After Easter we traveled to Memphis to meet up with some NC friends. My good friend Randah was nice enough to let us have their extra hotel room for 2 nights. We were right across from the Peabody which was super cool! When Caleb looked out the window at all the buildings downtown, he said, "Look at all these castles!" We had a great time catching up with the Ferrells, eating good food and visiting the Memphis zoo. We even made is into Mississippi, so Jeremy and I are quite proud of ourselves for covering 3 states (KY, TN, MS) in 4 days with 2 small children in tow. Caleb and Eli both did fairly well traveling, although Eli was back to nursing during the night and Caleb had a couple of pee pee accidents. One of his accidents happened to be on Jeremy and when Carolee saw Jeremy's wet pants she said, "Jeremy needs a pull up!" Ha Ha! Both kids also had major meltdowns our last night. We were eating at Dale's in Mississippi and Eli grabbed a fork and then proceeded to scream bloody murder when I took it away from him. Caleb also had a meltdown after my hundredth time telling him to stop something or another (or was mommy having the meltdown?). In both instances I had to take each child outside for some one on one time. I know they were both just overtired and overstimulated- and probably hungry too, but you can't excuse bad behavior because of that! I think they were both glad to be back home in their own beds the next day after our long Easter weekend trip!

Caleb and Eli were both fast friends with Carolee.

Loving the Memphis zoo!

The pandas were amazing!

Caleb, Carolee and Charles Thomas

Randah and her pink "flamingo" hair! I love this girl!

What a way to take in the zoo!

Caleb became best buds with a pig at the restaurant waiting lobby! This was about 30 minutes before the meltdown!

Easter 2010

We had a wonderful Easter spent at my sister's house in KY. There was wonderful playground fun, an awesome bowling-birthday party, lots of delicious food and of course just fun with the family!

Eli hamming it up with a doll in the nursery.

Glendale has a lovely playground and downtown area. We enjoyed a fun game of tag, which I hadn't played in years!

Caleb loved spending time with his cousins. I think he thinks Clark and Ethan are super-heroes.

Of course the Easter Egg Hunt was a hit! Too bad we had to trade out Caleb's chocolate candy for life-savers! He did find a "prize egg" which awarded him a $5 gift card to Chick-fil-A (he loves their fruit cups!). Thanks to Abby for helping him during the hunt!

Grandparents with their youngest grandsons.

Trouble

"Yes Mommy, I took the wipes out of the container...

And it was FUN!"

Eli

Because the wearing of the first John Deere shirt is always picture worthy- nothing runs like a Deere!

Being fed by big brother...this was so cute. Caleb is such a great big brother and did such a good job feeding Eli. It was pretty funny to see him open his mouth wide when Eli should bite down on the spoon. Caleb is really sweet when trying to calm Eli down too. If I have to run out of the room Caleb will say to Eli in a very sweet voice, "Mommy will be back, it will be okay." or "You're alright." He did this without me prompting him to and when I first heard it my heart melted a bit.

Eli's growl face. He makes this face in more pictures than I can count.

Other things Eli is up to these days at 10 months old:

• Said mama for the first time- repeatedly while we were on our Easter trip in Memphis, but has not said it again since we have been home.

• Loves to crawl behind our bed where our alarm clock and lamp are plugged in. We block the opening with pillows and he has tried very hard to crawl over the pillows.

• Pulls up to standing on almost anything.

• Loves chasing after his big brother on all fours and will laugh if his brother is laughing.

• Enjoys eating real food- including crackers, bananas, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes.

• Still enjoys frequent nursing.

• Had rather be held by someone than ride in his stroller.

• Experienced the first real "melt down" of his life when we were at a restaurant late one evening with friends and I took a metal fork away from him. He arched his head and body back and had a fit in my arms. He acted like that for a few minutes and I finally had to take him outside to calm him down. As Rosemond would say, the little criminal has reared his true self!

• Loves playing with toys and getting things out of containers.

• Loves playing with pots and pans.

• Overall, an incredibly lovable and fun baby!
  

Mom's Birthday

For the second year in a row we celebrated Mom's birthday at Cock of the Walk. We had a great time- only Luke and the Hinkson clan were missing.

Caleb and Rad really love each other!

So do Jeremy and Seth! Or was it the food they were loving?

Eli is always so great when we go out- he just loves to watch what is going on around him. Hard to believe when we did this last year he was still growing inside me!

Mom always enjoys holding one of her grandchildren, but especially when they are little and it is her birthday celebration! Happy Birthday Mom! You are a blessed woman and we have all been blessed by your love and the attention you have bestowed on us! May God continue to bless you!