August 3 - August 6

Hi Buddy!
Well, you survived your whirlwind week of "Where in the world is Elijah?" since Mary was on vacation. While I miss Mary's routine, it was nice to have you around a bit more. I enjoyed spending more time with you - whether you were playing in my office while I worked or when we hung out together on my day off.

Tuesday - you hung out with Gramma Ruth & your Brigham family until 3 or so. Daddy took your bouncy chair with you so that you could hang out in there some of the time. Then, he picked you up and you hung out with Grampa Keith for a bit. I picked you up and you were nekked :) You have been a little accident prone lately if you are not completely covered by a diaper at all times.

Wednesday - you were home with me all day. You were going to hang out with Grampa Keith in the afternoon but you were being so good, I was actually able to work with no issues. You just played in your exersaucer, in your pack and play and slept. You were loud though - I was talking to a coworker and he probably thought you were trying to talk to him you were talking so loud. You took really good naps too! Yeah Elijah!

Thursday - you hung out with the Lucas girls. I am not sure what you did all day but I know you went to Burger King because I got the funniest picture ever! I know that you aimed and fired and got the girls all wet when they were changing you. I know that then you got them all dirty when they were changing you :)

Friday - I was off work so we slept in together - until 10:00. Then, we went shopping for winter clothes at the consignment store. We got you lots of good stuff for $1 each and I learned that I am an overall freak. You only got overalls - no jeans. We met daddy for lunch then it was nappy time again. After your nap, we went to visit Great Gramma. I enjoyed spending today with you buddy. I enjoyed snuggling up with you until 10:00. We had fun together. You hung out with daddy at night while I went out and I missed you!

I didn't take any photos this week but Kim sent me one from your Burger King visit and I have a scrapbook page to show you.

July 29 - August 2

I can't believe how time seems to have gone to so quickly since I wrote last! It has already been 5 days. Let's see what we have been up to...

Thursday - July 29
It was Mary's birthday so you took her a cake and a present. She said you were a fussy pants though - I think your mouth was sore so you were fussy! We had dinner then we went for a walk. We stopped at Great Gramma Faiman's house because it was her birthday too. We went to the park and played for a little bit. You took some good pictures :)



Your first slide ride!






Master of the slide!


Friday - July 30
After Great Gramma's, we hung out and ran errands tonight. We were on a mission to find you a walker like you have at Mary's. We did get you a Halloween costume but I am not sure if that will be the official Halloween costume. We went to Target and you got a new puppy toy. It says your name and sings to you. You love it!!

Your new toy. You walk around it and it is helping you to learn how to take steps.



Saturday - July 31
You hung out with Gramma Debbie all day while daddy and I went tubing. You were so tired when we picked you up. We missed Grampa's pig roast and I think he was bummed that he didn't have a chance to show you off. We will have to take you up there for a football game so you can see all of his friends.

Sunday - August 1
Daddy took care of you most of the day today. Mommy's arms were hurting all day. I don't know why. We went over to Gramma Ruth's for Tyler's birthday party. Your cousin is now 4!!! You are starting to get so big and I am not withholding your super cute clothes any more! I put you in your alligator bibs and matching shirt. TOO CUTE!! You were so fussy at night. You were up until 11:00 and it was the painful cries - not your tired cries. I wish we could put you to bed and have you wake up with a mouth full of teeth!! I feel so badly for you when you are in pain. Today was also the day your cousin Brandi turned 30. Happy Birthday to Brandi!

Cute alligator outfit photos:





Monday - August 2
Daddy was off work today because we needed a sitter for you today. You guys hung out at the courthouse because your daddy is a slumlord and he needed to evict his tenant. (haha! Daddy calls himself a slumlord - not your mommy calling him that) He said you were super good in court. You were about to fuss and the bailiff looked at you and you stopped. Already teaching you to stay out of trouble! In the afternoon, you hung out at the house with daddy and then we went out to dinner. You tried lots of new food tonight - shredded cheese from my salad, crouton from my salad, tiny little pieces of bread, a tomato, garlic mashed potatoes. You were all over everything :)

Cutie patootie Crab overalls -



I can't think of much else to tell you buddy. You are still growing like a weed, making lots of new noises and trying lots of new foods. I think you are eating less. Definitely way less bottles and eating fewer times per day. You are more playful and flirty. You love the puppies and kitties. You can't even eat dinner if they are moving around because you have to watch them. You love people and don't care who holds you most of the time. Daddy said that you were even reaching out for people to hold you when he took you to meet people at the bank. I think you are recognizing your name - you smile more when the bear says "Elijah". Your dad was holding you today over his shoulder and you were grinning at me. I thought "Man, he could be a Gerber baby. He is so darn cute." :)

A leftover photo from CocoKey - you riding out on daddy's shoulders!

