Summer Wrap Up

I haven't posted about many of the things we have done in the last month. I just haven't had time. Or maybe I fear I don't have the words to describe the fun we've had. I'm sad to see the summer weeks fly by so fast. I feel like we didn't do enough outside with the E-bug. But I am looking forward to the crisp weather, pulling out the footie pajamas, day dreaming about Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving dinner (yes...right around the corner!).

So where have we been these last few weeks?
Well we've been here:

and here...


oh and here too!

We also went here:
We've been hanging with these guys:
And we visited with him too:
These guys were a good time:
We were so glad to hang with the whole gang: More to come on all of these events!

I don't want to forget to mention that we celebrated our 4 year anniversary. We agreed that our 4 favorite things of the year were:
1. Eli's 1st birthday party
2. Both family vacations
3. Our trip to Arizona
4. Watching Prison Break without commercials
We opened our "surprise" 4 year anniversary card and it was from CHRIS!!! It was cute-he sketched a picture of what he thought we would "be" at this point in our marriage and promised a special video (our engagement, interviews etc). I'm so excited.
What will our 5th year bring? Only good things we know.....

Bump It....

When the day gets tough...I just know I'm coming home to my little "buster brown" as Andy calls him. One of the most entertaining things he does now is bop to music. Others have called it "bumping" to the music. He has one particular song he likes the most, but he'll do it to anything that has a beat.
See below in the video, his favorite song comes on in the background shortly after it goes silent-he'll do it in his highchair, his car seat, standing, sitting-probably even in his sleep if the song came on in between his lullabies.
All the movement you see from him comes from his hips. He does not sway his shoulders or his head. It's all in the hips. Therefore-Andy and I are going to have to keep our eye on him at the highschool dances. He definitely has his dad's rhythm. (He does get a little distracted at the end. But note-the song starts with some male voices laughing and as soon as he hears that he is alllll ready to go!)

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Thought for today....

I don't think I'm a highly judgemental person. Maybe I am. I try hard not to be. But some people make it so darn hard to walk by and not think "REALLY?". As in "are you really doing that?" or "did you really just say that?" or "why are you really wearing that?" or "how can I really help you?" (if you're in healthcare you might understand the last one really well). Admit it...you have those thoughts too!

Regardless- today it dawned on me. Maybe people are thinking that about me. Of course I've always been one of those people who worry about what others think of me. I try hard not to let it change who I am or what I do but I confess-I worry about it almost every day at least once. So...how many times are people walking by me, talking to me, looking at me and thinking "REALLY?" or "OH my gosh WHY?" or maybe even a passer by will send a text to a friend and say "guess what I just saw" about ME!

I wonder how many people look at me and think I'm something other than normal. I feel totally, completely, 100% normal. But I wonder what percentage of people think otherwise! Maybe people are judging what I'm typing in this blog post right this minute. I use this blog to post the good, the bad, the ugly and my thoughts. I hope I don't get judged for that.

Like she REALLY married this????

YES!!! and he's the best!

Keep Rockin' On

Dear Elijah,

The last few days have been HARD. You've been sick. DARN sick. And I've hated every second of it. You've had high fevers, spots all over (feet, hands, mouth, in your mouth, on your lip, on your back on your tummy etc.),you won't eat, you won't sleep and you are needy. You've seen nurses and doctors and you've spent extra time with mommy and daddy. Nothing phases you. You get by. You make it. You survive being sick.

Mama on the other hand...no she does not survive. I am extra tired from being so anxious about you being sick. Of course you are ok. OF COURSE! But something happens when you get sick and I cannot handle it. My mind starts to race, I start to watch you toooo carefully. I begin to examine every inch of you, your every action, how you are eating and drinking, how you feel, seem, scream etc etc etc. It's only because I love you.

I also stayed home from work to take care of you. I always wish for extra days with you. But spending the day with you when you are sick, whiny, feverish, whiper-snaperish, crazy, mad, angry, tantrum-ish, never hungry but always thirsty....by 6 o'clock I was ready for a bottle....of cold beer! At the same time you were ready for your bottle of milk.

I just want you to know that tonight I rocked you extra long after your bottle. You snugged in so deep on my shoulder tonight with Mr. Teddy. You hugged him hard but cuddled with me. So I rocked you. And rocked you. Dad came home from work and didn't interrupt. He knew...we were having our moment. The moment we needed all day. We needed that extra rocking to wash away all the hard moments. Your hard moments. All my hard moments. All OUR hard moments. Don't get me wrong, we had some special moments too. But being sick is no easy task and neither is the care-taking task. It's been 2 hours since you went to bed and I wish we were still rocking.

I love you baby boy!!!!!! Get better soon.
Love, Mama

I know...I wish it were about 30 seconds longer but it's all we got so far!

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It's Official...He Walks

Just marking it down for the history books.
Well actually marking it in the unofficial baby book (aka BLOG).
Eli has started taking steps. Andy and I are SO proud. Eli seems pretty darn happy with himself too.
No pictures or videos yet-stay tuned.

Miss it already...