June 10

Hi Baby Boy!
Today was all about mommy's stinking medical stuff! You & your daddy took me to the dentist. I was a little nervous to go but it all turned out well. You were flirting with all of the dental assistants and they were so happy to meet you. We rested for awhile then we took you over to Great Gramma's while I went to the hospital for a test. You could have come with us but I wasn't really thrilled about taking you to the hospital with all those germs. Plus, Great Gramma needed an Elijah fix. You slept almost the whole time you were there. You played on your mat for awhile and slept. When we got back, we put you on your swing for awhile. Afterwards, we went over Auntie Sheila's for dinner. You were so tired but you hammed it up a bit. You are finally starting to realize other babies are in the room! You were watching Baby Jakey like a hawk. I don't think you were jealous of him and people holding him but just an awareness that he was in our space :)

I took this funny photo of you sucking on your daddy's arm. I tried to get a good photo of you sucking on his knee but it didn't turn out as cute - it was much funnier in person.

While we were Auntie Sheila's, you were fussing and we could have sworn that you said "mom". About 3 people agreed with me as our heads swung immediately to look at you. Maybe we are getting closer to you saying mommy.

Can I share a secret with you? I love it when you scrunch up your nose when you are smiling and making faces :)

June 4 - June 9

Holy Schmoly baby - your first plane trip vacation!!

Friday - you did your day with Mary and then we whisked off to Gramma Ruth's. We picked up Andrew and dropped off Padi & Luke. We went to the airport and you were so good. You did great on the plane - we numbed your ears with some drops, we let you drink a bottle during the take off and landing. After a big drive, we landed at Auntie Val's. I don't think your dad & I got a hello - it was an immediate run to you to get a hug!!




Saturday - we went to lunch with Candi, John, Finnegan, Bob & Sheila. It was so exciting to meet baby Finney!! After lunch, we hung out for a bit and then we went to a Rodeo in Elizabeth, Colorado. You were liking all the people and activity. Andrew jumped on the bungee, we had rodeo food and watched the animals. However, it started hailing and we had to leave early.




Sunday - it was a HUGE day baby. Your daddy sat you up and you stayed sitting! You were playing with a toy that helped you with your balance but even without the toy, you can do it on your own. It was so exciting. You were in your normal routine today - nappy, up 4 hours, nappy. When you woke up, we met a new baby in the family. My 2nd cousin Ron Proksel brought his baby Harrison Ryan over. We didn't have you guys hang out together but we enjoyed seeing the latest member of your mommy's generation. Yes, your mommy sure does feel really, really old when she has started making babies in the next generation but there is one in her generation :)



Monday - we hung out with Candi and Finnegan all day. I can't lie and say you were a good baby. You were a complete bully. Let's start with something small. I put you in Finney's playpen with your pacifier for a nappy. When I checked on you, you had moved all around the playpen and found Finney's pacifier and started chomping on it. Then, you smiled at me. Towards the end of the day, I wanted to get a photo of you and Finney together. I laid you down and put your arm out so I could lay him on your arm like I did Baby Jake. I put Finney on your arm. You rolled over, grabbed Finney's head and started gnawing on the crown of his head. It was kind of funny but inappropriate. I split you up and I tried to take more photos. You grabbed the kid's head again and started smacking him. Thank goodness Finney's mom wasn't in the room, I was so embarrassed. The other noteable thing for today was how much cereal and nanners you ate. You ate so much that you didn't even eat as many bottles that day.



Tuesday - we went to have lunch with mommy's friend in Colorado Springs and did some sight seeing at Garden of the Gods. When we got back to Auntie Val's, your cousin Brandon was here and you didn't even fuss at him!! We had dinner with him and then we got RAINED on.



Overall buddy, I think you had a great trip. You were so spoiled by your Auntie Val. She loved you up all weekend. When we would let you cry, she would pick you up. When we would let you cry yourself to sleep, she would rub your back and sing you lullabies until you were asleep. She bought you lots of new clothes and toys. She went to garage sales and bought you exersaucers, mats and toys. You will need a week long detox but you enjoyed yourself and she enjoyed her time with you.