July 27 and July 28

Happy Birthday baby! You are a whopping 7 months old today. You know what I want to know? I want to know when I am going to look at you and not be amazed that you are here. I hope that it is never stops because it makes life with you so much fun. As a family, we are settling into a routine that I really like. You get home while I finish working. On good days, you take a nap. You wake up and around 5:30 we eat dinner together. Let me emphasize that we eat dinner at the kitchen table together. This is new for me and your dad - we are used to eating on our recliners in front of the TV. Then, you play or we run errands and it is time for you to go to bed. It is a nice routine and it keeps us home more often and not eating out so much.

So, yesterday you were over Grampa's after Mary's. When dad brought you home, he said that you were able to hang out with Uncle Tyler & Uncle Zachary too! We had dinner and then I had an appointment at the personal trainer. You & daddy went with me so daddy could talk to the trainer. You sat and watched while I was tortured. I was near death and you just sat smiling at me. :)

Today, after dinner, we went to CocoKeys to try out your new life jacket. It was so fun! You floated on your life jacket, were kicking and splashing! We also went in the kiddie area where you splashed and jumped up and down. You do so good in the water! You get water in your face and even sometimes up your nose and you still don't get fussy. I am so proud of you!

Some birthday photos:








Your swimming video:

Photo Catch up

Hey babycakes!
I have been slacking on your photos and scrapbook pages. Getting you caught up here....

Kory's graduation party - lots of family photos




Photos with your Blankman family


4th of July weekend




No Elijah but I think it is good for you to see your parents do exist without you sometimes :)


In the big tub!


When Baby Jake came over


Hanging out with your Brigham family last weekend - Auntie Colleen and your dad's cousin Karen

July 24 - July 26

Hi monster!
I can't seriously call you a monster because it really isn't your fault that you are a fussy pants! I think you are having some pain in your mouth so you are just not yourself. But, what the heck do your mom and dad know? We thought you have been teething since you were like 3 weeks old :)

Wanna know something cool? You are starting to eat with us. We are trying to get into the habit of eating at the table at the same time we are feeding you. As we eat things you can eat, we are sharing. It was so cool to "share a meal" with you! One night, we had pureed peaches together. I put them on my chicken breast, you ate them as your dessert. One night, you had corn and potatoes from farmers market. We have shared oatmeal together. Tonight, we shared cream of chicken with mashed potatoes. You really do like to eat more than you like to drink!

Wanna know something not cool? You sure do like whiskey :( You were fussy with your teeth so I dipped my finger in Jack Daniels and rubbed it on your gums. You made your normal scrunched up face and then you were liking it. We joked that you were a little drunk afterwards. We have done it 3 times since Wednesday and each time, it makes you scream less and you get punchy for a few minutes. Today, you were screaming at me and I pulled out the bottle and you immediately were happy. That is the sign of a problem buddy! Your dad says it is a sign that you are a Lang. But, I don't recall any big whiskey drinkers on my side of the family.

Everyday, I think it is the day that you are going to crawl. You scoot and when we hold you, your legs go nuts like you are crawling in the air. Your dad says it looks like you are doing a breast stroke. It will happen soon - even though mommy doesn't want it too.

Let's see - what did we do this weekend? Saturday - we learned how to make Great Gramma's enchiladas. You needed a nap so I left you on the floor to cry for a minute but Gramma didn't like that. She rocked you to sleep and held you during your nap. We made 28 enchiladas then we had some breakfast together. Grampa Keith came over and he hadn't seen you for awhile. He got a phone call while he was there and guess what picture is on his phone? BABY LIJAH :) After that, we totally just relaxed at home - we were LAZY!

On Sunday, your dad threw you in bed with me and we slept in until 10:30!! Then, I went to Farmer's Market with Grampa Keith while you hung out with daddy. Then, we spent the afternoon at Gramma Ruth's. Your Auntie Colleen & cousin Karen were in town from Missouri. You were so good while we were there even if you were so tired. You were flirting and posing for the camera. I was so proud of you because I knew how miserable you were. You woke up at 11:30 just screaming. At first, I thought it was because your leg was caught in your crib. But, you didn't stop screaming and it was pain more than tired. So, we got out the Jack and you were fine until you started screaming because you were tired. You slept with us and you did so good once you fell asleep - you were right in the middle rather than sucked up to either one of us.

On Monday, Mary said you were whiney most of the day. Grampa Keith picked you up because I had a call at 4:30 with the lady that signs my paycheck :) We had dinner together, did a bath and now we are just hanging out watching TV. Pretty soon, you will be asleep and we will get ready to start another day.

We have another busy weekend - we are going tubing and then we have your cousin Tyler's birthday party on Sunday. Hopefully, we can get to Coco Keys one night because we sure didn't get any pool time this weekend because we were so lazy!

I haven't been taking a ton of photos of you but I do have some from yesterday that I will add later. I also have been doing a ton of scrapbook pages for your book and my book.

That is about it baby! Before you go telling your therapist that your mom and dad turned you into a Jack Daniels loving drunk, I should probably just state that you get about 1 drop of whiskey each time :) If you end up loving the hooch, we aren't taking the blame for it yet. I am sure you will blame us for other reasons but it won't be because you got some rubbed on your gums while you were teething :)

July 21 - 23

Hi Lijah!
Well, we haven't been doing too much this week but hanging out with you!

