Elijah's World

Seriously?

2008-02-08T16:06:00.001-07:00

I hadn't realized I haven't blogged here since November! What a bad mommy am I?

Christmas was a hoot, Elijah was spoiled, and loved spending time with Nana & Grampy. We all took turns being sick, but everyone is better now.

Elijah is signed up to take gymnastics again next month, it's only for 4 weeks, hopefully he'll have fun. He has already told me what kind of cake he wants for his birthday (Incredibles). I will now make a plea on behalf of him & his brother regarding gifts.

They really did get a lot of toys at Christmas, so if you want an idea of what to get for birthdays...
books, movies, stuff for his train set (he has the Thomas wooden train set), or clothes (Elijah is 4T, Miles is 24 mo-2T)

Here are some pics for you.

Falling asleep watching Toy Story

Laughing boy

Spoiled

2007-11-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

Elijah got a gift from Kevin & Ali last week. He loves this thing. I worry that other Christmas gifts might be a let down after this. This kid is spoiled. Here's a picture of the gift.

Elijah's head light

He puts it on, then says, "I'm ready to go camping!"

One other little tidbit, Elijah & Miles got their flu shots this week. We did Elijah's first, because I knew he wouldn't go for it if he saw Miles get it first. When the nurse walked in, Elijah said, I want a band-aid. I said, oh you're gonna get a band-aid. Then he saw the needle, and changed his mind.
Elijah: "I don't want a band-aid!"
Mommy: "You asked for a band-aid".

He did great for it, got over it pretty quick. Then it was Miles' turn. Elijah turned to him and said, "Miles it's gonna hurt".

Now he walks around the house saying "you asked for a band-aid". Kids are so funny.

Elijah Loves Snow

2007-11-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Open Up

2007-11-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I took Elijah to the doctor. Needed some mommy assurance that he was okay. His cough is still hanging on! He started his cough on the 17th of October, so after 2 and a half weeks I expected it to fizzle out. Nope. We're at the 3 and half week mark now and he's still coughing! Once he hits four weeks, I can call them again. In any case, at the doctor appointment they listened to his heart and lungs, and everything was clean. They even tested to see his O2 stats, and he was at 97%, which is good. Now if someone can explain to me how that device works, that would be awesome! They clipped it to his toe to see that his body was getting enough oxygen (the finger one wasn't doing the trick). Isn't modern medicine neat?

This week we took Elijah to see the dentist for the first time. He was so excited to get up in the chair. He was friendly enough to everyone. But once the dentist wanted to touch his teeth, game over. But they only deal with children's teeth, so having a kid cry and thrash was nothing new to them. Once it was over, Elijah calmed down (what can I say? He doesn't like people touching his head). The dentist said his teeth look good. The spaces are excellent for the adult teeth to show up. It will save us having to floss. All his teeth are in or have broken through.

The dentist told us about snacks Elijah needs to give up, like raisins (at least between meals), and that juice is only for meal time. Why? Saliva production. He can only have juice and chewy foods when he's eating a meal, when he is producing the most saliva, and able to wash away the sugars. Makes sense, but it means mommy has to find new snacks. We also have to change up his brushing habits, which Elijah hasn't had a problem with. He can still brush his teeth, but then we need to go over his mouth afterwards, and he needs to be lying down.

Because Elijah was wearing his Avs outfit, and he's such a good boy, the dentist gave him a hockey puck he had on his desk. Elijah loved it! He also got to go pick out a toy from the toy cabinet. He chose "pink guy", a stretchy toy.

He will now start visiting the dentist every 6 months, but they won't do a cleaning until he is more comfortable. They said kids can start visiting the dentist at 18 months (can you believe that?). Well, we would have brought him in sooner, but he wasn't ready for it. It wasn't until the last 6 months Elijah started to let us brush his teeth. So yeah Dr. Dentist, you show me a kid who is ready for the dentist at 18 months!

Elijah Tidbits

2007-10-16T14:24:00.000-06:00

Elijah picked out some new slippers at the store. His other ones were getting too small, plus he'd slip all over the kitchen in them and fall down.

the new duck slippers

Elijah is fighting a cold.

He still has no Halloween costume. I have until Saturday, when we have a Halloween party to go to.

Elijah is going to his first dentist appt in 3 weeks.

His favorite shows are currently Thomas & Friends, Curious George, Backyardigans, Wonder Pets, Little Einsteins, & Go Diego Go.

Rolly Polly

2007-09-21T09:16:00.000-06:00

Walking on the floor beam

Two weeks in, only two weeks left. Elijah likes his gymnastics class. They have a lot of fun stuff to play with, he mostly enjoys climbing on top of the arc and sliding down. This week he actually wanted to try and use the bar.

I was lucky enough to have Auntie Ali to take a ton of pictures for me. They are up on shutterfly now. It's probably best to view the album as a slideshow, because there are a lot of pics.

One last little tidbit, Elijah is getting a new tooth, in the back of his mouth. He's not too fazed by it.

Summer Is Over

2007-09-12T08:26:00.000-06:00

Mr. Jelly Mustache

Being silly

Wow, it's been a while since we've given an Elijah update. What can I say?

He's always bumping his head into stuff.

His vocabulary is ever increasing.