To be a mushy mommy, you warmed my heart all weekend. I was watching you sleep Tuesday morning and my heart swelled. Every time you smile, it brightens your whole face and my whole day. Thank goodness you are such a happy, smiley baby. You were talking up a storm in the car when we were stuck in traffic and it made me so happy! You are getting so big and it makes me kind of sad because it is happening so fast. Next time I open my eyes, you will probably be rolling your eyes saying "Whatever mom, give me the car keys because you are such a rotten mom who won't buy me a car." :)


Wednesday -
We got all of our stuff together and packed up while Auntie Val loved you up. Brandon came over to see us off! You did great on the plane again. We had dinner out and you were a good boy. At night, we did a bath and then you were CRASHED! You slept from like 9:30 until 8:30. Vacation wore you out!!!

June 1 - June 3

Hi buddy!
Gotta get your blog caught up because we are off on vacation tomorrow after work - your first plane trip to Denver. We are going to see your Auntie Val, Candi and Finnegan. Your cousin Andrew is going with us so him and your daddy can go to the amusement park while we hang out with Candi and Finn!

Tuesday was your day with Grampa & Heather and your daddy's birthday. He was generous enough to let you try two little spoonfuls of his custom ice cream. You thought it was so good but that was after you ate green beans for the first time. You didn't love that so much but you did eat quite a few bites.

On Wednesday, you went to see Gramma Debbie for a bit then we went to dinner. We have been so excited to plop your bumbo on the table and let you play while we eat. We came home and we gave you some applesauce with cereal. You liked the applesauce :) Afterwards, we did a bath in your new ducky bathtub. We bought it to put in the bathtub but we ended up washing you on the kitchen table. It is really meant for when you sit up but you liked it a lot better than the hard plastic one. You also went to the doctor to make sure that you can fly tomorrow. You got another dose of purple stuff in your mouth and we got some meds for your ears for the plane.


Today, you had your date with Great Gramma Lang since we won't be here tomorrow. We did some tacos with you in your bumbo. Then, you played with your various toys. You are going through a spell where you just won't sleep. You are so tired but don't want to go to sleep. You get so fussy when you are tired!

Some other random stuff - I was holding you on Monday and I thought that your hips felt funny. There was a weird little roll of fat I hadn't felt before. It was because your mom and dad don't know how to put a diaper on. Just say no to crack. :)

Here are some scrapbook pages I have done for you recently.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day Baby Lijah!
I have to tell you the truth about something buddy - Memorial Day has become a day off work and a grilling holiday for us rather than what it is intended to be. We should be celebrating all of those people out there who have served our country or are serving our country. While I think both your dad & I have a surface level appreciation for those folks, neither of our families are deeply involved in the military so we don't have a day to day connection to the military. But, we will have to do a good job of raising you to have a better awareness because each day we are here, it is due to some stranger out there protecting us! I did think that today would be a good day to remind you about some of your Grampas who did serve in the military. Great Grampa Lang, Great Grampa Faiman and Grampa Bob all served in the military in their younger days.

So, how exactly did we spend the day? Well, you slept all morning, went to Gramma Debbie's, went over Great Gramma's for a bit in the afternoon then fussed all night. I think you were so overtired from a long weekend and you were just fighting sleep! You were quite a handful once we got home from all of our errands. You ended up sleeping with us last night. For once, I didn't even notice you were with us - just felt your head in my back every once and awhile. Your dad was up a lot checking on you though :)

Tomorrow is Daddy's birthday but we have done a lot of celebrating already! I made him breakfast two days, he had his favorite cake, he had special ordered ice cream, we went to Outback, he got a card from you in the mail and we bought him a flying lesson where he will get to fly the plane. So, tomorrow, we will give him a happy birthday smooch, send him texts with photos during your photo shoot and that is it :) Next up - Father's day. Man, these back to back celebrations are difficult!

Here is your photo for today - you hanging out with daddy at outback!

May 29 - May 30

WOWWEE - it was a long weekend wasn't it buddy! You should be just plain wiped out! You saw so many people and played so hard with so few nappies!

On Saturday, we went to Little Kory's graduation party where you saw all of your Lang & Naven family. You got a few pictures taken with Baby Jake. Then, we went shopping with Auntie Val and you hung out with Great Gramma and Auntie Val while we went to Babies R Us and dinner. When we picked you up, you were SO MAD at me. You did not want to be moved to go into your carrier! You screamed at me and it took me 3 tries to get you back to sleep in your crib.

