whistlin' dixie

Elijah can whistle now. It's soooo cute! More like he puckers his lips and blows then sucks air, but it makes a whistle sound and he LOVES doing it. If I can capture it on film, I'll be sure to post it.

Today is the first day of the Fall Festival here in Evansville. It's pretty much the only thing that puts our little city on the map. We see it as one of the highlights of the year... because there isn't much else (lol). For one thing we always get to spend time with family from TX because they come up every year this time. By the way, Keith and Paula made it in yesterday afternoon with Gracie. (She's 2 and 1/2 - correction from my prior post where I said she's 3.) Plus there's the insane amount of fried and or greasy food we consume. My favorite is the corn on the cob. I think I'm going to let Elijah have his first corn dog this year. Undoubtedly there will be photos to share within a few days, so stay tuned. We were planing to meet up with everyone for lunch down there today, but Elijah just went down for his nap at 10:30 and may end up sleeping until 2:00... we'll see.

Here's something cute: My mother, God love her, makes up her own sign language and teaches it to Elijah. So her made-up sign for chicken is tapping her index finger on a table so as to mimic the sound a chicken makes when pecking for food. Funny thing is, he has learned this, and does it too. When I give him chicken nuggets (yep, I'm that kind of mom I guess) he constantly taps on his tray. (He does it with his thumb though.) It cracks me up! But what amazes me is that when he wants another bite of chicken he says and signs "more" then taps on his tray, as if to say "more chicken". I think it's fascinating how quickly he learns things now. His little mind is just like a sponge.

He's also started to sign words when we're just using them in conversation. Yesterday in the car I said something about no more something, and there was Elijah, back in his seat just signing away. Gosh, I love him so stinking much!

This morning as soon as I got him up he was frantically pointing to his book shelf squealing "book! book! book!". He can see them from his crib, so he must have been standing there reaching for them before I went to pick him up. I walked him over to the shelf and he immediately picked up his favorite, a counting book with really neat pictures. We sat on the floor and started reading it and when we got to the page about "two brown hens" he tap tap tapped away and would not let me turn the page until he was done tapping that chicken.

One more quick story... I was putting Elijah's clothes away in his dresser this morning while he was playing near his toy box there in his room. Now, he always babbles and talks to his toys, so I sometimes tend to tune him out a little. But he must have really wanted me to see him because what got my attention was that sweet little voice.
"Momma, momma, momma, momma...".
"What honey?"
He holds up his pig: "Mmmmoo".
"No honey, that's a pig, not a cow. The pig says oink." [trying to contain my laughter]
Confusion setting in all over his little face: "Mmmmoo"??
Sometimes he's so funny!! :)

And now... napping baby + camera + idle hands + beautiful fall day = MORE PICTURES!
(Libby, these are for you - so you can experience a little Indiana autumn with me. :) I miss you.)

My dogwood tree.


wreath on the side door.


swing on the hill.


view from the swing.


the famous Birthday screen door!