"Summer Fun"

Elijah Brooks got a new pool this past weekend and he loves splashing around in it.  I love that it has a "palm tree canopy" on top of it so that I don't have to wrestle him down to put sunscreen on him!! 

What a sweetheart! 

This is how mommy plays.....

And....., this is how Daddy plays!! 

  

"Trip to Gammy and Pop-Pop's House"

How did he know to put his hands on the steering wheel and actually turn it??  Scary! 

Riding the "bucking bronco" with Daddy at Chuck E' Cheese's! 

Riding "Bob the Builder" with Mommy 

He loved riding this ride :)   It was supposed to take your picture, but it didn't...., so I did! 

Waiting for Daddy to put the token in the "Barney" ride 

He was having such a good time!  My son is old enough to ride this thing...., really? 

Experimenting with the sippy cup. He doesn't know how to drink out of it yet, but he definitely knows how to chew it. 

And...., another chew toy.  Teething maybe?? 

Model pose :) 

Surfing with Daddy  

Hanging out with Gammy at the pool

We just returned from spending several days with Jay's family.  We had a wonderful time visiting family, going to the beach, swimming, and celebrating our nephew's 6th birthday at Chuck E' Cheese's!  Elijah Brooks amazed me yet again with how well he traveled and adapted to a new environment.  He woke up several times the 1st night we were there (he was in his pack n' play in the closet), just trying to figure out where he was..., but then the other nights he was back to sleeping 10-12 hours a night.  I was so thankful that he did so well and didn't seem to revert back.  Hopefully we won't have to "re-train" him now that we are home (we have only been home a few hours).   He also did great being flexible with his naps.  He had to take several of his naps in the car, but did great with them and didn't fight it.  By him being flexible and happy, it helped me and Jay get to enjoy spending time with family.  He did some new things while we were there that were really exciting to us.  He did his 1st "army crawl"!   I look for him to be crawling maybe in another month or so.  He also has just started reaching out for us when he is in someone's arms.  He still goes to whoever wants to hold him and never fusses about it, but we noticed that when we would put our arms out to hold him, he is started to put his arms out too!  This is such a wonderful and fun age!!   He continues to amaze us with his happy and contented disposition.  I can only pray that this temperament will remain as he grows. 

Thank you Gammy and Pop-Pop for letting us come visit you this week! We had a great time! 

"Beach Baby"

Garden City Pier 

Playing in the sand with Daddy 

Precious feet in the sand 

This week, we went to visit Jay's family who lives on the coast of South Carolina.  It was between 95-100 degrees all week, so we stayed inside most of the time. But while we were that close, we had to take Elijah Brooks to see the beach for the 1st time.  He was able to see the ocean and put his feet in the water and the sand for the 1st time and he loved it!   Because of the heat, we were only able to stay out there a few minutes..., just long enough to take a few pictures.  

"Random Pics"

Jay put his washcloth on his head after he had eaten his dinner. He thought it was so funny! 

Callie's new "bed"...., EB's swim float! 

She finds her "bed" no matter what room the float is in. 

Our precious friend, Diana, with EB.  He adores her and she adores him. 

Swimming with Diana :) 

"Update..., as promised"

As promised, I am giving an update of our 1st community play group adventure.   Today, Elijah Brooks and I attended a "smoothie/water" play date at a home near the lake.  It was being held from 10-12, but we showed up at 11:00 due to his nap schedule.  We showed up at a lovely home in a very nice neighborhood and there were kids/babies everywhere!  There were moms everywhere too...., half of whom were pregnant with #'s 2, 3 and 4.   Keep in mind that I knew NO ONE!  I had to park forever away because they lived in a cul-de-sac and there was no where to park.  I loaded up all of our "gear" and told EB the whole way that we were walking that mommy was about to enter a large group of women that she didn't know and this could go one of 2 ways.  He didn't seem to care that I was alittle skiddish about the whole thing.  He had his eyes set on the kids playing in the sprinkler's and pools.  I walked up to the group and introduced myself and surprisingly was welcomed immediately!   There were 5 blenders set up in the garage and everyone was making smoothies.  I set down my strawberries and blueberries that I had brought to contribute, sat down to feed EB, and struck up a very nice conversation with a lady (pregnant with her 3rd), who was having some whopping contractions the whole time we talked.  Very interesting dynamic :)    I didn't get around to meet everyone, but those I did meet were very nice.  I just wish I could remember their names!  Guess that will come in time.  Elijah Brooks enjoyed sitting in the baby pool splashing his feet and watching the other children play.  We really had a very nice time and I am glad that I joined.  I hope to be able to build some relationships as the months roll by.  It just felt so good to get out of the house and be around other moms.  EB loves "people watching", so it was good for him to be out of the house also. 

Next week, he starts Kindermusik "camp", and the following week we'll attend an ice cream social with our new group.  This should be a fun summer for us! 

"Good or Bad"....

