Savannah, GA

After six days in Hilton Head, we headed to Savannah, GA with Essie, Jennifer, Sarah and Shane. The city it filled with amazing old buildings and squares, which are little parks designed by Oglethorp. We went to Aunt Jen's church where Eli kept repeating the pastor when he'd say "pray" or "Jesus" or "Amen". After church, we drove around the city and ate lunch. It was fun to watch Shane and Eli together. Shane was so patient, loved to make Eli laugh, and could tell that Eli adored him. Goodbyes were hard, and Eli kept looking for everyone in the hotel room that evening and the next day. Later we spent some time at the park, and of course visited a local ice cream shop.

Say a Little Prayer

About a month ago, Joel and I decided to start praying with Eli before meals, naps, and bedtime. We prayed with him sometimes, but there was no real routine to it. We realized he was definitely beginning to understand what being "thankful" was about. (When he says "thank you mama" it melts my heart.) Soon, he'd understand that there's a God who loves him. So, we began with prayers before "his" dinner, since we don't always eat when he does.

At breakfast on the morning of May 21st, he put his head down, eyes wide open and looking at us, and said quietly, "Thank you Jesus. Amen." It was the sweetest thing. Lately, when we forget to pray, he'll stop partway through eating and say, "Pay? Momma, pay?" "Do you want to pray Eli?" "Yeah" "Okay, let's pray."

Sometimes, he lowers his voice, babbles a bit, and then says, "Amen." Only God knows what he's saying, but I'm sure it makes Him smile.

When we were in Hilton Head, he said his first "big" prayer. The three of us sat down to dinner, and Joel led us in prayer, thanking God for our food, our vacation, the beach, the waves, etc. All three of us said "Amen." A minute later, Eli said, "Pay again? More pay?" I didn't think he would understand what I said next, but I thought it was a start.

"Eli, you can pray whenever you want. God will always listen."
"Yeah."
"Do you want to pray again?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, go ahead."
"Thank you Jesus for potty....(pause)....beach. Amen."

Eli doesn't actually use the potty (yet), but he LOVES to tear off a little toilet paper, put it in the toilet, flush it, and close the lid. The toilet at the condo was much easier to flush than ours at home, and he was thrilled. So I guess he understands a part of prayer- that we thank God for all blessings, big and small. Potties included.

First Trip to the Beach

We were tremendously blessed by an opportunity to go to Hilton Head, SC for a week over Memorial Day. We got to spend time with family, since Aunt Jen lives in Savannah, and Essie, Sarah, and Shane made the trip up from Adel, GA. It was a true vacation...a beautiful 2 bed/2 bath condo near the beach, weather in the mid 80's, seafood, naps, sand, waves, seashells, some golf for Joel, some bike rides, and lots of relaxing.

Some of our favorite highlights include Eli's first real prayer: "Thank you Jesus for potty...beach...amen." He loved to put the seashells "away" in the water. He loved the elevator to get to our room, the bikes with the "car" in the back, pushing a toy truck around on the beach, the birds, floating in his boat in the water, and watching other kids in the pool. I loved spending so much time with Joel, falling asleep hearing the waves, taking naps whenever we wanted, the king bed, the jacuzzi tub, the beach, and the ice cream.

Eskimo Kisses

Eli gives eskimo kisses.

The Four Lindseys

Our friend Diana took some pictures last week of the "four" Lindseys...

12 weeks of cravings

With Eli, I craved an occasional bean and cheese burrito from Taco Bell. Then, for a long time, it was lots of fruit. Almonds. Towards the end, it was shaved ice from the stand down the street, and eventually, it was just ice in ANY form.

I really think this baby is a girl. If so, all 2.5 inches of her are causing quite a strange, rapidly changing list of cravings. Pickles. McDonald's cheese burgers. Yogurt. Enchiladas. Grape popsicles. Skittles. Tacos. Soft serve ice cream. Do you notice anything healthy on this list? Me neither. The yogurt stands alone as the sole nutrition.

Poor little girl. I need to start feeding her better.

The Kuck

I think it started two days ago. Now it's in full swing. This little boy has fallen in love with his truck.

I bought it when he was a few months old, but he never paid much attention to it. For several weeks, he's been calling out ever truck and bus he sees, including a very exciting few days when our neighbors across the street had a new patio and sidewalk poured. Ahhh, the cement truck. Eli stood on the couch and barely left the window when that truck was there.

So the other evening, when I was getting him ready for bed, he walked over to the shelf where his toys are, pulled the red fire engine down, and said "Kuck." He carried it over to the chair where we read books, and wanted it in his lap with us. That next morning, when I went to get him up, he declared enthusiastically, "Kuck!" (instead of "fam", "mama", "daddy", "fun", "waffle", or "owside"- the favorites up to this point.) And he insisted on carrying it downstairs with him for breakfast. He pushed it across the floor on his knees, spin the tires, and carried it from room to room. That evening, the truck had to come upstairs for bed too. He's not trying to sleep with it...yet.

We love this little boy.