Such neglect...

Hi Lijah,
Did you think your mommy forgot about you?  Well, I haven't but your blog has not been the top priority for a couple of weeks!  We have to take care of you, take care of Joey and take care of ourselves  :)

It has been a rough few weeks my little man.  You are so out of whack with your schedule and with us spending so much time at the hospital.  I apologize for that but, hopefully, we will be back to normal as soon as possible.  Well, for you, it will never be normal again when Joey comes home  :)

The week of June 6, you went to a new daycare while Mary was on vacation.  I was worried as it was going to be unfamiliar to you.  I knew you would adapt super quick once you started playing with the kiddos but I was worried about that Monday morning drop off.  You did great!  You made your first piece of artwork!!  You loved the sprinkler in her yard and loved her dog.  Daddy said you squealed every morning when you pulled up.  I was so relieved that you were happy there.

On June 9th, your brother Joey was born!  Grampa picked you up and brought you to the hospital to see me.  Unfortunately, Joey was in the NICU so you could not meet him.  However, I was so happy to see you.  It was kind of hard though as you wanted to cuddle up with me and I was still very sore from my surgery.  That night, you spent the night with your Brigham/Mickelson family.  You love spending time with your cousins.  I think Andrew is your hero  :)  Thankfully, your Brigham/Mickelson family was able to help with you that whole weekend as mommy recovered and we worried about Joey.

On Sunday, you were able to meet Joey through the glass.  Because he is in the NICU, you couldn't meet him face to face.  At first, you were so excited to see me through the glass.  Then, you got super serious as you saw I was holding someone.  Finally, you appeared to get excited again.  I could see daddy repeatedly saying "Joey" to you.

The following two weeks are a blur, buddy.  We continually tried to spend as much time as we could with both of you but it was tough.  You hated being couped up in the hospital room even though I relished the time with you.  You were sad to be shuffled around from place to place and not have any time with your mommy & daddy.  You started acting out - temper tantrums, not getting in your car seat, etc.  Once we started seeing the signs, we changed our schedule and you were so excited to have some normalcy back.

On Father's Day, I spent all day with you & daddy joined us after your nap.  You & I went to Walmart to get daddy & Grampa a card.  You picked out an M&M dispenser for daddy.  I think you picked it out for Elijah but daddy did like it  :)  We had lunch at McDonald's and it broke my heart.  You were just so excited to have time with me that you were giving me hugs at the restaurant.  It really validated how much we had neglected you over those 2 weeks.  After that, we went to Soccer Tots and you had so much fun!  You loved the obstacle course, the tumbling and the time where you were kicking the balloons.  We had dinner at Dave and Busters.  You liked all the games and learned to play a few.  Finally, we went up to the hospital to see Joey for a bit.

Even though you hated the hospital, you did like the "sprinkler" that we used on you in the shower.  It was a great way for us to pass the time and a great way for you to get a bath.  You thought that was so fun.  You also liked their play room with a train table and toys.  You also liked all the food we shared with you  :)

I think you know who Joey is and you know that he isn't my tummy anymore.  When we say Joey, you no longer lift up my shirt.  You see his photo on my phone and you move it out of the way so you can see your videos.  Last night, Daddy said "Where's Joey?" and you put his picture on the phone and made a "Joey" sound.  When your cousins came up to see us, you acted like Joey was the best thing since sliced bread and showed him off through the glass to everyone.  You were so proud and happy.  I hope that continues when we come home and I hope we come home soon!

Well buddy, I had lots of photos to share but the computer won't let me.  I will come back and add them. I am sorry for the havoc on your schedule recently.  I promise that, eventually, things will come together.  Just bear with us and keep a mental note to tell your therapist down the road.  :)

Busy Weekend

Hi baby!
You sure were busy this weekend.  Your calendar was full!

