"PROGRESS"!

Elijah Brooks has consistently been sleeping 7-9 hours straight for over a week now!  He will eat 1 time in the night and go back to sleep for 3 or 4 hours. One night, he even slept 10 hours straight without a feeding (although that hasn't happened again)!   This is a HUGE VICTORY!  It has taken alot of work, patience, and prayer, but I really think that he is starting to "get it".   I know that there will be nights that this doesn't happen and he may slip back into old habits, but we have been working very hard on establishing a new schedule and routine and I couldn't be more pleased with how quickly he has caught on.  It took about 3 nights of him crying alittle bit in the middle of the night, but after that, it seemed that he just settled down into really good pattern of sleep.  I know that some of you may be thinking, "big deal Erin, my child started sleeping that much (and more), much earlier".  To you I say, "congratulations"!   But for us, this is a huge victory and something that we are very excited about...., especially now that we see how hard it is to teach a baby good and healthy sleep habits!   His daytime naps are also much more regular and consistent, something that we have struggled with.   I actually know the time of day now that he will sleep (give or take 30 minutes), and he is sleeping for longer stretches during the day.  He is also able to be put down awake and will fall asleep on his own now!  YIPEE!!  Of course, there are still days that I just want to hold him and rock him because he's my baby and I know I won't be able to do that for the rest of his life.., so I do :) 

This is all just very exciting for me!  I am a very structured individual who thrives on structure and consistency...., and dependability.  That has been the hardest thing so far with his sleep..., it's been very unpredictable.  But for alittle over a week now, it is consistent, regular, and dependable!   Elijah Brooks is happy and mommy and daddy are HAPPY! 

Now, if I would just go to bed at 7:30 instead of blogging, emailing, and cleaning, I might actually get 8 straight hours of sleep! 

"Trip to Montgomery"

Elijah Brooks and cousin Bradford  getting clean after a fun day of playing together

Too cute! 

Cousins Wyatt, Bradford, and Elijah Brooks loving each other 

Be-Be, Bradford, and EB 

Beautiful baby boy 

Fun swinging at the park where mommy used to swing as a little girl 

Playing the piano with E-Daddy

Chillin' in my stroller 

Papa and Wyatt feeding the catfish in the pond

Happy baby in Papa's lap (Papa is EB's great-grandfather) 

Petting the horses at the farm with mommy 

Lounging in a PINK boppy with a new friend (Addie, daughter of mommy's childhood friend)

Talking to Daddy over SKYPE...., it had been 10 days since we had seen him!!  

"Visiting Grandmom"

My Dad's mother has had a series of serious strokes over the past 2 years.   Her most recent episode was about 2 months ago and we almost lost her.  Recently, Elijah Brooks and I spent about 2 weeks in Montgomery and enjoyed a wonderful visit with family.  He absolutely loved going to the Assisted Living Facility where Grandmom is living.  He made everyone in that building smile! I heard so many comments from the residents about how they were having such a hard day until they saw Elijah Brooks smile at them.  Many said, "he has just made my day".  What a ministry this little boy has!  What a wonderful way for him to minister to people in need.  His Daddy goes on weekly visitations to the shut-ins of our church's congregation and I have decided that Elijah Brooks and I are going to start going with him.  It is never too early to teach children about the importance of spending time with the lonely, sick, and brokenhearted in our families and communities.  Of course, Grandmom loved holding him and kissing him, and he loved her. 

"The Look"

It is rare that I can take a picture of Elijah Brooks without him chewing on his left finger!  Obviously, he is teething, but it cracks me up that he is always seen with the same 1 finger in his mouth.  I kind of think it's just "his thing"..., teething or not.  Evidence seen above .... 

"20 pounds"

Elijah Brooks and I visited my hometown last week and had a wonderful time with my family. I will post pictures when I get them uploaded.  Most of you know, my family loves cats.  My mom has 4 cats, my sister has 2, and I have 2.  My mom has the sweetest cat that I have ever known and his name is "Henry".   He is a big fellow though, weighing a whopping 20 lbs!   Elijah Brooks also weighs 20 lbs.  One afternoon, while on my mom's watch, I walked in and found this scene....., Elijah Brooks and Henry enjoying some quality time together.    I think EB was enjoying the bonding more than Henry, but that sweet cat was a good sport about the whole thing, even while having his tail pulled.  

Happy 6 months Elijah Brooks"

("Good morning world"!   Here he is waking up from a nap at his Bebe and E-Daddy's  house in the crib that I slept in as a baby). 

I am alittle behind on this post, but better late than never.  Elijah Brooks turned 6 months on May 7.   People told me this first year would fly, but honestly, I didn't realize it would happen THIS quickly.  He is becoming quite the little boy these days...., but is still my baby.  He went today for his 6 month appointment and of course, received his shots.  He was such a brave little boy and I was super proud of him.  He now weighs 19.3 lbs and is 27 3/4 inches long!   I guess he's not so little huh?  Good thing he is proportional!  Everyone who meets him thinks that he is 10 months old.  

He continues to remain one of the happiest babies I know.  His disposition remains constant....., laid back like his Daddy!  He will still let anyone hold him and hasn't realized "separation anxiety" yet, although I am sure that is coming.  He loves rice cereal and oatmeal.  He gags on squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes.  Anyone out there have any thoughts on this?? We haven't tried fruits, but will soon. He is getting more hair everyday and it's coming in "strawberry blond" (like his mommy...., YAY)!   He has his 2 bottom teeth now, and is working on the top ones.  Amazing how sharp those tiny little teeth are! We think that his clogged tear duct may have finally opened up.  We aren't sure, but we are hopefully optimistic as his right eye has been clear for over a week now and we haven't seen that happen before. He is figuring out this whole "put yourself to sleep" routine.  He doesn't have it mastered yet, but is definitely making strides.  I have chosen to focus on the "little victories" along the way rather than just focusing on "winning the entire war".  Same thing goes for sleeping longer stretches at night....., "little victories" are what helps me keep my sanity!  We're not where we want to be YET, but we'll get there with lots of hard work and prayer.  He is quite the "social butterfly" also. I am realizing that he really wants to be around people...., and alot of them (again, his Daddy's son).   He loves people and people love him. It's beautiful watching him minister to so many people, just by smiling at them and loving them.  

I could write for hours, but I have a massive sinus headache tonight so I am bringing this to a close.  

Happy 6 months to my beautiful son, Elijah Brooks! 

"Baptism Photos"

Daddy, Elijah Brooks, Mommy (E-Daddy in the background at the organ) 

Rev. David Filson and Rev. John Gess

As promised, here are 2 pictures that were taken at Elijah Brooks' baptism recently. 

"YUM, YUM"!

Elijah Brooks is 1 week shy of 6 months... so this weekend, we ventured into the world of "rice cereal".  He has always been a very good eater from day one, so I thought he would do pretty good with his cereal. Boy was I right!  He inhaled the stuff and loved every minute of it! We are just easing into this new phase. I am not in a hurry at all, as he continues to do so well nursing. And if you are wondering if I cried watching him sitting in a booster seat eating with a spoon for the first time, you are correct. People weren't kidding when they told me the 1st year flies by...., but it is so rewarding watching him grow and learn new things every day. 

"I love my hat"

Well, maybe mommy likes me in the hat more than I actually like wearing my hat!  

And yes I know, neither of the hats match his outfits!  He is wearing a lovely linen "church" outfit with a denim hat that says, "Island Surf". I just thought he was so cute so he wore his hat anyway.