His memory is WAY too good. He will talk to you about things that happened days, even weeks ago. For example, he is reminding me of when I ran a stop sign 2 weeks ago. I keep telling him it was a one time thing, I am paying more attention to stop signs and I'm a good driver.

He started gymnastics this week. It's not a very structured class, but he enjoys running around and playing on the equipment.

If I would let him, he would eat all day long!

He will go get his flu shot in November at Miles' next doctor appt.

Ta-Da!

2007-08-10T08:19:00.001-06:00

I made curtains for Elijah's room. With some help from Cate (Elijah's Godmom), and Marian (my neighbor). I'm so pleased, it turned out exactly as I envisioned. Geoff put up the curtain rod, all that is left is to put the fancy end caps on the rod.

the fabric

Elijah (being silly) showing off his curtains

the curtains

Elijah Tidbits

2007-08-01T10:04:00.000-06:00

Elijah has really shown that he's a mixture of both Geoff and I.

Like Mommy, he's afraid of insects. I swear I didn't do anything to start this, I try to hide that from him.

Like Daddy, he likes order. He wants things to be straight, not crooked. It bugs him.

He loves giving hugs to people and stuffed animals, and tells them "I love you".

He can open the front door by himself.

He put on Daddy's glasses the other day, and it was like looking at little Geoff (if you've ever seen his little kid pictures).

Sicky

2007-07-16T16:08:00.000-06:00

Elijah is sick.

He woke complaining of a tummy ache, and he hasn't been able to keep any of his fluids down.

He's currently on his second nap, and the tiny bit of water I gave him before he went down has stayed in. So far.

Please pray for him to feel better soon.

Full Of Hot Air

2007-07-05T16:28:00.000-06:00

Elijah is so full of hot air, he can blow up the exercise ball.

Owie

2007-06-28T16:29:00.000-06:00

You gotta watch out for that first step, it's a doozy.

Elijah fell on the steps to the patio. He as having a really clumsy day yesterday. He slipped twice in the kitchen with his socks on. It's that age. This is the worse scrape he's ever gotten.

Shave & A Haircut

2007-06-18T16:06:00.000-06:00

Daddy and I got our hair cut this weekend with the new clippers. I watched Mommy do Daddy's hair first, Daddy seemed to like it, but Mommy wasn't sure. Once I saw how awesome Daddy looked, and heard the neat sound the clippers made, I was ready to try. Daddy started in the back and worked his way up my head. I got hair in my mouth though, which I did not like. Once daddy was done we got to have a shower. Mommy and Daddy keep telling me how handsome I am, but the only difference I notice is how much cooler I felt for our run on Saturday.

Good Morning

2007-06-15T08:01:00.000-06:00

I just can't function without my morning coffee.

Mommy's Sous-Chef

2007-05-12T19:02:00.000-06:00

He's A Big Boy Now

2007-05-03T16:02:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the best day ever. Elijah listened very well, and even napped for 4 hours. He's showing signs he's ready for potty training. So that's a journey we're going to start soon. I ordered a potty chair for him. Keep all of us in your prayers. I am not expecting miracles, I know this will be a long time coming.

He continues to be so sweet with his little brother. It totally warms your heart. He also amazes everyone with his outgoing personality and ever growing vocabulary. Oh, and he still likes Blues Clues, but he's gotten fanatical about Thomas And Friends.

I'm Two

2007-05-01T17:04:00.000-06:00

And when I don't get my way, I make this face...

Happy Easter!

2007-04-08T15:53:00.000-06:00

After church this morning we came home and hid eggs in the front room for Elijah. He loved it.

I Like To Be Outside

2007-04-04T10:26:00.000-06:00

Elijah is learning new words every day. He's been a little clumsy lately, but it doesn't stop him from exploring. He hasn't been sleeping in his big boy bed, because he'll get up in the middle of the night to see Mommy feeding Miles. And then he'll wake at 6am. Oh yeah, and he's starting to take off his pants and diaper when he's in his crib. It's always an adventure with Elijah. :)

Elijah's Birthday

2007-03-23T09:52:00.000-06:00

Lisa sent me a disk with pics from her visit, and videos she took (her camera does sound!). So here is a video from Elijah's birthday, and he's trying to sing Happy Birthday.

Best Friends

2007-03-16T16:58:00.001-06:00

Elijah & Caley

Two Year Check-Up

2007-03-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

Here's his latest stats from the doctor visit today:

Weight: 26 lbs 3.5 oz
Height: 34 1/2 in

Dr. Rich was very impressed with his vocabulary, and his motor skills. always good to hear. He confirmed what I knew, that his behavior was completely normal for a two year old (the screaming and tantrums). Thankfully he's not as bad as some other kids he has seen. No shots today, and he isn't due to go back until he's three. Thank God for that, because he HATED the trip there. He hated being weighed, he hated them taking his blood pressure, he cried watching them poke Miles with a needle.

Birthday

2007-03-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

Pictures are up on Shutterfly from Elijah's birthday.

Happy Birthday Elijah!

2007-03-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

taken Saturday, after eating birthday cake

We'll open presents this morning, and I'll post pictures later today. Happy Birthday buddy.

