November 17 & November 18

Hi there Buddy!
It has been a long time but man, it is time to go sappy on you for a bit.  First of all, I have to tell you that in my mind, you were born like 2 days ago.  Like 48 hours ago, we went into the OR as a scared couple and came out 30 minutes later as a mommy & daddy with a baby boy named Elijah.  I know that is silly talk because we are near 11 months later but I want to tell you how you are still a little infant in my mind.

So, now that you know how my mind works, you can imagine my surprise when I looked over at dinner and I saw this big boy sitting next to me.  Out of no where, there was this little guy sitting on a booster seat stuffing grilled cheese sandwiches into his mouth.  This little guy was pretty cute - he had two teeth and light brown hair and a smile that lights up a room.  He was drinking water out of a big boy cup with a straw and his lips were so darn cute puckered on that straw.  The water would fill his mouth and he would gasp in surprise then giggle at my husband.  My husband lit up at this little guy - like there was no where else he would rather be or no one else he would rather be looking at.  Who is this big boy?  Where did he come from?  I know he can't be my son because my son is just a little newborn that I swaddle at night to put to sleep, right?  My son is not old enough to be sitting in a booster seat.  He is not old enough to be shoveling grilled cheese in his mouth.  My son is not old enough to use a straw or have two teeth.

Then, the strangest thing happened.  I looked down at my shopping cart at Bakers today and that big boy was in my cart.  I had a Starbucks Frappucino in my hand and that big boy kept reaching down and drinking it out of the straw.  I think that boy drank about 1/3 of my treat.  I don't know where this big boy came from but I think I will keep him anyway  :)

When you were born, so many people told me to cherish every minute because it goes by so quickly.  I always said "I am" or "I do".  But, looking back over the last 11 months, I don't know if I did because I can't believe it happened so quickly that you are now a big boy.  We have so many intimate moments everyday that are not something that I can take a photo of or something that I can type out everyday - but, those are the precise moments that I never want to forget because they are the best moments to remember when you are in college and done with me  :)  So, here are a few snippets of things I don't want to forget....
1) After you drink a bottle and you are getting ready to go to sleep, you roll over smack your lips, crinkle your eyes and pretend to go to sleep.  Sometimes you do fall asleep and sometimes you are faking it but man, that moment is so darn cute.  I recently started laughing at you and saying "FAKER".  Now, you giggle at me when I say that.
2) You crawl around on the floor and stop, turn and look at me and smile.  It is like you are saying "Hi mommy, I am still here and want to make sure you are too."
3) In your playpen, you poke your head up over the rail and laugh like you just found me!
4) Walking up to Mary's house in the morning and you squealing in delight at being able to see your friends.
5) When you lay your head down on my chest or shoulder to cuddle up.  I don't know how long you will want to cuddle with your mommy.
6) When I walk in your room in the morning and I say "Good morning sunshine" and you smile so big that you really are like a ray of sunshine.
7) How you entertain people - you are so aware of people, if they are looking at you and thinking of ways to make them smile.  You live to smile and make people smile.  But, it breaks my heart when I am watching you watch someone but they don't see you.
8) When we go to Great Gramma's on Friday and we pop around the corner.  Gramma sneaks up and says Hi to you.  Your face lights up and her face lights up.  I can barely get you out of my arms fast enough to go to her.
9) When you learn something new, it is like you are a child genius.  You are so excited and so proud that it makes my heart burst.  Little things - clucking your tongue, clapping, standing, making fish lips, etc.  You revel in each new thing that you learn.
10)  Your giggles.  They are over the silliest things but man, there is no sound that is of greater joy to me and your dad!

OK, enough of that mushy stuff, monkey!  What have you been up to?  Well, a lot of playing, eating, baths and having fun.  Grampa Keith picked you up on Wednesday for me and you were conked out on the recliner when I got you.  We had dinner, we played, and you conked out again.  On Thursday, we ran errands, ate dinner, played, bed time.  We are in a routine and it is pretty mundane but it is a good routine.

Tomorrow, I am off work and we are going to hang out together.  I have a couple of fun plans for us so I hope you cooperate and are in a good mood  :)