Madeline and Eli's Excellent Outdoor Adventures

Last week was park week. Madeline, Eli and I went to Homewood Park 5 times (including two separate visits on Friday). You just can't beat this weather! As a result, M&E have gotten a little blonder and a little tanner. Madeline also has taken off. She's sitting above because she's eating her lunch. Right after that though, she was off and running. May I point out that Madeline has now been walking for over a month and Eli still is a crawler? However, he did take 4 steps this weekend. Come on, butter bean, up and at 'em!


Brandon and I took M&E to Toys 'R Us on Saturday and Madeline got her first baby doll and stroller. (Eli got a brachiosaurus.) Both M&E have taken tumbles trying to push the stroller because they think it's sturdier than it really is.



Yesterday, we took a trip out to Johnny and Susan's farm. M&E met the ducks and geese - lots of "Duck! Duck!" (At least that's what it sounded like so I'm sticking to it.) Johnny caught some fish for them too, but M&E weren't sure about the slimy feel of them. We had a great visit and a delicious meal with the B'ham Wards - a great way to wrap up the weekend!

Weekend Update

So, our weekend started out great. Friday was another gorgeous fall day, so Madeline, Eli and I picked up some lunch and went out to Homewood Park for a picnic. It was so nice to spend some time outside, and such a beautiful day spent with my children really reminded me of how blessed I am to be able to be a stay-at-home mom! Our friends Kelley and Carter met us there to play, and the Priers and the Neelys showed up too. Madeline had a great time walking around and playing with all the big kids. There was lots of "Dah!" "Dah!" (Ball! Ball!). Sweet Eli wanted to be in on the action too but was stuck on the ground unfortunately. I really think he's starting to realize there might be something to this walking thing.

Saturday was a different story. After a sleepless night, I woke up feeling pretty bad. A couple of hours later I realized why - I had M&E's stomach bug. I really thought I was in the clear since it had been several days since they were sick and I was symptomless but I was mistaken. Brandon really stepped up to the plate though. It was Daddy Day in the Rooks household as I stayed in bed for most of the day. M&E got to go to Dick's sporting goods store to shop for arrows and later even got a special trip to the grocery store for cookies from the bakery and a pack of balloons for entertainment. Here's Madeline having fun with one of them...

On Sunday, we pretty much stuck around the house since I was still pretty weak from the day before. However, we did venture out to Target for a little outing. M&E wrapped up the weekend by watching Daddy mow the grass. As you can see, it was quite enthralling...

These Shoes Are Made For Walkin'

Madeline is officially a walker now. She hardly ever crawls anymore, which means time for shoes! Mama Kaye bought her the cutest little polka dot tennis shoes and I've been very impressed with how well Little Miss has been walking in them. (The photo is a bit blurry because it's an action shot.)


Eli also has a cute pair of shoes compliments of Mama Kaye. He's not quite walking yet, but he is standing up on his own with nothing to pull up on, and when he does it, he is VERY proud of himself. It's really cute. He'll stand up on command and beams with pride while doing it. I've tried to get him to walk to me, but he does more of a lunge than a step. We're working on it though and I think it's becoming painfully obvious to him now that his sister walks and he doesn't. Not long now!

Highchair Races Are Fun

We're sick. :(

We knew this day would come... Madeline and Eli have their first throw-up bug. It started with Eli at 2:00 Monday morning. Madeline followed up at noon on Monday. M&E got two baths yesterday. However, I could still smell vomit last night and then I realized it was me since I had been covered in it all day long. M&E are the only two people in the world who I don't mind throwing up on me. Poor little ones... I think the hardest part was withholding food from them. Little Madeline was just pitiful last night but I stood my ground and sent her to bed with an empty tummy.

Today started off rough (as you can see above), but has gotten a bit better. M&E have successfully held down several cups of juice, a few handfuls of cheerios and two pieces of dry toast. Yippee! Also, today is an absolutely gorgeous day in Alabama. It's in the mid 70's, breezy and sunny. What a blessing it is to be able to open all the windows and air out our house after yesterday! M&E and I spent some time outside and I think everyone felt better after that. Also, we went to run some errands, which included a drive through Chick-fil-a for some lunch for me. The sweet lady at the drive through gave M&E each a stuffed cow when I told her they were sick. Yet another reason to love Chick-fil-a.

Barber Shop Babe

Eli got his first haircut today. His hair was getting rather long and while I thought his little "wings" were cute, it was really time to let them go, so a trip to Mr. Clay's Barber Shop was ordered up. Eli was an angel. Mr. Clay has one of those singing fish on a plaque and every time it stopped singing Eli would point to it and say "Uh Uh Uh", which is Eli language for "The fish stopped singing. Please press the button again." The fish would then go on singing and Eli would return his attention to the bubble gum flavored lollipop Mr. Clay had given him. Before the haircut was begun, the question was asked of me, would I like to keep a hair sample? Um, no. That's right up there with saving baby teeth to me. Yuck.

Madeline sat next to us in the stroller during Eli's cut. She also got a bubble gum flavored lollipop, but unfortunately it posed just an abbreviated distraction from the fact that Eli was getting to sit on my lap and she was not. She was not happy about this "favoritism" and let us know. Sorry Miss Madeline, no haircut for you today. We're working on that ponytail!

Before:

After:

Life is Good

... and the future is so bright, we have to wear our sunglasses at night.