2 months...

Just for fun let's pretend that Eli's birthday really lands in the middle of the month -- because when we do that it makes this post on Eli turning 2 months old right on time :)  At least when he reads this (years from now) he'll know that mommy had good intentions but just couldn't get it all together (forgive me, won't ya E?)
On March 5, 2012, Eli turned 2 months old -- I'm not sure how any of us feel about this time thing going so fast, but we don't have much say over that.  So here is a picture of Eli at 2 months...

What E is up to these days...
- He loves to move...kicking, arms all over, and follows voices/sounds
- He will lay for a fair amount of time and coo/squeal at his alphabet wall above his changing table
- loves to stare at mommy
- is beginning to calm to Will, when he sings or shh's him
- can fall asleep anywhere
- is becoming more interactive with us
- moving objects still get his attention & make him so smiley!
- He now thinks we are pretty entertaining - we get lots of reactions from him
- has been going to church for a month; attending for 3 services & even helping mom & dad in 4y/o Sunday school
- sleeps through the night 7-8hrs
- is getting in a routine; one super long nap in the morning and another in the afternoon (with other snoozing throughout the day)
- Weighs 10lbs 12oz and is 22 inches long (that's a lil' over a pound and an inch a month)
- is such a content baby

We are so very thankful for all of Eli and each new little thing he does!  He reminds us daily of Psalm 139:13-16
^"13 For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be."

Just a lil' peek at his growth

First...

I realized the other day that its been awhile since I've written about our "first" -- our first born that is.  He is doing phenomenally adjusting to be a big brother, if I might add the best big brother.  Will adores his little brother and typically jumps at any chance to help (put his pacifier back in his mouth, "shhsh" him, throw a diaper in the diaper tramp champ, or get something for Ryan & I when our hands are full).  He continues to thrive at school; amazing Ryan and I with his "school work" capabilities, his ability to retain information, excitement for music class, and how much he likes to share.  Additionally, we are seeing major social/moral strides as he is making clearer distinctions between right & wrong, showing how to be a good friend and independently admitting when he has done something wrong and working to rectify those situations.  Granted each of these are on the level of a 4year old but compounded they are really amazing us!  It's not to say that we haven't ran into our share of behavior issues - but after discussing the issues he has always gone to the person and apologized and asked for forgiveness.  Our 3-early 4y/o boy would not have done this with a glad heart and would have gotten pretty upset.  He now expresses the frustration he feels from apologizing because it hurts him to have hurt someone else. 
Will seems to exemplify "BOY" -- loves bodily noises & even their names make him giggle till he is out of breath, can't keep him away from mud/dirt which has made me a master at the rinse first and then stick in the washer method, is part superhero/part boy, can create a sword out of nearly anything, compares the sound of the coffee grinder and blender to that of a race car shifting gears, has a great love for community heroes - specifically firemen, and is gaining interest in girls...eek!
Currently our biggest behavior issues are keeping him from smothering his brother with hugs & kisses, being honest, and talking back - Ryan and I joke that we've gotten exactly what we were in this boy and ya know what...we would never want it any other way!! :)

Wild Weather!

We had some crazy weather last week - March 1 brought sunny skies and warm beautiful weather, then on March 2 we woke to grey skies, strong winds, and threats of thunderstorms and tornadoes.  The school district that we are part of called school early and Ryan was even sent home from work during the afternoon.  For the most part, I realize that there is a lot of hype when it comes to the weather (by the media or even socially)- especially here.  So I try to take it all with discernment and do my own research, I check various weather apps and watch one local news station that seems fairly sane :)  

Around naptime the sky started to look fairly dark, but wasn't the color I've been trained to act on.  So I went ahead and put Will down for a nap in his room and Eli & I settled in for some nap/rest time on the couch.  I kept my eye on the sky and the weather updates throughout the nap.  Toward the end of Will's nap the sirens began to sound, the first time I wasn't too worried (I seriously think there are no siren rules followed in this town, they sound for any variety of reasons).  However, when they sounded the second time and the wind picked up I decided to bring the dogs in and about that time Will woke up.  We sat and watched a bit more news and then the siren went off again, it was then I decided that we should maybe consider a "safe place".  None of our homes options seem very safe to me - growing up in IL I know full well that the basement is the safest place and even that can be risky, so naturally I doubt my interior bathroom.  I made the transition to the bathroom while nursing and lured Will with the ipad (seriously the one time I can't coax him into the bathroom would be the time we may actually NEED it).  The warning was set to expire w/in 30mins so I didn't figure that would be too long of a wait and by then Ryan would be home (obviously his arrival determines whether or not a tornado will hit us...my logic may be skewed).  Between my weather app, storm radio, the sirens sounding a couple more times, and texting my mom I was pretty up on what was happening outside our bathroom.  After feeding Eli I decided that if this storm does decide to blow through our house, my shower curtain and a couple of tub toys aren't going to keep our bodies safe from falling/flying debris, if indeed we would encounter a tornado.  So I grabbed Eli's crib mattress and wedged in between the tub & the toilet,  just in case.  Once back in the room I realized what a scene this was...

