New Years Eve

Hi baby -
Some photos to show you from our New Years Eve celebration at the bowling alley with the Beatys & Lucas'.  You bowled for the first time.  I think we got 4 balls/2 frames down before you started crying and were tired of bowling  :)

Yay!  New Years.  You had your new shirt on and your New Years hat on.

 Your first bowling experience!

Your remaining pins - you got 5 knocked down.

Me & my baby boy!

Our family!  A lot different than last year when we were in the hospital.

Your new jacket that you got from Cindy Boris for Christmas.  You loved the glow light rings.  You were whipping them everywhere.

I love this photo of you manhandling daddy!  He said you were head butting him.

I can't tell if you are going to kiss him or bite him.  Either way, he looks SCARED!

Birthday Photos

Hi Elijah!

My puter is back home so I could share your birthday photos with you!  As I type this, you are going to visit Auntie Val one last time before she heads home.  Yesterday, you hung out with Gramma Debi D for quite a few hours.  I think you had a great time  :)  Tonight, we are heading to the bowling alley to do our New Years Eve celebration with the Lucas Family & the Beaty Family.

You playing with your hat before the infamous "snap" of the elastic & watching the animals on stage.

YUMMY Dinner!  You ate almost 2 pieces of pizza!

Sheer terror on the bug "ride" - it just tilted back and forth.  Daddy recognized that face - as one of mommy's  :)

More terror as you got to close to the Chuck E Cheese animals!

Looks like your ultrasound photos, huh?  You were saying to me "I had enough of this photo stuff.  I gave you a year of hamming it up - now leave me alone!"

The very first picture of you every taken - look at that little dirty monkey!

You at exactly 1 year old at 9:33 PM.  Look a little different than your very first photo huh?

1 YEAR OLD!

Hi Baby!


Can I still call you that now that you are 1 year old? I think that I can call you that until I am 95 and you are 60 because no matter your age, you are always going to be your Mommy’s baby! Your weekend extravaganza came to a close – no more parties, no more presents, no more rooms of people to adore you – just our normal routine! I have lots of photos from your birthday but mommy’s computer is broke so I won’t be able to add them for awhile. But, there were some keepers in that bunch :)

Monday
Back to Mary’s and she was so excited to get you. After the cake implosion, she was so sure you would be on a sugar high and have tummy problems. You were a little crabby but that was because of your darn teeth! #7 is on its way buddy. I stood up to go get you and I was very sick. I am on medicine to help with the baby and it sometimes catches me off guard. Thankfully, Grampa Keith was home and he lives so close so he grabbed you. We are very lucky that Grampa Keith & Heather are so accommodating to help us at the last minute. Daddy picked you up and we played for a few minutes before it was nappy time. In all of my pregnancies, there is a food that I eat a lot then I don’t really want it anymore after the baby comes. One time, it was Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican food. Another, it was Egg rolls and crab Rangoon. It seems like this time, it is Kentucky Fried Chicken. YUMMY! The good news is that you like it too so we had it for dinner. We went to the buffet and you were kind of bummed that there weren’t too many people in there to flirt with. Fortunately for you, you made eye contact with a lady clear across the restaurant and she was happy to flirt with you for awhile. You are such a ham!

Tuesday
It was the big day today buddy! Your birthday was here! 1 year ago today, your daddy and I were blessed with the most unexpected miracle – Elijah!

We rushed in to your room this morning and made a big fuss about your birthday. We listened to your birthday bear sing happy birthday to you. Then, it was time to go to Mary’s. You had your birthday party with your friends then Grampa Keith picked you up. Daddy got you and we were so excited to take you to Chuck E Cheese for your birthday. Being that you are so little, there aren’t many places you can go that would be “fun” to you. We thought Chuck E Cheese would be great – pizza, a ball pit and those mechanical stuffed animals. When we walked in, you were loving all the kids and the activity. Your eyes were just wide with everything going on around you. We sat in the room where the “entertainers” are and you watched them. You got pretty excited and it was so fun to watch you.

Daddy put your birthday hat on so we could take a picture and that may have been the beginning of the end of our good times. You pulled the elastic string as far as it would go away from your face then you let go. I saw it in slow motion right before it happened and tried to get Daddy to stop it but we were too late. It snapped, you screamed and you had a huge red line down the side of your face. We were sure that Mary would call Child Protective Services on us.

You did great eating a ton of pizza and you liked watching the animals. But, you could not get too close because that scared you. We tried putting you on a little car ride and you screamed when it started moving. Your daddy rolled his eyes, looked at me and said “Yep, he is definitely your son.” All in all, it was a good time for you but I think your favorite was when we stopped for dessert and you were able to flirt with the two workers. You like smaller environments where people can focus their attention on you!

We came home and daddy put together your birthday present from us – a little people’s zoo. You played with that and your new car spinner. At 9:33, I took a photo of you – your official 1 year photo. I have noticed that you don’t love the camera as much as you used to. I think it is because you are too busy with too many things to do. After that, bed time for you! Your birthday was over!