Despite all the activity, I think you were glad to be home.  I think you really missed us.  On Wednesday, you were a bit clingy to me & daddy.  You wanted to be held a lot.  That was A-OK with me because I missed you so much  :)  You enjoyed daddy's blue birthday cake and made a big mess!

On Thursday, you went to visit the daycare you are going to next week.  Mary is on vacation so we had to find a substitute.  You were shy for a minute then you started playing with all the toys.  There are lots of kiddos there and I think you will really like it.

Saturday was the busy day.  I had to go to the hospital for some testing and you & daddy came with me.  We had McDonald's afterwards and I don't think I realized what a piggy you are at breakfast!  You had a value combo that was bigger than what me & daddy ordered.  And, you ate most of it!  After breakfast, we both got a haircut.  You did so good.  I was so worried you would be scared but you just sat there like a pro.  You look so different now without your curls!

After the haircut, you were whisked away to the circus with Gramma Debbie.  I didn't think you would like it because you didn't really pay attention when we went in February.  But, Gramma said you loved it.  She said you were screaming at the animals and clapping.

Sunday was our first day of SoccerTots.  I was so excited for you to go.  I am not sure that it was all that I thought it would be.  I think you might be a bit too little.  But, you ran around the gym and played.  You liked parts of it.  Daddy was exhausted chasing after you and it was SOOOOO hot in there.  You had some bottled water in the car and ended up dumping it on yourself.  You were getting your arms and legs so I figured I might as well dump it on your head to make it worth it.  You thought that was so funny  :)

Well, buddy, not a ton going on this week.  You will be at a different daycare.  Mommy will still be resting growing Joey and I don't think we have any plans for any night.  Looks like you are just stuck hanging out with us old folks!

Long time no talk

Hi baby!
Mom sure is slacking when I have not talked to you on here in almost two weeks!  As I type this, you are in the car with Auntie Val and Great Gramma on your way home from your Minnesota trip.  Oh my goodness, we miss you so.  Daddy and I would just talk about you all the time to help ease our mind that you weren't home with us. It was so quiet and lonely without you here.  I asked your Daddy what the heck we did with ourselves before you were born.  He said we ate out a lot and saw a lot of movies.  None of that sounds fun compared to loving up my little Elijah!

Last week, you spent a lot of time with your Brigham family.  Daddy had a work event one night then had a date with Andrew on another night.  Since I can't chase you, you hung out over there with them.  You love playing with your cousins and playing with their kitties.  But, it made me sad because I didn't get to see you much on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I think you needed some mommy time too as you would just cuddle up with me when you got home.  On Thursday, you went to bed at 7:15 so I didn't get much time with you then either.  You kind of scared us going to bed that early but you must have just plain been tired!!

On Saturday, we packed up great gramma's car and took you to the airport to meet Auntie Val.  You were all loaded up with your books, toys and mommy's iPad.  Auntie Val thought it was funny that you had your own iPad.  But, we thought it might help you pass the time to watch your videos in the car.  I was much less sad than I figured I would be.  You just waved at us while you were in the car.

Each morning and each night, we would do a video chat with you on the phone.  At first, you didn't know quite what to think.  Then, they told us that you would start looking for us on the phone.  You would smile and wave at us.  You would laugh at your puppies.  You would give the phone kisses and reach out for hugs.  It really helped us pass the time and loneliness but there really is no substitute for cuddling up with you & giving you smoochies in real life.  So, we would smile and laugh at you then we would look at each other afterwards and be lonely again  :)

I don't know really what you did on your trip - what happens on your trip stays on your trip  :)  But, I know you went to the Mall of America and I know you played a lot.  I know baby GodDaddy was giving you some soccer lessons so you would be all up to speed for SoccerTots this weekend.  I know you watched a lot of TV and played with your iPad quite a bit.  I will guess that you missed your mommy & daddy a lot  :)  In reality, I think you missed your puppies more!

