Big news day!

Alert! Alert!  Stop the presses  :)

Hi Elijah!
What a big day you had today!  You made your mommy cry - I was so proud of you.  Not only did you sleep 14 hours last night, you really walked on your own today.  You were sitting on my lap at the Children's Museum and I put you down.  You started toddling off towards the balls.  Then, the rest of the day, you would just take off walking .  You didn't do it full time but you are now comfortable enough to go long distances without anyone prompting you to come to them.

Well, just to let you know a bit about our day.  We woke up at the same time, had some oatmeal then we went to Kidz Explore.  You loved all the kids and the activity going on.  Unfortunately, there wasn't a big selection of activities for you to participate in.  Most of the stuff was for older kiddos.  But, you did pet the donkeys, play in the ball pit and go down the bouncy slide.  You really liked the slide and I was kind of worried as it flipped you over.

After the Kidz Explore, we went to the Children's Museum.  You had fun and showed daddy all the ways to play.  However, the room that is supposed to be all about kiddos your age is too boring for a big boy like you  :)

Finally, we went to your cousin Andrew's birthday party where you showed off your walking skills!  You did great playing with everyone even though you were getting tired.

Well buddy, we don't have huge plans for this week or weekend.  The only exciting thing we have going on is Auntie Val coming in town and you know she will want to love you up!  Thank you for making my day today - just thinking about watching you walk away from me is making me tear up again.  My little baby is now officially a big boy!

Big day!

Hi buddy!
You had a super busy day today.  You went to bowling with your daddy & cousins then, after your nap, you went to the zoo too!  I thought for sure you would be out like a light by 8:00 because you didn't take any afternoon naps.  But, you made it until 8:30!

Then, I was super excited because 3 different times, you took steps to me without me prompting you to walk to me.  You were standing on your daddy's chair and walked to me - about 3 steps.  Not a huge distance but so exciting that you walked to me without me saying "come here Elijah."  Pretty soon, you will just walk all over the place!!

Here are some photos from you at the zoo today and hopefully, we will make it to Kidz Explore tomorrow.

I thought this photo of you & Aunt Laura at the zoo was pretty cool.

You love the aquarium.

So excited to see you on the infamous gorillas.  Daddy said you got scared when a baby gorilla charged the window when you were visiting the real gorillas.

I love your Elmo sweatshirt.

Your hair

Hi Elijah,
I have a funny for you.  When you were conceived, your daddy and I joked that you were fathered by my acupuncturist, Donna.  Because I had done acupuncture before you were conceived, we thought that must have been what had done the trick to miraculously conceive you.  I hadn't seen Donna since August 2009 but I went and saw her yesterday.  I showed her a picture of you and said "Here is your child."  She said "Where the heck does he get that light colored hair from?"  I told her we were still trying to figure it out.  She said "Oh, I guess it comes from me!"  Your dad and I got a big laugh out of that because it is true :)  I feel so much better after my appointment and glad I got to see your "father."

We went to the Lancers last night and you did pretty good for the first 2 periods.  We left and you were asleep in the car before I think we even got out of the garage!!  We went with Troy & his family.  We saw Brandi & Jeff (and Heinrich).  It was nice to get out of the house for a bit.

I am working today & hopefully, you will do something fun with daddy.  Go to see your cousins bowling or go to the zoo.  I will be boring and you two can have fun!

I finished up your scrapbook pages from the Children's Museum and will share them with you.

Some Scrapbook pages

Hi Lijah!
You had 2 big things happen this week!

1) Daddy took you to Mary's and you said "Bye Dad."  I think that is your first 2-words that you have strung together.  It was clear enough that Mary heard it and then all your friends at daycare started saying it too!
2) We were having you walk in between us and you dropped your toy.  You stopped, bent over and picked it up, stood up and started walking again.  You lazy bones - you know how to walk but you are just lazy!

Other than that, we are kind of boring, buddy.  Mommy is getting worn out really quick with Baby Joey so your daddy is having to do all of the hard work.  You keep going to bed later and later.  I finally decided that we need to stop letting you dictate your bed time - we normally put you down when you seem that you are tired.  However, we are going to try to start doing it by the clock or at the first sign of you being tired rather than the overtired stage.  Last night, that was 8:45.  We will see how that continues!

