A Post about Love

In honor of Valentine's Day. A letter to Eli.

Sweet (not so baby anymore) Elijah-

I want you to know how important it is to love other people. Not just becasue it's the "right" thing to do but becasue it is the Christ-like thing to do. Loving people isn't always easy. It is much easier to judge others, look down on them, hold grudges against those who are mean to us. But this is not what we are called to do. We are called to love one another no matter who they are or what they do.

I hope your dad and I will raise you to be a God-fearing man but even more, I hope you spend each day bringing joy and spreading love to others. It is so important to care about other people. We are to build up one another. I pray that you will see the value in each individual person regardless of their gender, race, sexuality, and social class, etc. Every person has worth, Eli. Every person deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. Life is too short to be mean to others. Remember that Christ's love spreads to all. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love you so much. Happy Valentine's Day baby boy.

Love,

Your Mama

Valentine's Day!

I must admit, I get way more excited about Valentine's Day now that I have a kid. I love having a reason to send out Valentine cards and make goodies to send to his daycare class!

Speaking of cards, I know I want to order some for Eli but Tiny Prints has this card that makes me laugh. This would be something that Dale would appreciate getting!

http://www.tinyprints.com/greeting/product/32166/valentines_day_cards_i_like_you.html

I love Tiny Prints. I think I have ordered Christmas cards from them for the past 2-3 years. They have great quality cards for affordable prices! They are giving away 50 classroom Valentine's Day cards to bloggers that post about their V-day Cards! How cool is that?



Click on the link below to be taken straight to their card selection. It's not too late to buy cute Valentine's Day cards!

http://www.tinyprints.com/tiny-prints-valentines-day-cards.htm



Other cool ways to stay in touch with Tiny Prints
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TinyPrints
On Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/tinyprints
On Pinterest (gosh, I love this site):http://pinterest.com/tiny_prints/


Are you ordering Valentine's Day cards this year???? If you are, you better send me one! :)

Somewhere between here and there I know have an almost 1 1/2 year old. The strangest thing happens when you have children. You finally, for the first time, start living for someone other than yourself. You have to throw your selfish desires away because you don't really have a choice anymore. Fortunately, I am okay with this. Unfortunately, it has left me with very little free time to blog.

Suffice it to say that I am SO incredibly, unbelievably happy God trusted me to be a mom to Eli. I would be straight up lying if I told you I don't have bad days, that I never wonder what it would be like without him, that I never wish for a break- I do think those things. Sometimes often. But I would also be lying if I never told you that this sweet, handsome little person has taught me more about myself and life and love and patience and giving in the past 17 months than I ever thought was possible.

He's pretty rad and I love him a whole lot.





Merry Christmas a month late!

Time flies...

I admit, I am bad at blogging. Must do better. Must do better.

Eli is 14 1/2 months old! I don't want to forget what he is doing at this point in his life so read on for some fun stuff.

-He loves books now. This is a recent change as a couple weeks ago, the kid couldn't care less. He will grab a book and bring it to us, want to sit in our lap and go through it. Now his attention span is still about 30 seconds but it is slowly getting better.
-Loves playing with Molly. She will even get a little rough with him and he cracks up.
-His favorite part of the day is when his socks and shoes come off when we get home from daycare. He is hilarious. He takes after his daddy and has sweaty feet so I think he likes "feeling free" if you will.
-He is a good sleeper and eater. Sleeping through the night- still going down before 7 each night beacuse he is NOT a napper. I'm over that battle so it is what it is. He sleeps well at night- I'll take it. He loves most foods. He isn't a big meat eater, which is weird to us but he'll at least always try stuff.
-No more milk problems which is great. He is completely on organic whole milk (yes, I am that mom that gives organic because the hormones in milk freak me out). I think it just took him a solid 2 months to get used to it.
-My reflux spitter-upper is CURED. No more spit up. I don't know if I ever thought I'd see the day that we wouldn't need a bib or burp cloth but we are there, FINALLY.
-He loves to play outside. He would be out there all day if we let him. He has some cars and outside toys he likes to play with so he, for the most part, occupies himself when he is outside which is nice. He's still too young to get the playground idea or do much climbing but he'll love that when he is big enough too.
-He babbles constantly. He doesn't have many words yet but he is always making noise. I think within the next couple of months his vocabulary will get a lot better.


Ok. I am sure there is more. Must do better. :)

Eli is ONE

How does time go so fast? HOW?

Dear Eli-

Today you turn one. I made Daddy take a picture of you asleep before you woke up this morning so we could have the moment captured forever. I sent you to daycare in your "It's my birthday shirt" with matching "birthday boy" bib. I didn't use to be this way. I am usually not this sentimental. Maybe I should say, I wasn't this sentimental before I had you. But you've changed me. In so many wonderful ways. And you challenge me- to become a better mommy, a better wife, a better friend...

I really don't remember what life was like without you in it. Which is okay because you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love watching you grow, take steps, feed yourself, play with Molly and enjoy life so much. I can't wait to watch you grow up into a wonderful young man. You are a true joy in my life and I love you SO much.


Now please don't start those toddler tantrums too early, okay?


Love,
Mommy

AHhhhhhhhhhh 11 month old.

I have an 11 month old. That's one month away from a year. Someone hold me.


At 11 months Eli is:
-sleeping through the night still and we have officially gotten rid of the sound machine.
-No new teeth this month which has been good for routine.
-Eating well. Breakfast, lunch and snack at daycare and dinner at home. He likes food and it's been an easy transition.
-Still in 12-18 month clothes. He will be in 2T soon though. The kid is big.
-His balance has gotten better but he still isn't walking.
- Has officially started tantrums where we take away something he can't have and he launches into screaming fit mode. At first it scared me, now I laugh.
- Size 4 diapers still and size 4 shoe.
-Takes 4 bottles a day still but we have started the switch to milk. In a couple weeks, he will be off formula! This is nice.


Eli had a great summer staying home with daddy 3 days a week. He had trips to both grandparents houses and the aquarium. If I was a good mother, I would post pictures from that but I haven't uploaded them yet.

Soon....

The next post will be ONE YEAR.

Holy 10 Months Old!

How did this happen? I really can't believe how fast time flies. It will be a year in no time!

At 10 months:
-consistently still sleeping through the night
-4 teeth on the bottom and 4 on the top. This changes pretty much weekly as another tooth will pop through.
-Eats all solid food now and no more purees... even at daycare! I like this but it is also harder because I have to pay more attention to what we are eating and what he can and can't have. We'll get the hang of it eventually.
-LOVES cheerios and goldfish crackers. Eats sweet potato fries, rice with peas and carrots, graham crackers and cheese are favorites. And ALL fruit. He loves fruit.
-In all 12 month clothing. Some 18months already.
-Has taken a few steps here and there and I am sure he will be walking by a year.
- Is in a whiny phase. Wants to be held a lot but still plays independently a lot too.
- Size 4 diapers still and size 4 shoe.
-Loves to be out and about and to ride in the carseat. This is nice!
-Loves to people watch.
-Takes 4 bottles a day still. I know he isn't ready to go down to 3 or he will wake up overnight to eat.
-Mastered the sippy with water. He has never had juice and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible.
-Loves to play with the dog. They give each other kisses and he grabs her tail. Molly does great with him.
-He babbling and talking pretty much constantly. It's not real words but he is always saying or squealing something.
-He has been in the pool a couple times this summer. He tolerates it for a few minutes but it's definitely not his favorite. :( We will keep trying, maybe it will grow on him.

I love this kid!