Eli at the Infinger Family Reunion

Eli packed up bright and early Saturday morning for his road trip to South Carolina to go to the Infinger family reunion. He's never been to a family reunion, so he wasn't quite sure what to expect, but was glad dad got roped into going (mom owes dad big).

The day started off around 6:15A or so when grandma called to say she would be in town soon. Grandma had worked the night before from 8P-5A and came straight to Jacksonville when she got off work. Eli was ready, mom and dad packed plenty of diapers so everyone loaded up in the car with mom driving, dad in the passenger seat and grandma in the back with Eli.

The usual trip to South Carolina takes maybe 4 hours or so each way, this trip, took 5.25 hours or so each way. We stopped along the way as dad needed to pee and Eli needed to nurse or have a diaper change. His first stop was near Pooler, GA at a McDonald's:

Traffic was horrible on 95! Guess it was Spring Breakers heading home, but 95 was almost bumper to bumper from just outside Savannah until mom decided to take a detour near Yemasse to get to 17A.

Next stop was Walterboro. Eli got to nurse at a Citgo there and stare at the pig billboard:
After a few more stops, we made it to St Thomas Episcopal Church, http://www.stthomasofsc.com/, in North Charleston, SC just off E Montague Avenue near Park Cirle. The azaleas and dogwoods were in full bloom!

We got there a little late, but just in time for grace before lunch. And boy what a spread! Eli had never seen so much food or deserts in his life! He was a little full though, having just nursed in the nursery. He really liked the murals that were painted on the nursery walls. A lot for one little boy to take in!

Eli got to visit with great-great aunts and uncles, his Great Uncle Danny, cousin Lisa and her children, cousins Addison and Charley, Great Aunt Jackie and Rick, Great Uncle Gene, and especially Great-great Grandpa Buster:

Great-great Aunt Nancy did a really good job organizing the reunion and having it hosted at her church.

The ride home was a little training for poor Eli. He slept for a good way initially, but after a while, grew weary of riding in his car seat and started to cry. After several stops to nurse and check for a dirty diaper (which eventually came in the Huddle House parking lot somewhere between Savannah and Brunswick), Eli finally fell alseep. Mom and dad think grandma might have been finger feeding him Mountain Dew....

After a long, weary day and the longest car trip EVER, Eli returned safe and sound to his house and went to bed around 9:45P. Grandma headed back to Interlachen. She still had to work the whole night!
He enjoyed the Infinger family reunion, but he's glad they're only once a year or so.

Eli's Second Vaccination

Eli is 13lbs, 8oz! He got his second vaccination today; it was for Hib.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterium that infects the lining of the brain, causing meningitis. Meningitis is caused by several different bacteria. However, before the Hib vaccine, Hib was by far the most common cause of meningitis.

He did really well, considering he's congested from all the pollen. Dad was there to hold him after his shot. Dad swears the only reason mom made a big deal about him coming to the appointment was so he could hold Eli for his shot. Mom firmly denies the charge.

Eli's grandparents also paid a visit this evening... grandpa wanted to make sure the Gator outfit he got for Eli wasn't lost:

Dad's coming up with a clever way of explaining the disappearance of the Gator outfit since grandpa bought size 24months.

Grandma's getting geared up for the big Infinger family reunion this Saturday in South Carolina. Dad's so excited to go, he can hardly contain himself.

Dad also wanted props on being the photographer for many of the pictures on Eli's blog. He does a great job, but he's got easy subject matter! Here are a few cute ones from Easter:



The duckie socks are courtesy of Matt and Melissa. The Easter onesie was from Lisa and Emma Hughes.

A few new Eli pictures, courtesy of Molly

Eli's Pre Easter Bash!

Eli had a little get together today. He wanted more material for his blog and figured a nice, quiet (especially since he didn't want the neighbors to complain about the noise) get together of family and friends would hit the spot.

Seen in attendance were Lisa and Emma, Julia, James, Laurie and Pat, Molly and Brynne, Grandma and Grandpa, Lisa, Andy and Belle, David and Kelly, Amy, Jason, Lola, Cooper and George and Jim.

Emma, Julia, James and Lola colored butterflies with crayons, markers and water colors. Molly showed them how to make paper flowers. The party really started when the bunny ear hats were donned by one and all.

Here are a few shots from his Easter extravaganza:

Eli's had a busy week!

Eli's had a busy week this week!

He went to Boone Park with Molly and Victoria.

He got to go to a surprise luau birthday party for Doris and Fran, courtesy of Betsy on Wednesday night. Forrest absolutely adored Eli. We're waiting on incriminating pictures from Roger.

He's got a new book courtesy of Lynda that dad and mom have been reading to him. You can tell he absolutely loves it because it's all about him! You can read the words on the page.

He got to go to the zoo with Molly, Danielle and Victoria.

