Picture Tuesday!

Here are a few recent pictures of Mr. Eli

My precious little man


Look at those bluuue eyes


funny


this is the picture that i accidentally ordered 43 of from cvs. i tried to order 4 copies, but apparently hit 43 and didn't pay attention to my error. so if you would like a copy of this picture, there are plenty to go around. in fact, most everyone in our families got this picture for Christmas! :) Hey...at least it was a good picture!!


Sporting his new cowboy boots---don't worry he REFUSES to keep them on. I think they were pulled off (while he was SCREAMING) about 2 minutes after this picture was taken. He HATES shoes, and I don't know what to do. I'm about to get out the duct tape, and tape them on his feet.


checking on the dog cage...to see if he can crawl in. so gross..he loves it...its disgusting! he gets so mad at us because we won't let him get in it.


my punkin


at Olivias Birthday party!


sharing with O




playing with Olivia!






checking things out on the computer with dad







so I don't know if its wrong, that I love pictures like this or not. he is not actually crying at all here, he is screaming at me to help, while instead i was taking pictures. (Mom of the Year....RIGHT HERE) He has this horrible fake whine/scream thing going on right now.its actually a horrible temper, but whatever. I just love these pictures because it just captures moments in his life that I get to tell him about when he is 16.
His favorite thing to do is crawl into this chair, and stand. Since the taking of the picture, he has now figured out how to crawl out of it, but obviously this was like day 2 of him not having any idea how to get down. Now he has it figured out. Loves it!


bed head.


yelling at the camera. i think this could be my favorite picture to date of Eli. hilarious.


xoxo
Tay

Christmas and such

OHMYGOODNESS. I know I have been MIA since my "outspoken" post on marriage...its the Holidays..forgive me!! We have been soooo busy and unfortunately have dealt with lots of sickness during the last few weeks as well! Zach, Eli, and I had what I like to call the "plague." Everyone....except my Grandma...and I mean everyone, got this horrible, horrible flu. I am so glad its out of our lives! It was especially scary when Eli had it. He was sick on the 22nd, puking, awfulness...fine on the 23rd...and while we were pulling out of the driveway on the 24th to head to Zachs parents for the Christmas Eve celebration, Eli decided it would be a great idea to puke all over himself and my backseat. I have never felt so scared in my life. It puts being a Mommy into a whole new prespective.

I have so much I have sat down to write about and now I can't remember any of it!
Lets see....
On December 17th we found out we are having.....A BOY!!! We are excited! Secretly, I was hoping for a girl....and this is ONLY because we had a name picked out and everything. hahaha. And who doesnt want to buy lots of awesome, adorable PINK and PURPLE stuff. But when she said "Do you want to know the sex?" We said "Yes" (even though I was thinking I wanted it to be a surprise, Zach quickly talked me out of that) and she said "here are the legs......" and I replied with...." and THERE is a penis. " It was plain as day!! Zach wanted to do the happy dance. My Nana was able to come and see the Ultrasound too!! She works at the hospital I am delivering at, and was able to come down and watch! She had never seen an ultrasound done, so it was a special, and fun moment for she and I both...while Zach was still in the corner of the room wanting to do the happy dance! ::smiles:: I am happy that we will save a TOOOOOON of money on everything!! We don't even have to paint the new babys room if we don't want to...even though, I probably will. ha! The name "fight" is ongoing. We have 2 names that we really like right now, but really it changes weekly. The middle name will be Keith...that much we do know. It is family tradition for Zachs family that all of the men have the middle name Keith. They let this go with Eli, because they all knew the importance of having Bryce's name incorporated into Eli's name! (Elijah Brycen) Soooooo...if anyone has any suggestions, I would LOVE to hear them! I don't know if we will tell or not. I am finding more and more judgemental people that when I mention a name I like, they turn up their nose...thus making me have 2nd thoughts. So yeah...I'll think about that.



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little feet!






On December 20th we headed Zachs Aunts house for the White Elephant Christmas Dinner...whatever you want to call it. It was fun. I have never got to take part init, and it was fun. I got a really neat Snowman decoration thing that someone actually made. It was hilarious to see all the gifts and all of the "steals." Eli got to meet "Santa" (Emilys Fiancee...Uncle Matt, to Eli). It was pretty funny. Theeeen it was to Nanas for Christmas...which I think is where we all caught the plague, from my cousin Cameron! Thanks Cambo!! But it was a fun time. We did something different this year and drew names..so we each only had one person. It was fun...I don't know if we will do it again or not. I'm not in charge. :) Which is fine by me!

Eli with Santa


Is it wrong that I LOVE this picture?!


Santa wasn't so bad after he got a gift from him! :)


Eli in his adorable new hat from my Aunt Terrie

Eli and Aunt Kari



all the grandkids minus Nick, he was sick with the plague.

Eli was intrigued by Cam and wouldn't leave him alone.