Well, Elijah, we made it one year and we pretty much wrote down everything that you did for one whole year. At this point, we need to renegotiate the terms of your blog. I still look forward to talking to you & sharing what you are up to but it isn’t going to be a recap of every single day - maybe once a week or as exciting things happen. Now that you are going to be a big brother, you will need to learn to share mommy & daddy with your little sibling – we will have to give them some attention on their pregnancy blog like you received.

Thank you baby for the best year ever! We can’t believe it is gone already and we treasure all of our memories and all of your firsts. We love you so much and we are so blessed to have you in our family, squidward!

December 24 - December 26

Hi buddy!
Big post, big 3 days, lots of photos for you!  I am writing this on Monday morning after all the hoopla is over and you are going to be 1 tomorrow.  My baby is going to be 1!  Just in time to turn 1, I noticed that you have ANOTHER tooth.  Poor guy - you just keep getting tortured.

This photo is from 12/23.  You were playing with my camera and I took this one of you.  Just a great close up and a snapshot in time of my baby at almost 1 year - little milk drool to boot  :)

Friday

It is Christmas Eve!  It kicks off our 3 day holiday & birthday extravaganza.  We had lunch with Auntie Val, Grampa, Great Gramma, Auntie Kim and Uncle Jeff.  You hammed it up while you ate lots of mexican food.  Auntie Kim was so happy to see you and love you up.  Uncle Jeff was trying to teach you naughty tricks - blowing your lips so you would spit on everyone!  Afterwards, we ran errands and went to Great Gramma Faiman's.  You were better with her - you let her hold you and you crawled around her basement.  You even showed daddy your new stair climbing skills - you went up her stairs 3 times!  Then, nappy time before the celebrations begin!!

We went over Gramma Ruth's for dinner - you pigged out on Aunt Laura's ziti.  Then, presents.  You got some great new things but you weren't really into the wrapping and got tired quickly.

Yummy!  The messier, the better!

Look how cute I am in my red overalls!

Daddy, I am done - I don't care if it is the coolest Styx shirt ever.  Let me roam free!

After Gramma Ruth's we stopped over Great Gramma Lang's for a little bit.  Most of the family hangs out there on Christmas Eve.  We didn't stay too long because we were TIRED!  You did a great job on just 2 little naps!

Saturday - Christmas Day
It was the big holiday - your first Christmas!!  You woke up and we opened our presents together.

It started out promising - you looked excited to open your gift from Daddy.

 Sponge Bob video!  YAY!

Then, it was time to open your gift from mommy!  See your cool shirt that tells everyone your big news?  You are going to be a big brother!!

A Christmas book that mommy recorded for you.  YAY!

OK Daddy, I am done.  I don't care what I bought for you!

We went over to Great Gramma Lang's for Christmas.  First thing, we showed everyone your new shirt. Auntie Val screamed, Gramma was so excited, Auntie Kim teared up and Grampa Keith was so excited to be a Grampa again!  You rocked the shirt but, in hindsight, I should have gotten the one that said "This little monkey is going to be a big brother."  We had breakfast then you took a nappy!  When you woke up, you were exposed to your first session of Lang Christmas paparazzi.

 You didn't care much about presents there either!  You played, napped, ate and hung out with the family for the rest of the day.  You did cause quite a stir towards the end of the night.  We had you sitting on the kitchen table and you started throwing a fit with plastic bottles.  There were 2 empty ones on the table and you were lobbing them all over the place.  Even Great Gramma was DUCKING!  It was all in good fun and you enjoyed yourself.  Gramma and Auntie Kim enjoyed your faces and noises.

We stopped over Gramma Debi D's so you could see her for a few minutes.  You were tired but you warmed up pretty quick.  Then, we were home and in BED!

Sunday - Birthday Party!
BIG DAY BUDDY!  You had your first birthday party.  You were up wide eyed and in a good mood at 7:30.  We went to breakfast and ran errands.  You took a nappy and mommy went to decorate for your party.  I have to confess that I was a little emotional while I was hanging up all of your decorations.  It was just a weird feeling to know that I was having a party for my baby who is now a big boy.  While we have had a lot of milestones this year, this was a biggie!  Afterwards, I told your daddy that it is weird but it was one of the strongest times that I felt us as a family unit - Elijah, mommy and daddy having a party.

You did so good at the party.  It was overwhelming for you because there were so many people and so much activity but I was so proud of you.  So many people came to love you up!  Your Grampa and Heather did so much work for you & they were so proud to be able to help out.  They did all of the set up and provided all of the food.  You are lucky to be so blessed by so many people who love you!

All your Mickey Mouse decorations.

Your own personal cake

Your Godparents - Auntie Becky & Brian

This looks screams to me "I will get even with you some day mommy."

