happy 4th!

all of a sudden ...

eli is a little boy, and we can do all these fun little boy things.

We can make them seem like really special "big brother" things that he gets to do with momma and dada all by himself.

Last night we took him to Joy's at Buckeye Lake to see the fireworks.

He was up WAY past his bedtime for the first time ever!

He loved them, and didn't get scared at all.

(we live in the country. he hears fireworks and says -- "hear that?, gunshots!")

He loved all the colors (of course, my little rainbow baby)

and sitting on momma and dada's lap outside in the dark.

2 years ago Eli went to Joy's party for fireworks too...

This morning we got up and took eli to Granville's parade...

and after growing up with Mogadore parades, I was quite blown away by this parade.

It lasted almost an hour, and eli was totally into all the cars, trucks, firetrucks, tractors.

we stayed for the carnival and played a few games, rode a few rides.

2 year olds are so much fun!

It is so much fun doing all the fun holiday traditions, and watching Eli experience them for the first time.

Sam stayed home with wau-wau babysitting while we did all our fourth of july fun.

sam slept and ate and pooped...all the exciting things that 2 week olds do.

so far it has been a fluke that he slept through the night twice.

he just wanted to give us a little tease... because last night he didn't sleep so good, each hour broken up by peeing on me, peeing on himself, pooping on his onesie, or some variety of above.

this time around, knowing he is my last newborn i will ever ever have... it really doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

i used to have such anxiety about how eli will sleep.

still waiting for the anxiety to set in.

(nothing like waiting around for post partum depression. ---

i know everyone around me is watching and waiting too with fingers crossed.)

so far... i couldn't be better.

so kiss my ass PPD... stay far far away.

Here is Sam rocking his leg warmers like no other baby has rocked leg warmers before.

and Eli rocking lunch in a diaper equally as well.

.

we are doing good, our little family...

but it still is very hard to welcome a new baby into your life and have your extended family so far away.

we miss mimi alot.

something about being a new mom makes you want your mom.

she just knows how to do everything.

we also miss Gracie... since her and Eli have decided to be friends now.

it would be so fun if she was just down the street.

Eli asks about where is wau-wau and papa, and mimi and big papa, and sarah...

i know he has no concept of time, but it still makes me sad for him that all these people come and visit... and then they are gone.

The good news?

Our family of 4 is making a trip to Mogadore for the weekend for markie's graduation party.

Oh yes, it will be 100 degrees at the party, no exaggeration there... but we can't wait to see everyone!

we are taking a cake for Eli's birthday too, so we can fit in his second birthday celebration with family around.