Porter and Eli Update!

January 7, 2010

We went to our first playgroup yesterday on base for Wee Ones. I have been wanting to go for a few months but I just now feel like I have a hold on them and all we are doing--no traveling, no visitors, on a bit of a routine. It was fun to see some moms/babies from our birthing classes and catch up with them and their little ones. One even had her baby at Pordenone a few weeks after me and named her son Elijah. She said the nurses remembered the other American girl who just had a baby named Elijah. We swapped stories and hers is pretty interesting too! Porter and Eli had a great time and seemed to be engaged with the other kiddies on the floor on their level. It was fun to see them wide-eyed and look at new toys and new faces.

Today was their 6 month check-up.
Porter's stats: 13 lbs., 25 inches long with 17 inch head circumference.
Eli's stats: 15 lbs., 25 inches long with 16.8 inch head circumference.

Porter with Evan. Love these boys!
Porter and Eli posing in their usual spot.
We have been walking everyday, last week with Evan (in the Baby Bjorns) and this week just with me (in the new stroller) to the Christmas markets. This week we have been to watch the kiddie train run a LOT of times. There is also a dancing Santa that plays the saxophone that we spend some time with, and we watch the carousel of animals when it's running. They seem to notice all the lights and movement and the noise. We probably won't go today because it's drizzling and rainy yuckiness. Here I am with Porter, my little bear, on our way.
Eli fell asleep on the walk and he stayed passed out for a little while after. While we have been going in the stroller, they usually trade off on naps for about 20-30 minutes.
My little bear all bundled up.
Hollie sent the boys these pajamas! They are super-cute and fit them perfectly.
Face shots during tummy time.
A little brotherly love.
NOT so brotherly. Porter, come on man!
Eli:
-Had a tooth bud appear in Texas on the bottom left. It has since disappeared! The MD assured us this cannot happen and he must have bumped it and now the bump is gone.
-Sleeps with the blanket covering his face. Very bad because of the risk of SIDS but every time I move it, he just puts it back in a few minutes.
-Ooches and schooches all over the place. If a toy is out of his reach, he will lurch his body towards it. Sometimes he can halfway roll over to his back to lift his arm up and out to reach it too.
-EVERYthing goes in his mouth. Tags, toys, my necklace, the pillow, the book.
-Eli can roll and roll and roll. Back to tummy and tummy to back and back and forth. We are working on balance for both sides but his little abs are always at work.
-He is really vocal. He discovered a new octave in his voice the week before Christmas. The "squeal" as it is known around our house can adios anytime. We love you Eli, but the squeal has got to go! Happy, sad, playing, asleep--it comes and goes.
-He can literally charm your socks off if you're not careful. All it takes is a bat of those eyelashes and it's all over--he is in control.

Eli waking up from his nap. SO cute!! Love this little guy.
Porter sleeping soundly while Eli giggles. He really likes his Sleep Sheep.
HAPPY New Year! We started eating vegetables on New Year's Day. Squash, carrots, peas, and green beans are all yummy and seem to agree with them. I think squash and green beans are the winners in their color category though. They get very excited just getting into their chairs and more excited when they see if I have a bowl (type of cereal=boring) or a colored case that I have to take the lid off of (veggies). The MD told us today we can feed them anything now--except honey and water. "Anything?" Evan asked. "Like steak?" She said sure why not. Apparently steak is on the menu this week.
Eli giggled his way down the slippery chair. First time wearing shoes--Aunt Nancy--they love them.
Close-up.
In their other spot for pics. Just too cute to pass up a photo-op.
I cannot get over Porter's affection for his sheep. He has even figured out that if he wedges the tail against the pacifier, it will stay in his mouth better. Smart little man.
Porter:
-Is working on his second tooth on the bottom left. He is too cute now when he smiles or is excited because you see this little tooth sticking through.
-Is sleeping unswaddled these days. Starting Christmas night--no more swaddling. Both Grandfathers I know will be happy about that! Neither one of them liked it.
-Is sleeping in his own crib, sharing the room with Eli now.
-Usually sleeps on his tummy, with the Sleep Sheep right next to him, and his pacifier and Eli's rattle are close by. When he wakes up in the night, we know it's him because we hear the rattle shaking around.
-He rolls from his back to his tummy and from his tummy to his back--we're working on balance over both shoulders.
-P's expressions are really serious a lot of the time. He really checks things out and observes with a watchful eye. But once you get him smiling and excited, your heart will melt on the floor with the sparks in his eyes and the utter glee in his voice!
Laughing at Evan before mealtime.