Thoughts?

My parents are getting me this necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs for my birthday... on the front it will have Noah and Eli's names.

But I don't know what to put on the back! Suggestions?

There is a limit of 25 characters.

Toothies

Can you see them?

Dispelling the myth

This kiddo is NOT always smiling.

But he is always ridiculously cute.

Bits of my weekend - volume 9

It was a full weekend for the Lauer fam as my parents came to T-town for a visit!

Adventures with the grandparents require a little extra energy so Eli began the weekend enjoying a banana pop...

One of the many times that Eli convinced my mom to hold him up so he can stand and bounce...

My dad hadn't seen Eli since he was only a week old, so they spent some time getting reaquainted...

On Saturday, we indulged my dad's interest in archaeology and indian mounds by driving down to the Moundville Archaeological Park. Eli proudly displayed his entry sticker to the park as he cruised in his stroller...

A view of the park from the tallest mound...

Eli hanging with Dad on the top of the mound...

We took a brief stroll down a trail until we we too hot to go any farther. This butterfly decided to hitch a ride on my dad's hat...

Quick family portrait...

Eli hitched a ride on Daddy's shoulders...

The museum at the park was recently renovated. It is small, but really well done! Here are my parents under one of the totems...

Josh decided my parents needed to experience authentic Alabama barbeque, so we headed to the original Dreamland for lunch...

This location only serves ribs. The waiter came to our table and simply said, "Two slabs?"

Saturday night we met up with Josh's parents and went to dinner at DePalma's. Aren't my parents cute?

Eli got a last little bit of loving from Moma and Pop Pop before they flew home on Sunday. We miss you guys already!

That was our weekend! How was yours?

For the original "Bits of My Weekend" and to link to others... click here!

Pickle me this!

Ditto

I read something recently on the Atypical Life* that resonated with me deeply and thought I would share:

[We] are accepting the foreign reality that everything really is fine. This, for us, seemed hard to grasp as I think we sort of instinctively cowered down in expectation of another epic storm at the first sound of thunder. When all you have known is Katrina, it's quite difficult to grasp the refreshing nature of a summer shower.

Amen. I miss my 'hurricane' everyday.

*Matt & Ginny of "The Atypical Life" have an amazingly beautiful story of the 99 days they spent with their son Eliot. If you haven't read or heard about it, please visit 99 Balloons.

Bits of my weekend - volume 8

Josh headed out on the recruiting trail in Orlando this weekend so Eli and I were flying solo. I'm not going to lie and say I enjoy weekends like this... in fact, they tend to make me a little crazy. My tendency to worry about Eli's health goes into overdrive when I am home alone and there is no one here to slap me into rationality. It doesn't help when the little man decides he is going to forgo long stretches of sleep the first two nights Josh is gone... lovely.

I started the weekend with a little comfort food...

While I prepared my feast, Eli busied himself in his new "toy closet".

There were several strong storms that blew through Tuscaloosa this weekend. The cloud formations over our neighborhood were pretty impressive so Mr. E and I ventured out into the heat to check them out (although these pics don't do them justice).

It also seemed like a good time for an impromptu self-portrait!

Saturday and Sunday were spent doing all our regular mom & Eli kind of things.

Reading...

Making messes...

Taking baths...

And, of course, lots of bouncing...

There you have it! For bits of other people's weekends from around the country, go HERE!

10 reasons why I love my Daddy... by Eli

1. You make me giggle harder than anyone else.
2. You keep momma calm when she is worrying about me.
3. You make the best bottles. Maybe it's because you shake them for twice as long as momma.
4. You want to buy me a pair of Air Jordans... already. Too bad my feet are too fat for shoes right now!
5. You let me play with your iPhone. Can I have it when you get your new one?
6. You give the best head rubs.
7. You don't care when I spit up on you... three times in a row.
8. You gave me my first volleyball.
9. You took me out to play in the ocean waves.
10. You let me snuggle with you in bed and watch cartoons.