I can't wait to pick you up today and love you up but we have a SUPER BUSY week/weekend.  We have to go to the ENT and have your ears checked when you get home.  It is Daddy's birthday so we have to pick up his cake and have dinner.  Tomorrow, we are going to go meet your daycare lady for next week since Mary is on vacation.  Saturday, it is your FIRST HAIRCUT and you are going to the circus with Gramma Debbie.  Sunday, I hope we get some maternity photos before your brother comes and we start SOCCER TOTS!  I am so excited for soccer tots.  I hope to rest up all of Saturday and Sunday so I am feeling well enough to go watch and take photos.

I will leave you with some photos and the knowledge of how missed you were!  Both of us were just plain miserable without you  :)

This was daycare last Thursday.  It was on facebook and I looked at it in awe.  You look so big.  I just can't remember where my little baby went!

You loved hanging out with Erica.  You would cuddle up with her and pick on her!  She said she was going to miss you a lot.

I think you may have been waving to the phone hoping to get us.  We got you new spongebob jammies just for your trip.  Look how you took over their house and your toys are everywhere  :)

This was your last night there and you were out  :)  Erica said you were dreaming Happy Birthday wishes to daddy!

Your Mall of America trip with Baby Goddaddy.  He said you stood in line to meet SpongeBob but the closer you got, the more scared you got so no spongebob photo.  :)

Our talk...

Tonight, we snuggled up on the love sac and enjoyed our time together.  You were so silly and giving me hugs.  You were sharing my ice with me.  You were giggling and we just really enjoyed each other.

As you were getting ready to settle down and sleep for the night, you snuggled up super close to me and just let me have it.  You talked and talked and talked.  I rubbed your back and listened and asked questions every now & then.  Eventually, you flopped over and started snoring.  While none of your talking made any sense to me, it was the intimacy of the moment that clenched my heart  :)  Also, it made me look down the road to when you are really talking to me.  Someday soon, you will be talking actual words and I can just hear you going "and then....blahblahblah......and then....blahblahblah......and then...."  You definitely seemed to have inherit your mommy's gift for gab.

I know that most people would find this mundane and boring.  However, it was one of those moments that I wanted to write down because those memories slip through our hands quick and we forget!

Hey buddy!

Not a ton to share this week, buddy!  Most of our time together is us playing in bed or on the love sac.  For the rest of the time, you are just hanging out with daddy.  Like I mentioned last week, it kills me that you have gone from a Mama's Boy to a daddy's boy.  But, I know your daddy likes getting more of your attention!

Most days, we are at home.  You play with your toys, you play on your iPad, we watch TV and mommy complains about how much pain she is in  :)  This week, we did get to see our friends Sandy & John.  You acted like you owned the place!  Then, we did get to see Gramma Debi D, Mr. Pepsi and Great Gramma Marianne too.  While I worked on Saturday, you spend a few hours with Morgan, Debbie and Shane.  They said you were really good for them!

But, what I don't understand, my love, is why when others tell you no, you listen.  When I tell you no, you giggle.  For example, when we saw Gramma Debi D, she said "Elijah, no."  You stopped and started curling your lip.  If that were me, you would have laughed and moved on.  I guess I need more practice with the skunk eye and evil voice.

Tonight at dinner, I put a scoop of sunflower seeds on your plate.  They were a BIG hit!  You loved eating them.  Daddy just shakes his head and says "You are your mother."  I tell him it is because you were raised in utero on seeds and altoids  :)

You are back to liking your bath time - thank goodness!  With you being outside so much, you need more frequent baths.  We are also brushing your teeth every day.  You get so excited when I say "Let's go brush your teeth."  Today, you decided to do it yourself!  I think you just like the taste of the paste.

