Wow it's been so long since I posted. Life has been busy, which is good, but it doesn't leave much room for blogging. Here are some pics and a few tidbits on what the boys are up to.
Eli is fully walking now which is much easier on my back. He is also signing and trying to say more words. He still has such a sweet spirit but also an ornery streak. Anytime I tell him "no" he laughs at me and does it more. Kyle is also teaching him how to disobey too. They know just what to do to test my patience.
He is also done with formula! He likes milk but still prefers if in a bottle in the morning and after naps.

Kyle talks so much if's fun to have conversations with him. It also means he can say "no mommy" alot more. Lol. He is really starting to have fun with his little friends and system more Eli... When he's not hitting him or knocking him down. Brotherly love. Lol

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy Elias!

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Happy valentine's day from two little heartbreakers

30 months and 10 months

Playing peek-a-boo through the dog door

Helping mommy with dishes

Fun with daddy

Getting into the cupcakes at the MOPS steering mtg.

Brothers...look at Eli standing! No steps yet though

Wow I can't believe how fast this last month has gone. I guess between the holiday's and my surgery it was over in a flash. I can't believe how close we are getting to Eli's first birthday. He is getting so big and so much more interactive with everyone. He is 21 lbs and 29" long. He wears size 12-18mo clothes and size 4 shoes.
One of the cutest things he does is grabs your face with his hands and opens his mouth all big for a kiss. I love it so much. He also says "momma" all the time now but we're still working on "Dadda". He is also screaming alot less now that he is signing which helps. I want to teach him a lot more signs than I did with Kyle but that involves training myself to use them all the time first.

Kyle is getting better with his emotions and screams alot less. He has been talking more about being mad or happy and talks alot about Eli being happy and smiling. When I tell him to be quiet because brother is sleeping he says, "brother time to get up".

Kyle is also getting better at sharing but now takes my phone and says, "mommy share"...um no. LOL

2011

I know I'm a little late on this, but with recovering from surgery I haven't had much time with out being on painkillers.

2011 is a year I have a love-hate relationship with.

It was a year joys- adding Elias to our family, Kyle turning 2, going to Maui, remodeling our kitchen
And a year of extreme difficulty- Getting Post-partum depression and anxiety, finding out I have Grave's Disease, and finally getting my thyroid removed.

But through it all I have learned and grown so much. I know now that God gives us the grace to get through anything. Even though we don't understand why we have to go through such difficult things, we can be comforted to know He will not allow us to go through anything that He has not predetermined is for our greater good. And when you have days where you don't want to get out of bed and do it again, calling on Him for His strength is the best thing to do.

This year I have learned the importance of saying "no" and learning my limits when it comes to stress and amount of activity. With that in mind I've seen the importance of spending as much time with my boys as I can and not letting the business of life push them aside. It's okay to let the laundry and cleaning go and sit on the floor and play.

So while I hope 2012 is a little less....eventful...I hope I grow just as much as a person and in my relationship with Christ.

My thyroid *CAUTION graphic picture included

It has been a long hard road for my thyroid and I. Yesterday I said goodbye to it forever.

29 Months and 9 months

Eli has two bottom teeth and working on a top one. He also has a screech like the wring wraiths...oh man it's so loud and horrible. But he is also so expressive. He just started clapping the other day...it's the cutest thing. He is also signing "more" now. Not all the time, but he definitely gets it. Which helps because he was screaming at me during dinner every night. He is also holding his own bottle which is a big help, especially in the car. He is also letting go and standing on his own for a few seconds at a time.

We took our first big road trip last month to Montana for Thanksgiving. It was about 15 hours each way and we spent one night each way. It was long. Kyle did awesome. Eli had a harder time because he isn't entertained by movies like Kyle and get's bored and wants to move around.

Double Chocolate Cookies with a Peppermint Patty Surprise Recipe - Every Day with Rachael Ray

Double Chocolate Cookies with a Peppermint Patty Surprise Recipe - Every Day with Rachael Ray

The best cookies ever.