Big Brother

2007-02-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

Elijah is a great big brother. He gives kisses and hugs to Miles, he points out "baby crying", and he tries to help out a little. He is still going through the "terrible twos", but he's been doing that for a while. He was doing pretty good with sleeping in his big boy bed before Miles was born. But since then, we've been putting him in his crib. My concern is him going into Miles' room, so we'll see how we all adjust in a few days.

He goes to the doctor next week for his 2 year check-up. Then we'll have some stats for you.

I Need A Haircut

2007-02-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Big Boy Bed

2007-02-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Last night Elijah slept in his big boy bed for the first time. He slept right through the night and came downstairs on his own when he woke up. He ended up startling mommy actually, it was pretty cute. We're not sure he's going to do this every night yet, but it's a start at least. He sure is growing up quickly!

My Heart's Delight

2007-01-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

Little Man

2007-01-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

Elijah and Daddy try out the new double joggy stroller

I think Elijah is ready to be a big brother. He talks to his brother through my belly, and gives kisses. It's so sweet. He can even say his brother's name, but when you ask him what his name is, he says "me". He calls Honey cat "Night-Nights". Elijah may be the sweetest boy ever!

It's hard on him being stuck in the house and not being able to run with Daddy, or go for walks with me. I try to get us outside everyday, even if it's just for 15 minutes. It'll be nice when he, Daddy & his new brother can break in that new stroller.

Elijah Tidbits

2007-01-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

Elijah did great being alone with Daddy while I was away. He must be going through a growth spurt, his appetite is voracious. His pronunciation is improving every day. He's a polite little boy, saying please, and thank you, and he loves to say amen after we do grace.

He isn't sure of his big boy bed yet, but it is all set up. He will lie in it, read books in it, play on it, but sleeping is not an option. We're in no hurry, he'll get there.

He shares really well with Caley, which makes me smile and comforts me about him adjusting to his new brother. He likes to play daddy's guitar, and enjoys dancing to music.

He still loves books, but now he's getting into longer stories. Right now his favorite seems to be Robert Munsch (thanks Auntie Lisa!).

He's about 2'8" tall, and approximately 28 lbs. His next appt isn't until after his second birthday.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Pictures are up on shutterfly (under Holidays), and here is a short video of Elijah showing us what Santa brought him for Christmas.

Elijah Claus

2006-12-19T13:57:00.000-07:00


We got a package from Kelly, and Elijah wanted to put the presents away. So he put them in the tree, rather than under the tree. He's our little Elijah Claus.

Denver Zoolights

2006-12-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful family outing to see Denver Zoolights. Elijah got to test out his new winter coat (I hope it lasts through next winter too), and he walked the entire time we were there. I think his favorite of all the animals awake were the giraffes. We also saw hippos, elephants, rhinos, leopards and tigers.

Naughty Or Nice?

2006-12-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

I asked Elijah yesterday what he was going to tell Santa if he was asked, were you naughty or nice. And Elijah said "nice".

That didn't come up, but he did pretty well with Santa at Southlands yesterday. Santa is outdoors, on a carriage, and very friendly. Elijah was a little leery at first, but he warmed up to him by the time we took the picture. We went with Amy & Caley, and there was no line, so we were able to take our time. The polaroid they took didn't scan well, so I'm glad I brought my camera with me so I could capture my own picture.

Our Little Man

2006-12-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

Here's some stuff about Elijah that maybe you didn't know.

- Elijah just loves Honey Cat. And she doesn't mind him so much if he's being gentle.
- His favorite show is Blue's Clues.
- He still loves books.
- He throws a ball really well.
- He is good about holding your hand when you walk with him.
- He hates having his hair touched.
- He likes to brush his teeth.
- He can spot an airplane almost anywhere.

Thanks For Thanksgiving!

2006-11-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

I think this is truly Elijah's holiday. He loves the food! His favorites are cranberry relish and pumpkin pie. What can I say, Daddy is a good cook.

He also enjoyed having family here for Thanksgiving. He helped Daddy set up our deer on the front lawn, and tomorrow we'll decorate for Christmas.

Cushion Fort

2006-11-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

What could be more fun than sofa cushions on a Sunday afternoon?

In Elijah News

2006-11-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated his blog in a while, so I thought I better. Um, what can I say? He had his flu shot on the 11th. He cried for like 3 seconds, then he was over it. He'll go back for the booster next month, since he didn't get the flu shot last year.

He's quite a remarkable kid. He just talks all day, and he keeps adding new words. He's pretty good at saying Please, we are working on Thank You.

We went to the museum yesterday, and I just let him loose in an empty exhibit. He walked around and pointed at things, able to identify "Bear". We only stayed an hour there, it was a free day, so it was filling up fast. Then we went to the Aurora Mall to play and he enjoyed that. Santa was there and waved at Elijah, so he waved back. I don't think we'll have a problem when it comes time to get his picture taken.

I think he'll get more out of Christmas this year. He likes to point out the lights and trees when we go into stores. I can hardly wait to celebrate with him & Geoff. :)

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

Elijah dressed up as Army Guy. It was frickin' freezin', so we kept it short. But he seemed to get you say "Trick Or Treat" and "Bye". The house on the corner that goes all out had a guy dressed as the Reaper, and it made Elijah cry.

Pictures of all Halloween activities are up on Shutterfly (see link Armstrong Family Photos), under...Halloween.

