Trumans Fall Pictures 2014

Truman's 1st Birthday Party!

Of course, sock monkey was the theme of Truman's first birthday!  We were lucky enough to have Chris's family in town to help us celebrate which is a real treat considering they traveled from NY to KY for the occasion.  I really enjoyed making his birthday cake.  My Grandma helped me to figure out the design of the cake using her very own cake pans.  We decided it would be the easiest, and cutest to just do the hat for his smash cake!  I think they turned out great!!  Everyone loved them.  I yellow cake for the big one, and funfetti for his cake :) We kept it simple and didn't have food, just cake and homemade ice cream.  We had vanilla and banana, hard to choose between them because they are both SO good!!  We really enjoyed the day and focused on celebrating one year of baby Truman!  The kids enjoyed the weather, we had a water slide and pool set up in the back yard so it was a perfect afternoon.  I know it won't be long and we'll be planning this again next year!  

12 Months! Happy 1st Birthday Truman Jay!

 

A celebratory powdered donut for breakfast!

Age: 12 months (1 YEAR OLD!)

Birthday: July 31, 2013

Weight: No new stats. His 12 month appointment is on August 8th.   

Length: Unknown!

Sleep: Truman still sleeps like a champ!  He sleeps every night from around 7:15pm- anywhere between 6-7:15 the next morning.  He rarely wakes up during that time.  He is doing better with naps as well, if we are home, he will take a good 1- 1 1/2 hour nap in the morning and again in the afternoon.  Sometimes longer.  He will only sleep like that if he is in his crib in his room with the sound machine going.  Because I miss holding him for his naps, sometimes I try to hold him through his nap but usually end up regretting it because he will only sleep for 20 minutes or so, and wake up cranky because he will still be tired. 

My Bedtime: Truman goes to bed consistently at 7-7:15 pm every night.  We give him a bath every other night unless he has been hot or dirty that day.  It helps to not dry his skin out so much.  He really enjoys bath time!  He loves playing with his ducks and other bath toys.  After bath time, we give him a little massage with lavender lotion and on to clean diaper and pj's.  Then it's time to brush his hair, which he knows what the comb is for now and tries to brush it himself.  Adorable!  Then he has his bottle while we cuddle.  Sometimes he will be in the mood for cuddling after his bottle, but most of the time he is ready for his bed.  With the sound machine going, he knows it's time to go to sleep and he is always so happy to get in bed, that he giggles every single night when we lay him down and cover him up with his blankets!  It is seriously the sweetest thing ever.  We just started allowing him to sleep with a blanket in the last month.  He is always awake when we lay him down.  He usually rolls right over to his belly and is off to sleep.  Sometimes he will "sing" and "talk" and roll around with his blankets for a few minutes before he goes to sleep.  Either way, he is precious.  

Favorite Toy:  Since we had his 1st Birthday Party on Sunday, we are covered up with new toys!  I have yet to go through them all and unpack to determine what will go where.  He is very lucky :) He got some truly awesome toys, a tricycle, balls, books, and some outfits which will be a big help!  Chris and I got him some alphabet/ number blocks, and a little red wagon.  Chris also built him a swing set a couple of weeks ago and that boy LOVES to swing!  Some of our good friends also went together and got him a sandbox!  He still hasn't seen it!  It's been a crazy week but I'm hoping one night next week we will have them over and he can try out his new sandbox. 

Clothes Size: He wears 12 months pretty consistently right now.  We usually have to move on the the next size because of his length.  I think he will be tall!

Diaper Size: Size 4 in Pampers Swaddlers.  Also using a size 4 in the night time diapers. 

Milestones Reached: Truman can crawl SO fast!  He motors around from one room to the next and loves it when you chase him!  He isn't walking yet, but he is pulling up on everything and I don't think it will be too much longer before he's all over the place.  Chris and I bought him a walker this past month and he loves it.  It's one that he pushes and walks behind it.  It gives him just enough balance and confidence that he can fly in it!  He also has his 2 bottom teeth now!  They are soo cute!  no sign of any others yet but I'm sure they will come soon.  His 2 bottom ones came in at the same time.  He didn't seem bothered by it at all, we only knew he was teething because we could finally feel and see them! 

