February 2

Hi Elijah!
Not much to report today! We didn't do a whole lot. We did have fun watching you roll over several times. It is like a new circus trick for your mom and dad to watch. We went to dinner with Sherry & Aunt Sheila where we picked up your baptism pictures. WOW - some great photos in there! Between my camera, Sherry's camera and your Gramma Debbie's camera, we are set with baptism photos. We read another book today and I don't think you looked at the photos but you do listen. I think you like the sound of your mom being a goofy dramatic reader :)

February 1

Hi Elijah,
I can barely say "Baby Elijah" today because you are such a big boy it is flipping your mom and dad out! Your mom started laying you on your tummy while you were relaxing to get you working your neck muscles. I look over and the next thing I know, you are going "FLIP" and on your back. You rolled over! I think that you have done this before but I always made excuses - oh, the bed was inclined or I helped you. This time, there were no excuses - you are a big boy who can flip from his tummy to his back. Not only that, we think you are discovering your tongue. Last week, you kept moving it a lot and I got worried that you were dehydrated along with your tummy issues. In passing, your dad said "I think Elijah just learned he has a tongue." That is what it is - you learned you had a tongue and that you can move it and make noises. Here, your mom was ready to call a specialist and it is just you learning that you have a tongue. You are also experimenting more with your noises. We think you like to hear yourself talk - your dad says you get that from me and I suppose I can't dispute that!

After that, we went to have birthday dinner with your Uncle Jeff, Aunt Sheila, and your cousins, Cory & Jeremy. Uncle Jeff got to love you up a little bit before he heads back to Phoenix. Next time you see him, we can call him Grampa Jeff because Baby Jake will be here!!

I will make a big confession that will probably get me in trouble with your family. I can imagine my cell phone lighting up like crazy when people read this but I have to share it. Then, I will tell you about the lesson we learned! You still sleep with us the majority of the time. Your room is kind of cold so we haven't attempted to move you in there and plus, as a convenience factor, we just plop you in the middle of the bed. Last night, you woke up at 3:30 and I fed you in your boppy. You fell right back asleep so I just left you in your boppy in the middle of the bed. Once a day, you like to take a nap in your boppy - I guess you like the incline every once and awhile. Around 5:30, I feel little feet on my back. I figured I rolled over next to the boppy and you were kicking me. I turned over carefully and you had escaped your boppy and rolled right into me and you were on your tummy. Somehow, you went from your back in your boppy to your tummy next to me. Your dad and I don't know how you did it but it is forcing us to cut the cord and put you in your crib. Can't take any chances with you now that you are a superman rolling machine! In one sense, it was so darn cute to have you snuggled up next to me and realize how much effort it took for you to get there. In another sense, it freaked me out because what if I would have thought you were still in your boppy and didn't feel you? Scared your mom so your days in our bed at night are over.

Tonight, we are going to have some Mexican food with Sherry Shark and retrieve your baptism photos. Man, Elijah, her and your Uncle Zach did a great job. Can't wait to see her photos. Then, we are going to have to go to the hardware store and pick up a vent deflector so we can get your room warmer for you to sleep in it. We are going to try to do the Mexican with no tequila for either of us!!

January 30th, 31st

Well little Elijah, your meet and greet weekend is officially over! Your Aunties are gone, your godparents are back in their cities, your baptism is over and all that spoiling is DONE :) We are still winding down from all of that activity, aren't we?

January 30
You had another busy day today. We went to lunch with your Auntie Kim, Auntie Val, Great Gramma, Baby God Daddy and Erica. Then, your Gramma Debbie was missing you so we took you over there for 3 whole hours while we ran errands. We had dinner with the Langs again and your mom has to confess that she had way too much to drink. Parenting on tequila is not a pretty sight! But, we had a great time and you got to be spoiled by Great Gramma Lang while we played cards. I still haven't figured out if you drank any of that tequila with me and whether or not it helped you sleep :) You look like you had a little tequila in this silly photo I took but this would have been before you had any :)

January 31
It was your big day Baby Boy - your baptism. You got all dolled up in a white Christening suit and so many people came to see you be baptized. I was kind of surprised at how emotional I was during the ceremony (Not that I would show anyone - it was all in my head.) When they poured the water on your head, it was very meaningful to me. Now, we just have to do our part to raise you with a strong sense of faith. We had cake and soda and lots of pictures afterwards. I have to admit that I was a little blue at the socializing. Even though so many people came out to see you, we were still missing so many that it made me sad. I know your Grampas were all there in spirit but events like that really remind me of all that we are missing. You were held and loved up my so many people, I can't list them all. Plus, you also received a huge loot of baptism goods. Your dad and I were overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family. We think that this is the last of your loot - no more events to shower Elijah with gifts until your birthday :) We had one more family dinner at Sortinos before Brian and Erica left. Then, your mom and dad ditched you once again - over Gramma's for a couple of hours while we relaxed. When we picked you up, we thought they would lock the door to keep us out so they could keep you. We did have to pry you away from Auntie Val but it was made easier since we are hoping to visit her in a couple of weeks.

