November 23 - November 25

Hi Elijah!
Well, your first Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Now, they are all the same from here on out  :)  Let's see what we have been up to lately...

Tuesday - It was your normal visit over to Grampa's house and they think you said "Eli." They were talking to you and called you Eli and they think you said it back.  It wouldn't surprise me because you are really trying to mimic sounds.  We had dinner together & we had Stroganoff.  I gave up on trying to feed you with the spoon and just let you go for it with your hands.  It was so messy but you seemed to eat more and you enjoyed it.  You thought it was pretty darn cool - up until I had to clean your face off!  Then, it wasn't much fun anymore, was it?  You even had a piece of beef hanging from your eyelid you silly duck! Afterwards, we went to Target to get groceries for Thanksgiving.  I got a Starbucks hot cocoa and your daddy got a coffee.  While we were at the counter, you were so excited because you were thinking it was frappucino.  Not even 11 months and already addicted to the Starbucks.  :)

Wednesday - Mary said you were a crabby pants all day!  We are guessing it was your teeth because that little hole in gum was gone again.  Your poor gums are so swollen and white but those stinking teeth just won't come out.  We went to Taco Bell after Mary's because mommy was HUNGRY!  You got some cinnamon crispas and refried beans.   You loved your crispas with your chocolate soy milk!  After your nap, we gave you the beans and it was just as messy as the stroganoff on Tuesday.  But, it was just easier to do a bath tonight :)  You kept me and your daddy on our toes because you would not go to sleep.  We were dying tired and you were up until 10:00 pm playing.  All of a sudden, you were so tired that you just laid down on your mat and passed out!  We were so relieved that we could finally go to bed.  That is what happens when your parents are so old - they want to sleep more than you do!

Thursday -  it was your first Thanksgiving!  You and daddy played together until I got up at 9.  Daddy said you were good all day then I came down and you started whining "Mamamama."  My theory was that you just associated those words with whining.  But, your dad's theory is that you know it is me.  Last night when I was getting tired and whiney, I tried to convince your dad that you were really saying "Mark."  That didn't work so well.  We watched the Macy's day parade, it was nappy time then it was time to go over Gramma Brigham's.  Gramma Debbie and Donnie joined us for dinner too.  You played with your cousins and then it was time to eat.  My goodness, son, you ate a TON.  You cleaned your plate.  I didn't even bother with the spoon - it is just easier to let you go nuts.  You were entertaining everyone at the table and enjoying yourself.  After Gramma Ruth's house, we went to visit Gramma Lang to wish her a Happy Thanksgiving.  When we got home, daddy & I were exhausted but you took a cat nap then were up until like 9:30 again.  I am in need of a bit more sleep buddy so we are going to need to work this schedule out.

Friday - as of now, you are taking a nap!  We are hanging out together today because Mary is off work.  We are trapped like rats without a car - the battery is dead.  So, we will have to entertain each other.  I have to get sappy on you.  We were watching Oprah today & Garth Brooks was on.  You were getting fussy so I picked you up at the end.  We swayed together while I sang along to "The Dance."  The song makes me sad because your Grampa Larry really liked it. But, today, it kind of held a bit of a different meaning to me.  The song is basically about how painful a relationship was but how he wouldn't change it because they had a perfect dance together - that magical dance was worth the hurt in the long run.  Here I was snuggling with my son and singing to you.  You were so entranced - I am sure it was by Garth's voice but I would like to think it was because of me singing to you.  I realized that YOU are my "dance" and that all of the pain that we went through leading up to you was worth it to have you now.  I am not sure that your dad & I would be the parents that we are if it weren't for everything we went through to get here.  Yes, I do wish things would have gone differently for us but I guess I think the experiences were necessary for us to be in the position to have you.  So, I was happy-sad today and smooched you lots  :)