one the move, well sort of....

eli is slowly but surely moving into becoming a fully mobile creature. freaky. up until now, he has been content with just sitting in one spot but that is slowly changing. he has learned that he has the ability to scoot his little but around in a circle in order to get things in his immediate reach. he also is learning that if he leans forward just enough he can transition onto his belly. (we've had some bumps and bruises but he's getting better and not landing on his face.)and that's the point where it gets a little confusing for him. he so desperately wants objects in front of him that are just out of his reach and when he tries to get to them he only goes scooting backward. it's quite entertaining for us but frustrating for him. also he's scooted himself under beds, chairs, cribs and coffee tables; that is entertaining as well.

part of me is sad that he is moving into mobility, it means he gains more independence and needs us just a little bit less. but i'm excited that he gets to explore another part of his world that he hasn't contacted yet. watching your kid discover new skills, areas of his world, textures etc is a fun experience.

9 thanks for 9 months...

i can't believe that eli is nine months old already. it's crazy to think that he has been out of my belly for the same amount of time he was in my belly. in honor of eli's 9 month birthday i thought i'd write a list of nine things i'm thankful for in these past 9 months.

9. for eli's laugh and smile (who can resist a baby's laugh).

8. joel finding a job so i can stay home with eli.

7. being able to stay at my job and still engage that part of my brain and still work with my patients.

6. our burley. family bike rides are some of the most fun we have on the weekends.

5. that eli is healthy, happy and ohhhh so fun.

4. that we have a home, food in our bellies, health insurance, clothes, a garden, cars that haven't broken in a while...

3. for new friends that have babies.

2. that eli loves to explore and is interested in how things work.

1. our marriage. i'm not sure how we'd do it if we didn't have each other. having a kid really can strengthen your marriage if you're willing to work on staying connected and working through the good and the bad. (sleepless nights and all).

trains

a couple months ago i started my new job at a railroad bridge construction and design company. the first couple months have provided quite the variety. i spent time in north dakota taking measurements on timber bridges, moved sandbags in western south dakota, spent a week on a historic bridge over the st. croix in north wisconsin busting rivets, another week in lanark illinois (booming metropolis) busting concrete, and this past week i've been cruisin down the rail in northern illinois inspecting culverts. i'm always a little nervous of what i'm going to see when i climb down and look inside the culverts out in the middle of nowhere. along with all that, i've spent time in the office working on some design tasks and gone on a shopping spree for supplies (gps, camera, waders, life jackets, the basics) with a company credit card. freight railroad is a whole different world most people never see. like any new job i've had to learn lots of new phrases and words specific to the railroad. for example; EIC - the person in charge of making sure no trains hit you while you're working the rail road or FRN-(pronounced furn) frickin railroad nut. the variety has been the good part of the job and the travel has been the hard part. i miss being at home with shannon and eli at night when i'm gone and hotels and restaurants get old fast. i do like the fact that when i travel it forces me to be more intentional about my time with shannon and eli on the weekends. good and bad, after over a year without a job it's nice to be working again. i still haven't been issued a conductor hat. hopefully someday.

Rub-a-dub-dub, the boy in the tub...

recently, eli has graduated to using the big boy tub and he just love, love, loves it. i think it has to do with being able to splash around and he seems to be fascinated with the drain pull; interesting. i guess videos are better than words so i let this one do some talking.