Eldon Met Santa

We saw Santa today. There were 3 girls all dressed the same in front of us and they screamed bloody murder when they sat on Santa's lap... Eldon sat on his lap and he just stared at Santa... he looked up at him like he was going to take his beard. He finally looked back as me as if to say "what's the big deal" he didn't smile. but that's Eldon, you really have to work to get a smile. We say he has a poker face. just stone cold. Nic always says he looks at you like your dumb!! but that's our cute little man. hear are a few pics of our day!! P.s Eldon just turned 5 months old.

P.S I am down 16.8 lbs in 6 weeks!! Wahoo!!!

Losing

So Starting friday the 13th the Lovelace family has been in a competition to lose weight. I lost 5 lbs last week and 3.99% body fat!!! which is really good. one of the good things that has happened since having Eldon. It has been really tough losing weight after Eldon so I sort of gave up for a while but now I am back on track. Fingers crossed that things will stay this way. I was beat by my day who lost 12 lbs and almost 5% and the entire family lost 34lbs with 7 people participating. I have to say I am very proud of myself. Me and my mom joined weight watchers and are losing weight that way! It is really nice having people lose wight with you. lets hope this week is just as great with thanksgiving. I am trying to be good

4 month checkup... and shots :(

Eldon Allen George is growing up, and is getting so big and tall and strong. We went yesrterday for his check up. I was guessing Eldon weight at least 15lbs now... so did my mom but he sure did surprise us with his weight
Weight- 13lbs 12ozs- 25%
Height- 25 3/4 inches- 75%
Head- 42 1/2 cm- 60%

He was so good when he got his shots, he got 2 shots, and 1 oral vacc this time I had them do it in the same leg, because last time he bruised and we weren't able to hold him without him crying. This time has been a whole lot better. Eldon pretty much is eating running a little higher temp than normal, but nowhere near as bad as last time just in the 99's. and after he eats he wants to fall back asleep. My prayers were answered last time was horrible and i never want to go through that again. We love our little man

first laughs

this is a video of the 2nd time Eldon laughed, I haven't figured out how to upload the 1st video. Eldon is laughing at Maddie.... the dog:)

Pictures during the past month!

Grandma George came to visit me!!

Great-Grandma Lovelace met me for the 1st time-4 Generations of Lovelaces

How cool is that!!!

Went to the pupkin patch!!

Loves to fall asleep with mom and dad

sitting in a bowl that grandma painted!

he LOVES his whosit-anut Sherri and uncle Mahesh gave it to him

Put me in the most unconfortable positions and I love it

Bath time has become one of his favorite times of the day, and sometimes twice a day!

Halloween- Eldon-pea pod, Mark- batman, steph-batgirl, bella- a bee!

Eating- "what is this stuff!???"

Mark rescued a kitty who has been named bossy and given to Aunt Susan & Aggie

Eldon loves his frog outfit

4 Months old!

Eldon, our little blessing has been in our lives now for 4 whole months! he is growing and changing every day, he is still pretty danty but he is starting to pack on the pounds. mark can't wait till he looks all rolly!

Things he can do:

• he can stand for a long time
• he had his first laugh just this past week at his dad, and he laughed again at my momma's puppy maddie
• he rolled over 2 times alreadt we are just waiting for him to realize that he really does know how to roll over.
• tried rice cereal for the first time this week... he isn't quite sure he likes it, but he sure wants something more that just breastmilk.:)
• sleep through the night

Things he loves:

• he loves his toes! he has been holding onto them for weeks
• loves to be naked
• along with being naked he loves baths
• loves to chew on finger wiether they are his or yours
• he loves his toys and he also has started to chew on those
• he loves to drull. He has slober all the time
• he still loves his car seat, put him in and he talks himself right to sleephe loves to talk, he will baby talk then you can talk to him and he will talk back. He sure has things to say

Things he hates:

• he hates when he doesn't get held, and I try to ignore the fake cry but it is so so so darn cute. he really hates when I cook because that is when he does have my undivided attention.
• not sure what else he hates, just as long as he is feed, diapered, and you are paying attention to him he is a happy camper

Eldon at 4 months old

He has such a sweet smile

We love our boy

Eldon at 3 months... he has gotten alot taller!!!

