Everything Eli

Eli is definitely seeming older every day, as is evidenced to us in charming, and not-so-charming, ways.

He has become very interested in letters and numbers.  He now recognizes his own name, and excitedly points out his letters when he sees them in other words.  He's more aware and intrigued about reading, and likes to memorize some of his books and "read" them while moving his fingers across the words.  He loves to count on his fingers, and use his numbers to tell what time it is, or how long he wants to do an activity for, etc.  He's therefore interested in rulers, or anything that looks similar to rulers.  He loves to hold rulers or measuring tape up to himself and declare, "I'm this many big!  10 inches!  (or whatever number he says).

He's also getting much more creative and imaginative.  He's so animated, loves to act things out and tell stories.  He'll tell me some dramatic tall tale, then he'll end it with, "Mom, I'm just kidding." or, "It was just my imagination."  After seeing Peter Pan in a few episodes of "Jake and the Neverland Pirates," he wanted to dress up like, and act like Peter Pan all the time.  He wanted a belt tied around his waist and used a teacher's pointer as a sword.  He'd always stand up straight with his head up and proud and his hands on his hips and declare, "I'm Peter Pan!"  Of course it bummed him out that he couldn't really fly.  : )

Eli's also growing much more stubborn and defiant.  He likes to push boundaries and thinks he should always get his way.  My latest most-hated statement from him is "No fun!" or "No fair!"  He says it ALL THE TIME.  That kid needs a serious lesson in gratitude.

Another habit of his that drives me CRAZY is him giving monster hands and growls to EVERYONE when we're in public.  The worst place is at the grocery store, where he scares little girls and makes them run to their moms.  Then we see them again and again in the following aisles.  Yep, it's pretty embarrassing.

Eli's had a heck of a time with sleep for over a month now.  In May when he was really sick and up coughing and crying through the night, I let him sleep in our bed to help him out.  That of course backfired, and he kept waking up and coming to our bed even when he was better again.  Finally I had enough and started taking him back to his bed every time he came into our room.  That was often several times a night, for many, many nights.  SO exhausting!  And frustrating!  And maddening!  He also somehow lost the ability to fall asleep on his own.  Around that same time I started having to rock him to sleep.  It feels so ridiculous singing and rocking a 3 1/2 year old kid!  I miss the old days when he'd look at a few books, and fall asleep quietly on his own.  No idea why that's not working well.  But thankfully, he seems to at least be doing much better about night wakings.  Sometimes he still gets up once or twice, but sometimes he doesn't get up at all.  The hardest nights are when he gets up before 6:00 to use the bathroom or something, and can't fall back asleep.  : /  Hopefully it's all just a phase and he'll grow out of it before long.

These photos were from walks with Eli & Daddy.  Love the ones where he was out walking in his underwear, with socks under his sandals.  : )  

And here was from a walk with Mommy & Kids.  Eli plopped down for a rest in someone's yard.

Speaking of potty, Eli's done so well with it!!  Never has accidents (I never had to clean a poop accident, yay!!), and just takes care of it all himself.  For a while in the earlier stages of training he did a lot of hanging out in the nude (of his own accord).  Luckily he's back to wearing clothes full-time now.  :)  About a week after he started potty-training he just started going standing up.  He thinks it's so cool to go the same way as Daddy.  : )  About a month or so ago he stopped using his little toilet, and just used the big one.  He's also stopped using the toilet topper to help sit up on while pooping.  Every morning he takes off his pull-up (usually dry), and puts on underwear after he uses the restroom.  Such an awesome big boy!

Enjoys building TALL lego towers

 Loves cutting with his scissors.  Here he was cutting
food pics out of his "menu" (Steak 'n Shake coupon).

So proud of his lego city!

One of my favorite things about Eli is that he's now become a singer!  I often sing to the kids, either for fun or distraction, or whatever.  Now I always hear Eli singing the songs I've sung to him, including what he hears when I rock him at bedtime (those are the Primary songs).  I've been amazed how well he knows the words!  It's so cute to hear his little voice singing, and I'm glad he now takes pleasure in it.  A few times we've done a fun activity where he sings and conducts music at his conductor stand, and I sing and play at the piano.  We need to do more of that!  Makes me happy.  : )

Eli gave his first talk in Primary a few weeks ago.  He was very excited to get to talk in the microphone.  He did a great job.  I think you could understand the last word of every sentence, so at least they know he stayed on topic.  : )  Eli's also asked to give the prayer some nights at bedtime.  Whenever he finishes he states, "That was easy!"  It's wonderful watching his little testimony grow.

