It's already December!

Hey Elijah!
It is already December.  You are going to be 2.  Holy smokes.  I can't believe it.  As I type this, your daddy is having his ankle rebuilt.  The old man couldn't take it anymore and needs to make sure he can keep up with you &, eventually, your brother.

So, what have we been up to?  Well, I have been taking a lot of notes for you even if I haven't posted them on your blog.  Your mom is getting old so I can't just remember anymore  :)

On 11/18, we got a Disney planning video.  It is just a video showing the parks and the resorts in the hopes that you will book a trip.  Our trip is already booked but I thought you may like seeing the video.  It was so fun watching you and I will admit, I teared up a bit.  You were so excited.  You were clapping and happy and screaming all their names ("Anu", "Ninnie", "Quack Quack", and "Oofy.")  I know that you won't be so excited close up but I loved watching you watch that.

That Saturday, we went to Lincoln to see Auntie Becky.  You had fun with the fish and the snakes.  Afterwards, we went to visit Brandon.  You had fun running around and playing with him.  By the end of the night, you were even saying his name!

We had cousin night on the 23rd and I think you had a blast!  You were so excited to see Jake - you kept saying his name over & over.  You guys ran around and played.  You played with Brandon and you smooched up Mila.  It was a completely different experience for cousin night.  We used to figure out what we were going to do based on where we could get the best drinks.  Now, we have to choose base on the best activities for you pipsqueaks!!

You celebrated your 2nd Thanksgiving with your Mickelson cousins.  Once again, you had a ton of fun playing outside with them.  Luckily, I took your photo first thing in the morning because you were so busy running around, I didn't get anymore the rest of the day.  You didn't even take a nap that night so by the time we went to see the Lang family, you were conked out sleeping on Auntie Val within an hour.  

On Friday, you were off traveling with Auntie Val.  You went to visit her friend Peggy in Iowa.  She said you had a great time.  They had lots of people there so you had lots of people to play with.  You rode on a 4 wheeler, played on hay bales, played with a doll house for ages and learned everyone's name.  Auntie Val said that when you left, you gave each person a hug and kiss  :)

On Saturday, you got home from your trip and got a haircut.  It is Christmas photo time and we needed you a bit cleaned up  :)  After that, we went to your first wedding.  You had so much fun.  You were dancing up a storm.  Definitely didn't get any dance skills or rhythm from your parents buddy!  You would do some sort of floor break dancing or something weird.  You were having so much fun playing with Jake.  It was a completely different experience for your dad & me.  We have never been to a wedding as parents.  It was so much fun.  We loved watching you dance and be silly & have such a great time.  I didn't get too many photos but did get some videos for you  :)

You were also comical because you would not let your daddy & I dance together.  A slow song came on and I asked your daddy to dance.  When we got out on the dance floor, you started screaming.  I guess that was not acceptable.  I asked you if I could give your daddy a kiss and we had to have family kisses. I would kiss you, then your daddy would kiss you then I would kiss your daddy.  If we didn't do it right, you would push my head to kiss your daddy.  I guess it is ok to smooch up your daddy as long as you are there  :)

On Sunday, we did family photos with your Mickelson cousins.  I had high expectations for them but they didn't turn out.  You ended up falling & hitting your head so you were fussy pants.  After the photos, we went and saw Santa.  You were all excited "Santie, Santie, Santie."  But, when we got down there, you would not get down to go see him.

I taught you "Eskimo Kisses" and you think those are pretty darn funny.  You giggle up a storm.  I call them "Nose Kisses."  I like doing them and watching you giggle.

We also got a video from Santa.  I showed it to you one morning before daycare.  That night, you came running in the house and yelling "Mommy Santie."  I really had no idea what you were saying.  But, you went right to my laptop and kept saying "Santie, Santie, Santie."  Then, I got it  :)  We got our Christmas stuff down from the attic and you wanted to "help."  You would go to the attic ladder, hold your hands out and say "Help."  We were finally able to figure out that we could put the box on the floor and you would push it in the living room.  Honestly, you really were a big help and you were so proud of yourself.

We had one morning that I was ready to call in sick to work and daycare and just spend the morning with you!  We were waking up and you were snuggling up to me.  Normally, you wake up and within 5 seconds I get a big shout in my face "Mommy Mote, Mommy Mote, Anu, Anu."  (Translation:  Mommy, get the remote and turn Mickey Mouse On)  But, this morning, you were content cuddling.  You were bringing my head to yours for smooches and giggling.  No TV, no one else around us, no distractions - just you and me cuddling up, giggling and smooching.  One of those moments that I hope is permanently stored in my memory bank.