Daddy is working on your bathroom.  He is painting it white and we are all geared up for the Mickey Mouse transformation.  Hopefully, it will be done this week because he is booked this weekend working on getting our bedroom redone for Joey.  You have a big weekend this weekend - your first trip without Mom & Dad.  I sure hope those Cvilikai know what they are getting themselves into  :)

You seem to be feeling better.  The drops in your ears are helping and the nose spray seems to be helping too.  It is quite the routine we have going - you are such a big boy and you let us give them to you.  But, afterwards, I have to let you give them to me too  :)  Thankfully, they have lids on them but it makes you feel like a BIG BOY!!

Developmentally, you are obsessed with putting your shoes on.  You will sit there for a lot of minutes playing with them.  You will now tell me that a duck says "Quack."  When I say "Thank you" you will say it back to me.  You will now hand us stuff that you shouldn't have.  For example, you picked up a penny and ran over to give it to me.  You are starting to pick up after yourself a bit - putting your stuff back and such.

Well buddy, somewhat of a busy week.  Daddy has an event on Tuesday so you will hang out with Aunt Laura while he does that.  Then, Friday, we have to get you ready for your weekend vacation!

Random things...

Not a ton to share since Saturday buddy but I heard something on Oprah I didn't want to forget.  They were showing her "Greatest Hits" and an author said that the most important thing in life is to always let your children know how you feel about them by the look on your face.  When your children walk into a room, let them see your face light up.  I wish that for you and Joey - I hope that this great big mushie heart that you have created always shows on my face and you see it.  I know sometimes, we get frustrated with your antics - especially when we are tired - but I hope you see the joy I feel when I look at you.

We took you to the dr. today for the follow up on your tubes.  Your left tube isn't working as there is a blockage so you are on some drops to get it cleared up.  We also got some nose spray to help clear up your drainage.  I am hoping they both work.  I hope that it also explains your lack of sleep and bad sleep habits.

You were so funny last night - I let you have a sunflower nut and you thought you were HOT STUFF.  Since I am addicted to sunflower seeds, you think you need them but they are a choking hazard.  I figured a nut wouldn't choke you even if it was swallowed whole.  So, you now feel like you are a part of the action and were so proud.  Then, daddy popped open a diet coke and you left me to rush over there - you are an addict to those 2-3 swallows you get.

You are now into playing Monopoly on the iPad.  You don't know what the heck you are doing but you enjoy it.  What is amazing to me is how quickly you picked up the fact that you have to shake the dice.  I showed it to you yesterday and today, I said "We have to shake it."  You picked it up and shook it like a pro.  It really shocks me how little time it takes you to learn something new.

I am going to go mushy on you for a second buddy.  I don't think that I have done that in awhile.  I have taken a lot of time recently to just sit back and watch you.  I watch you roam around the house and act like you own the place.  I watch you give your puppies hugs.  I watch you walk up to your daddy and give him a kiss or run up to me to give me a hug.  I watch you learn and explore.  As I watch you and I get all mushy in awe that you are my son, it is also a bit bittersweet to think about the changes that are coming up in our lives next month.

I am worried on several levels.  I worry about my c-section recovery and how that will impact you.  We can still cuddle now and hang out.  After my c-section, it will be several weeks before we can do that.  Since I have been having problems with Joey, you have definitely switched from a mama's boy to be a daddy's boy.  While it breaks my heart every single day, I know it is good for you & your daddy but I also know it is going to be 2 months before I can start to repair that.  And, I will be starting to repair that after I introduce you to a new baby who will be living here.  I have a feeling you are going to blame me for this disruption in your life.

I sometimes wonder if we are cheating you.  You have only had 18 months to be on your own and you aren't grown up but yet we are going to pull the rug out from under you.  I know that it is the best thing for our family for Joey to be here and I know that you are going to love him up.  Somedays, you will fight with him, somedays you will be best friends and somedays, you will hate all 3 of us  :)  I just hope you know that the joy you bring to us is what prompted us to want to bring Joey in this world.  Each day that we spend with you is such a new adventure and you have changed our lives in so many ways that it was an obvious choice to expand our family.  With Joey coming, I can't wait to watch you expand in this new role.  You will now be the teacher and role model.  You will be showing him how to use the iPad and I can't wait to see you act that way.  I just hope it is an easy transition.  Finally, I hope that you never feel like we had another baby because we didn't love you enough and that you never feel that we love either of you more or less than the other.