So Tiny

2006-10-27T09:31:00.000-06:00


Looking Back (a little over a year ago)

Friends & Playdates

2006-10-21T09:12:00.000-06:00

Elijah wasn't overly keen on sharing his home and toys with Stephanie. Some days were better than others. By the last day, he was kissing Stephanie goodbye. It was very cute. I think his issue with Stephanie was that she is much more mobile than Caley, and he wasn't used to having someone follow him around and want to touch him.

Friday, we went to the play area at Aurora Mall with my friend Kirsten and her youngest son Keiran. He enjoys playing with him, they are closer in age, and pretty much the only male friend he has.

Two Rights Make A Left?

2006-10-06T08:18:00.000-06:00

We think Elijah may be a lefty. He certainly favors his left hand when he uses a fork or spoon. But if it's finger food, it's his right. Elijah has learned to put away his books and toys when he is asked, and he likes to help put away the dishes. He is a very good boy.

Here's a picture to make you smile.

Helping With Chores

2006-09-29T12:47:00.000-06:00

I took this video in August (it was hot, so he mostly wore t-shirts all summer). This is Elijah helping out with the chores. You can see Daddy doing chores in the background.

Getting Ready For A Run With Daddy

2006-09-24T19:15:00.000-06:00

Elijah bundled up for his run with Daddy.

We bought Elijah some shoes this week, so he's been walking everywhere. He loves wearing them, he brings them to me to put them on him. I would have bought him boots for the winter, but I didn't see any that I liked. Perhaps in a month or so. In any case, he'll be wearing these shoes everyday until he outgrows. 'Cause shoes are expensive!

Going To Work

2006-09-16T11:15:00.000-06:00

A Year And A Half

2006-09-11T07:26:00.000-06:00

Thursday Elijah had his 18 month check up. My, how time flies. The doctor was happy with his progress.

His current stats:
Weight - 23 lbs, 9oz
Height - 33"

He's a pretty happy-go-lucky boy. His vocabulary seems to grow each day. He loves books, and running around. He'll eat pretty much anything, he has a healthy appetite. I think he's really digging on having his Godparents here (the other set is coming in the Spring).

He doesn't have another well doctor visit until he's two. I'll try to post some pictures soon.

Daddy & Elijah

2006-08-27T13:43:00.000-06:00

In the Bellagio conservatory.

There were trains running overhead and all around. They had carved famous buildings and landmarks out of natural materials. Elijah loved it and didn't want to leave. Probably his favorite thing in Vegas, and all the food he ate.

Walking With Daddy

2006-08-17T16:21:00.000-06:00

Just a walk down the sidewalk.

Video

2006-08-15T09:20:00.000-06:00

Here is a video from last week of Elijah chasing Honey. She doesn't mind him so much anymore, but they aren't best buds yet.

I will try to post the video of him and Daddy walking down the street later this week.

Doing Great

2006-08-09T10:08:00.000-06:00

Elijah is doing great. He mimics sounds, and every day he surprises me with a new word. And he's smart too. When asked abut a specific animal, he'll go grab it from his flash cards (they are so awesome Auntie Lisa).

Here are some pics for you. His next doctor appt is in September, so we'll be able to update you on his weight & height.

And For My Next Trick...

2006-07-27T16:54:00.000-06:00

I will fall out of my crib!

We were downstairs, we heard a 'bang', then a cry. I recognized the sound, but didn't think it was possible.

Never underestimate Elijah. I just wish I knew how he did it. But a magician never reveals his tricks, does he?

Sicky

2006-07-23T15:15:00.000-06:00

Elijah is sick. :(

Please keep him in your prayers, for him to get better soon, and for Geoff and I to stay healthy.

That's my boy!

2006-07-22T16:30:00.000-06:00

Hi

2006-07-20T15:13:00.000-06:00

It's his favorite word, he is so happy to say hi to everyone he sees. And it's the cutest sounding hi ever! I will try to capture it.

We got a small pool to help beat the heat (thanks Nana). It's shaped like an alligator. Geoff named it Jose. You can attach a hose to it to make a sprayer.

He's doing great with his walking, and he loves to give me zerberts (a.ka.- strawberry kisses). He just laughs and laughs at the sound.

Read My T-Shirt

2006-07-15T11:07:00.000-06:00

Happy Independence Day!

2006-07-04T17:00:00.000-06:00

Got It Down

2006-06-30T16:25:00.000-06:00

I took a video the other night of Elijah walking, since he's got it down pretty well. He still crawls, especially if he wants to get there fast, but he is becoming more comfortable and steady with his walking. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, I found something he doesn't like. Orange juice. Geoff says he's not surprised, it'll be something he learns to like later. He prefers his juice to be apple.

15 Months

2006-06-20T21:14:00.000-06:00

Elijah had his 15 month check up on Friday. It meant more shots, which he did not like (who would). But now the number of vaccines will decrease. Dr. Rich was pretty pleased with his growth. Elijah is now 30 inches tall, and weighs 22 lbs 8 oz. His next appt will be his 18 month check up in September.

He's such a sweet little boy. We think he's teething, but it's hard to see. He's been a little grumpier than usual, but on the plus side he's been sleeping great at night and during the day.