As you all know, I am now officially a "stay at home" mom.  This is a wonderful adventure for sure. I wouldn't trade it for a second...., really, I wouldn't.  I feel like I was meant to do this and I love it.   But as all of you moms out there know, the walls can seriously start caving in when you are at home all day long with a child/children.  No adult conversation, nursing or washing bottles all day, changing diapers, cleaning spit up, doing mounds of laundry, planning meals, googling everything you can about your baby's development to make sure that they are on track, in and out of pediatrician's offices, sleep training (and the list goes on)....., can get really tiring when you are home all day long alone.  Then try adding on to this, living out in the country and not having neighbors or a neighborhood nearby...., but only your 2 cats in the house and your infant son. It can get lonely. 

Well, I decided to join a community of other moms in my county over the weekend.  This "sorority for moms" (for lack of a better word), is divided up into 4 groups around the county.  Each group gets together as each member is able for various "meet n' greets", and other playdates with their children.  Sometimes it's as simple as meeting for ice cream or going to the park with the kids.  I actually joined 2 of the groups since my house is situated right in the middle, so I have access to both groups (smart huh)??  :)    On their website is a calendar where all of the groups can post their various events during a given month. If you want to attend an event, you just "rsvp" online and then you just show up.  I thought this would be a really good way for me to meet other moms (outside of my church), who live nearby and are also at home with their children. I also thought it would be a good way for Elijah Brooks to get out of the house and enjoy some socializing...., since he seems to be "Mr. social" himself these days.  

Elijah Brooks and I are attending our 1st event this Friday!  We are going to someone's house on the lake (that I don't know), and are going to hang out for a smoothie/pool party with about 15 other moms (that I don't know)!!   I think my mom was alittle shocked that I am actually doing this!  I guess it does take some courage to walk into a group of women (whom I don't know....., are you catching the theme yet?), and introduce myself and my son and attempt to develop a relationship with them.  I mean, it's hard enough to walk into a group of women that you do know and strike up a conversation...., no offense to all of you ladies!   But, you have all been there and you know exactly what I am talking about.   Next week, I am going to an ice cream social with the 2nd group that I joined (again, don't know a soul), and the following week back to the 1st group for a playdate for kids under the age of 5 at the park!  

I figure I don't have anything to lose...., and I might even gain a new friend or two.  I am actually quite introverted so this is a big step for me.  I am not looking to fill up every day of my week with something to do, but thought that having 1 "special" thing to do a week might be a nice way for me and my son to get out of the house.  The best part....., it's FREE!   So see, I really have nothing to lose.  I have been impressed so far with how welcoming the ladies have been online.  Now, I could show up in my "post-baby body" swimsuit on Friday and they could be the biggest snobs in the world (post-baby body swimsuit...., am I really going to do this)???   It kind of sounded good until I just typed that out!   Oh well, we are going...., Elijah Brooks and I...., and I am hoping to have fun.   At least I will enjoy a nice, cold, refreshing fruit smoothie and he can splash his feet in the kiddie pool. 

I'll let you know how this one turns out! 

"Happy 7 months Elijah Brooks"!

 

Today, Elijah Brooks turned 7 months....., 7 MONTHS!    I took some pictures after church to commemorate this special day.  Oh, he also decided to sleep 11 hours straight last night!!  O, happy day! 

"Beautiful Baby Boy"

Elijah Brooks goes running with Jay every night.  It's their special time together. 

"Fun at the Pool"!

Getting ready to get in the pool!  (The pink towel is not his)! 

So far so good!  His friend Alex is ready for a playmate in the water. 

Hanging out in the airplane floating chomping down on a yellow torpedo! 

Worn out after a fun day at the pool! 

Today was Elijah Brooks' first time at the pool.  My friend Stacy, lives in a neighborhood that has a community pool.  She invited us to go swimming with her and her 3 children.  Elijah Brooks has a blast!  He immediately loved the water...., even though it was on the chilly side.  He practically jumped out of my arms and wanted to go swimming! He now has a "love/hate" relationship with his hat (which he used to love), so it was tricky to get him to keep it on his little bald head.  Actually, he does have some "reddish fuzz" now, but not much :)   I wasn't too keen on the idea of slathering his head and hair with sunscreen, but if he didn't keep his hat on, I wasn't going to have much of a choice.  He has my fair complexion and would burn in a matter of minutes...., as I do.  We tried the hat several times and he would immediately take it off and throw it in the pool!  So you guessed it, I had to resort to sunscreening his head!  Tonight should be fun in the bathtub trying to get sunscreen out of his fuzz!  Funny thing though, the pictures of him in the pool are with his hat on!  No idea how we pulled that off.  He absolutely loved kicking his feet in the water and splashing.  He enjoyed sitting in his friend Alex's airplane float and chewing on a plastic torpedo.  I was so afraid that he was going to bite a hole in the float because he is teething, so he chomped down on the yellow torpedo instead.  We spent 2 hours at the pool and the poor baby was so tired when we were done!  He slept 2 1/2 hours after a fun-filled day at the pool!  This gives me alot of hope that he is going to enjoy the beach equally as much in July!