Eldon rolled over

We were at my mom's house; me and Eldon and Nic and his wife, and my mom were all downstairs in the basement when I put Eldon on his tummy. he looked up towards me and just rolled from tummy to back, I looked around the room to see if anyone else noticed it, of course they didn't. and Eldon would not do it again. But I felt special at least I got to see him roll over. I am so happy to watch Eldon grow. He is getting to be so much fun, not that he wasn't before... but the crying phase is almost over, he is starting to communicate better and is letting use know when he wants things by doing other things besides crying. Although Eldon has developed this sort of fake cry, it seriously is funny. It really sounds like he is saying whaaahhhhh! so cute, I know he is just trying to get my attention too:) he has really started to find his toes. I have these cute socks that I put on him that have little rattlers on them, and he loves them. I can't wait to see what happens next!!

I Need Washing

My Mom sent me this story and I fell in love with it. We all really need to take the time to just "run through the rain" I hope you all enjoy and share this with others!

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said.

'What?' Mom asked.

'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.

'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain.'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said...

'No, we won't, Mom.. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain..... We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,' Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars, and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season
and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

Going to the Punky Patch!!

Friday Me, Marky, Eldon, Mom, and Dad went to the pumpkin patch in Riverton. We had a blast. When we got there we started running around to get the bet pumpkin... okay mostly momma, It was o much fun taking Eldon, and you could totally tell that he was having fun. Dad got the biggest pumpkin, and Mark got bit by one of the goats that were there... It was so much fun and a new experience. When we got back to the grandparents.... we all at down and got to work on carving our masterpieces. Let us know what you think. As for me it was the most fun I have had so far with Eldon... I can't wait to do more fun an exciting thing with him!


This is how we started off our adventure at the patch

The Whole Group

Eldon is our favorite little man

Dad and Eldon on the Tractor

Mom and Eldon

G-momma Love and Eldon


Picking out the best pumpkin

Dad and Eldon- "Momma thinks our tractor is sexy"

Eldon and the Pumpkin


Mom and Eldon picking out the BEST pumpkin

G-momma's Spider!!

Pappa's Wizard

Bet you can't guess who did this one!! MARKY LOVE DID

My Turtle!

Eldon is 3 months!!!

Eldon Allen George is 3 months old today!!!!!!!

He was so happy when we took his picture... He just would not stop smiling!




Eldon at 2 months.. he has only gained 14 ounces since month 2




THINGS ELDON CAN DO NOW

• he has started to talk... we ask him questions and he responds in his own little language
• he has started imitating when we say our B's and D's like "Brrrrr it's cold" and "DDDDAAADAAA"
• he is starting to wake up without crying he just sits in his crib and talks, although sometimes he still cries
• he loves to smile at Mark... anytime hubby comes home he is so exciting
• he is starting to recognize and prefer different people. Right now I know for sure he knows me because he always wants me to hold him, and he loves when his dad comes home, and he loves it when I tell him we are going to grandma's... "to grandmother's house we go"
• if I hold his hands he will pull himself up... and stand (he loves to stand)
  
• during tummy time he holds his head the entire time
  
• he can hold his head up when he is on his back.
  

THINGS HE LIKES

• he likes the car seat still
• likes to take a nap in the middle of the day for about 2-3 hours plus his normal 9p to 6am sleep plus or minus a few hours
• he likes playing airplane with dad
• going on walks in the stroller with the girls(lolo and Bella)
• he likes to laugh at Lolo( I don't know what is so funny but he laughs)
• he has started to enjoy tummy time... old with a boppy though

THINKS HE HATES

• loud voices ( when I call the dogs, he gets scared)
• wind in his face... he hates that the most
• not being fed every 1hour in a half.... I may have to start cereal at 4 month
  
• when you aren't in his sight, he likes to know where people are

Eldon is starting to be so much fun he loves being around and playing with us... what a joy. He has found his voice, and it is so much fun watching him coo, and ahh, and brrr, and daaa.... :) so cute! We love our little boy and especially now that he doesn't cry so often. Boy those first few months are rough, but so so so worth it. We just can't wait to see what he will do next!!!!