Firsts: I think his whole life is nothing but "firsts" right now :) We just celebrated his last first holiday!  For the 4th of July we went camping with friends to Big Bear Lake in Ohio.  It was an awesome weekend.  We made memories that will last and I'm sure we will go back.  That was Truman's first time seeing a sparkler, his first time playing in the sand, and his first time in a lake!  Chris and I also left him for the first time this month.  We went to Las Vegas together to celebrate my 30th birthday.  We were gone for 4 nights, and my sister kept him for us.  He had a great time playing with his cousins and Aunt!  I know they were so sad to see him go when we got back, but we were sure happy to see him!  We had a great time on our trip, but I was SO ready to get home and see his little face!

And of course, the biggest first is TODAY!  His first birthday :) Hard to believe it is already here, everyone tells you don't blink.  And it really is true.  I look forward to each birthday we celebrate with him, but kind of wish I could freeze time right now.  Love that baby boy and want to keep him a baby :) 

Best Mood:  Always!  Happy in the morning, during the day!  Almost all the time!  The only time he fusses is when it's getting close to bedtime and he's tired.  I can't blame him though!

Truman's first Spaghetti!

Don't the pictures just say it all!?  Truman had spaghetti for the first time and as you can see he loved it :)  I swear this kid is more and more fun every day!! 

NOLA

Life in the Big Easy was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.  Near the end of May, Chris, Truman, and I traveled to New Orleans, LA to visit his long time best friend, Bryan and his family.  Bryan and Chris go way back, Navy buddies.  I had met Bryan twice before this trip.  The first time in Las Vegas for their mutual friends wedding, and the second time for our own wedding.  To have only spend two different occasions with Bryan and Melissa, it's almost creepy how long I feel like we have all been friends.  My time with them has been short, but each time it has been so special it makes me tear up just to think about it.  Love them both very much.  Because Bryan and Melissa are both from there, NOLA has been like a second home to Chris for many years, but unfortunately he hadn't been able to visit for awhile and was long overdue on a trip there.  So off we went.  We flew there and despite my anxiety, Truman did great.  He politely declined to sleep on the way, but was as friendly as ever.  Smiling and waving to all the other passengers.  I'm always a nervous wreck every time we fly with him.  The thought of being confined in a tight space with strangers and your 10 month old is pretty intimidating.  Luckily though, we managed to keep him entertained with a couple of toys and a book.  But let's be honest, we were all happy to have our feet on the ground again!  

We spent our time there mostly visiting with Bryan and his awesome family.  Like a man after my heart, he had bourbon waiting on me :)  I met his daughter, Hanna for the first time.  That sweet girl fell in love with Truman right away and if we lived closer I have no doubt that they would grow up as cousins.  Bryans better half, Melissa would also be in trouble if we were a little closer.  I told her several times she would get sick of me because I would make it my mission to be her real life bff.  Our evenings were spent sitting around on their back patio talking and laughing.  Listening to stories of their time together in the military is always entertaining.  Chris and Melissa stuck to their choice of beers, and Bryan and I bonded over our mutual love of bourbon.  Perfection. 

We did manage to make our way to the French Quarter which I loved.  My favorites were the beautiful balconies dripping in flowers and vines.  There's so many things about the south that I adore, the lush flowers, jazz music, history, cajun food, what's not to love?  There were so many quirky little stores and places to stop along the way.  We of course walked down Bourbon Street, and I had a Hand Grenade (the most powerful drink in NOLA?)  It was pretty good and I can definitely see that the street must transform during the evening hours.  But it was pretty tame during the afternoon with baby in tow :)  My favorite thing at the French Quarter was walking through the French Market and of course stopping for coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde.  We had a picnic with our coffee and beignets in Jackson Square while listening to a live jazz band playing on the street.  Love.  Really wish I could beam myself back to that very moment.

We also went on a swamp tour which was a blast!  I seriously thought we'd be lucky to see one alligator...wrong!  We probably saw upwards of 25-35.  We were on a boat similar to a pontoon boat and I loved the scenery.  How can floating through the swamp with alligators all around seem so peaceful?  Ha ha, it is.  Promise.  Truman enjoyed it, but he seems to enjoy everything so hard to tell what he really gets excited about.