California Updates

2006-06-13T08:43:00.000-06:00

Here are a few of Elijah's highlights from California (or we assume):

- playing with Julia (yay! someone his age!)
- watching Daddy finish the marathon
- first taste of In-N-Out
- playing with all the cats & dogs
- adding 'hi' and what sounds like 'kitty cat' to his vocabulary
- free food at Disneyland (tortillas & sourdough bread)
- a lot of time with the godparents
- walking on the beach (and walking everywhere else
- all the Kroliks, Stanleys, & Gustafsons to play with
- meeting new people
- spending time with his second cousin Kelly
- going to the pool with Alyssa & Abbie

I'm happy that he is back to sleeping 12 hours a night, getting up at 6am every day, regardless of bedtimes (his or ours) was harsh. I think he's got croup again, but he has his 15 month check-up on Friday, so we'll get Dr. Rich to look at it.

I Love California

2006-06-11T17:58:00.000-06:00

I'll post more about Elijah's adventures tomorrow. Right now we're trying to get settled back into our routine.

A Mobile Big Boy

2006-05-27T16:51:00.000-06:00

You're gonna love this. I told you I'd tell you about it when it happened.

Elijah Walks!

We're so proud of him!

Big Boy

2006-05-21T09:21:00.000-06:00

Just a few things to share:

Besides mama and dada, Elijah has said his first, clear as a bell word....baby. We think it is because we often call him baby Elijah, and we read Baby Beluga like everyday. It's very cute.

We gave him his sippy cup again, and he seems to sort of understand how it works. He's still not using it a lot, but it's a start.

Elijah is standing by himself for longer periods (see picture above), but would rather crawl, or half crawl to get where he wants to go. He will walk the length of the kitchen if you hold his hands.

We're working on teaching him to be gentle. When he gets excited, he playfully hits people. He was showing this affection last week in the nursery at church. :(

His next doctor appt is June 15, and I'm excited to see how he's grown. He has a great appetite still, and will eat anything. It's wonderful to be able to take him out to a restaurant and be able to feed him off our plates.

I can't wait for our friends in CA to see how much he's changed since they saw him in January.

Spare-guts!

2006-05-17T14:23:00.000-06:00

Elijah and I had asparagus for dinner last night! Yummy! The boy will eat anything it seems, daddy's so proud of him. :)

Apology

2006-05-08T09:45:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to give you all the pictures from March & April activities and visitors. And for no real updates.

Elijah is continuing to learn how to eat with a fork and spoon. He can't quite stab at his own food though. He isn't walking, but he'll still use anything he can find as a walker. He looks so much like a toddler and less like a baby every day.

He's getting over a cold, he had a runny nose for a few days, and now he has a little cough.

He can wave back at you (when he wants to), and I swear he is saying words you can understand, like banana and apple.

I can't wait to take him to Disneyland next month. Any CA friends want to join us?

Movie

2006-04-24T10:21:00.000-06:00

I am gonna post again, but until then here's a little movie for you. I hid the camera behind the couch, and Elijah-zilla found it.

Tiny Update

2006-03-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

Not much has been going on, just everyday stuff. He loves playing with his walker, he'll pretty much hold onto anything and walk around the house. He continues to get new teeth all the time.

I forgot to mention, the day my mom and grandma came, Elijah fell down the whole flight of stairs. I ran up the stairs to file something, and didn't know he was following me up. By the time I closed the cabinet, I heard him falling, hit each stair. I ran to the bottom, and comforted him for maybe 3 minutes, and he was done crying and back to laughing. It made my heart stop to hear that sound. He had a few small yellow bruises in the following days, but otherwise he's been fine. Falling, down stairs, or off couches, does not deter him from climbing. Every the curious boy.

I hope to get him a cute little outfit for Easter, I have my eye on something at Children's Place. I still haven't gotten him to a studio to get pictures taken. Timing and money. It may not happen until summer, or Christmas. But it is definitely future plans.

I'll try to upload a few pictures from the visit, Elijah with his grandma & great grandma. Soon he'll get to see Nana & Grampy.

My very own post!

2006-03-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

,lm'''''.
.;;oooooo

Teeth

2006-03-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

Elijah is currently getting in two new teeth, one on the top, one on the bottom. This means he's been running a bit of a fever. So he isn't his usual run-around-the-house self, and he's more inclined to chill and be cuddled. Ah, how I missed that. His soft warm little body curled up in your arms, looking at you with his big brown eyes. It's good to be a mommy. :)

1 Year Old

2006-03-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a good week to be one. Elijah opened his presents on Monday, and got a few books, some dvds, some clothes and a few toys. Definitely a Baby Einstein theme. Tuesday he had his 12 month check up, and his progress pleased Dr. Perry. He is 20 lbs, 2.5 oz, and he's 29.5 inches long. Tall boy! We've been working on getting him to try more table food, so Tuesday night we went out to Q'doba for dinner, and Elijah shared my chicken soft taco. Next time, I will have to order more. He had peaches last night for dessert, which he loved, and I had to protect them from Daddy. Obviously something else we'll have to add to our shopping list. Elijah likes to eat peas, but not so sure about carrots. We're hoping to get him drinking milk soon.