I have some scrapbook pages to share with you and I hope we have some good weather this weekend.  I have to work on Saturday & daddy was thinking about taking you to the zoo.  Then, on Sunday, I want to take you to Kidz Explore and we have your cousin's birthday party.

 This week, you have made my heart burst!  You have started crawling up on your love sac and resting with books.  I loved seeing you all curled up on your love sac but loved seeing you "playing" with books even more.  It doesn't matter that they are upside down.  Last night, you even let daddy read you a whole book without fussing or wanting to move.  LOVE IT!!

February 14

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY ELIJAH!  We hope you had a great day!  I know I sure did and I was so grateful to share it with you, your daddy & little Joey kicking around there  :)

Let's back up to last week.  You got in trouble for biting at daycare.  The thing that bothers me is that you do know better.  I think you are just testing to see how far you can push everything.  We went out to eat with our friends Sandy & John.  You were shy at first but you warmed up to them and then wanted go home with them!  On Friday, we had dinner with Great Gramma Dorothy, Auntie Sue and Gramma Debbie.  You were hamming it up and wouldn't leave Gramma Debbie's side!

On Saturday, I got my haircut and then we took you to Oakview's play area for the first time.  You enjoyed crawling around and seeing the kiddos.  But, once we had to stop you from jailbreaking 3 times, it was time to go.  We were going to go out but we just couldn't get your nap time right so we stayed home.

On Sunday, we went to the Children's Museum with the Beatys.  You loved it.  You played so HARD!  I have never seen you walk so much - with Debbie or Morgan holding your hand or with the shopping cart.  You were so wore out.  We did grab dinner and you were an angel.  We were so relieved as you tend to turn to demon child when we go to dinner anymore.

You love the ball room!

Making all sorts of noise!

Face Painting time - let's torture the only boy in our group  :)

End result

You ran this shopping cart ALL OVER for what seemed like HOURS!

Today, you had your Valentine's Day party at daycare!  You came home with lots of treat bags and goodies!  We made creme bruleee to surprise your daddy then it was nappy time.  When you woke up, we had Chicken Carbonara for dinner (YUMMY), pink cupcakes for dessert and daddy bought us chocolate covered strawberries.  DELISH.  We were having a sugar smorgasboard.  Gramma Debbie & Donnie came over with lots of treats for you.  But, the big news of the night was your walking.  You were holding on to your exersaucer and I said "Come Here Elijah."  You walked over!  Then, we were showing Gramma Debbie and Donnie how you were walking and you did great.  You were walking all the way across the living room - the longest distance yet.  Next step is you doing it all by yourself!

Well, baby, thank you for a great Valentine's Day.  For some silly reason, I was just plain happy today in preparation for the evening.  I was so excited about the dinner, the creme brulee surprise, the pink cupcakes and photos with you in your tux shirt.  We didn't go anywhere or do anything but I had an awesome Valentine's Day with my 2 1/2 boys - yes, even Joey kicked up some noise once or twice  :)

Treats from Morgan & Debbie

Treats all 3 of us made & you took to daycare.

Treats daddy ordered for us.

Me and my baby!

 You and daddy being silly!

Your first piece of chocolate!  Yummy!

Have to sample the cupcake!

Hanging out with Gramma but she doesn't realize you don't look at the camera anymore  :)

Monday

Hey babycakes!
You were finally in good graces at daycare - you ate well, you took a long nap and you were in a good mood.  It has been a long time since you were in good graces.  We were so excited.  When we picked you up, we went to get your Valentine's Day photos taken but Portrait Innovations was closed.  We went to Target and got a few taken but they won't be in until 2/18.  We will probably have to go again so we actually have them for Valentine's Day.

You practiced walking quite a bit - both with us and we were playing with the boys at daycare.  Everyone thought it was so fun that you would walk to them.  All the kids were screaming "come to me Elijah!"  I think now we need you to make the connection in your mind that walking gets you from point A to point B.

At Target, we got a treat and you were a FREAK.  So, of course, mommy had to bust out her camera  :)

Well buddy, it is 8:47 and you have been asleep since 8:00.  Your dad and I looked at each other in disbelief and wondered who that baby was in our son's body  :)

Walking Video

We were working with you and I decided to see if we could get a tape.  What was so surprising was that you were walking while drinking your milk before this.  So, you don't even need to balance yourself with your arms.  I think you are just plain lazy and don't want to do it on your own  :)