3 MONTHS!

Happy Birthday Little boy!
You are 3 months old today baby. Your mom and dad have winged it and you still made it to 3 whole months. We also made it 3 whole months - 13 weeks - of doing as much breast milk as we could. I can't believe you have been with us three months already. Before I know it, you will be 3 years old!

Your mom has been slacking on your blog. Not a ton to tell you but I will get you caught up with some photos & news.

Wednesday - your mom and dad were SICK. Some sort of tummy bug. We think you got a touch of it too because you were out of sorts and having lots of poo! Daddy picked you up from daycare two days in a row. We did a video chat with your Auntie Val and you just stared at the screen not knowing what to think. I think you recognized her and knew she was your auntie but you weren't used to her not holding you! You ended up falling asleep during the chat.

Thursday - still not feeling the best! We took you on your first walk today. I put you in your sling and we walked to the bar. Yep, you got it buddy, your first walk was to the neighborhood tavern to get some tacos. You did great in your sling.

Friday - when your dad went bowling, I told him "Elijah and I are going to spend a lot of your money today." Well, buddy, we sure did that! We went to the Mart and got mommy a new camera. I put you in your sling again and we walked around. Then, I took you to bowling. We were hoping your dad would bowl a 300 but that didn't happen :) It was so darn precious - you fell asleep in your sling just laying against me.


Saturday - it was your day with your daddy! You hung out in the morning and then you went to visit Auntie Mary Ann and some of your daddy's cousins. You are always such a good baby but daddy reported that you were a fussy baby during this visit. You had your blood curdling cry :) Afterwards, we went to Sams and Target. We walked around Target in your sling - your head was hanging out and you were sticking your tongue out at everyone. It was pretty darn cute.


We spent quite a bit of time talking about your toes. Apparently, the one body part that your dad (and your friend Debbie) can agree on that you have from me is your big toe. Your dad went on to say that I have "jimmy toe" - I am always moving it. You were doing the exact same thing!! I had to get some shots of this infamous toe that you inherited!



Sunday - it was your day with your mommy! We took a walk to Grampa Keith's but he was in the shower. Then, we went over to see Jessie and baby Logan. You were tired so you had a couple of fusses but I put you in your sling and you fell asleep again! Afterwards, we went to the pool. It had been about a month since we went to the pool so you were due to go again. We stayed in the water about 20 minutes this time! You screamed at first but then you realized it was just like the bath. Daddy took you to Gramma Ruth's house and you were a fussy baby again. I told him it was just because you don't like to be places without your mommy :) When he brought you home, it was bath time to get that chlorine off you. Daddy gave you your bath and he finally realized that bath time is the best time to hang out with you - you are always so happy and fun.

As I write this, you are laying on the bed playing with your daddy. You grasped and held a little music box. It made me want to cry - you are getting so big. 3 months ago, you couldn't even see toys. Now, you smile at them, laugh, reach for them and hold them. You make us both so happy and we love you so much. Can't wait to see what the next three months brings us!

March 22 - March 23

Hi Elijah!
I haven't called you monkey in awhile. Mostly now, it is pumpkin. Not very manly, is it? :) That is ok, I won't call you that in front of your friends to embarrass you or in front of your girlfriends - I am sure I will have much worse things to embarrass you with :)

Monday -
I got you ready this morning and you were a stinker. I don't mean stinker like Great Gramma might mean stinker - ornery. I mean stinker like "yuck, you smell dude." When I got you out of your crib, I knew it wasn't good. I don't think I have had a diaper that bad - it was everywhere. But, we got it cleaned up and it made you happy! You were outside when I picked you up. Two days now you were able to play outside. It is starting to warm up and at your daycare, you will be outdoors a LOT when the weather is nice. You were a bit fussy when I picked you up - maybe you didn't know what to do with all that fresh air. :) It was kind of a weird night - you just didn't really fall into your normal pattern. But, you were mostly happy and went to bed at 10:30 so we were happy. It was bath night and bath nights are my favorites. Sometimes, we get so busy that I plum forget to do baths. As usual, you were happy Lijah just cooing away at me and smiling when I would sing to you "Lijah has a stinky butt."

