Hello friends!

15 month check up

Well. He's still growing!

Weight: 27 pounds

Height: 33 inches

Everything is right on track. He even started walking backwards some this week, which I didn't even know was a little milestone but it is! Now the only thing left to conquer is the night time bottle. (gulp) 

We are in our backyard right now playing in the sun. He's so big. I love him.

It's a great day to be frustrated

Today I'm frustrated because my camera is broken and I still haven't sent it to be fixed.

Today I'm frustrated because I'm starting this website, which require pictures, which turn out horrible because of my broken camera.

Today I'm frustrated because I just am basically ignorant when it comes to starting a website.

Today I'm frustrated because I can't always convey my vision into words... or a website for that matter.

Today I'm frustrated because I've been trying to figure out how to change my CNAME (whatever that is) to match my mobileme account so my personal domain and my mobileme will be a match.

Today I'm frustrated because I packed up my "A Girl's Guide to Starting Her Own Business" book and have no idea which box it is in.

But it's a fantastic day to be frustrated because it is gorgeous outside and so all of those frustrations seem so small. (until I come back inside and try to work on them again... haha...) I better go back out there and bask in the Vitamin D. 

Cotton Candy Day

Today is a cotton candy day. I love cotton candy. I seriously could eat that stuff almost all day long! It's fluffy, it's fun, it's magical (I mean, sugar + air + swirl = cottony goodness!), and you can't get enough of it. That's kind of how I see today. Y'all it is beyond beautiful outside. Eli and I spent the morning with Sarah and some of her neighborhood buddies at the Arboretum. You give me a free pass somewhere and I will use it! It was crazy crowded out there but the Arboretum is huge so there was still plenty of room for the kids to run around! 

It was kind of cold in the morning but then by noon it was nice and warm and fantastic! Wes came and picked me up not too long after that so we could grab some lunch and get Eli home for a nap. I'm sure we'll take him to the park or something later on because when you get a cotton candy day, you cannot stay indoors!

Now, I love my camera. It's taken some great pictures for me, but it's broken as I've mentioned to where I cannot see what I'm taking pictures of. Sometimes that works out ok and I still get a cute shot, but sometimes I get this: 

Sorry Wes. I must have zoomed in at some point (why... I have no idea. I literally cannot see anything I'm trying to take a picture of) and not zoomed back out when I was taking some pics of Eli watching Wes rehearse. So... I guess I need to use some of my time this week and take it to a camera repair shop to get an estimate. ugh. 

I am loving this week already. Thank you Spring Break for being so wonderful.

On another great note, I got to see my dear friend Rosa last night at church! I was walking towards the back to meet Jouleen's dad and I was kind of scanning the crowd and I see Rosa sitting there, with her beautiful smiling face and everything! I think I may have even pushed some people out of my way to get to her! (kidding... I think) We only were able to speak for a minute but we will have to catch up soon!

Eli is not friends with the nursery

Well here we are. Eli is going to be 15 months in 3 days. We go to the 9:30 service, which is the first service, at our church since Wes plays at both and Eli's nap is typically around when the 2nd service is over. He goes to the same room each time, New Creations, Day 5. There are usually different people in there almost each time, and maybe that has something to do with it, but not much. What I'm talking about is his almost constant crying as soon as I leave him. 

I go in. I hang his bag up. I sit down with him, we look at some toys, the nursery worker comes over to say hi and meet Eli. I stand up, he starts screaming, I kiss him and tell him I love him and walk away. I don't know if there is a point that I will stop being bothered by this, but I still hate it. I hate seeing him cry like that. 

When I go to pick him up, his eyes are all puffy, his face is red, and he has tears and snot dried all over his face. I ask, "how was he?" They say, "he was good, he cried on and off, but did get down to play a little." hmm... 

I've been reading all kinds of books about raising sons. They are all really similar and based off of compatible research. It seems that for many boys, the separation anxiety phase is a bit more severe than for girls. I have no idea because I only have one son, but he definitely fits that description. Looking around the room at all the cute kiddos, there were only 2 other boys and lots of little girls running around playing... and not crying. 

I'm doing my part. I'm taking him as often as I can, going with a good attitude, talking to him a lot, being brief but loving in my departure... now I guess I'll just wait on nature to do it's part and Eli to feel a little more secure when I leave.

Until then... 

Boys boys boys

Yesterday after work I went over to Jen's house and played for a little while! She has a little boy that's 3 years old and she was also watching her brother's son, who is also 3 years old! They are SO cute!! It was absolutely adorable watching them play together! Eli wasn't so sure how to play with them but he loved watching them play and just walking around... haha... and taking the occasional toy and putting it in his bag... do I have a little kleptomaniac on my hands?

Well Spring Break started for us today! Yay! I will have to be honest and say that I was not as

 looking forward to it as I have been in the past. I think the reason is that working half a day at school has really allowed me not to be as crazy exhausted as in the past. Our family has been hugely blessed by this opportunity and I am still so thankful for it!

I had student video projects due in class yesterday and today and they turned out fantastic! I am so proud of my kiddos! I love the students I have. I've had awesome students in the past but this is the first year that every single student is incredible. Encourage your kids to be their quirky little selves because if they can hold on to that, in high school their teachers will love them! Or at least I will! All of those dry sense of humors, those one liners, those funny speech patterns... I just love them! I can't imagine anyone not wanting to teach high school. They are fantastic!

This is the first month we were consciously trying to have a baby. haha... does that make sense? I still don't get the whole ovulation cycle. Don't feel like you need to teach me unless you just want to. In fact, I actually teach it to my class but there are always exceptions and there are always babies born when ovulation didn't even seem to be happening. I looked at about 3 or 4 different websites and they all gave me about the same window... sort of... So who knows! I guess I'll find out at the beginning of April! 

Amazing Jakes

Last night we had our birthday bash with some of our sweet friends! We met for dinner at the buffet, I got to finally meet Andrea, Jourdan's sister, and it was SO much fun! Meeting with friends is seriously one of my most favorite things to do! I love you guys!

Lindey and I on the go carts--- we got first place ;)

Lizzalicious and I 

one of the cutest couples ever, Mere and Tyler

happy birthday to us!

that guy in the background went up to Jourdan and Andrea and asked them if they were lesbians and would not go away. Jourdan had to ask him to leave.

the girls!

Liz! Amanda! Jourdan!

haha... Wes on the bumper cars

enjoying the buffet

this was us trying to wait out the neverending rain in the car

Thanks for coming guys!!!