Also, just so everyone knows, Eli was recently hospitalized for bronchiolitis. We are home now, and he is doing much better. I will post the details on his new blog later.

Too bad wordpress is requiring the purchase of a space upgrade in order to continue posting pictures any bigger than these. I will be switching sites very soon.

Eli’s last doctor’s appointment was on the 22nd.  He had his 6-month shot and an RSV shot.  He tolerated them very well, other than the needles themselves.  No fever or other side effects.  He weighed 14-lbs even; up one pound.

There are a ton of pictures I wanted to share, so here is a link to the photobucket album: Christmas 2008

On the 21st, when Eli went for his second synagis shot (which he did not enjoy any more than the first), he weighed 13 pounds even.  That’s a 2-pound gain in one month.  Dr. Ekanem said he would actually like for him to slow down to a gain of 1-1.5 pounds per month.  I honestly don’t see how I can do much about that.  I feed him when he’s hungry and I don’t feel like I am over-feeding him.  I honestly think that he’ll slow down naturally as he’s getting older.  Seth was a big boy until he started walking, so it may be that he’s following in Daddy’s footsteps.

Eli has been talking and smiling so much lately!  He’s been laughing some, too, but some days he just won’t do it no matter how hard we try to make him.  He babbles and coos and he’s getting louder and more vocal every day.  He’ll actually have a little conversation with you.  It’s adorable!

He rolled over from tummy to back FOUR times yesterday!  So far he’s only done it for me.  He wouldn’t do it for Daddy, Aunt Mic and Aunt Bri, or Grandma, but I don’t think it will be long.  I was so proud of him!  He’s been doing a great job holding up his head during tummy time also, but he doesn’t enjoy it for very long.

Things are starting to get better with me working.  Eli is adapting much better to eating from a bottle while I am away.  I stil don’t like to be gone, but I am getting used to the idea.

Last week, I took Eli to get Christmas pictures taken at JCPenney.  They turned out really nice, and we bought cards to send out. Next week we are going to get family pictures taken when Eli will be turning 6 months (6 months! Can you believe it?!).  Here are a few from last week:

When he received this onesie, he was a mere 4 lbs and had just got out of his isolette and into the crib.  I didn’t think he would ever fit into it!  He’s come a long, long way.

We are making some strides with tummy time.  He still won’t push himself clear up with his arms, though.

This is his Thanksgiving outfit.  He is usually a very happy baby and is starting to laugh out loud, but most of the time he will only do it for Pappy. 

Here he is on the floor at our new place with his fingers in his mouth as usual.  He’s always done this when he’s hungry, but lately he does it almost constantly.  He’s also been drooling a ton.  I think he’s in the early stages of teething. 

Eli would like to give a shout out to his big cousin Corrinna.  He would also like Josh to know that he was not named after Eli Manning, and he is a Patriots fan!

Seth, Eli and I have just moved into our very own place.  It is a recently renovated mobile home right up the road from Seth’s parents’ house.  It’s so nice to be on our own and the place is perfect for us.  I have everything unpacked, however I can’t seem to find my camera, so I don’t have any recent pictures.  I promise I’ll find it soon.

Also, I started working part-time (seasonal help) as a cashier at Wal-mart.  I like the job and having the extra money, but it’s really difficult to be away from Eli for so long.  I know he’s in good hands, with Daddy or Grammy, but it’s a huge adjustment.

By the way, RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus.  It is highly contagious and common.  For most babies, it’s like a cold, but since it’s a respiratory virus, is dangerous to Eli.  Here is some unofficial information. 

In other news, my Mom fixed Eli’s Halloween costume, and it now fits his stubby arms and legs.  He looks adorable in it!  Trick-or-treat here is Thursday, and I might take him to a few of our neighbor’s houses if it’s not too cold.  I haven’t decided yet.  My Mom also helped me make a new wrap to hold Eli.  We got the fabric at Walmart for $1/yard, so the whole thing cost about $6!  Similar wraps (called Moby wraps) go for $30-40 if bought online, and the fabric isn’t even as cute!  I love it, and he does too!  I’ll include a picture, even though it’s blurry.

Overall, it was a really great day, even though I didn’t get any Christmas shopping done.  Thanks to the suggestion of a mother on a parenting forum that I visit, Seth and I have decided on some guidelines for Christmas presents.  From now on, for Eli and any future children we may have, our kids will receive 4 presents from us, plus a stocking and one gift from Santa.  The 4 gifts will include “something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.” The only thing we’re sure of is that Eli’s read gift this year will be The Night Before Christmas. I want to find a really nice hard-cover edition.