We started our advent calendar yesterday.  When you came home, you opened box 1.  It was 4 little "pills" that you put in water and they turn into spongey animals.  You were quite intrigued with those.  You kept watching them in the cup saying "What's that?  What's that?"  Unfortunately for you, today is just a boring candy cane  :)

Last night, you spent the night with Auntie Sheila.  You slept on the couch all night and didn't want to sleep with them.  She said you woke up for a minute at 2:30 but went back to sleep.  Hmmm.... Wonder why that doesn't happen at home?  I think you just like manipulating us into sleeping in our bed  :)  It is on our New Years Resolution list to resolve this issue.

Tomorrow is a big day.  We start officially potty training.  Now that I am off restriction for my back, Mary is ready to get going with you.  She said that 4 out of 5 days, you are not using any diapers.  We just need to get our act together at home.  We try to put you on the toilet but we are not strict about it.  Starting tomorrow, we are going to get into a routine and get you out of diapers.  Mary anticipates it taking 2-3 weeks before you are officially out of them.  While it will be nice not to buy or clean diapers anymore, it is going to take a lot of work on our part!  We have no plans this weekend except to let daddy heal and let you run around in underwear to train.

While I was watching the dance videos, I came across a weird video on my phone.  You must have gotten a hold of it and was playing.  There is nothing to see on it but I think it is so cute listening to you talk.  You even get some pig noises or something going on  :)

I did get a few scrapbook pages done over the past two weeks.  So, I will leave you with those.

Santa Video

Santa Video

It's been a month!

Hi Babycakes!

Well, I think that this is the first time in the entire time I have been blogging that I have gone one whole month without talking to my babies in some way.  I guess back surgery will do that to you!  Luckily, your mommy is fine and daddy is helping by picking you up for me.  But, I have been making notes of what we have been up to & I still have been taking photos!

Well, our days kind of go like this now:  Leave for daycare, home from daycare, dinner, play, bath, bed. Approximately 2 hours after bed, you either start screaming or you come into our room and crawl in our bed.  At 7, you will wake up and yell in my ear for the remote so you can watch cartoons or you will yell in my ear for milk.  Such a lovely way to be woken up.  The good news is that you say "Milk" about half of the time rather than "Nyue-Nyue".  When you are screaming, you aren't even awake.  We are thinking you are sleep walking/having night terrors.  We know we have to get it figured out but we are so exhausted that it is just easier to put you in our bed.  We call you Chucky - from the horror films.  All of a sudden, you will appear lurking in your doorway or in the hall or at the side of our bed.  We don't hear you coming, we just look up and see you like Chucky in the movie  :)

You are talking so much.  You are making sentences.  But, most importantly, mommy is a big word in your vocabulary - FINALLY.  We are working on please & thank you.  We are working on you staying at the table until you are dismissed and putting your dishes in the sink.  Now, if we could only get rid of that HIGH PITCHED scream.  Kills us!

Mary said we are ready for training pants as soon as I am recovered - 12/5.  So, we bought you some undies - you picked out Cars and Toy Story (surprise, surprise).  Ready or not, official, hard knock pottty training, here we come!!

Unfortunately, you are completely addicted to TV and the iPad.  It started out innocent enough - a bit in the morning and a bit before bed.  But, now, it is constant.  Since we are so exhausted and I am still healing, it is easier to give in to you most of the time.  But, that is going to have to stop because it is crazy how obsessed you are with it.

Last night was so FUNNY.  You were laying down on the bed and daddy laid Joey on top of you for one of your famous "BELLY BUMPS."  You freaked out.  Apparently, it is ok for you to lay on Joey but not ok for Joey to lay on you.  You started screaming "joejoe no joejoe no."  Daddy and I got a good laugh at your expense.

So, now, I can go backwards and tell you all about the last month!

In October, we went to Valas.  You loved it!  You fed the animals, played in the park area, watched the bunnies, and we watched the pig races.  It was so cold so you were bundled up really tight.  Next year, I want to go earlier in the season when it is warmer and spend all day there.  We saw only about 25% of the pumpkin patch!

Gramma Debbie took you to the Bellevue Berry Farm too.  You looked at all the animals, picked mommy a sunflower and some pumpkins for you & Joey!

We had quite a bit of Halloween drama.  You loved your horse costume up until the 30th when we tried to put you in it at Gramma Lang's.  You threw a fit.  So, we went to Target and you picked out Elmo.  We continued to make our rounds - Beaty's, Grampa's, Gramma Debbie's and Gramma Debi D's and you were OK as Elmo. 

On Monday, you went to daycare as Elmo and all was well.  But, when it was night time, we went to Gramma Ruth's and you wouldn't put it back on.  Aunt Laura saved the day when she dug out Andrew's decade old Mickey costume.  You would wear that since he is your favorite!

I love this photo of you puckering up your face for the whiskers  :)

You did great Trick Or Treating.  You weren't sure of it at first but then you were all about asking everyone for "CANDY."  They would give it to you and you would ask for more.  Then, you would say trick or treat as we walked away.  It was so fun walking with you & watching you on your first true Halloween.  We only did Sunshine Drive but I can't wait until next year when we do the whole neighborhood.  