Tuesday -
I got you ready again this morning and I had the joy of changing you 3 times in like 30 minutes. First time was when you woke up then you had a wet diaper then you left me another stinky one. Man, two days in a row I help your dad with morning duty and two days in a row you are rotten to your mom :) Daddy picked you up from daycare. I think this is the first time he has picked you up! When he got home, he dropped a big bomb on me. You had your first chuckle over at Mary's. She wasn't supposed to tell us when you had your firsts - we didn't want to know. We wanted all of your firsts to happen on nights and weekends. When I told you that you were grounded until you chuckled, you smiled at me. When I told you that your college fund was going to buy me a new laptop until you chuckled, you smiled at me. You are a stinker and this time, I mean it like Great Gramma Lang - an ornery stinker :)

I was talking up a storm to you trying to encourage you to say "Mommy" or "Mama". I kept saying it over and over and over. You would just smile at me. When I stopped, you let out a big "Maaaa". I am smart enough to know that this was a big coincidence but just hearing that "M" syllable and thinking that pretty soon you will be saying "mama" made my heart just swell up. It was the most amazing feeling. I can't wait until you say it for real!

We had dinner with our Lang family tonight - Cory, Lauren (and by default, Baby Jake), Brandi, Jeff, Jeremy and Auntie Sheila. You hammed it up as you were passed all around. A lady at the table behind us asked to hold you too. You did a great job even when it was past your bedtime. I bet you realized that your days of hogging all of the attention are almost over! Better lap it up now because pretty soon, your bff Baby Jake will be popping out demanding his fair share :)

Overall, you were such a happy baby and interactive baby today that you just made me the happiest mommy ever. I am typing this thinking "I should play hookie tomorrow and just spend it with Elijah." But, we will save that hookie day for when it is warmer and we can go do something fun and take lots of pictures!

Sorry that your pictures are so lame today Baby Boy! Mommy is starting to forget to take them so I rush to take them when I am getting you ready for bed. You love talking to me on your changing table but when I grab the camera, then I just get bug eyes :) I will also share another couple of your portraits from this weekend because your cousin Lauren asked so nicely :)




This one is super cute on the hard copies because it is zoomed in so we just see you & fur!


The photographer liked this one because he said that you were looking so intent at me that it was so special. Did I mention he was a good salesman? We didn't buy this one but it came on your disk!

March 18 - March 21

Hi baby!
Mom is really slacking these last few weeks huh? We have been really busy this week with something going on every night. Gramma Debbie picked you up from daycare on Thursday and you had dinner with Great Gramma Dorothy & Aunt Sue. On Friday, you visited Great Gramma Lang while I worked then Gramma Debi D for a hot date on Friday night. On Saturday, we took you to get your photos taken then you hung out with the Beatys for awhile. Today, Grampa Keith & Heather needed to get their Elijah fix.

In between all those visits, we loved you up! We were looking at your photos from Saturday and I think we both were pretty shocked to look at these photos and realize that you are our son. We waited so long for you and we have had you for such a short amount of time that we are still in shock that you are here :) But, I can't imagine anything else that would make us light up the way you do.

On the food front, we made it one more week with you getting 50% formula/50% breast milk. I am pumping a lot less but still enough that you are getting quite a few bottles of breast milk. I am so excited that we made it 12 weeks! I know our time is getting really limited but hitting 12 weeks was a big deal for me - even though I gave up every week since 5 :)

Thursday - Gramma Debbie's picture

Friday - You cuddled up in your favorite spot - in daddy's arm on the love sac

Saturday - one of your photos from portrait innovations

Sunday - photo from Grampa Keith's house by Heather

March 15 - 17

Hi Elijah,
Again, not a ton to tell you. Same old stuff - you are handsome, you are funny, you are sleeping well :)

Monday, you hung out with Great Gramma & Auntie Val while your dad and I went to buy you a new bouncy chair. We saw Levi playing in his and I found one on Craigslist so we went and bought it for you.


On Tuesday, you skipped going to Mary's and hung out more with Great Gramma and Auntie Val. I think they wore you out more than daycare - you slept from 3:00 until 8:00 the next morning with about 2 hour breaks in there for food and diaper changes.