The definite highlight of the trip was a craw fish boil that Bryan had for us on Saturday.  He and his brothers clearly know what they are doing when it comes to this.  No laughing matter.  Serious business.  150# of craw fish plus potatoes, corn, garlic, lemons, sausage, and french bread.  Watching this whole process was so interesting and a blast!!  I told Chris numerous times, that now I feel so sorry for anyone that is visiting NOLA and not friends with Bryan!  Ha ha, but really.  Just being a tourist and visiting all the places you think you are supposed to see will never get you this true Louisiana experience.  I was a little nervous about eating the crawfish, sucking the head, ect.  But that fear was nothing that a couple of Bud Lights couldn't fix ;)  The truly went all out.  There were probably 50 people there throughout the day.  And they were all like one giant family.  Friendly, talkative, funny, and welcoming.  It was hard for me to even keep tabs on Truman's whereabouts because someone was always whisking him away.  We finished the night with a spiked watermelon.  Just writing this makes me miss it and them so much.  It was the first time in my life that I have ever cried on the way to the airport because I didn't want it to end.

  

Bryan, Melissa, and Hanna, the Elie's love you so much.  Thank you for one of the best trips of my life.  And we will do it again soon.    

Baby Truman Went Camping

Chris and I have always loved camping.  Our version of camping was a tent, air mattress, lanterns, picnic table, canopy...you get the idea.  I'm sure one of the reasons I'm so fond of camping, is that Chris proposed to me at Cave Run Lake on one of our many trips.  I have nothing but happy memories of each trip we've taken.  Fast forward.  Now we are +1.  Not that that means camping "tent style" wouldn't be possible, but it would be a few more years before we could go, and it would be difficult at best.  In the heat of the summer, wrangling a baby all while fighting with bees, gravel, and other elements does not sound like my idea of a good time.  So...we are now glamping!  

Ha ha, in case you aren't familiar 

GLAMPING= 

"IF the Eco-friendly idea of falling asleep under the stars and roasting marshmallows around a campfire appeals to you, but the reality of pitching a tent and sleeping on bumpy ground does not, glamping, the new term being used for upscale, or glamorous amping, could be your ideal green vacation."

Yes please!  Sign me up!  So, we recently bought an RV.  We purchased it and took it out the same day.  Yes, we are insane.  So off the Elie's went on Truman's first camping trip, which just happened to coincide with Mother's Day Weekend.  

IT.  WAS.  AWESOME.  

Thankfully, we had the company of 2 of our good friends who are veterans when it comes to RVing.  They showed us the ropes and helped out in a pinch when things went wrong.  Truman seemed to love it!  What's not to love though?  Relaxing outside, taking walks in the stroller, eating great food (he may have had part of a glazed donut and some toast and jelly), getting inside when you are ready for bed, fun bath time, the list goes on and on.  See for yourself.  I am so beyond happy to make memories for years as a family and going to new places.  This is really important to me as a "farm girl".  I grew up outdoors, and with Truman growing up in the "city" I want him to have opportunities to run and play, ride his bike, fish, and do all things boy.  

  

Kentucky Derby Weekend

There is not much that makes me happier than the first weekend in May.  It is a sure sign that the long cold winter is over and we finally have warm months ahead.  Flowers are blooming, the breeze is blowing, and Kentucky is a wonderful place to be.  For the last several years, we have gone to the Kentucky Derby with my sister and her family.  It has become a tradition that I look forward to more and more each year.  In the past, we have always gone to the paddock and had a great time there!  People watching, talking with friends, watching the horses make their way into the track, and sipping on cold juleps makes any day brighter!!  This year, for the first time, we purchased seats.  It was a great time and I'm sure we will do that many times in the future!!  We also went to the Kentucky Oaks for the first time, which is the day before the derby.  It's basically the derby for fillies!  We loved every bit of it.  Already counting the days until the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby!

Kentucky Oaks Day

Kentucky Derby Day