Well, I will leave you with something silly today.  You were going crazy tonight over something silly.  I told your dad that I fear you will be a serial killer.  Then, I politely asked you to please leave your dad & I off the list if that is the case.  All we want for you in life is to be happy and maybe that is your path.  We just don't want you to #1) Get Caught  #2) Make us your first victims  :)

Boring to busy this week!!

Last week, we did nothing!  This week, we were swamped!

Last Saturday, you had a play date with Daddy's friend (Jay) and his granddaughter.  Everyone was so excited to bring you two together to play.  Daddy said you did great.  He said there was a baby there and you were an angel around the baby.  We will pray that continues when you see that the baby is staying in our house!  I expected you to be gone for a couple of hours and you were gone all day and night.  When you got home, we cuddled and you went to bed.  While you were gone, we got bad news.  Grampa Larry's brother, Uncle Ugly died.  It was sudden and unexpected.  While you have met him, the loss that you will experience is growing up without him picking on you   :)  It is a sad weekend for us and all the Blankman family.  While it has been several years since Grampa Larry died, in someways it feels like it was more recent and this was a major blow.

On Sunday, we had Mother's Day.  You and daddy bought me flowers, cards and 2 big bags of sunflower seeds.  PERFECTION  :)  Most mom's might want chocolate but not a good idea with Joey cooking in there.  Daddy said that you picked out my mother's day card.  At the store, you started barking and there was a dog card on the shelf.  Good job buddy  :)  We took a photo and I am so bummed it was so windy but you did a great job.

After that, we went to the Blankman's house and see Gramma Debbie and Great Gramma Dorothy.  Plus, you got to see all your Auntie's.  You were shy at first but then you thought you owned the place  :)

After that, we did Gramma Ruth's visit and you played with your cousins.  We had dinner in the old market and then over to Gramma Lang's.  It was a long, long day and I was so tired.  Thanks to you and daddy for a great Mother's Day!

On Monday, I made sketti and you love sketti!  Now that it is warmer, we can strip you down and let you eat sketti nekked!  We did a bath and then we hung out.

On Tuesday, we went out to dinner and we were on our way to take you to Aunt Sheila's house because we were going to a concert.  We ended up skipping the concert because I started having contractions and needed to lay down.  Bummer for all of us.

Wednesday was Uncle Ugly's funeral service.  There was no speaking service so we brought you up to see everyone.  Gramma Debi D chased you all over the place!  You were pretty well behaved.

Thursday was the actual funeral and you were at daycare.  We went out to dinner and you got new sunglasses from Gramma Debi D.  You enjoyed playing with them!

Friday & Saturday were boring with a couple of errands and being home.

Random things this week.  We now have conversations in the car.  We talk about the sounds a puppy makes (woof) and a kitty makes (eow).  I say "Say mama" and you laugh and say "dada."

You have completely taken over daddy's ipad and now, you know where your movies and games are.  I am totally shocked at how quickly you have learned your way around that thing.  There have definitely been some power struggles though.  I think you are winning  :)

We got some great snacks for you this week - raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.  Raspberries end up getting fed to me but you love the blueberries and strawberries!

We have had some problems with your sleep.  You are waking up every night just screaming.  You are pretty congested so your head might hurt.  You are also drooling more than ever.  Daddy said there are 3 places where you might be getting new teeth.  I thought we were on a break from teeth for a couple of months - guess not  :)

Well buddy, that is about it for this past week.  I suspect that next week will be more on the boring side.  I am not up to doing too much so we will probably be spending a lot of time on the love sac together!  Hope you are feeling better and those teeth stop hurting!