It will be a lot of years before you realize this (heck, I think I was in my twenties before I realized the value of family) but you are one lucky little boy. You have so many branches of family - Langs, Brighams, Blankmans, Dieatricks - that just love you so much. That doesn't even count your mom and dad's friends who love you up! You had 3 people (Auntie Kim, Auntie Val and Uncle Jeff) fly into Omaha to see you get some water splashed on your head. You have two Godparents who drove in town just for you. You have so much love locally - people gave up their Sunday afternoons to come see you and they wanted nothing in return but to maybe hold you for a few minutes. I hope that I can do a good job of raising you to appreciate all that you have and not take it for granted!

January 27, 28, 29

Hi Monkey!
Been kind of a weird 3 days here in our lives. Lots going on - being sick, going to the dr, your Uncle being a superstar and Elijah's Meet & Greet kicked off.

January 27
You slept all day today. It kind of struck me that you might not be feeling good because you do not normally sleep that long without being up for a few hours here and there. But, I was just so darn excited to sleep with you that I didn't pay too much attention to it. But, starting in the evening, you were officially not feeling well. All sorts of fussiness and crabbiness. Your dad and I didn't know what to do with you but we did get you sleeping a bit. However, you were just grunting, groaning and squirming so much that we didn't get any good sleep.

January 28
OH MY GOODNESS BABY - you are one month old already! Shocking! But, unfortunately, you were sick. You were vomiting, fussy, and just not yourself. I finally called the doctor and we took you in. They said you had an upset tummy and we did pedialyte for 3 feedings. You had some apple flavored juice rather than the same old milk. Helped a bit but you were still not yourself. I went and saw your Uncle sing the national anthem at the Bryan basketball game. He was awesome. You will be so proud of him when you watch it when you are older. You did stop fussing for a bit when I played it for your dad. Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!

January 29
Could you be any more spoiled? Holy mackerel! We went to lunch with all of your mom's aunts (your aunties) and Great Gramma. Then, we spent all day with them. I dumped you off and I went upstairs to take a nap. Over the course of the day, you were spoiled rotten by: Great Gramma, Auntie Val, Auntie Kim, Grampa Keith, Cory, Lauren, Brian and Erica. Not to mention the huge bag of gifts we got from your Great-Great Aunts Janet and Janice. All about Elijah :) Your mom got a bit spoiled too - Gramma bought her lunch and cooked her dinner with even some jello for dessert. I swear that it was like we were little kids again at the table :) You don't seem to be back to 100% yet but we are going to keep dosing you up on your gas drops and getting you back to being yourself.

Everyone enjoyed all of your grunting and groaning and loving you up. But, you know what I realized? I need a bit of Elijah loving myself during the day. It was nice to take a nap and have a big break but then, I didn't get any time with you either. When we got home, I let you sleep on me for awhile so I can just smooch you up to make up for today. Something else tore at my heart today and yesterday. When I came home from seeing Uncle Zach, your dad said you smiled when you heard my voice. Today, your family was saying that you were following my voice and actually wanted me to hold you. For a month, I really just figured that you wanted a warm body to hold you. But, today, it made me feel like your mommy when you wanted me. Because of your good behavior, I will slip an extra dollar in your bank for your college fund. :) Thank you for making my day!

January 26

Hi Elijah!
KInd of a boring day today, huh? We were lazy today and just hung out. This evening, Gramma Debi D came to see you and she was shocked at how big you are. I am shocked too! You keep getting bigger and bigger!

Every once and awhile, your mom is (wait for it....) wrong. So, today I figured I would fess up to a few things I have been wrong about. See, your dad and I have spent 15 years discussing how we would parent and judging others for not doing the things we would do. Now, we are realizing that this parenting stuff isn't as easy as one would think. Let's give you some examples...

1) We would never be those parents who let you sleep with them. Yeah, see how well that is working out?
2) We would never be those parents who spoil their child. While we haven't bought you material things, you sure are spoiled when it comes to being held and loved up.
3) (From your dad) My kid will never use a pacifier. You suck that pacifier up.
4) Why wouldn't everyone breastfeed? Um, because some people aren't able to or because it HURTS :)
5) I will never be one of those freaky moms who is worried about you 24x7. Yeah, how many times do I check to see if you are breathing?
6) We will not cuss in front of you. Um, that has been pushed back to start "next month" for 3 months. We were trying to practice before you were born.

