Sacie No!

Eli is turning into a little mimic. He repeats all kinds of words we say. The funniest part is that he uses the same tone and inflection of what we say.

While on the way home from Milton this past weekend, he was watching a Wooly Kids DVD. I heard a character say in an exasperated tone "Ah, man!" Eli thought that was hilarious and all I heard for the next hour was "ahhh, man" from the back seat.

He's also very into pretend conversations (and real ones too) on the phone. He answers with "hello" then pauses, then says "hey." He says random words and intermixes some babble and fills pauses with "umm" like he's thinking about what to say next. It cracks us up. I realized the other day that he's mimicking me on the phone. When Kevin calls I answer with hello, Kevin says hello, then I say hey. I guess that little kid is paying attention.

He repeats us when we tell Gracie to stop doing something. We'll say "Gracie, no" when she jumps on a table or something like that. He now takes it upon himself to go over and say "Sacie, NO!" and shoos her off the table.

Everyday he is learning tons of new words. It's really fun to hear him say all kinds of new things.

22 Months

Eli is 22 months old today. We've had such a fun week with him. Here are 22 things that I love about my little boy.

1. When he says, "I you, Mommy." I love you too Eli.
2. The way he says "belbow" instead of "elbow"
3. That he says "sorry" unprompted when he bumps into me or steps on me by accident
4. How he folds his hands when we read his Thanksgiving book during the prayer page. At the end of the book when it says "We give thanks to God who gives them all," Eli says "tank tou God"
5. How excited he gets to see a bus
6. How much he loved being with Mim and Pop last week
7. The way he brings me books and says "Read please"
8. That he says hi and bye (loudly) to everyone he sees everywhere- Walmart, the pool, walking through the neighborhood. He doesn't stop until he gets their attention, either.
9. How he sings happy birthday
10. His counting- "one, two, three, six, nine"
11. When he says "bless you" when you sneeze (often four or five times)
12. That he says a ton of animal sounds but not oink for some reason. He thinks a pig goes "baa"
13. That he calls every kid he sees a baby "Oh hi baby!"
14. When I ask him if he's cute, he replies "Yeah" with a sly grin
15. How he says "TV on." We're not sure where he even learned this. He did it the first time at Mim and Pop's house.
16. How he still cuddles with Kevin and me in the morning after we get him from his crib
17. How he eats a popsicle by rubbing it on his lips and then licking them
18. How he throws his hands up when he can't find something and says "hmmph"
19. How he loves to clean everything
20. How excited he his about his potty training book. Although he's nowhere close to being ready, he always wants to read the "pee pee book." He follows Kevin and me into the bathroom and yells "bye bye pee pee" when we flush the toilet.
21. His giggle fits. Sometimes the two of us get started and it's hard to stop.
22. That he still loves to give me kisses and will stop what he's doing and give me one when I ask.

Haircut

These are terrible pictures (hello, have you ever used a flash before Gretchen?), but I wanted to show my parents some shots of Eli's new haircut. He finally let the lady use clippers to cut it. He looks super cute and like such a big boy.

Part 7- Williamsburg Trip

Last Christmas my parents gave Kevin and me a gift certificate to a bed and breakfast in Williamsburg. I had never been to Williamsburg before and have wanted to go for a long time. Kevin has been there a bunch of times- mostly on golf trips with his friends. My parents actually spent part of their honeymoon there 36 years ago. We went Sunday through Tuesday and boy was it HOT! Sunday wasn't too bad- there was a nice breeze. But Monday was Hades. It was a scorcher! We had a really good time though. It was nice not being on a nap schedule and going out for dinner (and bonus- staying out past 7 or 8!)

The bed and breakfast was called the Legacy of Williamsburg. It was great. The people we met there were so nice and the breakfasts were incredible.

Outside of the courthouse.

Governor's Palace

On Sunday night we went to dinner at the River Walk in Yorktown

Posing with an old revolutionary buddy

Bruton Parish Church

The church was really beautiful. It's strange to think that George Washington and Patrick Henry were members.

On Monday, we watched a re-enactment.

It was 192 degrees but at least we didn't have to wear this.

Or wear this...

And especially this! I was sweating bullets in shorts and a tank top. Poor guy.

The Capital

The jail

Kevin on the jail potty.

The guns inside the armory

Part 6- Bike Ride and Picnic

My parents took Eli for a bike ride and picnic during his stay in Pennsylvania. Eli's cousin Kylie (my cousin Kelly's daughter) let Eli borrow her fun bike seat. Pop tried it out the night before just before bedtime to see how Eli would like it. Plus he had never worn a helmet before. The trial run was a success! Here they are below cruising around the church across the street.

Here they are getting ready for the big ride the next day. They biked 9 miles on a trail.

Helmet? Check. Snack trap filled with fishies? Check. Sippy cup in the special sippy cup holder? Check. Ok, Pop- let's do this!

Picnic time. Word on the street is that Eli was a big cantaloupe hog. He didn't share with his grandparents.

Hey Pop, let's wrestle!

Here Pop, let me clean your mustache.

Posing (with rag in hand, naturally)

Bye! Thanks for letting me borrow your bike Kylie! I had a great time.

Part 5- Whale Pool at Mim and Pop's House