He's been out in the yard with Jordan, Bonzo and Mr Jimmy quite a bit since the weather has been nice to model his 'Cuter than dog' onesie from Nina.... you decide whether its true or not.

He got to hang out with his grandma Friday afternoon while his grandpa and mom went to pick up windows for the back porch. Mom was also a little excited because she got to hold a baby raccoon. No photos though. Dad said we couldn't bring Pastrami (the raccoon) home.

He's looking forward to his spring party tomorrow....

YERT Day 235, 236: FL: Jacksonville. Timucuan Preserve and St. Johns Riverkeeper

YERT (Your Environmental Road Trip) is a year-long eco-expedition through all 50 United States.

YERT paid a visit to interview dad about concerns over water withdrawals from the St Johns River. Ben and Dan interviewed and filmed dad, Julie and mom talked baby stuff since Julie is expecting too.

Check out the link to their blog to see a picture of me in front of the river:

http://blog.yert.com/2008/02/28/day-235-236-fl-jacksonville-timucuan-preserve-and-st-johns-riverkeepers/

Eli's got a new song

He was a little tired of the 'Little Eli' song his dad wrote for him, and getting a little weary of hearing 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider' or 'You are my Sunshine' from mom, so he was happy when Fran and Betsy paid a visit this past weekend and sang 'Eli's Coming' by Three Dog Night (originally by Laura Nyro) to him.

Here are the lyrics:
Eli's comin'
Eli's comin' (Eli's a-comin')
Well you better hide your heart, your loving heart
Eli's a-comin' and the cards say... a broken heart

Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl
Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide
Girl, Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl (hide it)
You better, better hide your heart
Eli's comin', better walk

Walk but you'll never get away
No, you'll never get away from the burnin' a-heartache
I walked to Apollo by the bay
Everywhere I go though, Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she never gotaway)
Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she never got away)
Eli's a-comin' and he's comin' to git ya (she walked but... she walkedbut...)
Get down on your knees (she walked but she never got away)

Eli's comin' (hide it, hide it, hide it)
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide
Girl, Eli's a-comin', you better hide
Girl, Eli's comin', hide your heart, girl (hide it)
You better, better hide your heart
Eli's comin', better walk

Walk but you'll never get away
No, you'll never get away from the burnin' a-heartache
I walked to Apollo by the bay
Everywhere I go though, Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she'll never getaway)
Eli's a-comin' (she walked but she'll never get away)
Eli's a-comin' and he's comin' to git ya (she walked but... she walkedbut...)
Get down on your knees (she walked but she'll never get away)
Get down on your knees

No-no, no-no
Lord, I said no-no, no-no, no-no

(hide it) She can
(hide it) hide it
(hide it) You better
(hide it) Somebody
(hide it) You got t'
(hide it) Oh, my
(hide it) Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

http://www.threedognight.com/l_eli.html

Life in the Hood

You know it's hard out here for a baby....especially when there's graffitti in the hood
But it's comforting to know, that our commander in charge
Is there to fight the power



To make the hood safe for all babies

Eli's Wild and Crazy Friday Night

This was Eli's first week of mom working. The first week was hard, for mom at least. Eli on the other hand had a week full of adventures.

Eli, Molly and Victoria had lots of adventures this week. They went to the mall to shop for Victoria's glasses (and we understand she picked out some pretty stylish red ones) then had ice cream and played in the indoor playground area, went to MOSH (http://www.themosh.org/) and spent time on the hippo mat.

After a week of adventures, Eli was ready to extend the fun into Friday night, especially because it had been a dreary, rainy Friday. He and mom played for a while on his 'Tiny Love' play mat (courtesy of Michelle):


Eli loves to kick his legs and swing his arms! Jordan apparently thought Eli was hiding a treat and tried to nose under him to find it... he was a little surprised when Eli kicked him. Bonzo was on patrol to make sure nothing happened to his baby. Eli, Jordan and Bonzo... three wild and crazy guys! Notice Bonzo and Jordan's festive, matching St Patrick's Day scarfs!


As the week faded, so did Eli and mom.



Looking forward to more adventures this weekend!

Eli's Weekend

Was pretty low key... hanging around the house with mom and dad doing house and yard work (and Eli got to lie around bottomless outside... he LOVES to be an exhibitionist).

He went for Indian food Saturday night with Brian, Gayle and Harper. He liked the Channa Masala alot and wished he could have enjoyed a Mango Lassi like Harper did.

Sunday evening he joined the UrbFarmers at the House on Cherry Street for a meeting. His contribution was Collards, Golden Raisin, and Almond Saute using collards from our garden.

Sunday more housework. Mom and dad cleaned Eli's room a bit (he's still a little young for that responsibility) and then Eli and dad got to hang out in the back yard to enjoy the sunshine and birds singing. Dad swears he saw a grosbeak, but Eli thinks it might have been a house finch. Whatever it was, it sang a lot.

Here are a few pictures of Eli's weekend: