too curious for his own good

Elijah is so inquisitive. He watches EVERYTHING and absorbs as much as he can. This week he learned how to drink out of a straw. He got a juice box at Chick Fil A and loved it!!!

It's amazing how fast they grow and figure things out. Yesterday I was picking up his room and knew he was pulling things out of the drawers but figured I would get to that after and there was no sense in me picking up every blanket and putting it back because he would just pull it out again. :) So I went about my business...when I turned around to check on him he had figured out how to pull the bottom drawer out, stand on it and was working on the next so that he could climb his dresser. REALLY??? Isn't he too young for that.

Drew & Stacy Holley

Well this weekend Bryan and I had the honor of being part of Drew Holley and Stacy Kavorous' wedding. Drew and Stacy came to us almost 3 years ago and joined our college Bible study back when we lived in our apartment. Shortly after that, Drew moved in with us and lived with us for just over a year.

Over the years we have become very close to them and have come to love them dearly. They are now getting married this weekend and we get to be part of it with them. We have enjoyed watching them grow together as a couple and together in Christ. We are excited to see how God will continue to use them.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We love you guys!

so big so fast

Well just in the past few weeks both Eli and his cousin Carolyn are growing so fast. Carolyn is now walking. She is 5 weeks younger than Elijah.

I know Eli is not far behind her...he is trying so hard.

The other day Elijah was playing with some toys...it seems the only toys he wants now are BOY toys. He loves trucks and blocks. I try to give him his other baby toys but he is not so interested. It's funny too, when he is playing with the cars and trucks he seems to understand that they make a "vroom" sound...for him it's more like a spitting brrmmm. It is really neat to watch him develop so much and do so many neat things.

I still have yet to learn the whole video uploading but Eli also sings along with his teddy bear. I will need to get that posted, it is too cute!

Mr and Mrs Michael Grayson Barton

Over Memorial weekend we went to Navarre Beach for Michael and Karah's wedding...CONGRATULATIONS you two!!! We are so happy for you! We love you guys!!

The wedding was beautiful. It was on the beach in the early evening, there was a cool breeze and a gorgeous background. We had a wonderful time.

Bryan also had the honor of doing the ceremony. He did such a wonderful job. It was so beautiful watching Bryan marry Michael and Karah. What a precious moment for all of them.

It was also Eli's first time to the beach, he was not too sure what to think of the sand...but he had fun!

Mother's Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

This was my first Mother's Day as a M-O-M. It was so wonderful. My best friend Rebecca asked if she could come and "babysit" Eli the other night, so I let her...Bryan and I went out. Well her baby-sitting was really a surprise gift making party for me. Eli made me my first mommy's day present. I just LOVED it...and cried.

Also for Mother's day, Bryan and I closed on our first house!! Yes, we are moving. We are very excited. We kept praying for something that would still provide a place to still do ministry in our home and that could hold all our students. God provided!!!

The house is wonderful! There is plenty of room for us to grow into it and still have room for our ministry. We will be sending out an email with our new address.

Up, Up and Away

Eli turned 10 months old on May 7th. Boy is he everywhere. He is now climbing the stairs as fast as he can. He keeps me busy as he moves from couch to couch and then up the stairs.

It is hard to believe how fast he is growing. His personality is really developing and he is always so happy.

Tooth fairy get ready...

Tooth number 2 has entered right next to the first one on the bottom in the middle. :) He has been really good during all this. It is exciting to see his little teeth coming through.

No longer toothless!

Eli has his first TOOTH! It is the bottom, front tooth. Just after I posted the blog from earlier this week about all our updates the next night felt a little tooth. I was wondering if he would ever get teeth and here they come. I hate to see our grocery bill now... he ate everything without teeth, now that he is getting them, he may eat even more.

I would post a picture but can't keep his mouth open long enough for you to see... just trust me, it's there. HA!

3 months till the day....

... that we had Elijah! Boy, does time fly. My sister in law is so much better than me at updating these kinds of things. I can't seem to find the time to sit down and type. There is so much that has happened in the life of the Barton's since Eli was 4 months old (the last time I updated, ha). I will try to recap the past several months from Christmas to lots of friends having BEAUTIFUL babies and my sister in law, Carolyn, getting married on New Years Eve...what a fun wedding it was; Nana Barton graduated college, Daddy (Bryan) got ordained and Elijah is doing so many new things. (I still have not learned how to update videos on here so by the time I get it figured out they will be a bit old but cute none the less.

Eli is now 9 months old and the thoughts that he is about to be 1 VERY SOON blows my mind. He has been such a sweet boy. He is just starting to figure out sleeping longer in the night. Keep in mind I did not say he is sleeping THROUGH THE NIGHT, but he will get up a lot less now then before. He is such a busy body and constantly observing and staying active.
During this year so many of our friends have had babies and some even on their second and third children. It is so great to know that some of our very dear friends have kids around the same age as Eli. It will be great to watch them all play together as they grow up.

Some of Eli's accomplishments over the past several months have been eating and eating more, babbling so much (not sure where that comes from...), sitting up on his own, rolling over, waving (but not sure if it is a combination of 'hi', 'bye', 'come here mom' and 'more of those gold fish please'), and he is crawling!!! That is our newest accomplishment as of a week ago....oh and did I mention he eats a lot...this poor child. If you did not know me you would think that I starved him. He has NO teeth yet but eating up a storm. He gummed up 5 chicken nuggets the other day. He eats everything we eat along with his milk and baby food. It is amazing to watch him put away his food.

Here are some recent pictures over the past several months in no particular order...enjoy!

The Newlyweds... Carolyn and Matt Tripp

Bryan and Mike Linch _Bryan's Ordination

Nana & Papa Barton - Nana's graduation