Friend Visit!

Katherine, Tristan, Eliana, and I got to hangout today!  Yahoo for a friend visit!

Tristan was fascinated by the water behind his mom.

 I felt like Eliana was saying, "Ta Da, here is my friend Tristan!"

Tristan will be seven months old tomorrow!  He has learned to clap!  Hooray!

It was close to his nap time, so he was giving me his handsome, serious face today.

  These two are nearly the same length when we laid Eliana down to compare height! It always cracks me up how little ones can find each other's hands.  We've been working on Eliana being gentle to friends smaller than her.

Awe, I love fountains.  I'm glad Eliana didn't decide she needed to go swimming!  When we were cruising through some stores, Eliana had had enough of being strapped in.  I went out on a limb, and it worked.  I got Eliana out, and she helped me push the stroller around.  She got a kick out of helping me push the basket in the back, and people thought it was funny to see such a small helper.  She didn't mind that she couldn't see where she was pushing the stroller.  Eliana's laughs got louder and more enthusiastic as she realized she had a delighted audience.  

                                    

Here are some updates on Eliana this week.  Eliana continues to grow in her climbing abilities.  The movie above shows her climbing into her stroller all by herself.  I was fairly scared the first time she did it, but she hasn't fallen yet while trying.  Yesterday, she learned how to climb into her booster seat.  She also learned how to drink out of a straw this week.  I was so impressed that I called Kyle in the middle of the day just to tell him!  For many months she has wanted to drink out of my travel cup, but she would just end up chewing on the straw.  I'm amazed, because you can't really explain to a small child how to suck up the water in a straw.  The wee one just have to figure it out.  Eliana has overgeneralized all animals as "cats", but she did learn the word bird this week.  You have to be very attentive because the "bu" sound she makes for bird is very similar to the "boo" sound she makes for book.  She is also signing all done, cheese (one of her favorite foods!!!), and shoes.  It is a little confusing though since more and shoes are very similar signs.  :)

Little Friends

We've been able to visit some small friends in the last two weeks.  Seeing little ones younger than Eliana always amazes me as it reminds me of how much Eliana has grown.  There are things I miss about Eliana being a few months old (like her falling asleep in my arms and smiling up at me with huge toothless grins just because she saw me) and things I don't miss ( like her spitting up all over me and herself for over six months and the major sleep deprivation).

Meet Naomi Rose!!!  

She and Eliana share the same middle name.  Isn't that cute?!?!  She was seven weeks old when we visited.

Eliana loved playing with the Noah's Ark set at Naomi's.  I was pleased as punch to hold sleeping Naomi.  Thanks again Greg and Alyssa for an amazing, restful, humorous, and delightful visit!!!

Meet Timothy who is exactly 3 months younger than Eliana!  His birth story is amazing because he came several months early.  We've prayed for his growth and development for many months.  I can't really put into words how blessed I am to see him getting so big since he was less than 2 pounds when he was born.

Timothy's siblings Theresa, Emily, and Nathan love having their baby brother home!  Eliana was fascinated by other little people visiting us.  She loved watching Theresa, Emily, and Nathan play, and she was especially curious about Timothy.  It isn't every day that she sees someone near her size.  

 Tristan is getting so big!!!  The first time I posted his picture he was on a Mexican blanket Kyle got on a mission trip.  This time he is on fabric from our mission trip to India.  We thought it was pretty funny that he was wearing a tiger outfit that happened to go well with the elephant fabric I once wore as a sari.  Tristan is now 5 and half months old!

Ethan has gotten big too!!!  He has changed so much in his three months.  You can see a major change since this photo.

A Friend Filled Friday

Eliana and I had a great play day outside this morning!!!

Tristan gave his mom tons of smiles when we first got there.  After  that, he was content to chew on his hands or his pacifier.  Katherine had fun watching Eliana and looking to see what her son will be doing in a few months.

As Katherine watched Eliana, I watched Paige who is about a year older than her.  Paige LOVES to play and explore.  Kari and I both remembered when our girls were younger.  It cracks me up how being around other babies and kids makes you reflect on past experiences and look forward to new adventures to come.

 
 

Eliana really wanted to get into Tristan's diaper bag.  Normally I don't let her explore her own, but it kept her focused and on the blanket today.  She found her pacifier (which she is now only using for naps and bed time... although I had brought it since we had a 30 minute drive home), puffs (which she was able to open the bag and spill half of), paper (which I put into the trash bag out of site), diapers (which I distracted her with toys and moved), and all sorts of other things.  I reorganized the bag when I got home:)

Picnic Fun!!!

Picnic Fun

(Inspired by Mr. William Carlos Williams)

So much depends upon

Subways sandwiches

enjoying the outdoors

and good time with friends

Meet our friend Tristan! 

 My friend Katherine and her son Tristan came over for a picnic today!  Yum!!!  We enjoyed the breeze under a shade tree outside.

 I can't help it, I LOVE Tristan's blue eye!!!  Aren't they amazing?  I think I'm partial to blue eyes because my dad has them.  

Unlike Eliana, Tristan doesn't mind tummy time.  He was a little concerned though since I rolled him over and thus his mom disappeared.   

Tristan likes to look around.  He especially likes lights and fans.  It was so good to see them today.  It reminded me of when Eliana was younger.  My how time flies!  He makes noises Eliana doesn't make anymore.  He is still happy as a clam to just lay on his back and enjoy looking at the trees.  He stays in one spot.  You don't have to worry about him crawling into the kitchen or falling after pulling up on a chair.   

 Tristan has gotten to the smile phase of life, but he too has windows of smile time like Eliana used to have.  This was a pretty good smile though!!!

During our photo shoot I realized it would have been really nice to have brought a light colored towel as a background for the photos or even a dark blue one to bring out his eyes even more.  You'd think I'd know by now since I've been taking pictures of Eliana for over ten months now.  I guess there is always next time.  You could say we were going for a multi-ethnic look;)  This blanket is perfect for picnics.  It is a good size and light weight.   

Eliana was excited to find Tristan's toy.  

Yeah for a picnic with friends!!!  It is JUST what I needed today!