August 8

Dear Elijah Lang Brigham,
I am not a morning person but sometimes, I have to be with you. Your daddy and I made an agreement that he would watch you on Saturday mornings and I would watch you on Sunday mornings. So far, you daddy has been watching you both days but today, he must have been tired because you woke up and he kept sleeping. I changed you, fed you then we laid in bed together. You know what? As tired as I was, it was a great morning. We snuggled, I sang to you, you coo'd at me, I stroked your hair and you finally fell asleep. I was in an uncomfortable position so I rolled over and you woke up. Darn it! You laid there, you pulled my hair and talked to me for a bit before you fell asleep again. It was a great hour of just being with my son and trying to take as many mental snapshots of our time together as my brain could hold.

We went to breakfast and it was the greatest! We went to Amatos and it was so busy & loud. You were just overwhelmed by all of the activity. We were sitting by another little girl who appeared to be a tiny bit older than you. You guys were looking at each other, talking, smiling and making noises at each other. It was so darn cute. You ate some ice cubes (Yes, the boy who has a 1 degree tolerance for his formula was eating ice) and shared my pancakes with me. I took some pictures while we were there and already made my scrapbook page.

Other than that, it was a normal day! Fed you, nap, play time, eat more, suck on my chin and bite it, bath & bed. I have a busy week at work this week so I hope we can enjoy our evenings together!

August 7

Alert! Alert! Alert!
Tooth number two is poking through! Your bottom right tooth is poking out. I noticed it in the car today on the way to Lincoln. Such a big boy! I did give in and buy you some Baby Orajel. I fear you were beginning to be too dependent on the Jackie Daniels for reasons other than gum relief :) You were literally smacking your lips with it. It was so darn cute.

Let's see buddy - what did we do today? You woke up and hung out with Daddy then it was nappy time. When you woke up, we ran 2 errands and headed down to Lincoln. You hung out with Auntie Becky & Uncle Steve for a LONG TIME! We got there about 1:30 and picked you up about 6:30. We went to dinner and a movie while you played with them. We got a good report card - you gave them the full Elijah show. You squealed, laughed, growled, bounced in your bouncey chair, poo'd and rolled around nekked everywhere :)

After we left there, we went to visit Jess and Logan. You played with Logan's toys and we loved up Logan a bit. It was so funny to watch you guys when we put you next to each other. You both wanted to "Kiss" each other but it ended up just being you two trying to eat each other. We need to take you back when you aren't so tired so you two can play and I can take some photos!

That's about it buddy. We got home and it was bed time. Hope we have another fun day tomorrow!

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 :)