Physically, the boy is always on the move. He wants to climb everything. Last night he walked with Daddy for the first time. Sorry, missed it on camera, I'll have to get it next time.

I didn't get a chance to email this to everyone, so I'm posting it. It's a video of Elijah eating his cake. Hope you had the chance to see his birthday pics, the link is on the right.

He's growing so fast, becoming more a little boy than a baby. I hope you all get a chance to see him soon.

Birthday Boy!

2006-03-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday!

Saturday we went swimming, yesterday we had cake and today I'll open my presents. Pictures will be up later today.

He's Not Clumsy...

2006-02-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend Elijah has managed to bruise his head and give himself a fat lip. The culprit? His desire to climb EVERYTHING!

Trying to climb over the arm of the loft couch onto the computer chair. Gravity intervened.

Trying to climb onto the old coffee table. Gravity intervened and he bit his lip.

Sigh. Boys. I can't fight the need for him to explore, and I don't want to be a helicopter parent.

One week to his first birthday. :)

Swimming!

2006-02-18T16:42:00.000-07:00

We took Elijah swimming today for the first time. It took him a little while to get into it, at first he just wanted to be held there and he didn't move. But I showed him how to float on his back and how to swim on his front, and he started kicking and splashing like there was no tomorrow. Looks like he's a natural. It's a really nice pool there and I think we'll be making more trips there in the future. I think mommy will be signing us up for a parent/tot swim class there as well. Mommy's favorite part was floating down the lazy river and soaking in the hot tub. Elijah and I just enjoyed playing in the pool. We all had a ball!

My Favorite Snack

2006-02-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

Daddy gave me Cheerios this week, and I love them!

Birthday Surprise

2006-02-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Elijah got his first birthday present by fed-ex today. I opened it, because I didn't know what it was.

The McInnes Family adopted a sea turtle on Elijah's behalf. Elijah owns a turtle! How cute is that? It was so super sweet, and I look forward to explaining to him all about it. Now I just need to get a frame for his certificate.

Thank you Auntie Lisa, Chad, Laurel & Brooke!

Much Better

2006-02-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

The diarrhea seems to have stopped, and his diaper rash is subsiding. So it makes for a happier little boy, and happier parents. He also slept better last night too. Thank you everyone for your prayers. :)

On the birthday front, we've pretty much decided we won't have a traditional party. We'll do something together just the 3 of us, and we'll serve cake and pie when our couples group comes over on the 5th. I just didn't want to have a party with kids since all the kids we know are at least 2 years older than him. I want his birthday to be about him, not the other kids. I don't think he needs any toys, since he just got toys at Christmas. I'm not sure what we'll get him, but if you are looking for ideas, I did update his Amazon wishlist.

Being a parent is hard. :)

What We Didn't Want

2006-02-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

Remember the earlier this week, I said Elijah was vulnerable to catching something new? He has the flu. He's been sick since Monday, ironically after we saw the doctor. I'm doing all I can for him, and I did speak to the triage nurse yesterday to ask what I should look for as a sign that he needs medical attention. So pray for the little tyke to get better soon.

11 Months Old

2006-02-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Elijah turned 11 months old. Hard to believe how fast the year went right? He & I took a trip to the doctor yesterday because his wet cough has not improved, and we (Daddy & I) wanted to be sure it wasn't serious. The doctor said he is indeed getting over the cold, and the cough will likely last another few weeks. We have to hope he doesn't catch anything new at this point. But she said we are doing everything right. Yay! He has his humidifier on every night, his fluids are good (she judged by his drooling), and his ears, nose, lungs all looked & sounded good. So we're giving him a saline flush for his nose, and we wait it out. She said the saline should help with his problem of throwing up after a bottle. We'll be back next month for all his shots, and I hope the cough will be gone by then. So now we know what to expect for a recovery time, we can breathe easier.

He had a rough night last night, he was up for over an hour, me rocking him, trying to put him back down, he'd wake up as soon as he hit the mattress, repeat. After an hour, I just let him cry himself to sleep because he was so obviously tired.

I am hoping to upload some misc pictures I've been taking over the last few weeks, so look for that link to go up later today.

Walking Along

2006-02-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

He's not yet walking on his own, but he walks along the furniture. He also has his moments when he'll stand unassisted. He likes to be on his feet, and he is ever exploring.

This morning we saw the preview for Curious George, and he went nuts. I think maybe he wants to see it. well, he'll have to wait until it comes out on DVD, since he certainly can't sit still in a theatre.

He also got his first real scrape yesterday. He fell and went face first into a cabinet. He has a little red mark on his chin. I'll try to capture a picture of that for you.

Poor Little Peanut

2006-01-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

Everything was fine yesterday, and then last night at 8pm, Elijah woke up (or he was never really asleep), and he would not go back to bed. He cried, he fussed, and only rocking in Mommy's arms would comfort him. Shortly after 9, I decided I'd try to take him for a car ride, in hopes it would calm him down. When we got back to the house after maybe 15-20 minutes, I discovered that the odd sound he made 5 minutes after we left was him throwing up. His blanket had got the brunt of it (and there was a lot), but also his car seat, and the backseat. Thank God we have our own washer & dryer, because I could wash everything right away. I gave Elijah a bath to calm him, and then into some new jammies. I gave him some baby Tylenol, and put him to bed. I cleaned up the car, and headed to bed myself. We hardly slept. He was up every 40-60 minutes, then it would be 15-20 minutes of me rocking him back to sleep. We did this all night. He was up at 6:45 this morning, all smiles, ready to greet the day. Not the attitude I had, but at 11:30am I got him to take a nap. It's currently 2:15, and he's still sleeping. Yay! He seems fine, he has a few boogies, but other than that, you'd never know he was sick. Hopefully it will pass quickly.