On Wednesday, you got all dressed up in your Irish and St. Patrick's day attire. Kylie Shark picked you up from Mary's and you hung out with her and Tucker for awhile. I know this is a repeat for you but you are so lucky to have so many people want to hang out with you! Afterwards, we went to Gramma Debbie's and celebrated St. Patrick's Day. When we got home, it was bath time and bed time! Busy, Busy, Busy!

March 12-14

Hi Baby!
Nothing too much to share with you for this weekend. On Friday, we just hung out while dad bowled. On Saturday, we went shopping for a bit (3 new outfits for Elijah) and out to dinner. Today, we went to the zoo. You were good walking around in your backpack but I am not sure that you were totally excited in what you saw :) Uncle Zach went with us to see if he could get any good photos.

You are sleeping so good now. You are really starting to sleep through the night and you like to sleep on the weekends. Saturday night, you went to sleep at 10:30, woke up at 7 (well, 6 because of the time change), ate then slept until 11 again. I think you are so busy at daycare during the week, you don't want to sleep during the day so you have to catch up on the weekend.

We are really starting to wind down on the breast milk. I am really cutting back on the pumping and it was so nice to sleep so long. We made it 11 weeks giving you breast milk. This was 6 weeks after I "quit" because it was so uncomfortable. I think 11 weeks is a long time but still have mommy guilt that it isn't long enough for you. I hope that these 11 weeks gave you a bit of a leg up in keeping you healthy and maybe even some smarts :) I wish we could have gone longer, produced more and actually done more breast feeding rather than pumping but I can feel good that I gave it a good effort.

Anyway baby Elijah, here's looking forward to a good week 12 :)

Friday - Bug Eyes much?

Saturday -

Sunday - Family fun time at the Zoo. Photo by Uncle Zach.

March 9 - 11

Hi Elijah!
Your mom has been slacking. No updates on your blog. There is really not a ton to tell lately. You come home from daycare, play a little, sleep a little, eat a little, get fussy and go to bed for the night. Couple of things to note over the last couple of days:
1) Gramma Debbie picked you up from daycare and you hung out with her for awhile. First time someone besides me has picked you up.
2) You slept through the whole night on Monday night and Thursday night. The WHOLE NIGHT. Did you understand the magnitude? Like 8 hours straight of sleep. I am not reaping the full benefit of that because I still have to pump in the middle of the night but it is exciting. The first night, I don't think your dad and I slept well because we were anticipating you getting up :)
3) You have a new habit now. You have decided that your whole hand tastes delicious. You suck on it, eat it and smack away really loudly. It is kind of convenient at night - you put yourself back to sleep. But, during the day and evening, I think you do it extra loud to say "Hey - people - I need some FOOD!"
4) I think you are a morning person. You seem to be most chipper when you wake up in the morning. This means that i miss it - your dad does morning duty. He changes you, talks to you and lets you be nekked for a few minutes. Apparently, you like being nekked in the morning.
5) You were spoiled rotten again yesterday. Not only did you get to see Great Gramma Lang and Grampa Keith, Auntie Val was in town and she loved you up. I even made sure you were wearing your "My Auntie Loves Me" shirt :)

Well kiddo, that is about it. We don't have any plans for this weekend. I think we are going to take you to the zoo since you liked Uncle Steve's tank so much. Even though it is still chilly out, we can all go admire the aquarium and jungle.

Tuesday - Funny face trying to get that hand in your mouth!

Wednesday - this is how I see you most of the time now. Since you are going to bed so early, most of our time is spent feeding you and watching you go to sleep.

Thursday - getting loving from Auntie Val

March 6 -8

Hi Baby!
Man, we have had a busy few days, huh? Mom is behind on her blog and you are behind on your sleep. You hit the sack closer to 9 than 10 tonight. I don't know if it is just you catching up from the weekend or if you are about to start hitting the crib earlier.

Saturday - March 6
You watched me and your dad clean for awhile. Once we get started, you can't stop us or we are done for another 2 weeks :) We made a ton of progress on the basement and mom got all caught up on dishes/bottles. Afterwards, we drove to Lincoln so you could hang out with Auntie Becky & Uncle Steve. When we decided to ask Becky to be your God mother, we knew that you would need to spend lots of time with her. After you made a big mess, you were in a good mood to flirt with them and hang out. They did a tour of the house and you loved Uncle Steve's fish tanks. Unfortunately for you, there are no fish tanks in our house and there won't be in the future. You took a nap and then it was time to go. Daddy had a hot date for work and we went to see Kim, Hannah and Jessica. Busy day!