On Sunday, your stinking mom woke up at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. I went to the store and cooked daddy breakfast before you even woke up. We took a nappie together from 9-10:30. What I don't understand is why you like to be so sucked up next to me when we are both sweating like fools :) We took our nappie back to back and both of our backs were just wet with sweat when we woke up. Your little patch of hair on the back of your head was dripping. But, you never moved from my back to cooler places :) After your nappie, Kylie shark wanted to hang out with you and you had fun! You played outside with Tucker, Jeremy and Kylie. You gnawed on her fingers. You took a short nappie then it was off to Gramma Lang's for Uncle Zachary's party. We tried a new food - sweet potatoes with apples. You ate a ton and made a big mess at Gramma's. For the rest of the day, you played, cried and generally avoided sleep because there was too much going on all around you! We brought you home around 8:30 and thought you would just crash immediately. WRONG. Your daddy was holding you and you started going crazy with your legs. You wanted to bouncy bounce! You were in your bouncer for an hour going nuts. It was like you had gone through withdrawal for 2 days and needed some bouncy bounce time.

Something new these past few days - you are really starting to notice the dogs. You reach out to touch them and pull their hair. You watch them running around. Kylie said you liked touching Tucker! So far, all of them have been really patient with you. Speaking of hair, you really like to pull everyone's hair now. OUCH. You also seemed more aware of Baby Jakey - you were looking at him and reaching out to touch him too.

I have lots of photos for you from this weekend!!

Little Kory's graduation party. Look at Baby Jake's smile!


Your Uncle Zachary - the guest of honor on Sunday.



Big Baby Jakey smile, fussy pants Lijah.



Someone flipped your hat over and it was so darn cute!


Great Gramma with both her boys!


Both grampas with fussy pants boys! Jakey hiding his face and you a fussy pants!


We bought you a swing for our house but we ended up installing it at Grammas. Uncle Jeff helped move the hooks so it fit. The family consensus is that all of your cousins swung from those very hooks :) You were sleeping so we tested it out on Baby Jake first. He seemed to like it but he probably would have liked it more if we didn't wake him up to test it.


You liked it too as long as it wasn't going too fast. When it went too fast, you got all tense like your mommy does on rides. Your daddy doesn't believe me but I think that you are not going to enjoy rides like he does. I think you are going to be a wussy thing like your mommy :) I also think you liked everyone standing around and giving you lots of attention while you were on the swing!!

May 24 - May 28

Hi Baby!
It sure does seem like we had a crazy week. We had 3 days where I didn't even take a picture. We were taking a break from snapping a camera in your face every minute :)
This week, you were more talkative than ever! You were non-stop talking. On Tuesday, you went over Grampa Keith's and Heather's and they said it was the most you ever talked. Gramma Debi D came over and watched you while we went to a concert. When we got home, you were awake so we threw you in bed with us and you just started talking up a storm. I think you were even talking in your sleep!!

On Thursday, we had big drama in the neighborhood. There was a car accident in front of our house and the whole neighborhood was outside. You loved watching all the people and the cop lights! You love being a part of the action. Mary said you have to be isolated when you eat because you get too excited with the kids and won't eat. We also tried carrots on Thursday. You have made it out of the orange foods and into the greens now!

On Friday, you had to go to the doctor as Mary thought you had thrush. You got a big dose of medicine and had a big purple mouth. It was kind of funny :) Then, you hung out with Great Gramma and Auntie Val while we went out to a movie.

As I was finishing writing this, you needed some food and some rocking. You snuggled up on my lap and we rocked you to sleep. Sometimes, I get frustrated wanting you to fall asleep sooner but I realized something the other night. I only have a few precious moments in life where you are going to want to be in my lap and having me rock you. Pretty soon, you will be too big for that and eventually, be too cool to snuggle with your mom! So, my outlook has changed and I relaxed while we rocked together and smooched you up!

We have a busy few days coming up - Little Kory's graduation party, Uncle Zachary's graduation party, Daddy's birthday on Tuesday. I am thinking we may try the pool on Monday if is warm enough. Hopefully, your mommy will stop being so lazy and get the camera back out :)

Here you are as our Orange-carrot-oompa loompa (your dad sings that song to you and you just laugh). When you were done eating, you had carrots in your eyes, up your nose, on your forehead - all over. :)

Then, here you are as our purple oompa loompa.

