Right Now: Elijah 10 weeks

* I have not seen you as much this week which saddens me due to my migraine and just working
* you are smiling up a storm!!
* you are beginning to "babble" slowly
* you smiled at your self in the mirror tonight!
* you don't like things directly in your face
* you are eating more and more 4-6 oz in the daytime with Ms. Sandy, Amy & Ms. Bonnie
* you are figuring the routine out and sleeping much better in the day
* you did your first ENTIRE NIGHT sleep this week!! (on Tuesday night when Grandma Price was visiting us)
* you are slowing down when you eat and taking more time
* you are still really good on your belly
* this week was a rough week for mommy & daddy as we lost one of our dear friends Tracy but some other awesome God-things happened too!

Right Now: Elijah 9 weeks {2 Months}

This week was rough in your life - both for you and for me. I went to work and although I had a great work week, it seemed that neither you nor the childcare workers really knew how to work through the routine we had established. You came home tired...sometimes hungry and downright fussy again. It appears that whenever you were having those past colic symptoms - they were back but it was just the messy non-routine.

* you are holding your head up like a pro!

* when you are well rested & fed, you are sooooo happy!

* you are just too cute!

* the onesie really says what you were doing at childcare to those ladies!

* you are cooing and starting to try to echo sounds (at least it sounds like you are!)  

* you still eat between 3-5 oz consistently and eat 3 hrs apart (when you are with mommy & daddy)

* you're not sleeping through the night yet but you are doing well

* your routine: 

7am - feed

8/9 nap

10am - feed

11/12 nap

1:00 pm - feed

2/3 nap

4:00pm - feed

5/6 nap

7:00pm feed

8/9 bed

10:30pm - night feed

2 or 3 ish - you wake up hungry

6/7 am ----- start all over

Tomorrow I Work: I will Miss You

It's not the end - it's a new beginning - it is the end to this stage...you've grown so much and I have learned so much. Elijah you are so sweet and at times intense but man do I love you. I have so loved getting to know you tiny creature! pure joy!

What I will Miss: your face, tiny fists, tiny toes & fingers, your smile and *look*, your initial laugh, how you coo, just your presence on my shoulder, looking at your head full of hair out of the corner of my eye, your discovery of new things.

What I will NOT Miss: your intense cry during nap times in the day, your schedule in the day (eat-wake-sleep), doing all kinds of tasks in the day while hearing you cry from not wanting to nap.

As I go back to work, I hope you and Ian know that I Love you very, very much and that mommy does best outside of the home where she can be with people and help them. I love spending time with you and will continue to do my best to make that time happen. When it comes to you and to Ian you are first and if I need to take days off for you, for sickness or to just be with you - I will. Daddy will take good care of you when I'm not home and to & from your childcare. I know you will be ok.

OSU Game & What we Found

Ohio State University vs. University of Michigan Game! 11-24-12

What we found when we came home!  Awesome!

Right Now - Eli 8 weeks

* you are smiling when belly full and diaper changed and not overtired!

* we are just beginning to have your cry it out due to you loving being held and not able to soothe yourself

* you are beginning to coo

* you stare at the wall of frames for quite a while and every so often you crack a big grin at some picture you see

* you notice Ian more and follow his voice

* you fluctuate drinking between 2.5 ounces and up to 5 ounces

* we are really working to have you on a 2.5-3.5 hr routine (mostly 3hr)

* your reflux comes in and out

* the colic symptoms are not soooo apparent as they were so we are not sure what it is that gets you that way

* you dear boy, are on the most expensive formula out there and too boot "bottled water" due to those colicy symptoms previously - I look forward to switching you once mid-January comes to make sure that we don't mess you up too badly

* you don't like riding in the car but usually will sleep for a while

* Mommy is anxious about starting work and hopes that you will catch on to the routine quickly and painlessly - I so want to enjoy you when I get home along with Ian

* you sort of rolled over during tummy time from your side to your back

Ian - 3 years and 11 months

Ian, I keep thinking you are already 4 years old but you are not! You act so mature at times with various questions and statements and then I am reminded that you are still 3 when you whine incessantly and begin to throw your own version of a tantrum.

This is a summary for Ian. He is now 3 years and 11 months old.

EATING

You like most things even if you whine at first that you don't like it. But once you try things one time you usually like it. You LOVE tortellini and have for a long time. Chicken nuggets you would eat every night if we had it probably. You're favorite vegetable with corn and you do like green & red peppers and carrots with humus.  You ask for dessert each night (even if we don't have it). You really like fruit. You want ice cream or chocolate for something sweet. You enjoy crackers - especially breaking them into pieces (BOY!). If you had a choice for favorite meal right now, it might be mac'n cheese, cream corn and some sort of dessert.

SLEEPING

You are a great sleeper even if it takes you awhile to fall asleep. We have a wake up clock in your room. It turns yellow when you can get up. Our night-time routine sometimes goes short due to your desire to stay up. But you brush your teeth, potty, pajamas, responsibility chart, one book, drink of milk and prayer.

CHORES

You are eager to help us unless you are playing, then we have to ask you. You do set the table as well as clean up. You do well with small tasks. You put your toys away and books. Brushing your teeth and getting ready in the morning is part of it. You can't quite put your shirt on but you can put your underwear and pants on.

EMOTIONS

You are pretty sensitive and have a hard time taking harsh voices or disappointment when you make a mistake. You do however, have a temper and can work yourself up quickly if you don't like what we ask of you.

You are mostly happy and content and occasionally remain in a funk for a while and then laugh at something and say "you're so silly mommy". You do turn on a dime it seems.

SWIMMING LESSONS

You are further along in learning to swim and are in the Pike class again to continue to learn. You are doing much better and more willing to do and try what your teacher asked you to. Laying on your back as well as moving your arms and kicking your legs.

YOUR SCHEDULE

7-7:30--Wake up and get ready. Play just a little if there is time - especially with Eli. 

8:00 -- Head to Angela's Circle of Friends

8:15 -- Eat breakfast (pancake day I think is your favorite or french toast day!)

8:30-11:30 -- Group time, Story time, Learning, Play outside?

11:30 -- Lunch

12:00-2:00 -- Nap time

2:00 -- Play outside?

3:30 -- Reading and Independent Play time 

5-5:30 -- Pickup from School!

6-6:30 -- Play

6:30 - Eat supper

7:00 --Family Activities

7:50 --Get ready for bed or bath time

8:30--Bedtime