Silence

The older boys and our niece and nephew are on a vacation with Grandma and Grandpa...

Eli is sleeping....

Ben is at a class in Minnesota.....

The t.v. is off....

I am alone.....

And there is silence....

I never thought I would say this since I long for the time alone, but I miss the boys and Ben and Eli. I wish the kids would get home, I wish Ben's class would be done and I wish Eli would wake up. It is too quiet for me. I think I have to type this because I will soon forget how much I miss the noise. When everything is going on, I long for silence and some time to myself. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the break, but I really am ready to have my family back! I guess sometimes through the chaos, it is hard to remember how much you miss it when it is gone. This is my life and I do love it! I love the noise of little boys running their trucks and dinosaurs on the floor. I love the squeal and babbling baby. I love the conversations that I have with Ben when we get a chance. I just sometimes forget....

Our talking baby....

Eli is definitely more vocal than the other boys were at this age. He is starting to say real words. For a while, we just thought it was a coincidence. But, he really is doing it. For example, he looked at Ben the other day and said very loud and clear "da da". He throws everything and says "uh-oh". He has also said puppy "pa-pe" in the airport while waiting for Jessi and the kids. On occasion, he tries to say "ma-ma" He copies the changes in our voices.

Last night, he covered his face and was playing "peek a boo" with us. He played it all night, and then he won't even attempt it today. It is weird, it seems like he will do something for a while, like patty cake or "so big" and then he will stop, like he doesn't know what the heck you are talking about! I wonder if all babies are like this?

This week...

This has been an exciting week for us...


Our house is looking great. It has garage doors and the front door is in. The plumbers and electricians have been busy doing their thing. Once they are done, the builders can start hanging drywall. We are getting more and more excited everyday!


Ben's sister, Jessi brought our niece and nephew to Iowa for a 5 week stay. She is their full-time nanny and while Jason is gone to Iraq, this was a good way to break up the time. So, not only do we have Ben's folks and our five staying in this house until ours is done, we also have added two more children. Our three boys and Ben and I now sleep in one big bedroom! As if things weren't crazy enough!! It is great though. We are so lucky that the kids get to know each other so well and play the rest of the summer. We are so lucky to get to know our niece and nephew so well also. So, through the chaos, we are very excited that they are here and we get to have lots of fun together!


Ben's grandpa celebrated his 90th birthday this weekend. We had a three day party and got to see all of Ben's cousins and their children. The kids had so much fun playing together. Grandpa was so happy and there was such a nice turnout for the parties. On Friday night we had a get together at Ben's aunt and uncle's house. On Friday was a party for family of the Kalainoffs that were in town. And Sunday was a party for the friends and family of Grandpa. It was an exhausting, but great weekend.


Here are some pictures from the weekend:



Isaac and our nephew Dylan

Our niece Sarah and our nephew Jacob

Great Grandpa and the great grandchildren
This is what happens when a three year old and four year old are left unattended at the reception

Evan and Jacob using Uncle Bill's office for some office work

Aunt Jessi and Eli

Grandpa and his grandchildren

Sarah and Evan

Eli Update

Eli had his 9 month check-up today. He also had a re-check on his ears....sure enough, I was right. He started running a temp. yesterday and just as I predicted, ear infection. This is the 4th time since the boys' birthday party on Memorial Day. We are waiting to hear back on an appointment with the ENT. I am sure that ear tubes are in our near future. He has been on antibiotics three different times since May 26th. The dr. did not put him on anything this time because it obviously isn't working. We will know more after we see the specialist.

His stats for 9 months:

19 lbs. 12 oz. -- 25%
30 inches long -- 95%

He is tall and skinny. The doctor said he looks just perfect. We are going to start weaning him away from soy formula and back to the milk-based so he doesn't have trouble starting whole milk at a year old.

Our Cave Adventure

On Sunday, we took a day trip to the Maquoteka caves. The boys had a blast and Ben and I had fun too. It's funny how when we walk to the library in Grundy Center, I always end up carrying Isaac home and on Sunday we walked for 3 hours or more and he didn't complain of being tired once! Evan and Isaac had so much fun going through the creeks, hiking through nature and climbing in the caves. We bought them their own flashlights and they had a blast exploring the caves.

By the time the we left to come home...we were FILTHY! I was embarrassed when we went to eat because we were all covered in dirt and mud...even Eli. I wonder what people thought when they saw us! The boys were in heaven...they played and hiked all day long...and they got to get dirty with no consequences...every boy's dream!



It was a much needed and very fun family day. It has been a while since we have spent time with just us....

Root Beard Floats

The boys got their first taste of Root Beer Floats at Grandma's house. Isaac thought they were called "root beard floats"....he loved them anyway.

Even Eli got in on the action and decided he liked them too!

Eli's 9 month pictures

We had Eli's pictures taken today....let me tell you, we had a very tough time picking! He did great and smiled in just about every picture. We had 49 taken and there were only a few that didn't turn out. All in all, it was a success!

PICKY

Eli hates to eat. He is the pickiest eater I have ever seen...actually, picky isn't even the word to describe it. He just flat our refuses to eat anything other than Gerber Puffs or toast. He is eating is bottle well, but any other food he just hates. He has started making the most pathetic face when he eats. Today, he was trying to eat grilled cheese sandwich and watermelon. Who doesn't love watermelon in the summer???? He does a little better if he picks it up and puts it in his own mouth, which is why I am trying to introduce more finger foods. It is a nightmare to get him to eat jarred baby food. We both end up covered in it!


Here are some funny pictures from lunch when we were torturing him with food!














Evan and Isaac thought today was a perfect day to wash their bikes. After swimming for a while, they shined their bikes all up.

My baby...

What happened to that baby that used to live with us? How did he get so big? Seriously, I want him back!

9 months old....

How can this be possible? Eli is 9 months old today! I cannnot believe how fast nine months has gone...and all that has happened!

Eli is such a blessing. He giggles all the time...more than I ever ever heard a baby giggle! Everything is hilarious to him...especially his big brothers. They are so good with him and so sweet! Do you know that they actually fight over who can play with him and be closet to him? I am sure that at some point...probably very soon, it will wear off. He is starting to get into their stuff. For now, I am just loving how much they adore him! Not only has it been fun to watch Eli change and grow, it has been fun to watch the boys interact with him. Eli is learning so much! He just learned the pick up game. He throws whatever he has in his hand and then laughs so hard! It is so cute and I am glad he has two brothers to bend down and play the game with him. He is very close to crawling too....He still only crawls about 4 "steps" and then drops to his belly and does the good ol' army crawl. No teeth yet, but I swear he will soon. I have been saying it for the last few months, but I swear he is teething...this time I think it is for real!

I am sad that our baby is 9 months old. In three months, we will be having a birthday party for him. It just doesn't seem possible! The time has gone so fast, and he has changed our family so much. We can't imagine what life was like before Eli came along. I will never forget the day I found out we were expecting our third boy. I feel so guilty saying this now but I am going to say it anyway...I was so sad that we were not having a baby girl. I just thought for sure we would have our two boys and a baby girl. It took awhile to accept it. I feel terrible now even sharing that. Eli belongs in our family and I can't imagine if we didn' t have an Eli! I was meant to have three boys and I love that they get to grow up and be as good as friends as their daddy and uncles. How special to watch brothers together.

I found some pictures from the day we got to meet Eli. I will never forget how amazed Evan and Isaac were with every inch of his little body. They just looked him over and over and we were all in love with him! I can' t believe how much changed in 9 months. The kids all look so much older now!

Happy 9 month Birthday, ELI JOHN