22 Months

Elijah,

I feel like in the past month you’ve really gone from being my baby to my little boy. It seems like you grow an inch a day. You are learning so much, so fast.

Up until now, you’ve only had one speed: Running. This month, you’ve started jumping. Both feet off of the ground. You love to hop everywhere. You love to jump off the bottom step in the family room (Which is ok, until you decide to move up to the second step...).

It has become more and more apparent that you are nearing your second birthday. I am not sure who decided to call it the Terrible Twos, because they should really be called the Terrible-almost-twos-threes-and-fours. I know that part of the problem is that you’re still struggling to tell us what you want, and when we don’t know, you get frustrated. Seeing you frustrated makes me frustrated. Some day, daddy’s going to come home to both of us throwing a fit on the floor. That’ll be a sight. (Don't worry... I haven't tried to take a picture of you throwing a fit. Yet.)

Mama Jo and Papa Po came to visit this month, and they came bearing books. You spent the majority of your time sitting next to Mama Jo on the couch, reading, reading, reading. They also brought along one of your Christmas gifts - a tunnel with two tents! I wasn’t sure how you’d react to it, but you’ve had so much fun playing in, out and around it.

Your vocabulary keeps growing every week. We’ve been working with some flash cards to learn letters and words. Your favorite card is “L” - Lemon. It’s so cute to hear you say lemon - and to watch you lick the card and pretend that you are tasting a lemon. Afterward, you pucker up and laugh. I love it.

You’ve become obsessed with Airplanes. We could be playing, reading, eating, swimming, anything, but you stop everything when you hear a plane. You love to run to the window and point outside. “Plane!!” you say. You love them so much, that when we have a hard time getting you to eat your veggies, we just pretend to fly them into your mouth. You even put stuff on your fork and fly it around and into your own mouth. That is pretty much the cutest thing ever.

Each month, your personality comes out a little more. You are the sweetest, funniest, craziest kid I know. I love watching you grow from being my baby to being my little boy.

Love,
Mommy

Update. Sort Of.

Just a quick note to let you all know that we're in the new house, and it's wonderful. I have many photos to share, as well as Eli's 18 month letter to publish. But, well, moving wears me out. I'm so tired that I am having problems keeping my eyes open as I type this.

So, I promise to have more tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. But it will be soon. Until then, enjoy this little video of Eli while we were out for a walk yesterday morning.

Two Weeks.

Two weeks from this moment we'll be homeless. Two weeks from this moment - If all goes as planned (we think?) - we should be doing the walk through of the new house. Of course, things don't always go as planned, so we have everything lined up in case we aren't able to close on the new house that day. But, oh, how I hope we do...

We went in again yesterday morning and walked around. They've got all the drywall up. It looks like it's ready to prime and paint. The ceilings were done. Still wet, but they looked good. The siding is up. Just waiting on the brick. It's possible that it could happen. As long as all of the cabinets, appliances, and fixtures were ordered in time.

Here's a little slide show for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully we'll see more changes later this week...

Happy Halloween!

It just amazes me that these pictures were taken exactly a year apart.



What a difference a year makes!

Here is a short slide show of Eli's first experience Trick-or-Treating. We visited our friends Erin and Al to show off Eli's Yoda costume.



We hope you all had a wonderful Halloween, and that you had more trick-or-treaters than we had - I'm so glad we only bought two small bags of candy...

6 months...

Eli,

Today you turn 6 months old. It just doesn't seem possible that it's been half of a year since you entered our lives! You even share your half-birthday with your Papa Po and your Aunt Sunny!



You are now able to roll wherever you want to go, and have started to scoot backwards a little bit. Changing your diapers has become a challenge now, because you are constantly trying to roll over to your belly. I've figured out that if I give you a toy to play with while you are on the changing table, I gain a few seconds of you lying still...



You've been sleeping MUCH better lately, waking only 1-2 times on most nights. Sure, you still have nights here and there that are a little rough, but nothing like they were a little over a month ago.



We celebrated your first St. Patty's Day with friends this year. We didn't get to stay out too late, because we were afraid to mess up your sleep schedule - but you were a huge hit with the ladies! (Of course you were, just look at that face!)



Last week, we thought you were teething, because you were absolutely miserable. I've never felt so sad for you, because it's been a long time since you've wanted to sleep in our arms! Still no teeth, but I am so glad that you are back to your happy self...



A few days ago, you had another play date with your friends Thomas and Ella, but of course, Mommy forgot her camera. They're both crawling now, and it seemed like they were running laps around you! Soon enough, little man, you'll be on the run with them.



Happy 6 months, buster. We love you bunches!



Love,
Mommy

Happy St. Patty's Day!

He's a Heartbreaker...

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone!!