So far in November, we have been kind of boring!  Gramma Debbie has been helping us out because Daddy went to football one Sunday, you were sick one day & Daddy had a work event.  You have been getting lots of Gramma Debbie time  :)  She is working really hard on getting you to say Gramma!

You have also been spending lots of time with your cousins after daycare.  You love playing with the boys and daddy says they love having you over there.  Plus, you love all of the animals!

Jake came over and played with you one day.  You were a complete show off just screaming all over.  It was so weird seeing you play with another little boy in the house.  You guys are getting better at playing with each other! It is so fun to see so many hugs and kisses.  Now, you are even saying his name!!  Jake was sick so we blew him a kiss and texted it to his mom to show him.

Miscellaneous photos:

You and your brother will hang out on the pillows in the morning watching cartoons before you go to daycare.  You will put your arm around him or hold his hand if you are in a good mood  :)

I love this bath picture of you!

More bath photos - I love that you appear to be screaming and Joey and the look on his face.  I also love seeing you hold his hand!

 



Some Disney Scrapbook pages - the book is all done except the cover!

 

 It's a Small World Ride

Photos from our Minnesota trip


Our October Calendar

Catch up...

Hi Elijah!
It has been a long time but we have been super busy, haven't we?  You are talking so much more now.  New words everyday and you are stringing more words together.  You heard the garage and you said "Daddy home."

You are obsessed to be outside.  Everyday we get home and you say "Slide."  We have opened the backyard to you.  You love running and playing with the puppies.  You love the neighbors and talking to them.  But, it makes it hard because you hate it when we make you come in.

We sent you up to Minnesota with Auntie Val and Great Gramma.  We got lots of good reports that you are a good traveler.  You spent the night with Brian, Auntie Val and Gramma.  When you woke up, you said "JoeJoe?"  I think you really love your brother and you missed him.  You learned how to say Brian and you played soccer together. I was so excited that you were able to see your Godfather before he moved to Virginia.  We are unable to drive there!

On Saturday, you and I went to the Disney show at the Civic Auditorium.  I was so excited to go with you.  When we walked in, you were kind of shy and looking around.  When the announcer came on, you were so scared I thought we were going to have to leave.  When the lights went down, you were scared again but you would peek from my lap to see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy & Donald.  As time went on, you relaxed a bit and watched some more from my lap.  But, it got a little scary so you were hiding again.  But, you changed when Mickey & Team came out again.  You got so excited.  You were pointing and waving and saying "Hi."  You made me so happy that I could share that with you and once again, it showed me what being a mommy is all about.  You danced a little bit during Cinderella.  You got scared again during Beauty and the Beast.  At the end, I told you to say "GoodBye" and you did.  You started waving, saying "Bye" and blowing kisses.  For some reason, you are now all about Donal Duck.  When they would leave the stage, you would say "Where'd Quack Quack go?"  You kept asking and asking.  I think you had a great time and I had an awesome time!  Thank you for being so much fun.

I love watching you with your brother.  You get too excited sometimes but you treat him so gentle at other times.  You will reach out for no reason and hold his hand.  You will kiss him out of the blue.  I tell you to "watch Joejoe" while I go get a bottle or milk from you.  You will scoot close to him and put your arm around him.  Yesterday, I asked you to hold his bottle and you were so careful.  I went to get you milk and he must have spit the bottle out because I heard you pleading with him to eat.  You kept saying "JoeJoe" in a pleading voice.  It was so cute.

You want to be such a helper.  You helped me dump a bunch of bottles out and you had so much fun.  I asked you to put something in your room and you did.  You are getting better at listening.  Mommy has had to be stern with you a few times & put you in time out.  But, now, you listen better - especially when I say things stern and give you stink eye  :)

We hope to do fun things this week!  We are going to the pumpkin patch - woohoo!  On Friday, I will be having surgery & I will miss you on Friday night.  But, afterwards, I should be feeling so much better and will be able to play with you more.  I won't be able to lift you for awhile but I won't be in so much pain.

I will leave you with some photos  :)

Me & you eating cotton candy at the Disney show.

Your self portrait at the allergist.  You took my phone and just started snapping photos.  You were cleared from all food allergies during that visit.  No more Soy Milk!

Silly Billy in the fall leaves in Minnesota.

You are the soccer game in your soccer tots shirt.

All 4 of the great grandbabies.

You and your brother.  While you love kissing him. you also love to pick on him.

You & Gramma Debi D at downtown Disney.

The lunch with Handy Manny.

Hollywood Studios

Pooh - another character that you hated standing by.

More characters that scared you.  But, I bet Gramma Debi D secretly loved you squeezing her so tight.  :)