Yoga Reading

After taking off his cow socks to help the lil' guy get some traction, Elijah was able to read his book better...from a yoga pose. Exercise while we read! I see face plants, bruises,scratches, tears, and successful gross motor skill developments in our future.

Family Dedication Meeting

After our Family Dedication meeting at church, we went out to eat. In a few weeks, we will be dedicating our family to following the Lord publicly at our church. We'll be inviting everyone to come. They let us grab a free book...I chose Parenting is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller. So far so good (haha I've read 2 pages)! 

In other baby news, Elijah's first tooth is showing! I haven't been able to get a picture yet. But there will be one as soon as Elijah cooperates with me :)

Jeep! Jeep!

Daddy was changing the top on his Jeep so Elijah decided to go for a ride. He's also wearing his Jeep socks. His rubber ducky had to come along as well.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23

Sit ---> Crawl

Playing in Elijah's room! He started sitting and then went to crawling without crying or falling. The music is from his Veggie Tales Sunday School song CD.

Cute Mess

Dinner is over so Elijah grabbed the spoon and quickly shoved it in his mouth. There's more food on his face than the spoon. It's now hard to get my camera out without him looking at it and smiling.

Sparkle Love

This isn't a picture from today, but it's the first time I saw it so I'm posting it. Grandma DeShon is reading Elijah (and Dolphin) a book. In this book there are sparkles that represent the love flying around. 

1...2..3...

He's traveling across the living room...to a rainbow colored sock monkey...and beyond!

My camera was on the "sports" setting. Good shutter speed but still blurry. Maybe I need a camera class to learn how to better use all these functions.

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice,

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!

Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice,

Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice!

Daddy's MVP

Take me out to the ball game! (and let Mommy play with Photoshop) Like the color pop?

Please ignore the football on his hat...this is a baseball picture.

8 Month Photo

This is a picture Roni posted on Facebook from Elijah's 8 month photo shoot. We went to her house and finished very quickly because Elijah is a great model. Good mood and good smiles...even though he was actually tired. He took a good long nap afterwards.

Note: My blog settings are changed so you can now comment on my postings.

What's in a Name?

Elijah means "Jehovah is my God." 

We spent a lot of time trying to find the best name for our little guy. It had to go with our last name, have initials that didn't spell anything weird/bad, have a good definition, sound good for a baby/child/adult, be easy to spell/pronounce, and be something we both liked. Working at a hospital made me realize that it's important to be called your legal name (way less confusing). Erik wanted to pass on the family name of John so the middle name was set in place. We flipped through our baby name book several times before we decided that we wanted an "E" name. Finally, we picked Elijah...it met everything we wanted. Plus, "Elijah John" is pretty interesting from a Biblical perspective :)

Strike a Pose

This is Elijah's new way of playing: on his side and up on one elbow. And yes I am trying out different functions on my camera. Today's pick is sepia.

Emotion

This picture is Elijah trying to smile/laugh in the midst of being fussy. Good try. We see your grin, but your eyes still say "upset."

Sink Chillin'

A diaper explosion + almost time for AWANA = quick half bath

Strong Legs

Elijah really likes standing and playing with his toys. One thing he loves more than that: falling over and being caught by Mommy or Daddy.

Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. ~Psalm 37:24

Rocket Man

Love these new pajamas on my baby boy! What a sad day it will be when I have to tell him that when I was his age...Pluto was a planet. 

Sunday Morning Play Time

ABC fridge magnets! Learning our letters early...Z!

Flying in the air with Daddy!

State Science Olympiad

We had a long day at State Science Olympiad judging Write It Do It and Mission Possible. Elijah stayed with his Great Grandma Eva and Great Aunt Kass all day (wore them out!). His favorite toy over there was Tupperware and he loved being held. This picture is leaving their place and going home for the night. Nigh' Nigh' Elijah!

Octopus Giggles

He really doesn't play in the ocean very much any more. Now we take off the toys that were hanging in the ocean and let him drag them around the house. I don't know which is more fun...octopus vs sock. I noticed he had one sock missing about 10 minutes after this picture was taken.

Hand Me Downs

It's great to know people who have children a year or two older than my baby. Here's a pile of a bunch of free clothes my friend from work brought us. Thank you!

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:28-34

Blocks

I made a tower, but Elijah knocked it down. Whoops...haha.

Grocery Shopping

Elijah helped me put the food away. Playing with the peanut butter was his favorite part...he rolled it all the way to the back door.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. ~Proverbs 1:8

Don't Judge a Book

Don't judge a book by the look of the cover...judge by the taste.

1st Easter

At Great Grandma Shipps' house playing with his new sock monkey. He now has 3 sock monkeys...are we starting a collection? Look at his handsome lil' suit!

The big kids (who are all in their 20's) hid eggs for the little kids. Elijah had to find 4 blue eggs. Good thing they were all in plain sight. All we had to do was place him in front of the eggs and he'd try to eat them. This kid loves being outside.


Jesus died for your sins, baby. He also rose from the dead. Jesus is alive! 

Jump!

My first video! This is how we get him tired for naps and bedtime - haha. He really loves jumping.

Good Friday

We went for a Good Friday lunch with Great Aunt Kass and Great Grandma Eva. They brought Elijah an Easter basket with a sock monkey and little gifts. Everyone enjoyed watching our little wiggle worm try to grab everything on the table. Of course he delivered many smiles and cuteness for entertainment. I wish this picture was better, but it's from my phone...oh well.

Good Friday Read:
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

~Mark 15:33-39

Daddy's Eyes

This little boy loves my camera. He would love to eat the strap. He would love to put his arm in the lens. He would love to touch the screen. He would love to drool on the flash. He studies it when I zoom in. He blinks in curiosity when the flash goes off. He falls forward to get a closer look. He also enjoys eating his Pooh Bear and looking at Mommy with his Daddy's eyes.

All Boy

What a mess! You can see the dirt covering his belly (the front of his shorts are just as dirty). While I was at work, Elijah was busy playing with doggy water at daycare. After getting all wet and splashing the puddles, he crawls all over the floor to make his onesie dirt city. Looks like someone needs a car wash. 

Daddy's Car

Elijah army crawled all the way down the hall chasing Erik's remote control car. Erik had to hide around the corner so Elijah wouldn't get distracted. Enough teasing already! And he finally got to touch/eat the car. We just love those flashing lights!

Folding Clothes

Mommy's little helper is learning how to do the laundry. It's the only way I can keep him out of trouble while I'm doing chores. He liked playing with all the towels and looking up at me. 

The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets:

Be strong in the Lord

And never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know God's got His hand on you

So don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

These are the words I would say

Dinner Time

Elijah is getting so good at eating solids. I say "Elijah" and he ignores me. I say "open" and he opens his mouth for some food. I guess green beans are worth it. He didn't even get his bib messy!