Darn Tootin'

Two Months

Eli:

I can't believe how big you are getting, and how strong you have grown. You are steadily gaining weight; last week you were up to 12 lbs 12 ounces! That's 3 pounds more than when you were born! You're already holding your head up really well. I suspect you'll be walking soon (haha).



You've had a very exciting month. You met your Grandma Baker, and your Aunt Sunny. They both fell in love with you immediately (of course).





You experienced your first Thanksgiving. This is mommy's favorite holiday, because it revolves around food and family. OOoh, Buddy, the food was most delicious. I am so excited for next year, when you'll be able to eat some of it too! Yummy! We hosted Thanksgiving this year, where you got to meet your Papa Po, Aunt Andra and cousins Sean and Kasey.







You've started smiling, and cooing. Now we're waiting for that little smile to give way to a laugh. There is nothing more sweet than your smile looking up at mommy or daddy. That totally makes our day, little man.

We are looking forward to the month ahead; your first road trip home, meeting the rest of your family. It's going to be so much fun...

Love,
mommy

You have no idea how many pictures I had to take...

...to get one of him smiling. I've been working on it all afternoon. This particular picture is one of a series we just took while he was on the changing table. David and I were doing everything we could think of to get him to smile. I am sure it was a heck of a site, and Eli must think we're crazy. He just did this to get us to shut up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you had a good one... We sure did :D

Another Video of Eli...

Taken this afternoon, during play time. I especially love the little half sneeze right at the end...

Tummy Time!

Here's Eli's first peaceful tummy time... Usually he wails the entire time he's on his tummy time mat. Not last night.

This was towards the end of the 10 minutes. He was starting to fuss a little bit.

Eli: 1 Month

Oh wow. What a month. When they tell you that having a kid changes everything, you think you understand. I thought I did. I had NO clue.


But, little Eli, you've changed things for the better. Even though right now mommy and daddy are stuck at home, and mommy can't eat all of her favorite foods (lest you get fussy or gassy because of the garlic or spicy chili that daddy made), we are very happy.


You are so precious when you sleep - your facial expressions are priceless. Your little hands and feet are so cute I could just gobble them up. And those cheeks?? forget about it!




We've been staying up late at night, trying to figure out how to console you. It seems like just about the time daddy gets home from work, you decide to get fussy. I am sure it's gas causing the fussiness, or sometimes hunger (oh, man, can you eat). It's hard for me to deal with the crying, because I feel responsible for the gas - was it something I ate?? Did I not get that one last burp out during your lunchtime feeding? What about that diaper rash? I am sure it's gotta hurt...


Tuesday, Daddy and I took you with us to vote. You slept the whole time. But, at least we can tell you a few years down the line that you were there on that historic day. You were a part of the change to come.


It's hard to believe it's been a month - some days it feels like just yesterday I was in that hospital bed, others it seems like you've been with us much longer. I am so anxious to see you meet all of the milestones ahead of us - the first smile, crawling, walking and talking. I better just love you up and soak it all in while I have the chance.



Love,
mommy

Happy Halloween!

Weeks 7-41

It seems forever ago that I was pregnant. It's only been 11 days.

Things are going well here. Still learning, but I guess we'll be learning about each other for the rest of our lives, huh?

Right now, my two guys are on the couch watching the K-State game. Eli is zonked out on Dave's belly. It's pretty darn cute.

Eli - 1 week

We got to venture out of the house today, and everyone commented on how adorable Eli is... Like we didn't already know.

We're home now...

I am sure you understand the lack of posts this week. We've been busy, having a baby and all...



Elijah David
Born Oct. 7, 2008
11:31 pm
9 lbs 12 oz
21 inches long

40 Weeks

Here we are - the big day. We had a dr's appointment this afternoon, and he's still as snug in there as ever. We have another appointment next Monday, unless he decides to make his grand entrance sooner - other wise we'll be induced Tuesday evening.

Needless to say, I am very disappointed. But, he'll come out when he's ready, right? Maybe he needs a little nudge:

39 Weeks

I honestly didn't think I'd make it this far. But, here I am. Bigger than ever. I am very tired of being pregnant. But, what I am more tired of is the "You're still here?" and the "You haven't had that baby yet?" coming from my coworkers. Every Day. No Fail. It makes me dread going in to work even more than I already do at this point. I just want to close the door and hide.

The little guy seems content where he is - and he's still as active as ever. I am constantly feeling his little feet in my right side... It's like he's walking in my belly. I don't know where he thinks he's going - but if it helps him come out sooner, I am all about it.

We bought him a birthday present:



These were some of my favorite books when I was growing up. I'm starting his collection with Mr. Birthday, and we'll write his name and birthday inside so he'll have a little keepsake forever.

We are ready whenever you are, little guy. We're so anxious to meet you!!