Eli and his Nana!



Christmas Eve we did the Mitchell family tradition of heading to the mall and buying our last minute gifts (aka...help dad buy stuff for mom day). We had fun.....Eli was fine...we got home... and while pulling out of the neighborhood...Eli painted himself, my backseat, and his new carseat with VOMIT. So needless to say, we didn't get to go to Zachs parents! Every Christmas Eve they have game night and everyone comes over and it is so, so much fun, and we had to miss it. Instead Zach was running to CVS for Pedialite and I was on the phone with Eli's Dr, making sure I didn't need to take him to the ER, for dehydration because of all the dry heaving he was doing. It was nerve wreckin! For sure! I was praying that he would be decent for his 1st Christmas!

Christmas Morning...my boy woke up with a smile. A tired smile nonetheless....but a smile! He was happy to open the few gifts we got him. (He doesn't get it...and wanted to play with the paper more than the gifts anyways!) We got ready, headed to Zachs parents to open presents. It was a nice time, but Zach and I decided after this year we will stay at our house until its time to go to brunch at his Grandmas...so we can start our own family traditions! And so the boys can play with their own toys for a while before having to leave so early!! We then headed to Zachs Grandma's for brunch and boy o boy did we all make it! It was like Oprah's favorite things for Zach, E, and myself! :) I am so thankful to have Zachs family in my life. They are so so amazing and so good to us! I love and adore them! After that we headed to my parents and opened up all of our gifts there too! Eli was cranky and annoyed....rightfully so....he had a busy day after being sick the evening before! But he was a trooper, and had fun! AND MAN did he make out with a lot of toys. He even got an AWESOME toybox from Zachs mom and dad to put everything in and it is PERFECT!! We are so greatful!


checking out his elmo and elmo book

yummm. tastes great mom.

love this picture.




At Zachs parents...obviously he is excited about something. so cute.





"Mom did you seeee all the gifts I got?!"

Eli was only interested in his cousin Kyle...no one else!



playing with my dad on christmas. Check out that face Eli is making..hilarious!

the new toybox!


"how many things can fit in here" this is such a Zach moment!




one of his new rides!


Eli the next morning...all of his new toys/rides/toybox

all the new rides

so excited to play with his new toys!


crawling through the tunnel of his new tent. he LOVES this thing.


December 27th...on our way to Grandpa Petty and Lindas house...I caught the plague...and was in bed for about 36 hours. Zach came to my rescue several times..and even took Eli to spend the day (the next day) with my Aunt Kari because I couldn't do it. I felt like an actual train wreck. Theeeeen my nana had to go pick Eli up in the afternoon because Aunt Kari got sick. (I told you everyone I knew got it) So we missed Christmas at Grandpa's which is a bummer...because Jess is moving to Cali this week!! We won't get to see her before she leaves! Booohisss!

New Years Eve...we were Old Folks...or whatever you want to call us! We decided to stay in! We went to dinner with Zachs sister Emily, and her fiancee Matt...then came home to watch the ball drop. Its like Eli knew it was New Years, because he stayed up until 12:30am....Zach was down and out by 10:30...woke up to give me a New Years kiss and was back asleep in 10 minutes. It was hilarious..yet typical of our house! :) hahaha.

New Years Day, we headed to Buckets to enjoy the annual New Years Day celebration with my parents and all of the friends from North Central that come! My parents never went out on New Years Eve...they always let us have friends over, or let us go out and instead always went out New Years Day....and its fun to be able to partake. (even though this is my 2nd consecutive New Years being preggers!) It was fun. Dad and Zach even got to bond a lot. hahaha

And somewhere in between all of that madness we had a lot of birthday parties, Morgan came home for 3.5 weeks, lots of basketball games, and Eli getting off his wonderful schedule he was on. BOO to that...but its my fault, so whateva! I'll take the blame!

I don't know if there is anything else to write about...if so...I'llllll bbbbeeee back! :)

xoxo
Tay

WARNING:Major Venting

Disclaimer: if you take things personal easily, I probably wouldn't read this. This isn't directed to one person at all....its directed to anyone wondering about things going on. So here you go. Don't take it personal :) But it is a MUST that I get this off my chest.


So I have a something I want to talk about...vent about..let you know about...whatever, take it all as you may. I just read an amazing blog, about Tiger, and marriage (I click on links on others blogs, then on others...etc..and came across this, and it really made me think even more than usual. check it out http://twoandthensome.blogspot.com/)

Since getting pregnant with baby #2, WE have had more people as us "Soooo...When are you getting married?" OK. Here are your answers and some questions for you all wondering. #1. We will get married when we get married. #2. How is it your business how we live our lives? #3. Show me a perfect marriage that I want to model after, and maybe I'll do get married tomorrow. #4.How are 2 children any different than 1 when it comes to our relationship status. (Although yes I wanted to crap my pants when I found out we were going to be parents yet again, I was left with no choice other than to be excited. I was told I would never have kids, and to have 2?!...what a blessing.) and #5. How does a piece of paper make our love for each other any more meaningful?


