Elijah's Great Grandpas

Elijah has now met both of his Great Grandpas.

Neither one had an easy time remembering his name but both smiled and loved him up.

Both were pros holding him-not disturbing his sleep nor did they have to deal with any crying. Hopefully both have passed on some sort of wisdom to Eli from the life they led as they are both great men.

Sometimes I hold Eli on my lap and talk to him and watch his faces he makes. I'm always looking for a "look" that may be specifically like Andy or myself. And by golly (just what he would say too) I saw Grandpa Schneider (Schnoksie) in him last night. It put a big smile on my face!!!!

Elijah's middle name is in honor of his grandma Roeder-Casey is Andy's mom's maiden name. I have never heard Andy call his grandpa anything other then "grandpa", but to me, he is Grandpa Casey. He teared up when he got to hold Eli and fell in love with his soft blanket. Grandpa Casey made sure that everyone who held Eli had the soft blanket under him. I'm thinking of buying him one for Christmas to give him from Eli.

WE did it!

Eli-we did it! I only came to check on you for no reason ONCE! The other times you woke up were all necessary-feedings or replacing the nook (and even that was less than I thought).
I'm so proud of us-mostly you but me too! Dad was a great helper and Bailee slept through it all. I hope you continue to have sweet dreams.

Eli's next step

Dear Elijah,

Tonight Daddy and I are taking the next step with you. We are moving you out of your bassinet and into your crib. You are moving to you're next big boy bed! You've already had so many sleeping "spots" while you were in the hospital-moving from a bed warmer, to a wooden bassinet to the white crib on the 7th floor. Tonight though, you will move from mommy and daddy's room to your nursery. I have been trying to move you over there for the last couple of nights, but it makes me very sad and emotional. I know it's a good thing for both of us, and hopefully we will both sleep soundly tonight! But I can't help wonder what you will do all night-look around at you're new surroundings, love it, hate it or just sleep through the excitement?

Just because we move you to your room does not mean we love you any less. I have to document that to make ME feel better because when I try to tell you tonight, you won't understand. So just for the record, I love you SO much and hope you learn to love you're new bed!

So, this morning Daddy moved our special "eating" chair to your nursery and set up a little lamp and table for your burp cloth. It's all set and there is no turning back. I think this will make changing your diaper, burping and swaddling you an easier task and you will put yourself back to sleep easily. I will of course get up many times (probably too many) to check on you. AND I'll be listening to every single noise on the monitor (but not toooo closely, a mom has to give her son some privacy right?). So far the monitor has worked really well to pick up all your noises, so I have faith that it will wake me up tonight to come feed you whenever you are hungry. Daddy will be listening too. Oh and of course, Bailee, and you know how well her ears work!

Godspeed little man, sweet dreams.....I love you.

Love,
mom

A tribute

to "Aunt Peggy"!

I've decided to let the world know how lucky I am to have a friend like Peggy. Many of the people in my life know about her just by me talking about her. That is because she is a fun, sensitive, understanding, excited, interested and interesting, honest and thoughtful friend. We started being friends through work. Shortly after she applied at the hospital I work at, we ended up at a mutual friends wedding. Maybe we had one too many drinks, but our husbands hit it off and the 4 of us went to the bar in the hotel and then all shared a hotel room so that nobody was unsafe driving home. That was the beginning. We then both got married and shared in so many wedding stories, planning anxieties and adventures. Following that, she became a mom and was so open in sharing the whole process with me. She hasreallyhelped me with becoming a mom and even offered to have my baby shower at her house! She has let me wear all her maternity clothes and use many, many useful baby items now that Eli is here as well as be there for advice and to tell me how it was for her. Besides that-she has continued to shower eli with gifts-every time I see her she has something new for him. I can see how much Eli means to her and how important it is for me to be a big part of Lily's life too. Peggy loves to talk (she'll admit it) but oh can she listen! She always remembers to ask about all the things that I have complained about or talked about and she can really read into my mood as well-knowing just when I'm not telling all the details or have more to say. We are very similar in our intuition, insecurities and ideas for life. I love to share laughs with her, clothes, chats, ideas, thoughts, fears, ice cream, popcorn, pretzel bites (ha), vacations, games and motherhood with her. Peggy is a total go-getter, she usually knows what she wants and will do all the right things to get it. She motivates me to be that way and is always there to keep me in check.

Today I was having a rough day. I had to take Eli to the doctor for a rash and other issues and then I, myself had to go to the doctor. She called a few times, hinting that we could get together or was just checking to hear how the appointments were going. Each time she called I had my hands full and couldn't talk at the moment. But I did text her and tell her my worries and man could she sense that I was having an awful day. When I got home....this was on the counter for me.

Peggy snuck in our house while I was gone and left me some treats and a card. I of course started crying (and Eli too, but for other reasons). The card said (among other things that a good friend writes when you are having a bad day):
1. Surf buds bowl: For ice cream
2. B-ball book: to read to sumo
3. Cosmic Lipsmackers: To feel pretty
4. Diet Coke: to RELAX
5. Gummy bears: For fun

So special. I am already drinking that diet coke and when Eli wakes up, we will read his new book. Ice cream tonight...she hit the spot! Thanks Peggy-for being so thoughtful and just being you!

I'm a mom!

How can I tell I'm a mom?

From this picture....

I went on a "playdate" about 1 1/2 weeks ago with 2 other experienced mom's. Elijah was the youngest and probably the quietest during the encounter. We met at the mall and all 3 kiddos let us mom's eat our lunch. Then we walked and talked. I felt like I was in a movie or a book-walking beside other mom's and chatting about motherhood in a mall (when so many other mom's were working). What EVER did we talk about before we became mom's? Seems impossible that there was any other topic worthy of even getting together for besides "motherhood".

During lunch, one child was so busy getting into my diaper bag looking for a toy or a treat (or whatever she could find) while the other slid (accidentally) out (almost) of the stroller. It made me laugh and smile to see other mom's in action, compare stories and watch the little ones interact.

Security Guard

Elijah has a new bodyguard.

Her name is Bailee. (Yes a bodyguard can be a "her"!)

Bailee has not been overzealous about being jealous or protective of Eli since we brought him home. But tonight while he was swinging, she made sure to come over and lay down. I'm pretty sure I heard her growl "No trespassers" when I walked by!

She even snuck her protective snout in when Eli was getting his bath tonight!

Butterball

Elijah is filling out his newborn outfits and diapers. OH MY GOSH!!!
Andy is calling him butterball and pork chop-but these are NOT nicknames...I repeat-these are not names to start calling him :) (That coming from Mommy dietitian!)
He is growing so quickly it is scary. His last weight was 7 lbs and 9 oz (thats over 2 lbs from his birth weight) but I'm sure he's more then that now. I'm going to be sad but excited at the same time to open the next drawer of clothes and close the one that holds all the first outfits he has worn. We love every single little inch of him.