May 22 - May 23

Hi Lijah!
We had a whirlwind weekend didn’t we? Saturday, we ran errands, did an unsuccessful photo shoot, went to a graduation party and then walked around Village Point for a bit. It was so nice for all of your daddy’s family to see you on Saturday – all those Morris girls loved you up! You know what the best part was? You weren’t scared of any of them! You will just hang out with anyone who is showing you love. Eventually, we will have to have the stranger danger talk but, for right now, I really like that you aren’t scared of people you don’t know. Although, that does remind me of a story that your dad told me. On Saturday, you hung out with him for a bit at the bank. An employee that I really despise came up to talk to you and you started screaming. So, it isn't that you love ALL people, you just have really good taste :)

On Sunday, you hung out at Gramma Ruth’s house while your Grampa, daddy and I went to your Uncle Zachary’s graduation. I think you enjoyed all of the dogs and seeing your cousin. I noticed something for the first time yesterday – we might have to start early in teaching you how to share. I was holding you and your cousin Tyler was playing with one of your toys. You would not take your eyes off of that toy for the entire time. You were almost throwing daggers at him. I bet that all of your friends at daycare will help with learning how to share too. Afterwards, we went to see Great Gramma Lang for a bit since you missed your date with her on Friday. You were rolling all over the kitchen table then Gramma busted out a new treat for you – she found a walker at the thrift store for you. We plopped you in it and you were content playing with the toys. I have a feeling that Great Gramma’s, Grampa’s and Gramma Debbie’s houses are all going to end up being filled with your stuff soon!

Last night, I was pondering some things in my head and came up with a really important fact for myself. I am about to get deep on you. You won’t care now, but, maybe when you are older, some of this will resonate with you. See, your mom has a hard time shutting her brain down at night. I constantly think things through, get myself all worked up and then wonder why I don’t sleep well! Another few downfalls of mine are that I take things way too personally, get my feelings hurt too easily and invest myself too much in things that shouldn’t matter to me. When I whine to your cousin Brandi, she will basically blow me off on a lot of things because they don’t impact her life and they are a waste of her time. I see what she is saying but I don’t know how to turn myself into that person so I came up with an ingenius plan last night. First off, I asked myself what the most important things in my life were. Obviously, that answer is you and your dad. Then, I looked at all of the events in my life that were bothering me and I put them through a new litmus test – do these issues have anything to do with you or impact your life (positively or negatively)? If not, then they need to be swept away and ignored. It wasn’t too long after that, I fell asleep. I think it is going to take practice on my part but I need to step back and invest my time in what matters the most to me – my kiddo!

The other thing I came up with is that I spend too much time investing in stupid computer stuff like facebook and twitter. I realized that it doesn’t really matter to me what my high school classmates are doing – I went 17 years without hearing from them so I don’t really need to hear from them now! That is time that I could spend hanging out with you, maybe exercising or *gasp* cleaning the house. There are people on facebook that I am truly invested in – most of your family (on both sides) are on there so I had a slight bit of a panic when I thought of how much I may miss. But, your wise cousin Jeremy popped into my head. Sometime in the past year, he had told me that he doesn’t read your blog because if I have something truly important for him to know, I will email him directly. I realized that if people truly have something important that they want us to know, they will tell us in a more personal matter than facebook! So, I deleted both of those accounts.

There you have it buddy – some of your mom’s rambling thoughts. I haven’t shared those with you in ages. We just get so busy with the everyday stuff – playing with you, keeping up with you, etc.

Now, here are your photos for these two days:
Saturday – taking a nappy with your daddy. He ate breakfast while I gave you a bottle then you both crashed on the bed. And, I am adding two from our failed photo shoot. It failed because you were tired & fussy. It also failed because it was supposed to be a surprise for your daddy’s birthday next week and he accidentally saw the photos in my email.


I love this first one - it is like you are just lounging in your bumbo!



Sunday – we did sweet potatoes today & you liked those a lot more than the squash. You opened your mouth every time the spoon came near you & you didn’t spit as many out. It was our best feeding session yet!