Oh that big nap he's having, I just woke up from mine, so I'm a little more refreshed. Poor Daddy. Don't know how he slept last night, but since Elijah only wants Mommy, not much a Daddy can do.

We finally got some childproofing done around the house. We have locks on two cabinets, electrical plugs covers all over the house, and we have a gate. Both the kids hate it, but Honey has adapted much better. Elijah just climbs up to the third stair and holds on to the gate. Perhaps he's trying to figure out how to defeat it. I wouldn't put it past him.

On Friday, we went to storytime at the library. He didn't really care to sit and listen to a story, but stared at the kids dancing during music time.

Another One?

2006-01-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

Elijah has another cold. :( It's just a runny nose, and he isn't sleeping well (which means neither are Mommy & Daddy). Hopefully he'll be better by Thursday, so we can go to Mom To Mom.

Saturday Elijah opened his first savings account. It's a custodian account, which means it is a joint account with me, but it is linked to his social security number. He got some money at Christmas, so I wanted him to have his own account that he can use to save money. When he has saved a substantial amount, we'll open up a CD for him. I realize we should probably start on a college savings plan, but we're not ready to think about that right now. Maybe by next year. It is not our intention to pay for his whole college/university future, but we do want to help out.

That's about it. He still scampers up the stairs quickly, he very well may be walking by his first birthday. Yikes.

Frequent Flyer

2006-01-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

Elijah took his first (of many) trips to California last week. It was so awesome for me to be able to introduce him to the people out there that I love. And since Geoff & I are honorary Kroliks, I assume Elijah will enjoy being a part of that family too. Everyone loved him, naturally. He did okay for the flights, and I'm not sure he appreciated the change of weather as much as I did. By the last night there, he was getting used to not sleeping in his crib, but still he slept okay.

We didn't do any activities, we mostly just hung out with people, which I loved, and it also made it not so overwhelming on him. We did go to a park a few times, and he loves the swings. We should look into getting one for the backyard someday. He played with a few dogs, at Cindy's and at Jen & Greg's. He loves animals.

We asked Jen & Greg, and Cate & Kaisara to be godparents to Elijah. It was something Geoff and I wanted to do for a long time, so when we went out to dinner on Saturday night, I took that opportunity. They gladly said yes, and were very excited to call each other by their new title, and argue over who got the title of Fairy Godmother (I think it ended up being Greg).

Now for some more big news, Elijah now climbs stairs! Since Cindy has a single step into her living room from the front door, he learned to crawl over it to do laps around the house. It was only natural he'd put it to the ultimate test of climbing her staircase. It's so adorable, and I will try to post the video of it soon, along with other pictures from our visit. I can't wait for all of us to go back out there in a few months.

He must be happy to be home, he slept uninterrupted last night until 8am this morning. What a nice gift for his mommy. He misses Geoff, but Daddy will be home on Thursday.

10 Months Old

2006-01-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Elijah turned 10 months old. He seems to be developing new skills every day. It's such a treat for us to see him growing. He is big on exploring, he is crawling, he pulls himself up on everything, and he can sort of walk between things he's holding onto (like table to couch).

We went for a walk yesterday up to Lookout Park, which is a hilltop picnic area just down the road from us. You can see the mountains perfectly, as well as our neighborhood. It was a perfect day to be outside.

Here's a movie for you to enjoy of Elijah showing off his skills.

Making Room For 2006

2005-12-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

I removed 3 pages of Elijah pictures on my website, to make room for all the new pictures that are sure to come in 2006. If there was one that you wanted and it is now gone, email me I'll try to send it to you. Also, I am more than willing to send hard copies of photos by request. If you don't ask, I don't know you want them. :)

Christmas with Elijah was so much fun. Words hardly capture the joy it is to spend Christmas with a child. He loved all the toys he received, as did Mommy & Daddy enjoy showing him how they work. The clothes were much needed and very cute, thank you. He also got a few books which is wonderful. Now we just need for him to sit still long enough for us to read to him.

That upper tooth is still making it's way in, and Elijah is much less interested in napping and more in exploring. We have to try and tire him out to get him to nap. He's sleeping okay at night. He is crawling, but reverts back to his army crawl if he really wants to get places. And he's pulling himself up with the coffee table. We're trying to teach him how to safely get down from the couch, but it'll be a while before he gets that.

Hard to believe he'll be a year old in March. Yes, I am already thinking about his birthday, but I don't know what we will do.

Christmas Day Is Here!

2005-12-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

I love my toy from Santa.

Grumpy Gus

2005-12-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

You wouldn't know it from this picture, but he's been a grumpy Gus the last 3 or 4 days. Making for long, rough days for Mommy. Not really sure what the reason is, he's just very unhappy most of the day, and does not want to nap at all! He even cries through dinner. Today Daddy spotted a potential source for the attitude, a new tooth bud coming in up top.

