Green Bay Cousins

Elijah continues to have lots of special visitors. This week his Aunt Julie drove all the way from Green Bay for a visit. They got a little cuddle time and he also got the chance to meet 2 of his cousins. Elijah has many cousins (all boys and 1 girl) on the Roeder side. Because so many are boys-there will be many pick up basketball, baseball, football, dice and poker games in the future where all the uncles will for sure coach their sons to be super competitive. Although Eli is currently the smallest-he will grow into it and hopefully be able to run and tumble with the rest of the gang.

Julie and Jeremy's boys: Gabe (just over 2 years) and Elliot (9 weeks-so 5 weeks older than Elijah). I think Julie and I share in the dream of these two (Elliot and Eli) playing together at family get-togethers and keeping each other busy since they are so close in age. Although they may not be close in size at this time-Eli will grow to catch up and I can picture these two giggling, being secretive, holding hands and playing catch together. Oddly-both were given names that start with E which could be confusing (even to the mom's!).

We went to Organ Piper Pizza where Gabe bounced to the music, Elliot checked out all the blinking lights and Eli "conducted the orchestra" (he moves his arms in his sleep like he is a conductor of a symphony). Then we brought them home and put them on the floor to compare sizes. Elliot was born at 11 lbs and Eli only at 5 lbs-thus the size difference-but best buds they already seem to be.

I have big wishes for these two boys-look how they intertwined their arms!

"More later...."

that should be the title of my blog. I say this multiple times a day-usually via text message, instant messaging or e-mail. Does anyone else notice that I say that a lot?

The Bird and the Yawn

It is clear now why they nicknamed her the bird!

The 2nd picture is too dark to see-but the bird had her hair in a tiny little pony-tail on top of her head and when her parents took it out to get ready for bed....her hair continued to stay sticking up. Wonder what it looked like in the morning!!!!!
She is at a joyful (and busy) stage of life!

Moving on...

I waited for this moment allllll day long.

What We Know Now...

So, Elijah is only 3 weeks and 2 days old, but there are some things that Andy and I know about him already. Since he had such an interesting arrival, we are just hitting the 1 week mark of Eli being home and are still trying to figure things out as new parents. I'm sure just as I post this-and admit to "knowing" stuff about him, everything will change just to throw us off and keep us on our toes. Every day is a new day and a new stage in Eli's life-therefore we as parents continue to learn learn learn! Oh how we love him.



1. He likes to be called Elijah, Burrito, Eli, Sumo, Ewok, Bubba, E-bug, Goober or Goobs. Don't ask how we know, WE know (because we're the parents!)



2. He hates to sit in a dirty diaper.



3. When he sneezes 2 or 3 times in a row, he coos after!



4. When he burps (sitting up style) he raises his right arm straight into the air.



5. He loves the pacifier (Fa-fa)



6. The only thing he really knows and can remember...is how to eat.



7. He is soothed by singing and having his forehead rubbed (his favorite songs are twinkle twinkle, you are my sunshine, eli had a little dog and ABC's).

8. Elijah's fussy time is from 9-12 at night. There is no getting around it. It is what it is.



The list will continue to grow day-to- day-to- day-to -day.

My Two Boys

Need I say more?

The smell of the "old house"

This morning I woke up to let Bailee outside. It had been lightly raining earlier. When we came back upstairs to get some extra snuggle time we opened the bedroom door. The ceiling fan was going and the window was open a little bit. I got a whiff of a sort of muggy smell. It reminded me of the days on Janewood Lane. During the summer when my mom would go to work, she let us sleep in and when we woke up we could have our cereal or frozen waffles. Then she often had a small to do list-of jobs we could/should do-sometimes she even paid us to do them! Anyways, if I had softball or tennis practice, I would usually bike there if she was at work. Usually my brother was home too. If it was raining or had rained there was that smell-of the old house on Janewood Lane. I can still remember it!!!!!

Moving on.........

Yesterday was our official 39 week mark of our first pregnancy. Everything seems on track, we're just trying to be patient. We are allllll ready for the baby to arrive. Today we made our very last purchase (I hope) before Junior arrives-2 packages of white baby socks. We also bought a baby book and a video camera. We won't be taping the actual birth, but we do feel we will use it to tape other "monumental" events in our son/daughters life.

We also bought zucchini, cucumber and green pepper plants, as well as a new flag for our flag pole. And we will try something new this year: cauliflower-anyone ever have success with that? We bought a package of basil seeds to plant, so we can make some pesto. But when our backs were turned, Bailee grabbed the package of seeds and ripped it apart-maybe we'll have random basil all over our yard? Andy planted it all and we even put a few flowers to go around the flag pole. It finally feels like summer-hope everyone is enjoying it!

Here I am at 38 weeks...how much bigger can it get?

Your name?

Dear Junior,

Your daddy and I are deciding on your name since your arrival is pending!
It's so interesting to think that we are going to decide for you what it is, what others will call you and how it will be spelled.
Many thoughts cross my mind when thinking on this. When I was little, I hated my name. I just thought it made me stick out and I never wanted to have any extra attention. Now, I love my name. It is so different and I get at least 1 compliment each day on it, which is just an overall good feeling. I have your grandma and grandpa to thank for that I guess and I hope some day you will be able to tell dad and me that you accept/love/like your name too!
Your dad and I are deciding between a few names right now and these are some of the things we are considering:
1. Initials: what will they be-could they spell something that would be weird/funny/neat?
2. Will you get made fun of in any way-will it rhyme with something goofy that people will make a big deal about (AKA-I was Raina-Complaina ha)?
3. Should we stick with something traditional, modern or total different and unexpected?
4. How many other mom and dads will be naming their child that same name this year and will have the same name as you in your class or on your team?
5. What nicknames are we ok with-what COULD people start calling you and how to control that? Are there versions of the name that we don't like that we'll have to tell everyone on the day of your birth "this but not that" etc?
6. Will you LOOK like you're name? Will it fit you?
7. Should we pick a meaningful/family name?

So many things to think about and we have 10 days until you are supposed to arrive and I feel it is a big decision-as I realize not only are you going to be our baby and first child, you are going to have a life to lead where you will be a toddler, a child, a teenager, a young adult, middle aged, mid-life, elderly etc-the name needs to fit you through and through! You could be an athlete or in forensics or a business man or a librarian~ you are going to be SOMEONE and we are choosing the name you will live with~ PRESSURE right? Either way, we love you and will have many nicknames for you-so hopefully there will be one that sticks and that you are ok with! See you soon.
Love,
Mama