Polka Fest 2014

This year's Polka Fest was different, but a new kind of fun with a baby. (Last year's Polka Fest post)

On Thursday night, we went to the Pre-pre-party. Polka Beat took our picture and posted it on their Flickr account.

Friday night, we went to the Pre-party to cheer on several couples who were competing in the King and Queen Contest. Eli was excited to wear his kroj.

My favorite polka partner

Our cousin, Kara, and her fiancee won the contest and were declared King and Queen of Polka Festival 2014. Marley wanted a picture with the new Queen.

On Saturday, we went to the Horseshoe tournament. Eli relaxed in his kroj while Chris threw shoes. As I said in his 7 month post, we had these krojs made for the babies so they would be comfortable throughout the day. Eli loved his.

Father and son at the Horseshoe tournament

After the Horseshoe tournament, we went to see my dad's band play for the evening. We got this great pic of the babies in their krojs. They looked so cute and comfy in them.

Mollie B played a few songs with JMO

The Lytle family at Polka Fest

Sunday morning, Eli was all ready for Polka Mass in his onesie. Brianna and I made iron-on onesies for the babies that said "Future Polka Fest King" for Eli and "Future Polka Fest Queen" for Marley.

After Mass, they wanted to crawl around and let out some energy.

My mom brought the pack 'n play and all of the ladies ooh'ed and aww'ed over Eli.

Our Polka Fest picture from 2013 and 2014

It will be interesting to see how this picture continues to change...

Eli is Seven Months Old

This little goober is 7 months old

This past month has been a great month. As you can see, he is sitting on his own and finding a way to get around by shuffling.

We went to a local winery to hear my dad's band and I got to hold both of these little chubbies.

Eli had a lot of fun rolling around on the blanket and listening to the music.

Mother's Day came during this month. I received the sweetest kiss from my little guy.

He is very comfortable in his big boy bed, the crib. He sleeps in it every night until he wakes around 4 or 5 to nurse.

Eli got use out of his Polka Fest kroj. He was such a trooper during Polka Fest. My mom brought a pack 'n play to the dance hall so the babies could relax and play a bit. They loved it!

Chris and Eli at the Horseshoe tournament during Polka Fest. My cousin, Dianna's, grandmother made Eli and Marley a kroj that is sewn onto a onesie. This was much easier and more comfortable for the babies to wear. Eli wore his the whole day.

They were so happy in their krojs.

He looks like a big boy in this picture. He's chunking up and his hair is thicker. Depending on the light, his hair will look blonde, brown, or red. But, his eyes are definitely blue. He also eats baby food in addition to his breastmilk bottles throughout the day. In the morning he gets cereal mixed with milk and fruit. He is such a good eater that we can't feed him fast enough. He gets mad at us if we do not feed him as fast as he wants.

My 7 month old boy in his big boy high chair

Eli's monthly pictures from month 1 to month 7

 

 He's growing so quick that I don't notice it until I look at these progression pictures.

Eli is Six Months Old

Eli is now half a year old! I can't believe he is 6 months old. He is such a fun and laid back guy to have around. He turned 6 months on April 29 and I have been waiting on his doctor's appointment so I could have official height and weight measurements. 

Eli is currently 17 lbs. and 26 5/8 in. 

He is just a tad under the average for both height and weight, but the doctor wasn't too concerned and said he is doing great. When he went to the doctor he was diagnosed with thrush. My intuition was correct when I noticed a few white patches in his mouth the day before and my aunt said that he cried a lot that same day, which is unlike him. He is on medication and it should be clearing up in a few days.

In the last month he has learned to sit up on his own and began to wave to us.

He also FaceTimed with his Daddy

Smiling in his bumbo seat

He went out to eat with Gammy, Poppi, and Marley

Daddy feeding him

Loving his jumping seat

He is wearing big boy pajamas

One day, he was so worn out from my aunt's house that he collapsed on my lap and took a nap 

Trying out bunny ears

Our family picture by the bluebonnets

He loved sitting in the bluebonnets

His progression picture: 1 month-6 months

Even though his eyes look brown in these pictures, they are blue.

Here is our 6 month old boy

Easter Pictures

I had pictures taken of Eli for Easter. He hadn't had professional pictures taken since his newborn shoot and I wanted to capture this growing little boy. 

I had a local photographer take them through an Easter-mini special. This was exactly what I wanted for his portraits.

I loved the scene she put together and Eli was eager to smile for the camera

We had a 15 minute session, but she got his shots in 5 minutes because he did so well.

I was holding him up in the background so she had to edit me out.

This one on the orange blanket is one of my favorites

Love that contagious smile

He's such a big boy!

Easter Sunday 2014

Easter morning came and we all get up super early to sit together at Mass. Church was packed and it was great to see so many people there rejoicing for our Lord's resurrection.

After Mass, we took family pictures.

The Lytles

Marley looked so pretty in her Easter dress

Our little family

My mom and dad

They both look great

When we got home the Easter bunny left Eli a surprise

In his Easter basket he got a book over the Easter Story and a rattle for his first rosary

My goal is for my children to receive at least one religious gift for holidays so they understand what we are really celebrating

For lunch we went to Grandma Mikula's

Eli was ready for the egg hunt

Marley hated the grass. She's not an outdoorsy kind of gal

Chris took Eli on his egg hunt in his new glasses that his Gammy got him for Easter

Shelby and Marley being silly

Eli was King of the Egg Hunt

We had so much fun

Love my little guy

We took a picture of all of the grandchildren who were present. My grandmother looks great. She was so happy to see the babies and have family around.

One last picture of my little guy and I wearing matching sunglasses. This is my new favorite picture