Some things we said we would do and we are doing...
1) We won't be clingy parents. Have you counted how many places we have dumped you in? :)
2) We would use cloth diapers. We are using cloth but we did have 1 package of disposables that we used. If it weren't for the environmental impacts, I would forego all that cost savings and use disposables. They are so much easier but I am committed at this point.
3) People at work thought I would want to be a stay at home mom. I didn't think that I would want to do that and told them I would be back in mid-February. The first two days you were here, I wondered if I was wrong. However, I am looking forward to daycare. We are hoping it gets us in a better routine with you.

January 24 and 25th

Hi Monkey!
The bad thing about writing your posts in groups is that your mom's brain is mushy and she is already forgetting things to tell you!! As of this minute, you are laying in your boppy and sleeping but making lots of noises and grunting at me. I don't know how you get any rest at all with all of your noises :) But, every once and awhile, you will sneak in a big smile and it is that quick flash that helps me get through the sleeplessness. You know what else I love? When you wrap your hand around my finger without me prompting it. I love that feeling of you grabbing on tight :)

Sunday, January 24
We were pretty lazy this morning and afternoon. We were supposed to hang out with Levi and his parents but his mom was sick. So, we ended up going to Grandmothers with two of your mom's friends (Cindy and Kim). While we were there, we saw our old friends the Coveys and they got to love you up too! I even ditched you with them while I ate. Grandmothers holds a soft spot with your mom and dad. I think we should be part owners from the money we spent there over the years. I was so excited when you made your first visit there and was excited that the Coveys were also there - if we were part owners, they would be too :)

You got a present from Kim, Hannah and Jessica. You love it! When they came to meet you, they brought this fuzzy little pillow mat. You love to sleep on it on the love sac!! We need to bring it upstairs because you get so comfy on it - might be great for night time!

Monday, January 25
We read our first book together today - "Are you my mother?". I figured we could start a tradition with all the books your friend Morgan gave you. I don't know if you were looking at the pages or not but you were sure quiet when I was reading to you. Maybe you just like the sound of my voice :)

I was looking through my "heritage photos" - yes, photos of your Grampa Keith when he was young are known as "heritage" photos since he is so old - looking for a certain shot. As I was flipping through them, I realized that all babies really kind of do look alike. There is so much conversation about who you look like and I thought you looked very similar to Grampa Keith's baby picture, then Uncle Jeff's baby picture, oh and Cousin Johnny Lang's baby picture. So, I guess there really is no way to tell who you truly look like. There is no doubt that you definitely resemble your dad but there are all sorts of pieces in you that make you who you are. Anyway, I was looking for a certain photo of your Grampa Keith because you have taken to sleeping with your hands behind you head and I knew I had about 4 different photos of your Grampa like that!


Today hasn't started off so hot, little Monkey. I am used to us sleeping from 8-11 and you haven't really wanted to follow that plan today. Then, I changed you and I shut the door to your room when I left. Ummm...It is locked. I went to go grab your diapers to throw them in the wash and the door is stinking locked. All of your diapers (except 2 disposable) are locked in that room. Luckily, there were a handful of dirty diapers down stairs waiting to be washed so we have those washing now and hopes that you won't blow through the disposables as they are being cleaned.

Countdown is starting for the Eli Meet and Greet. I am not sure if you know what you are in for with your crazy Aunties both coming in town!

January 23

Hi baby!
Do you ever wonder who your parents are? Do you ever wonder why you keep getting dropped off at all these stranger's homes? :) Well, little one, it is all part of our master plan. No, actually, it is kind of an accident that you keep getting ditched with all these people. You know all those people I have told you that were praying for you? Well, now that you are here, they all want to spend time with you and love you up. So, your dad and I take advantage of it. We figure that there are several benefits to this madness - 1) We get little pockets of breaks to be kid free 2) You get to learn to be social and not scared of people. When you are older, we don't want you to be afraid of spending time with other people. 3) All these people get to love you up and get to know your silly self. We haven't made it through the list of people that want you yet so we have lots of couple time still ahead of us. I figure that we need to take advantage of it now - soon enough, the newness of you will wear off and we will be stuck with you 24/7 :)

Last night, your Uncles loved you up while I ran errands and went to the gym.

Today, your Grampa Keith wanted to spend time with you so we dropped you off over there and went to a movie. I couldn't decide whether it was your Grampa that really wanted you or Heather that really wanted you but I think it was 50/50 :) They are both quite smitten with you but this was the first time they spent an extended amount of time with you. They check on you all of the time and come visit but you spend over 2 hours with them today. Their report matched everyone else's - you are kind of boring and slept a lot. I can only hope that when you get to the non-boring stage, people will still want to get ahold of you and love you up!