Sleep Strategies

Ever since Eldon was born people have been asking me,"what is your schedule like?" I kinda go through my day, but as for a schedule I have no clue what they mean, so I have been doing some research which I will get to. But as for my day in day out schedule, I believe in listening to when Eldon wants and needs, not other advise and not what I may want him to do or want. We are both kind of stubborn like that. Okay so onto the more talked about conversations. "have your started a sleep schedule?" first I will give you basic research i found then I will voice my opinion.

the "Cry it out" Method
These sleep training methods say it's okay to leave your child to cry, if necessary, although they don't advocate letting a baby cry endlessly. Typically these approaches suggest putting your baby to bed when he's still awake and allowing short periods of crying punctuated by comforting (but not picking up) your child. Continue this until the baby have learned to fall asleep on their own. Usually takes only a week or less to see results.

the "No tears" Method
Sleep training methods in this category encourage a more gradual approach, with the parent offering comfort right away when their child cries. Pediatrician William Sears, author of The Baby Sleep Book, is probably the most well known proponent. Parent educator Elizabeth Pantley outlines a step-by-step no-tears approach in her book The No-Cry Sleep Solution.
Generally speaking, those who favor a no-tears approach over CIO methods consider leaving a child alone and crying to be unnatural, unkind, and a betrayal of the trust your baby is developing in adults and the world around him. The idea is that bedtime offers an opportunity to connect with your child by developing quiet, cozy nighttime rituals and by quickly responding to your baby's requests for food and comfort.

Pediatrician and "attachment parenting" advocate William Sears devotes an entire chapter of The Baby Sleep Book to a critique of CIO approaches. Sears, along with no-tears advocates such as Elizabeth Pantley (author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution), believes that CIO techniques can give your child negative associations with bedtime and sleep that could last a lifetime.

in opposition the CRY IT OUT METHOD says:
CIO approach disagree. They say it isn't traumatic for babies to cry alone for short periods of time with frequent check-ins by Mom or Dad — and the end result is a well-rested, happier child. They say no-tears sleep strategies may cause babies to be overly dependent on comfort from a parent at bedtime, making it harder for them to learn to soothe themselves to sleep.


MY OPINION!!!

Okay so I am not here to take one side or the other just to voice what works for me. People really keep pushing this cry it out(CIO) method on me, and I just can't seem to grasp it. I have tried it here and there for no more that 2 minutes at a time because for me it breaks my heart to here my baby cry louder and louder especially when I know all he wants is me. Okay so here goes, I can't say if crying a little is good or bad for babies;leave that to the experts to argue over, all I know is that Eldon HATES to just be placed in bed, if that works for other babies great. But what is wrong with rocking your baby to sleep, singing him a beautiful lullaby, soothing him softly into sleep; instead of just setting him in his crib and listen to endless crying until he just give up hope that i will soothe him and he has to soothe himself. My most favorite moments of motherhood are when me and Eldon are all alone he is crying, I hold him close, wrap a blanket tightly around him for comfort, and sing him a special song, while he slowly calms down, gazes at me, to let me know he loves me, and his eyes slowly drift into a deep sleep. I continue to hold him for a little while longer just to take in the moment, then I kiss his and place him in bed usually between 9pm and 10pm and we both sleep till 5am. Why can't I rock my baby to sleep I ask? WHY? I feel there is no right or wrong, it is what you feel in your heart, you know your baby and you know what works. All I know is I lost one baby and I would give anything to hold them just once, and if I hold Eldon just a few minutes longer no one can tell me that is wrong. I have cried over this issue a few time, and now I know I am not wrong. Eldon is the most precious and perfect blessing I have Ever been giving, and if it takes just a little more effort to get him to sleep than just placing him in bed, then I will do it. And when he gets older I will read just one more book when he ask and I will hug him just one more time, because he is only little for a while, and I full intend on taking it all in. My favorite think in the world is a peaceful baby and I love being responsible for helping him get the peaceful sleep he needs. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I just needed to vent my own feelings.

I just wanted to leave with a quick story, A girl my friend know was in a car accident 5 days before her due date, and it caused the baby stress and he inhaled his miconium, which wasn't discovered for 3 days. So he was born with respiratory problems. He lived for 4 days. And they turned off his life support, and he died in his Mommy's arms 5 minutes later. Please keep her in your prayers.

I know because of this story I will hold my baby tighter and longer tonight!

Mark turns 24!!

Mark had his birthday on the 16th. We had a week long celebration. Monday Mark came home and we open the presents I gave him, he opened Tupperware (for work and school) and a loofah. I then asked Mark if he could go get the dog food out of the trunk. Me and Eldon went with him, and to his surprise when he opened the trunk there stood behind the bag of dog food, a 32'' Flat screen HD TV!!! he was so shocked, and excited. He deserves it he has been working so hard and going to school full time, so I have been saving for about 6 weeks! He loved it. Then Tuesday we went bowling with friends, Brittani, Mindy, and Michael all showed up. It was very interesting bowling with a baby, but actually I think I bowled better when I was holding him then when I wasn't. Then Friday we went up to my momma's and had dinner with Mom, Dad, me, Mark, and Eldon, and my sister-n-law came too. We had a perfect dinner of steak and shrimp, then Mark got 7 pairs of underwear(one for every day of the week) socks and Nike running shoes from mom and dad, and a dress shirt and dress socks from me. I can't believe Marky is 24 he s getting so old!! Eldon is making us both age faster I think:) When I look back it seems like since we have had Eldon with us time has gone by so fast, but when I am going through my days, it goes by soooo slow... does that make any sense?! Anyway I love Mark and I am so glad we got to celebrate another birthday together. WE LOVE MARKY!!!

Mark with his new TV. Eldon is there for size comparison


Mark got 24 pieces of Tubberware for his 24th birthday!


"This is all I got!" Mark says (this was before he got his TV)


I decorated the Kitchen, and both me and Eldon wrote Dad a note


Mark got new shoes!


I just ad to make Mark a Batman Cake!


Mark and Eldon at the bowling alley!


Me bowling with Eldon

Eldon's 2 month statistics!

Wow this has taken forever to get this posted. Eldon didn't take to well to his shots so it was a really bad few days, actually it was pretty much like a hole week. The first day he slept for almost 5 hours then screamed for 2 hours straight until Mark gave him a blessing and we both spent the next hour calming him down. Eldon ran a fever for almost 3 days... a low grade, but still no fun. then the next few days he just acted a little fussy. I don't know what I would have done without my Momma and Mark they are my total support system with Eldon Okay so here goes:

2 MONTH STATISTICS

Height: 23.25 inches - 66% Weight: 11lbs. 1oz. - 25% Head: 40.5 cm - 65%

Eldon has grown 2 inches since 1 month
has gained 3lbs since 1 month
and his head has grown 2.5cm in his head

Things Eldon can do this month:

• he has stared to track with his eyes, he is really good at following mine and Mark's faces
• he has started to pull himself up when you hold his arm... not quite there yet
• he has started to like standing; me and my mom always say weebles wobble but they don't fall down
• Eldon loves to coo and ahh at people he recognizes: Mom, Me, Dad, Mark
• Eldon started sleeping in his own room at 2 month mark exactly, and has really been sleeping through the night great (Midnight til 5 am or 6 am usually)
• He will fake cry to get his way
• He usually does get his way
• Loves to play airplane with dad
• He Loves his car seat and usually falls asleep in it whenever we go out, but if we are not in the car he hates it
• he has started to flash quick smiles and loves when dad plays peek-a-boo
• he is sucking on his hand and once i caught him sucking on his hand
• he stops crying and smiles at me when I come get him in the morning( My Favorite!!)
  

What Eldon Looks like:

• he has started to get a little bit of chunk
• his hair is still thick and dark especially in the back
• He his getting so long, but it makes him super skinny
• he has a little frog belly
• He has an outie belly button, but we are hoping when he looses his Budda belly that his button will be sucked in
• He has dark blue eyes, which we are hoping stay that way or become lighter like his dad

We love our little son and it seems like he has been in our lives forever. He makes us so proud, and he keeps us both busy. But he is the greatest blessing in the world, and we love watching him grow!

Eldon Playong Peek-a-boo with Dad


I caught him sucking his thumb luckily I had a camera near by


Eldon loves his car seat in the car!!