Joel Play'in Guitar

After Eli goes to bed, Joel & I like to rock out! Ha ha... He loves playing my twelve string and would probably sit there for hours if I let him. He cleaned up all his toys tonight so he could have a little jam session (0: He likes how the pick makes music louder! He thought it was pretty cool that he was holding a pick that Daddy had caught while at a Newboys concert years ago, too.

Elianna loves peek-a-boo

Joel loves to play peek-a-boo to entertain Eli & himself!

It's hard to catch the kids doing stuff like this with the camera...I was sorry this was the tail end of the peek-a-boo fun. Maybe I'll try again today. It's so cute to see Eli love peek-a-boo.

Bad Haircuts and Funny Photo Shoot

Mad Mama

Surprised Mama

Pooped Mama

Content Mama

Ooooh la la Mama

Laugh At Me Please Mama

Sad Mama

Happy Mama

SO BIG!!!

And SO FUNNY!

But most of all SO ADORABLE!

We have had alot of time on our hands tonight...waiting for Daddy to come meet us on Skype (which I just found out isn't happening after all, bummer). With Elianna in bed, I thought I would take a few pictures of Joel since he got a "haircut" today. First of all...it was the WORST haircut ever b/c the hairstylist we got at Supercuts was off her game or something. She said Joel jerked his head and therefore ruined the whole fade of the hair cut. Mind you his hair is difficult and I was watching him and he looked like he was well-behaved and quiet to me. And she had been cutting hair for 8 years and claimed she had nephews with hair just like his?! Long story short: Mama wasn't happy (dreading the next 3 months of styling out of control hair...thinking I may give up completely) and Joel could care less that his hair is sticking up everywhere (he was just happy after 45 min of hair cutting agony he got his sucker!)!!!

So as I was taking pictures of Joel, he decided he wanted to try and take my picture...I decided to let him (since he was in a good mood lol) and showed him the screen where he needed to see mommy and the button to push. He didn't hold the camera..I had him lay belly down on the couch and snap away. He had a blast and loved seeing all my different expressions and general silliness! A fun moment. As you can see I even let his first work be published here...despite my shyness hee hee.

Enjoying the Sunshine & Elianna is 11 Months!

Wow, today was our 3rd afternoon in a row of having sunshine to enjoy! I've been battling a cold though, so it's hard to work up the energy to do much out there. I managed to get the kids out on the deck to play today thankfully. Elianna just watched Joel and seemed shocked still by the cold and brightness. Still pretty cold despite the sun, so I let her enjoy the sun through the window in the comfort of a warm home. It's been another one of those painful, teething days for Eli. I think she handles it pretty well. Well, my little Sunshine is 11 months today...Grandma had to remind me as the days are flying by here without me noticing.

Comforts & Quirks

I have craved chocolate after drinking orange juice and craved OJ after eating chocolate for years now. I don't know why that is such a great combo for me?!

Joel likes to tickle his nose with "fuzz balls" (his term) for comfort....been this way ever since around turning 1. Yep, it's the fuzz balls (yarn ties) on his blanket and any little pieces of polyfill that falls out of his blanket or cotton balls he finds in the bathroom. Today he took some stuffing and tried to tickle my nose with it...just his little way of saying how very much he loves me(o: He is my little monkey. And just the other day, he told me I'm his "big monkey"! Tonight as I was attempting to feed Eli he asked me what I was doing (he's just started taking an interest in my nursing in the last week or so). I said I was walking and trying to get Eli to settle down and eat... then he said quite matter-of-factly, "I want ta feed Eli. I Mommy." I told him he couldn't, but one day when he was older he could be a daddy ;) My little helper. He loves songs about helping these days...and dances up a storm to any music playing. He has also taken a step forward in independence and started demanding to dress himself. It's so cute when he comes in with stuff on upside down or backwards!

Elianna is attached to a couple of satiny soft blankies for comfort. She takes after me being a blankie sucker to fall asleep. I'm so happy she goes to sleep with little to no crying. Now if only she slept 12 hours straight and didn't wake up at 5am!

Well, now that we've shared some funny quirks and comforts for us, leave me a comment with some of yours!!

Joel. Is. Larry-Boy.

Joel is completely fasinated with "Larry-Boy" from the VeggieTale movies. Tonight he asked for the "Rumor Weed" movie (again. after just seeing it this morning) and said, "I Larry-Boy. I has suction ears." I never imagined his first superhero would be Larry-Boy! He's really starting to repeat what he hears and express his thoughts more now. He also told me tonight that he didn't feel good, that it was gas from eating soup! Silly boy.

My Favorite Age

Today Elianna & I sat down together while Joel was napping and watched "Baby Signing Time" together. It was fun to see her concentrating on it and she surprised me by trying to sign a few things like "more" and "dog". She learned to clap her hands about a week ago and will try and clap when I ask her sometimes now.

Last night when we were driving away from couple's cell group, I was reflecting on how difficult it had once been to bring Joel there in the evenings. All the crying, fussing, and attention he needed to keep him happy. He was one busy, noisy baby compared to Elianna. It's amazing how completely different 2 babies from the same parents can be! Elianna sits on the floor with a few toys and some snacks and is quiet as a mouse, just taking everything in stride...even though it's 2 hours past her bedtime.

I love this age. With both Joel & Elianna I have found myself saying, "Just stay this age forever. Don't grow up!" I guess I mostly love the closeness we share and the fact that they aren't talking back...yet!

A Little About Joel

Joel was water painting while I was doing chores around the house and when I went to check on him he had painted a bit more than on the paper...like, his water cup, his hands, feet, and mouth (including his tongue!) YUK! He didn't seem to care any about the taste of the black water paint! What he won't try...good thing stuff like this is considered "non-toxic".

Today we got a Daddy doll in the mail (for Elianna) so she would remember Daddy when he returned from being out to sea. Of course, Joel always seems to take an interest in anything new that comes into our house. He had a blast making Daddy sit on the couch with him, making him jump or rocket into the air, and giving him kisses and hugs. His new thing to say is, "He talks"...he's learning to imagine now that he's almost 3.

Joel thinks everything he creates is a robot these days.

Right now he's on our wet deck dancing around with a everygreen branch and pulling off the little baby pinecones. He's learning to peddle his big boy bike, but the deck doesn't give him much room to turn too easy. It's so amazing to see him grow and develop new skills...so many firsts to celebrate and thank God for. That's what our devotional time together was about today: those first special times.

My New Year's Resolutions

I decided today to start blogging because I wanted to get back into journaling about my everyday life and walk with my Papa. I have some ideas floating around in my head that best be put into words so I can follow thru and actually accomplish something in 2009! I want to live on purpose this year. So here's my goals...



I want to read a book about homeschooling and decide if I'm cut out for it.

I want to do a devotional book with my son, Joel, daily so he can start to learn how to have a relationship with God daily.

I want to listen to worship music that helps me memorize Bible verses word for word.

I want to lose 5-10 lbs and fit back into my jeans I wore a couple years ago before baby #2 came along.

I want to have a closer marriage by taking more time to go out and have fun with John.

I want to take my kids more to the pool and beach.

I want to spend less time spending money!

I want to eat less sugar.

I want to have family night once a week.