A gazillion pictures

Cowen manages to find a shovel where ere he goes.

This is Miriam playing on Grandpa's fort during a snowstorm. She and Cowen had so much fun. Unfortunately, I didn't bring any boots for them. The first day their feet froze. Then Grandma dug up some boots from her basement (she's like Mr. Dress-Up in lots of ways) and the rest of the time things were a little warmer for them.

Isn't he beautiful? I could just stare at him for hours. I still don't like to feed him--but I love to look at him. He's a beautiful baby.

This is a cuter picture for those of us who watched Emeline put the doll carefully next to Eli. That's the stripey blanket Mom made for Eli. I love it.

Miriam reading to Eli. Her way of showing her love. I'm glad she picked a good non-fiction--can't start too early stretching his brain. :)

That's the blanket Megan made for Eli. How does she manage to find the time to work, take care of five kids, and make me and Brooke baby blankets?? I LOVE it.

That's what the back of the blanket looks like. Could she have found a print more perfect??? I think no.

That's the blanket, bib, and burp cloth. She's amazing.

Plotting already.

All four of them.

Couldn't resist including this picture--he's just so darn beautiful. Look at that mouth!

The kids playing in my backyard during a snowstorm. Emeline stayed out a long time--it was the first time this year she's managed to keep her gloves on. I think she's finally figured out that snow is cold and not to be touched with bare hands.

We take preliteracy very seriously. :) (Miriam read him the book and then set it on him in case he wanted to look at it himself.)

Miriam and Dad today as they headed out the door for the Nutcracker. I hope it goes well. They're both a little overtired.

Eli after his bath today. I've had this outfit since I was pregnant with Emeline and have been waiting for a boy to wear it. I LOVE it. Also, notice that the socks are staying on his feet. I've never found newborn socks that stayed on, but my friend Julia sent me some in a cute package (Miriam loves the bag and notebook, by-the-way, and the tub toys were a HUGE hit), and they stay on. It's practically a Christmas miracle.

See the cowboy. Such a cute outfit. Such a cute baby.

He thinks I don't feed him enough. Ha. I call him Vacuum Boy. (Think super hero.) I also call him Snufflyufagus because his nose has so many boogers.

Do you think Eli is going to have a complex because none of us can remember his name? He gets called Brigham, Talmage (very often), Cowen, and even Gideon, but very rarely do any of us remember that his name is Eli.

I'll leave you with this little story about my strange progenitor. I asked my dad to pick up a booger-snatcher at the store for me so I could try and clear out Eli's nose as the boy was having trouble nursing because he couldn't eat and breathe at the same time. So my dad goes into the store and asks the two people--a man and a woman--at the information counter where he could find, "That thing you use to try and suck a baby's brains out through his nose." The woman responded with a horrified, "What??!!" The man said, "They're right over here--follow me," and led Dad right to them.