Sunday - March 7
It was a big day for you (or maybe it was for your mom- I can't decide). it was the first time you left the house and drove away in someone else's car. Your Grampa Keith and Heather came to pick you up to introduce you to all of their friends. Your dad and I were running errands and we ended up following you from the house to the interstate then I had to wave good bye to you. I was kind of melancholy to see you go away. Afterwards, we went to see your friend Levi. He was only awake for part of our visit but he was so darn cute! He is getting so big. We can't wait until you are as active as he is.

Monday - March 8
Not much to tell for today. You have slept really good 2 days in a row. No bad report card at daycare today. Overall, boring day :)

Help me!

To my friends and family,
I heard mommy say that my friends and family read my blog so I decided to hijack it today and put out a plea for help. I have been saving up my rants and raves for a long time and today was the straw that broke the camels back. I need an intervention for my mom and dad. Let me tell you why:

1) I have been here for like 10 weeks and I don't even know my own name. Can you tell these people to call me just one thing? I mean, am I E? Eli? Elijah? Lijah? Pumpkin? Monkey? Silly duck? Geez. Pick a name and stick to it.

2) I was not put on this earth to be kissed every 3 seconds. My precious skin is rubbing raw on my face from all these kisses. Once an hour people, once an hour. And, I don't want morning breath kisses any more than big people do. Brush your teeth or chew a mint first.

3) I was not put on this earth to smile at these people all the time. My mommy raises her voice to this super high pitch and keeps saying "Give mommy a smile. Be a big boy. Come on." Then, I give her one and she wants more, more, more.

4) My eyes are still developing - they cannot take any more flashes. Everyday she is waving that camera in my face. Then, I go to visit other people (whew - a welcome relief from these silly parents) and then they take my picture too. I need a break from the paparazzi. Oh, and as a side note, who in their right mind thinks it is polite to strip me down in a public restaurant and put me on a leopard coat to take my picture? A pizza joint for heavens sake - they had me completely nekked at a pizza joint. See the insanity?

5) I like my head turned to the right darn it. We went to that stinking lady with the needles and since then, my mom and dad keep trying to turn my head to the left. I don't like it.

6) Despite what you are told, I am not (I repeat am not) fussy. I am digestionally challenged. If these people could figure out what kind of food to give me and when, I would not be fussy. If they would change my diaper within 10 seconds of me dirtying it, I would not be fussy. If they would be at my beck and call and entertain me when I demand it, I would not be fussy.

7) Finally, I want some white diapers. Most kids get Elmo on theirs. I get all these funky colors and, the straw that broke the camel's back, now they are putting me in stinking diapers shaped like animals. Ducks for heavens sake - DUCKS. Why can't I just have pampers like all my other friends at daycare? Why do I have to be in those soft, fuzzy, fleece colored diapers? OK, maybe I like those soft, fuzzy, fleece diapers and the warm fleece wipes on my bottom but ducks people? ducks?

Thanks to those of you out there that will listen to my demands and create an intervention with my parents. Once I can talk, i will take care of business on my own but for now, I need some help.

Smooches (but remember - one per hour),
Elijah

March 4 - 5

Hi Elijah!
Not a ton to tell you about. You did go on a couple of visits on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, I went to the gym and you went to see your Uncles. On Friday, I had a meeting from 4-5 so you went to see Great Gramma Lang. The good thing about taking you to see your Uncle is that we get lots of good photos :)


Today, I had you in a cute little outfit that Auntie Val bought you. It says "Mommy's Silly Monkey" on it. You got sick on it so I had to change you out of it. I don't know if you are going to be able to wear it again because it was kind of snug but we are going to have to try so I can get a photo :)

March 1 - 3

Hi buddy!
After a relaxing weekend, we have had a rough few days, huh? I am sure that it is going to work itself all out soon.