I will address.
#1. We will get married when we get married. I love Zach. He loves me. And we sure don't need any piece of jewlery on our fingers to prove otherwise. (although shiny things are always nice. ha!) We have come an extrememly, EXTREMELY long way in our relationship, and I am proud of us for that. We have grown to be very two awesome people, and amazing parents (obviously this is my opinion that I'm awesome. ::smiles::). Every morning I wake up next to a man that is snoring....that loves me very, very much. He loves our son. He takes care of us. He even ocassionaly does laundry, dishes and ALWAYS vaccuums. (I can't tell you the last time I vaccuumed.) He has come to be to be such an amazing, trustworthy, hilarious, caring, awesome man. Eli loves the crap out of him. When he walks in the room Eli makes faces at him and laughs as though he hasn't seen him in days. We are happy. I am blessed. AND-->We will get married when we get married...


#2. How is it your business? I am NOT being rude, so don't take it for that. Nearly every single person (except for the kick a*& ladies I work with, AND my parents) has asked me "When are you getting married" or "do I hear wedding bells" well like I said in #1. we will when we do, and nope...i hear no wedding bells. do you? ha. right. Thats what I thought. I am trying to figure out how our business became anyone elses. We live together, we pay our mortgage, Eli has lights so he can see us, he has gas so he is warm, he has lots of yummy food and he even as this awesome thing called cable so he can watch all the annoying cartoons they have on TV these days. (Including Wonder Pets...his absolute favorite, you should watch it sometime, its awful. but he loves it...haha.) Yes money is tight, I won't lie to you about that. Sometimes we look at each other and think how in the hell are we going to do this. And yes...we have awesome people in my life that lend a hand from time to time, but still....not your business. Until I ask you to pay my bills, then....you can ask me :)

#3. Show me a perfect marriage....I love everyone in my life, obviously right? or they wouldn't be in my life. But I would have to say 90% of the people I know are either miserable in their marriages, going through a divorce or are divorced. I can say Zach and I are happy, not married, and happy. What a concept. I'm pretty sure I don't want to end up a statistic of marriage..or divorce...I'm good with where we are right now.

#4. How are 2 children any different than 1? Just answer the question adequately enough for me to get married tomorrow. Because I'm pretty sure you don't have the answer I'm looking for...because their isn't one.


#5. How does a piece of paper make our relationship or love anymore meaningful? And another question I would love to hear your answer to. I am not sure there is an answer good enough for this one either. I suppose LEGALLY it makes it "right" but I'm not God, nor are you....so please don't try to play him. We are committed to each other. We aren't waiting around for someone better...obviously. We are in love, we are happy, we are settled, we are good. I know people who have several children together who aren't married and who are happy as ever.... and sadly I cannot say that about most of the married couples I know.


When I told my parents I was pregnant, both times, not one time did either one of them look at me and say get married. Because for starts, they know me, they know Z, and they know I'm happy, and a wedding isn't going to change any of that. I saw an old teacher of mine yesterday and he asked how I was doing. I told him I was a mommy, and going to have another one by May 3rd. And I followed it with "NO, I'm not married" and he looked at me and said, "Are you happy?" I said "Yes" He said "then don't get married, until you are ready to get married." It was so comforting to hear someone who is married, happy and has 3 kids, say that to me. FINALLY someone who doesn't care to crawl into my business, someone who doesnt think 2 kids are different than 1, someone who doesn't care when we get married....and IF he did, he didn't tell me about it, and he kept it to himself.


So ANYWAYS, back to the article I just read....and copied the link to. I have had all of this on my mind for quite sometime. People...friends/family/people have asked all of these questions to both Zach and myself and if they don't say it, I know most of them are thinking it. But why.?? Don't you have kids to worry about or bills to pay?...why are you worried about me and my life? When this stuff happened with Tiger it was just one more reason to validate my opinion on marriage. Yes..I think marriage is awesome, and I can't wait to be married one day....but why today? why tomorrow? why not when we decide to? Tiger has more money than I would know what to do with. He has 2 beautiful kids, a beautiful wife, a career where he gets to play the game he loves when he wants to and makes loads and loads and loads of money doing it. He doesnt HAVE to wake up at the butt crack of dawn to go to a job he hates everyday. I bet you he doesn't come home and have to make dinner, or take care of his kids, or do laundry or even his banking....I betcha he has someone do all that for him..and it all seems perfect, doesnt it? Guess what..its not. I hate what he did, but he is human...and he gave up, and made poor choices....$55 million worth of poor choices.


At least I can say I am not giving up. The life I'm living is Gods plan for me, or I wouldn't be living it. So "You just do You and I'll do ME." :)



xoxo.
Tay

The reason we wake up :)