Trip to Philly

We spent our spring break in Pennsylvania hanging out and being tourists. We visited our good friends, Robert, Michelle and Gabriella, in Lewisburg, then headed to Philadelphia. We stayed at a hotel in the historic district and were able to walk everywhere we really wanted to go. After several days in Philly, we spent one night in Pittsburgh at the Matta's. Aunt Pat came to visit too. We had such a fun time. We have discovered that Eli is a pretty good traveller. He slept through the night, took lots of naps, sat nice in the car, flirted with everyone, and was pretty jolly the entire trip (except for the hour we were stuck in rush hour traffic; he screamed the whole time). Here are a few highlights.

Eli trying his first Philly Cheesesteak.


Family photo at the Liberty Bell.


Admiring Ben Franklin.


Crazy hats at Valley Forge.


At Valley Forge.

Getting Around and Other Silly Stuff

Eli has had a very busy week. Starting on Saturday, he has been crawling. He's not very effecient or graceful, but whatever works . He started by going after the phone book after much encouragement from mom and dad, but now he realizes that when he's bored he can just get up and move. Toys are no longer fun and he finds other things more interesting like the garbage, the swivel computer chair and shelf with all the cds. My job has just gotten more interesting. It's hard to capture crawling on film, so the last pictures will have to suffice.

Eli visited the doctor this week and they have gigantic mirrors. Here he is giving himself the stare down.


Oops!


Eli loves zucchini.


Checking out his new car, that he crawled to himself.


He likes to exaggerate his crawling motions. This is the gigantic arm swing.

At the Science Center

Last Saturday, we spent the morning at COSI, the science center. Eli didn't enjoy it as much as dad did, but he had a great time looking at the lights. They have a baby/toddler activity room which Eli is still a little to young for, but he enjoyed watching the kids.

Building a fort with dad.


Looking at the boy in the mirror.


Sucking on the toys at the water table.

Another Saturday, Another Tooth

Eli woke up again this morning with yet another tooth. I should have known something was going on when he was very restless last night. When will the madness end? He now has his two bottom-center teeth and I can see white slashes on the top-center. My son's gummy smile is rapidly changing. And he can really bite hard.

Long Johns

Doing Push Ups and Being a Bear

Eli has been spending the last few days doing push ups. He gets way up on his toes. He still doesn't move forward, but he is really good at going backwards.

Eli has been such a bear lately. I didn't know what was going on with him until today. He woke up and I checked his mouth for a tooth as I do every morning and voila! there was actually a white, sharp tooth protruding from his lower gums. So, Eli has met yet another milestone: His First Tooth!!!

6 Months Old!!!

For Eli's half-birthday, he got a brand-new-big boy- yellow- duck bathtub. He tried it out tonight and LOVED it. I have a feeling he'll be taking lots of baths. And I will be regretting letting him splash around like a mad-man when I have to mop up the floor after each bath.

Hiking!

Last Sunday, Eli got to go hiking in his backpack carrier for the first time. He really enjoyed the ride. In fact, he loved it so much, he fell asleep.

Eli and His Friends

Here are all of Eli's friends from one of my moms groups. We meet at least once a week for lunch, but sometimes we meet two, three or four times a week depending on how bored we are. They are a wonderful group of women and babies and I don't know what I would do without them.


Top LtoR: Gretchen, Zoe, Daniela, Allison, Annika, Charlotte, Caleb, Jackson, Jake (hiding), Amelia
Bottom LtoR: Abigail, Malcolm, Luke, Jennie, Eli, Kayla

The Johnny Jumper

Eli LOVES his Johnny Jumper. In fact, he spends at least an hour in it everyday because he loves it so much. At first, he was forced into it as I needed to take a shower and he was getting bored with his bouncy seat. Now, he jumps for joy as soon as he's placed into the little seat with a giant spring.

Not a Gorilla Anymore

Starting last Sunday, Eli has been sitting up with NO HANDS. His balance is still a little off, but he can now pick up toys and play with them while sitting. Mom loves his new skill because now we can sit across from each other and do hand games. He loves them, but not as much as I do. Here is Eli's progression.

He started off by holding a ball or block in his lap and resting his hands on the toy.


He moved into having one hand hold him up while the other hand would wave in the air.


Then, he started to put both hands behind him while he leaned forward to balance himself.


Here he is sitting up biting on his blue moon, which is currently his favorite toy. He can sit up for a few minutes now without tipping over.


Also, Eli is getting on all fours all the time now and he rocks back and forth. But, he still uses his head to help him scoot forward.

Mom Needs To Keep a Close Eye....

On Saturday, I left Eli in his room on the rug while I ran to the bathroom. When I finished, Eli was NOT in the same place that I left him. He managed to scoot off the rug, slide across the tile floor and get stuck under the changing table. Of course he didn't make any fuss, that would be too un-Sperle. Instead he just laid his head down and waited patiently. He smiled widely when I discovered him. He even waited so I could take a picture.


In his room.


Mr. Fancy Pants showing off his new diapers. Yes, they're Dr. Seuss' One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

Eli's New Moves

Eli has been quickly advancing in his movements. He moves anyway he can and can now manage to get across the living room floor one way or another even if it takes all afternoon. He's a very determined little guy.


Flying or swimming-- his new favorite move.


Getting ready to crawl-- on all fours.


Getting strong enough to do push-ups.


His way of rolling from his tummy to his back-- Standing on his toes.


Rolling from back to tummy-- getting that arm out is tricky.

5 Months Old!!!

Eli has discovered his toes. Don't you wish you could do this?

In Pittsburgh

We spent last weekend with our friends, Robert, Michelle and Gabriella, in Pittsburgh. We spent a lot time in the swimming pool and also went to the Science and Nature Museum. We also spent an evening with Dennis' cousins, The Matta's. We had a wonderful time getting to know them and they treated us like royalty. And they really think that Eli is adorable. Pittsburgh is a fun city and we hope we can get back there again soon.

Eli is so in love with Gabriella. And who wouldn't be? She's so darn cute. Plus, she shared all of her things with Eli.


Eli was really into touching everything at the Science and Nature Museum.


Eli eating the reindeer antlers.


Eli really enjoyed swimming!

Such a Big Boy

Eli playing in his step and play piano play-center. He LOVES the microphone.


Eli's gorilla sit. He's so proud of himself.

The Dancing King

Sorry there aren't any pictures to mark this big event, but while at the OSU hockey game on Tuesday night, Eli made the big screen dancing to YMCA. We're so proud. He loves the hockey games (we've gone to a couple as the stadium is a couple blocks away) . Lots of lights and lots of white and lots of white noise, he was in baby heaven.

My Little Boy is Growing Up

Eli tried rice cereal for the first time last week. He didn't enjoy it too much and still hasn't really caught on to the whole eating thing. He usually puts everything in his mouth, but doesn't even open it for the spoon. When I do get the cereal in his mouth, he just lets it sit on his tongue and looks disgusted. I sort of get a kick out of it. On the other hand, he LOVES his sippy cup.