Monday -
You still didn't sleep enough for Mary! After daycare, you went to Gramma Debbie's for a bit while I went to the gym and your dad had a meeting. You hadn't seen her in awhile so I am sure she held you the whole time and spoiled you rotten. Your dad and I have been whispering to you to save your poo diapers for daycare and other people. That worked today! You poo'd 3 times at daycare and 1 time for Gramma Debbie. When you got home, it was serious fussy time. I don't mean the little whimpers that your dad and I laugh at. I mean the real fussy where you are in pain and I feel bad for you. Your tummy was in a lot of pain. You would fall asleep then you would cry in pain. I just wanted you to feel better. Oh, yeah and I wanted to sleep. All 3 of us were up most of the night.

Tuesday -
Another bad report card today buddy. This one had notes by two of the nap times. One of them said "Seriously?" The other one said "Are you kidding me?" Then, you got a note "Where did Mr. No Sleep come from?" We dressed you up and put you in a new sweater that you received. You were looking really dapper. Your dad said "What, is it Easter?" We went to dinner with Aunt Sheila, Sherry Shark, Cory, Lauren and Baby Jake. Afterwards, you slept really well! 9:45 - 3:30 then up for a minute at 5 and up for a minute at 7.

Wednesday -
Today was a bad day for me and you buddy. We went to the doctor and you got a good report card. Developmentally, you are doing great and you are growing like a weed. You are 13 lbs even and 25" long. While you are a big boy, at least you are well proportioned. If you were 13 lbs and 21", you would look like a porker! You are in the 75th percentile for weight and head size. You are in the 96th percentile for your height. You made your daddy proud being so long :)

We did get one note of concern at the doctor. Apparently, you spend way too much time on the right side of your head. She said she can tell how it is developing that you aren't developing evenly. So, we have to do a better job of making sure that you are doing your tummy time, your toys are more in the middle/left and rotating your head if we see it on the right.

But, then the needles came. 3 shots. Daddy held your finger while they jabbed you. At first, you were surprised. Then, you screamed. Loud. When they were done with you, I got to hold you and I had tears in my eyes because it was too painful for me to watch. (Even as I type this, I am welling up again...) I was so sad to see you in so much pain. I can't imagine what I would do if you were in "real" pain.

You can tell you aren't yourself tonight - leftovers from the shots or from the preemptive Tylenol. I can't wait for my normal Lijah to return but you were fun while you were mellow and cooing at me :)

February 28

Happy 2 month birthday baby Elijah!
You are getting to be an old man! I hope that when I say "Happy 3 month birthday baby" you are sleeping through the night. I have brainwashed myself into thinking that is it the magic number for you to sleep!

You started off the day going to the bowling alley with your dad to visit our friends Jay and Cindy. When you got home, your dad and I were working on your room. Your dad hung a picture and put your exersaucer together. Your feet touch the bottom of your exersaucer but your head and neck are not ready yet. We will keep trying! I was going through all of your clothes and weeding out all of the newborn and 0-3 months stuff. It is a shame how many clothes you wore only once or not even at all. All of them went into the Baby Jake Box.

Dad was trying to get your weight today. I think he is guessing you are going to come in at 12.5 lbs and 25" at your 2 month check up on Wednesday. I think you may be closer to 13 lbs but we will see.

Afterwards, it was time for us to go to your cousin Andrew's 10th birthday party. Man, my little nephew turning 10 makes me feel OLD. You were able to visit with Gramma Ruth and see your cousins. We left you there while we went to the gym and you got to hang out with Gramma and watch the Olympics.


It was tough keeping you awake last night buddy and the more I pushed it, the more angry you got at me. You weren't fussy with your little whimpering cries, you were angry with your big screams. I finally gave up and you went to sleep around 9:15. You slept really good all night though - up at 1 for a few minutes and up at 3:30 for a few minutes then all the way until 6:45. Even though the breaks in sleep still make your mom and dad tired, when you are only up for a few minutes, then we don't feel AS tired!

Well buddy, time to start another week at daycare and we will continue to work on our routine. I think you *may* sleep better at daycare this week because you sure did take good naps this weekend. You slept a ton - I think you were making up for being so excited all week. Maybe you will be more settled this week and sleep more for Mary.