Mini Car Wash!

Loves playing with the sprinkler and hose

Putting together his "Three Little Pigs" feltboard 

Stuck a stick in the ground and used it as a microphone.

He brought a leaf in that he found and asked to paint it.  I thought it was a
great idea!

I found an idea to paint with shaving cream.  I made three different colors and Eli went to town.  He painted all over himself, and all around the backyard.  He had a blast, but unfortunately Dad wasn't so fond of our art project, and it soon got washed away.

Video at a splash pad

Video of playing in the sprinkler for the first time--

It's no secret how much Eli loves firetrucks.  A couple weeks ago we were visiting the splash park across the street from the fire department.  The firemen were cleaning their truck and spraying the hose into the water.  We went closer to watch them, and they called out, "Hey, would he like to spray the hose?"  Of course I said heck yes!  It was the funnest little (big) surprise for him!  He had the opportunity to spray the hose twice, climb up into the different firetrucks and ambulance, check out the fireman pole, and try on their coat.  They even sent him home a bag of goodies and play helmets.  I sadly didn't get to take any pictures.  But later that day he went out to the yard with his helmet and junior firefighter badge on, and sprayed our hose just the way the fireman taught him to.  I love the proud, confident look on his face!

Another event we attended for our library's Summer Reading Program was "Amazon Jungle John."  I just thought the event was so-so.  We sure didn't see very exotic animals!  A dog, a rabbit and a turtle (who raced), an owl (that was the cool part), who ate a dead mouse.  We also saw him pull out a groundhog, and then Eli had enough.  It didn't last too much longer after that, so I'm not sure if we missed any animals.  But Eli and Clara both seemed to enjoy it for the time that we were there.

Clara's been so good at taking long afternoon naps, that it gives times for a little downtime for us, and also time to spend playing with Eli.  We've spent a lot of time in the backyard running through the sprinkler, spraying each other with the hose or with a spray bottle, playing soccer, playing in Eli's water table, etc.  Another thing I sometimes do is write the alphabet and numbers on our fence with chalk.  Then he sprays them while we go over them together.  It can be hard to play outside when Clara's around because I'm never sure what to do with her.  Spending quality time together is definitely Eli's love language, and we both enjoy our special playing time together.

Fun at the splash park!  He LOVES it this year!  Always makes
new friends (attaches himself to older kids), and gets soaking
wet.

This past Saturday while David and Eli were out working in the yard, Eli made a new friend!  He came in with a little fuzzy caterpillar.  He naturally wanted to keep it forever as a pet, but we convinced him it needed to live outside to grow into a butterfly.  It was pretty cute watching Eli let the caterpillar crawl up his shirt.  And don't you love the bow sticker in his hair?  He did that himself.  :)

This picture gives a little glimpse of what Eli's often up to--dressing himself in funny get-ups.  He will spend a good long time going through his dresser and coming out with all kinds of clothing arrangements.  Hats, boots, socks (sometimes socks as gloves), ties, swim trunks, old jammie bottoms that look like capris, his workers helmet, etc, and ALWAYS tops it off with his sunglasses.  : )  I love that he's learned this skill, and enjoys practicing it in humorous ways.

Eli Sayings:

(Hits head) "Oh, heavens sake!"
"Oh bother."
Tells me a lot of things, or a story and then finishes with "The End."
"Yes...indeed."
"Mom?  Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"I don't like that idea."
Anytime he almost falls: "Woah! That was close!  I almost fell and bumped my head!"
Everytime we get in the car: "I locked the door so I won't fall out."
Anytime he gets booboos he says 1. "I need a bandaid!" (Then proceeds to act crippled.) 2. "I need to ride in the ambulance and go to the hospital!"  Even said this when he noticed his fingers were pruney after a bath.
"I didn't know that before."
(While walking from my bedroom to the living room, a few feet from each other) "Can you hold my hand so I don't get lost?"  : )

Eli can definitely be a challenge, but he for sure makes life so much more lively and entertaining.  : )