Eli is hanging out in his bouncy seat that is wedged into the tub and Will is playing games on the ipad.  Yup -- we're ready :)  Fortunately we only stayed here for about 15-20mins until Ryan arrived home and after he reported that the weather wasn't that bad.  

We are super grateful that the stormed seemed to have skipped right over our town and also to have figured out what we would do in case of a weather emergency.  Will may be under the impression that every time it storms he has to go into the bathroom but we'll work on that.  I was just so proud of him - he wasn't scared or nervous.  He asked questions about the storm; before, during, and after - but other than that he still stands pretty okay with them.  Which is perfectly fine with me :)

Now I'm just stuck with trying to figure out if March came in like a lion or a lamb...hmmm!

1 Month...

Eli turned a month old at the beginning of this month, February 5, and while facebook got the word I've yet to document it here (which should have been the first thing I did).
What 1month has been for E...
- Sleeping "through the night": he gives us about 6hrs straight each night
- Coo's and "talks" to the letters on his wall above his changing table
- Gets loved on A LOT by a very proud big brother!
- Still sleeps in mommy and daddy's room (which I'm totally ok with, he likes his cradle)
- He has met all his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (1 set via facetime - counts, right?)
- Eats really well
- Has smiled a few times; but we haven't figured out what exactly triggers smiling for him (other than gas obviously)
- Oh the GAS, and tummy trouble!  This has led momma to change her diet to see it helps, it's been nice knowing ya dairy!
- He weighs about 9lbs (so says our scale), which means he's packed on 2lbs in a month!
- He is a major momma's boy...which is rough for daddy when it comes to settling him down
- He still wears Newborn clothes and was in preemie until 1 week before turning 1mo old, which is just crazy to me.

- He is SO loved and such a precious gift from God!

Branding

I have a sweet friend who coined the phrase "branding" in reference to people who have children who look alike.  As in "you have a brand of children", for us she would be right!  Our boys come in 1 make/model - size large or small :)

The pictures above are both boys at 1 month of age.  Will is the top and Eli the bottom - try as I might I couldn't get the bottom cutie to look the same direction as his cutie brother did (4 years ago).  

We've seen from the start that the boys have the same hairline, even matching cowlicks. The both have their daddy's shape of eyes, Will's are green and the verdict is still out on what color Eli will have (Ryan has brown and I have blue). I'm noticing now that their ears even look similar.  It's obvious these boys are brothers for sure :)

My Boys...

Yup that's right -- boyS, and I have 'em! :)  I can't tell you how many times I've said it over the past months (but it's been a lot) - I just can't believe I have boys...sons.  I'm pretty sure when I was daydreaming about my family in Algebra class in high school it didn't look anything like this.  Just shows what a jokester God is...oh His humor is so great!  Would I trade my boys for that family that kept me distracted from replacing numbers with letters, heavens no!  I adore my boys, Will & Eli, they are precious, loving, caring, funny, sweet, tough, goofy, tender hearted, rough & tumble, smart, and SO much more.  Eli may only be 3.5weeks old - but I can see so much about the lil' person God has created him to be.  My big buddy, Will, is definitely all those things and he is also an amazing big brother (as if I ever imagined it to be another way).  

It's just pure sweetness & adoration

I pray that the boys continue to love each other, grow to be buddies, and respect & encourage the people that God has created them to be.

{h}E's here!!

Eli Fenton Giffen came into this world at 12:21pm on January 5, 2012; weighing 7lbs 3oz and 19in long.

We joked that we make 1 model of boy - just in 2 sizes; large (Will 9lb 3oz) and mini (Eli 7lb 3oz).  They looked surprisingly similar at birth with the same hairline & cowlick, but Eli is definitely beginning to take on his own look. 

Eli is mild mannered, has such a sweet temperament, loves to snuggle, and could quite possibly be a mamas boy :)

If you want to check out more pictures from his arrival and the time up till now visit our gallery here (user name: eli / password: fentongiffen)