Seven Months!

It's official--my baby's growing up too fast!  Here is an update in words and pictures:

I love him in overalls!

Eli's doing marvelous!  People always comment on what a good baby he is, and how happy he is.  It's true!  He does wonderful wherever we go.  I am pleased to report that he is... SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT...IN HIS CRIB!  Never thought it would happen, huh?  It's certainly a magnificent miracle to us as well.  

After he turned six months, we decided to let him "cry it out" at night.  Believe me, this was not easy, and originally I was totally against it.  I did a lot of reading on baby sleep, though (Boy are there a lot of opinions out there.  And a lot of garbage!), and after reading the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, I felt like it was something we could (and should) try.  (Just to be clear for those of you who are appalled that we'd leave our baby to cry-- this was done as a last resort, at an appropriate age, and Eli always receives a loving and soothing bedtime routine beforehand.)

I thought for sure that he'd cry all night and it wouldn't work at all.  The first night he cried under two hours.  The second night under an hour.  Of course it is completely miserable to listen to your baby cry, and David and I had to cling to each other for support, and stop the other from going in to rescue him.  We prayed for him (and us!) every night, to help us all through the difficult ordeal.  But by the fourth night there were no tears!  We had introduced him to a "lovey," and he began cuddling up to it (a stuffed bear) when we placed him in his crib.  For awhile he'd wake up crying because he had rolled onto his stomach.  Eventually, though, he learned how to sleep like that, and now he prefers it.  

These days Eli goes to bed around 7:00, wakes up to eat around 3:00 (or sometimes not at all!), then goes to sleep again until about 7:15!  We usually don't even know he's awake in the mornings.  We check on him on David's way to work, and if he's awake he's just playing happily in his crib.  Yay!  This has been a tremendous blessing for our family. 

Ready to read before bed!

We have yet to master naptime (meaning that I'm still holding Eli during his naps), but now that I have my evenings back, I have been trying to catch up on my scrapbooking.  I have a million pictures of Eli that I love, so it will take a long time to get caught up.  It has been so fun to work on it, though, and to look back and see how much he's changed.

I've also been reading a wonderful book that I would highly recommend to other mothers and mothers-to-be: A Mother's Book of Secrets.   It was written by LDS author and speaker, Linda Eyre, and her daughter, Shawni Pothier.  In it they each share personal experiences and ideas on how to make the most of mothering.  I'm so glad I'm reading it before my kids are grown, so I can implement their profound ideas!

He's a pretty good scooter!

His new smile...he loves to smack his lips together.

Eli loves playing with random objects, such as face wash, water bottles, tupperware, and headphones.  He is one easily entertained baby!  : )  He has the SWEETEST habit of holding onto my arm and pulling it to him when I change his diaper.  He definitely has his favorite books he likes me to read and songs to sing, and luckily I enjoy them as much as he does.  : )  Peek-a-boo is now fun to him, and he gives a big belly laugh when tickled.

I came in the room one day and caught him playing with his shadow.  : )

 

We didn't think it was possible, but we somehow love Eli more and more every day.  He brings us so much joy and happiness!