You ended up modeling the hat as if to say "I'm too Sexy for this hat..." 

Yay, fire!  I can reach out and touch it!

I can really just dig in?  Seriously?  I won't get in trouble?

This is too good to be true - they are even helping me smush my hands into it.

YUMMY!

I have never been this messy before but it tastes GOOD.

I am done.  Clean me up now please.

Thank goodness Grampa has this big bath tub for me - in the kitchen.  I like this as much as I liked my cake.

All clean!  Thanks for taking my pictures Uncle Zachary!

We didn't open your presents at the party because you just won't stay still. You roamed around and visited with everyone.  You got tired at the end so we brought you home and you took a nappy.  We loaded all of your Christmas presents and birthday presents upstairs in the living room.  We wanted to get everything written down.  When you woke up, you were surrounded by the biggest mess ever - loads of paper, toys, cards, clothes and everything in between.  You know what you played with the most?  A container of tic tacs that were in our stockings from Uncle Tyler and Uncle Zachary.  Hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of toys and you go for the $.59 tic tacs!

You were so hungry that you ate more than we have ever seen.  You had 2 hot dogs, 2 cups of mandarin oranges, a piece of toast and 1.5 bottles.  I think it is because you didn't eat much on Christmas Day or at your party.  You played with daddy & your new toy from Gramma Ruth - the cars seem to be the favorite right now.  Then, you and I played for a bit and it was time for bed.

I know you will never remember anything about this big weekend, buddy.  But, I hope that when you are older, you will see the photos of everyone who came out to love you up.  I told everyone thank you at the party - those who babysit you, those who find the perfect toy or outfit for you and those who just think of you and say a prayer for your well being.  I think that you can feel all of that love and those prayers because you are so darn happy all of the time.  We couldn't ask for a better baby and we both love you so much!

December 20 - December 23

Hi Elijah!
Your last week as a baby.  Next week, you are a one-year old and all of your "first holidays" will be over.  How exciting that you are growing up and how sad that it goes so quick.  Did I tell you that your 4th tooth is FINALLY coming in?  Man, those two uppers took forever.  We have noticed you drooling a ton and I couldn't figure out why.  We were playing and I glanced at your mouth - your 5th is coming in too!  Your bottom left is coming in and we didn't even see it.

Monday
You were busted at daycare - you bit Mary on the arm.  Uh-oh.  Add that to the list of things we need to work on in the New Year.  We are settling into a new routine where you come home from Mary's, play a bit, drink a bottle and take a nap.  It works well for me.  We had to run errands tonight - go to Sam's to get your party supplies.  You were ornery at dinner but you were good at Sam's.  You just get tired of sitting in the cart all of the time.  You didn't want to go to bed so you fussed up a storm.  You fussed up so much that you got yourself sick. So, you bought yourself an extra 90 minutes of awake time while we gave you a bath & changed your bedding.  After that, you were out like a light for the whole night.

Tuesday
Grampa had to get some repairs done so you were stuck with your mommy!  We played for awhile then it was nappy time.  I left to go out to dinner with friends and Daddy let you sleep 2 full hours.  That silly duck!  When I got home, you were in your bed fussing because you weren't ready for bed yet.  I got you out and we played for a bit before you were officially tired.  You were smiling up a storm when I brought you out because you thought it was a victory  :)  Tonight is when I noticed your 5th tooth.

Wednesday
You were so not ready to get up today buddy!  Just like your mommy - crabby pants.  But, once you were in Daddy's arms to go to Mary's you were a happy camper.  Mary wrote on my facebook that your 6th tooth is poking through.  Poor guy - you have 2 not fully in and 2 on their way in.  Nothing like getting them all at once.  Grampa picked you up and you hung out at his house for a bit.  We had KFC for dinner and you shoveled in the chicken so fast and for so long that I was shocked.  Apparently, you likey the chicken!  Afterwards, Daddy set up your bouncy house that you received as your first Christmas gift from the Beatys.  At first, you cried.  Then, you decided that it was your duty to throw out every single ball.  Finally, you started enjoying it - crawling in and out.  We ran to Target then you were out like a light!

Thursday
Daddy said you were so funny this morning.  He turned on the hallway light to wake you up.  Then, he turned on the lamp in your room.  You buried your head in the mattress then you put your butt up in the air to bury it in the mattress even more.  Finally, you were so annoyed that you put the blanket over your head so you could get some more sleep.  You are so your mommy's son buddy.  You may look like your dad but your behavior today is ALL MOMMY.

It was your daycare Christmas party today buddy!  You got lots of presents and a new outfit from Mary. I picked you up early so you could go see The Cvilikai family before they went to spend time with their dad.  You hung out with Auntie Val, Great Gramma and Grampa while I ran to get your cupcakes for your party.  We had dinner, you played and then it was time for bed.  We were really lame tonight buddy but we have to rest up for Christmas weekend!!  Tomorrow, we see almost your entire family!  Let the party begin!