Not much else going on. He's getting the crawl down, but if he wants to book it somewhere, he reverts to his army crawl. Put a few more gifts under the tree, and he's been pushing them around. Will make for an interesting Christmas morning. fear not, we'll take a ton of pictures. He's probably going to wear his Bronco shirt to Christmas Eve service, since they win when he wears it. :)

Christmas Is Nigh

2005-12-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

Elijah is getting over another cold, but he is doing okay. His tummy was upset on Friday night, so after throwing up his dinner, he had a bath and went to bed. He woke Saturday feeling playful and had a little cough. So we kept him home from church on Sunday, so as not to infect other kids.

I think he digs the Christmas trees, I know he digs the lights all over the house. He has only pulled two ornaments off the real tree, the A&W bear, and my cable car from our trip to San Fran. And we are keeping the gifts under the tree a minimum, so the fake tree just has Auntie Lisa's and the real one has our gifts from the Edmonton Schmidts.

The Stocking Was Hung...

2005-12-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

sigh.

It's done. Finally. I hope it lasts him a lifetime, as I put love in every stitch.

Looking Good

2005-12-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Dr. Rich was very happy with Elijah's progress. Said he looks great. Elijah did great, had fun sticking the stethoscope in his mouth, and got over his shots pretty quickly. Here are the stats:
Weight: 18 lbs 2 oz
Height: 28 1/4 in
Blood Pressure: 86/68

As you can see in his pictures, he's doing great. He eats well, he's got some meat on his bones, and he's a very happy little boy. we're pleased as punch. His next appointment will be March 7, the day after he turns 1.

9 Months Old

2005-12-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Elijah has his 9 month well visit to the doctor, so I'll have up to date stats for you. We mostly guesstimated his weight for the Christmas letter. But here is his picture.

Elijah's New Friend

2005-12-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

I think only those who have a child can understand how I felt today, watching my little boy meet Santa for the first time. The twinkle in Elijah's eye, sitting on Santa's lap, they both looking at each other with a big smile on their faces. Even Santa told Geoff how he wished all kids were like Elijah, such a good boy.

It was a moment I hope I always remember. Here is their picture.

To Make You Smile

2005-11-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

Not much new to say. Elijah has his 9 month check up next week, and trip to see Santa. I don't foresee any problems, he's good with strangers.

So here's a video to give you all your Elijah fix.

Teething Biscuits

2005-11-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

We started giving Elijah teething biscuits to chew on. He likes having something to gnaw on, but they sure make a mess.

I also added a link to Nana's pictures from her visit here (see links to the right).

Mr. Snuffaluffagus

2005-11-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Elijah has a cold. Poor guy. He doesn't seem to be bothered too much by it, he just hates that I'm trying to wipe his nose. It's just the sneezes and some snot. Hopefully he'll rebound quickly. I think I'll set up his humidifier again, and encourage him to get some rest (good luck).

We bought Elijah a new portable high chair, to take with us to Curt & Jan's on Thursday, and for other future uses. We've moved the old chair to the basement. We all like this new chair, as it saves room, and is easy to clean.

I'm getting really close to finishing Elijah's stocking. It will certainly be done before Christmas. In 2 weeks he has his 9 month appointment, and since we'll be in the neighborhood, I think that's the day we'll go see Santa.

Go Speed Racer

2005-11-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Here he comes

Another One?

2005-11-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

Elijah's 2nd tooth looks like it is coming in fast. Other than teething, there isn't much to share on the boy front. He's sleeping great, he's been pretty playful, and he's still doing his army crawl to get across the room. I think it's time to look into a gate for the loft, I caught him making a break for the stairs.

Uploaded some new pictures, check the links to the right.

8 Months Old

2005-11-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Elijah turned 8 months old. I looked back at his 7 month old picture, comparing it to an 8 month old picture, and I can see he's grown taller.

Nana Time

2005-11-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

Elijah enjoyed his time with Nana this week, I think he liked having someone to hold him when Mommy couldn't. He had his first fast food (Burger King), which was strawberry applesauce. When we went out to dinner at On The Border, he loved playing with the menu, and he ate the lemon from my glass of water. He loved it. This is a picture of him in a greek hat at the Aurora History Museum.

His tooth is really coming in, and you can almost see where the next one will come in. He hasn't been sleeping so well, he's up a lot. Hopefully this won't last much longer, I miss uninterrupted sleep. :)

I sent Elijah's Halloween picture to our morning news, so I hope they show it. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Halloween!

2005-10-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm A Denver Bronco!

Audio Post

2005-10-27T15:52:00.000-06:00

Elijah posted an audio post on my blog. Check it out.

Mashed Potatoes

2005-10-24T07:54:00.000-06:00

We tried again to feed Elijah mashed potatoes.

He eats it, makes this "these are yucky" face, then opens his mouth for more. Here's the video of it.

At the end of the video, it looks as if he is thinking, "hey. What are you doing? Are you filming this? You wanna piece of me?"

In other big Elijah news... Daddy spotted a tooth bud this last week! Poor Elijah is teething. Friday he was having a hard time with it I think. I can only hope he gets most of his teeth while his gums are still soft.