On Wednesday, Gramma Debbie wanted more time with you so she took you for the whole day! She reported that you were a ton of fun. She texted me that you remind her so much of me. I sure don't hear that very often, baby boy. She said that you are laid back & funny like me and you have a big huge smile like me. I sure do love that smile! I do hate it when you hide that smile so we can't see your tooth. You clamp down and pucker your lips - you are so stubborn like your mommy too.

On Thursday, you were back at Mary's flirting with all the kiddos. We seem to be having some stress when you get home from Mary's - you are so tired but you just scream at me because you don't want to take a nap! Then, daddy comes home and you are all smiles making me look like I am lying when I say you are fussy :)

Today, it was time to see Great Gramma. I was holding you in the kitchen and she came around the corner. Your whole face lit up, you gave her a big gasp and your big smile! But, you wouldn't show her your tooth or do your new mouth noises. Maybe you did later when I wasn't there When you got home, we got you all fed and waited for Baby Jake to come over and hang out with us. He got here around 7 and you crashed at 8 so you guys didn't play together. But, you were a jealous fool and it was kind of funny!! I held him and this little demon Elijah came out. I told your dad that it makes me wonder about bringing me another baby in the house! On one hand, another baby would be good because you wouldn't be able to be so spoiled. On the other hand, it would be difficult to put up with demon Elijah! I do have to say that I missed some of those little baby noises that Jake was making and how he cuddles on my tummy. You are getting so big so quick it was amazing how those times flew by so quickly.

Tomorrow, we are hanging out with Great Gramma to make enchiladas. Sunday, daddy's cousin and aunt from Missouri are coming in and want to meet you! I am hoping that we can get you in a pool sometime this hot, sticky weekend.

July 19 - July 20

Hi Baby!
Big news! I picked you up from Mary's on Monday and she said you were a crabby pants. She said "Have you looked in his mouth?" I groaned because I was all bummed thinking it was more thrush. But, nope - you were popping a tooth! There is a little nub of a tooth coming in on the bottom and Mary thinks the one next to it is right on it's heels. While we have thought this was going to be happening for awhile, it was still kind of shocking! You really are getting to be a big boy. Pretty soon, my cute baby smiles and silly baby faces are going to include TEETH. Just another sign of how my baby is going to be a toddler soon.

You have been a fussy pants for me for two days but the worst seems to be between 4 and 6. I think you are tired, your mouth hurts and you may be semi-hungry. After 6, you seem to cheer up and aren't screaming so much. Yesterday, after your mini-nap and bottle, you were in such good spirits - maybe even bordering on being drunk from your milk. You and I just laid on the bed and looked at each other and giggled for about 1/2 hour. It was one of those moments that you hope to hold on to for the rest of your life but I realize how easily they slip through my mind.

Monday was all about your tooth and getting you to show it to us. You are so stubborn and will clamp your mouth down in an instant if you think we want to see it. Then, we had to show daddy your new circus trick - you like to make noises with your mouth and have someone tap your mouth. I don't know how to describe it except that it reminds me of Indian noises during their chants. That makes you so happy to make those noises and see us laugh. But, it has to be on YOUR TERMS. If we try to make you do it when you are not in the mood to be a circus clown, you clamp down your mouth pronto.

Tuesday was all about you being a fussy pants for a bit, us giggling together and then you hung out with daddy while I went to book club. You guys went to the golf range to see our friends Cindy & Jay. Your dad told me that you were pretty hesitant at first but then you warmed up to them. You were crashed on the love sac with your bottle when I got home. The love sac is the perfect place for you to go to eat your bottle. You get all nestled in the groove and are all content to sit there and hold your bottle and eat. Watching you with your bottle is something that I need to get on tape - another little moment I would like to capture. You grip it at the end and you move your fingers back and forth to grab the plastic. Like opening and closing your hand just to hear the plastic make noise.

This morning, as usual, daddy dumped you in bed with me while he took a shower. You gave me a big smile from the middle of the bed and, again, lightning fast, you were by my side. You were not close enough so your legs started going crazy to push you up higher. You sure know how to work your body to get where you want to - but only when you want to :) You started fussing at me and I squeezed you and told you to quit fussing because you couldn't get ANY closer to me. You smiled, squirmed some more until you had it just right, fussed again and fell asleep. It is during those quiet little naps in the morning (they are only about 15-30 minutes depending on when you fall asleep) that I really hate sending you to daycare. I wish I could just let you sleep as long as you wanted. I wish we could just hang out in bed giggling at each other and taking naps all day. But, it doesn't work that way and you have to go. Daddy throws you over his shoulder and walks down the hall while I say good bye and you grin and gasp and make funny faces at me. I always watch you really close when you leave because it is those silly grins, gasps and faces that make the day go by quicker until I pick you up and you scream at me. :)