bear and the moon play hide and go seek.  She can tell you just about all of the words for Kitten for a Day as you turn the pages.  Dr. Seuss's ABC An Amazing Alphabet Book cracks her up on the "c" page because the camel is on the ceiling.  "Silly camel" is her response.  Her new favorite series is the Little Bear series.  We picked up another story today at the library.  It amazes me how she can sit and listen for such a long time.  It is such a blessing, because she isn't whining due to her teeth if she is sitting and listening.

We've reached the 35+ week mark in pregnancy!  Eliana often says, "The baby is growing!"  One night a week or so ago she said, "Baby sister.  Baby sister come out and play!"  I told her baby sister needs to keep growing for a few more weeks.  We love at night when after giving me a hug and a kiss, she kisses baby sister by kissing my belly.  We've been getting some of the baby gear out, and she loves playing with it all.  Her dollies have gone in the stroller, the car seat, and had their clothes changed multiple times thanks to Aunt Marcie's handy sewing work.

Elaine, Grant, Jaxon

 There are many reasons why my first year as a stay at home mom was very difficult.  Maybe one day I'll share those reasons, but that isn't today.  Today is about some very special people who helped me soon after being home for over a year.  We met Elaine, Grant, and Jaxon at a BBQ hosted by our apartment complex last fall.  A few weeks later, Elaine and I with our kids crossed paths while going to the mail box, and I asked if she and Jaxon would like to join Eliana and I for a walk later that week.  That was the beginning of friendship in which we walked for nearly an hour almost every week, and I found my first new friend since being a mommy.

 Jaxon and Eliana played well together and learned to share together.  Just recently Jaxon learned how to walk, and it was hilarious watching them play peek a boo/hide and go seek around corners and in rooms.  For months Eliana has loved helping Eliane to push Jaxon's stroller during parts of our walks.

Elaine and her family moved back home to New Zealand last weekend.  We will miss their close proximity dearly.  I look forward to Skype catch up calls in the future.  I am so very grateful that technology will aid us in staying connected.

You can see a photo of Eliana helping to push Jaxon in his toy car a few months ago here.

Sleep

Sleep

Sleep, oh how I miss thee

Let me count the ways

Sleep, your waning quality is poorly timed

For 'tis the season to toilet train

When you left

You took the great virtue

Patience

Sleep, why did you confiscate my 

Sense of humor too?

Taking everything literally is

Problematic for my marriage

Sleep, I received your replacement

Hormonal Surges

I'd rather you return

Being near tears for no apparent reason

For hours on end

Is

Not

My idea of a good time

Sleep, your absence has been noted 

By

My 

Two year old

"Tired mommy?"

Sleep, your recommendation for

An earlier bed time has been noted

What about my application sent to the 

Uninterrupted department?

Sleep, I understand that these

Multiple wakings in the night

Are part of God's preparation for the

Coming baby

Please know that you are

Dearly

Missed

Sleep, even if you can't stay long

A visit now and then

Would be

Much

Appreciated

Sleep, I remember when you

Took a vacation about two years ago

Your replacement

Near Delusional

Was not

Welcome

My application to the uninterrupted department

Wasn't granted for

Over

A
Year

Please don't take such a long vacation

When baby sister arrives

*** I wrote this poem last week after several days of little sleep.  I figured writing a funny poem was better than lashing out at Kyle and Eliana.

I paint, Daddy

This past weekend I had been working on the laptop for awhile when Eliana woke from her nap. She ate her snack while I got in a few more minutes before coming over and insisting, "My turn. Share, Daddy." So I opened up MS Paint and told her that she could not hit any buttons, but she could move her fingers on the touch pad. We played with many different colors and techniques, and I am proud to unveil her first masterpiece.

Now when she sees me at the laptop she shouts, "I paint. I paint, Daddy."