"Words"...

Just in the last week, Elijah Brooks' vocabulary has exploded.  I wish I had a video I could post to prove that he really is saying the words that he is saying.  It's not that he is just saying the words, but he is associating the correct word with the correct object now..., which is something new.  We have been working on the question, "Who made you"?  This is actually the 1st question of the children's catechism.  Every morning before breakfast, I ask him this question and we work on the sign language to go along with it.  Well, much to my surprise, this morning when I asked him the question, "Elijah Brooks, who made you"?   He answered as clear as day, "GOD"!!  I was shocked and so excited!  I think he was pleased with himself too.  Well yesterday, I took him to the park to look at squirrels.   There were so many running around the park and he was fascinated by them.  I was telling him what they were etc...., and then all of a sudden, he pointed and said, "Qwirl"!!  He said it over and over and over again, every time he saw one.  I honestly didn't think he could say that word yet.   He of course has NOT said, "mama" yet.  I am really beginning to think that it is not because he can't, but because he won't. I think he knows he has control over that :)   

This morning, our little conversation went like this: 

Me:  Elijah Brooks, can you say, "mama"? 

EB:   "Dada"

Me:  Elijah Brooks, can you say, "mama"? 

EB:   "Dada" 

Me:  Elijah Brooks, can you say, "mama"?  (thinking surely, 3 times is a charm) 

EB:   "Qwirl" 

There you have it! 

"Fabulous Book"

I wanted to share a fantastic..., and very convicting book that I am currently reading. It is called, "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with the Lord. This book has brought to light so many areas of my Christian walk that I really need to work on and be more disciplined in.  The Holy Spirit is using this book in my life to bring to light areas of sin, laziness, unbelief, complacency, apathy, pride etc...., and the list goes on and on.  You may be thinking, "Erin, not another book to make me feel guilty about how much I am NOT doing".  I want to encourage you to not think of it in those terms, but to think of this book as a helpful tool in your own personal quest for holiness and Godliness. The book is based on 1 Timothy 4:7, "Train (or discipline) yourself for Godliness".  When I think of "training", I immediately think of hard work.  Indeed, training (disciplining) yourself spiritually is hard work and we "toil and strive" towards that end. Becoming like Christ should not be (and is not), an easy thing to do. However, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, He will help us discipline ourselves in various areas such as prayer, Bible reading, worship, evangelism, serving, stewardship, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, learning, meditation, confession, and submission.  I wanted to pass along this new find in hopes that you might also find it convicting and encouraging as we all labor towards becoming more like Christ. 

"Blessed"

This is the face I am blessed to see every day. Tonight I sat quietly in his room rocking him and he was playing with my hair. We weren't talking. We were just there together in the moment..., you know the kind of moment where 2 people just know how much they are loved by the other? I thought to myself, "all is right with the world".  We all know that all is not right with the world, but for a brief and beautiful moment in time...., it was. 

"I'm still around"

The last few weeks have been very busy and I haven't had much time to blog..., but I am still around.  Poor Jay is burning the midnight oil this last semester of Seminary before we move and he is so unbelievably busy and tired between schoolwork and his responsibilities at the church.  I am chasing around a very busy baby and he is zapping my energy!  Oh, if only I had an ounce of his energy and zest for life!  I went down to Alabama last week to look at houses for us and Elijah Brooks came down with his very first illness..., a nasty head cold.  Fortunately, he has not run any fever with this, but it has been BAD.  It was so difficult trying to look at houses without my husband and knowing that I had a very sick baby to take care of...., thank God for my wonderful parents who helped me at every turn. I honestly don't know what I would have done.  My sister even came down from Birmingham to help me look at houses.  We are getting very excited about our move, but it is very overwhelming right now.   Thinking about trying to find a house, pack, move, and start a new job in the next 8 weeks with a baby is overwhelming.  But we'll make it...., as long as we don't come down with the swine flu!!  

Elijah Brooks will be turning 11 months in alittle over a week, so I know I will update that soon.  Just letting everyone know we are still around. 

Stay tuned for more updates! 

"Happy 10 months Elijah Brooks"!

I can hardly believe that my sweet boy is 10 months old now!  I feel like I write that every month...., and feel quite sure that I do.  But it really is amazing how quickly this first year of his life is passing.  Our love for him grows immeasurably with each passing day.  He had our hearts before we even knew him, but now I feel like I walk around with my heart on the outside of my body. I just never knew love like this before...., Jay would agree. 

My plan is to turn this blog into a book one day so that he can read about himself (and I can remember) : this is the most effective way I have found to keep up with his milestones etc...   So, just indulge me for a moment while I journal some of the new things he is doing. 

Even though he is changing every day, the one thing that does not change is the comment, "he is one of the happiest babies I have ever met".  We constantly hear this about him, wherever we go.  I never get tired of hearing this..., I simply thank God right then and there for his happy and content disposition.  I love watching the faces of friends and strangers alike, light up when they meet him. He does indeed bring so much joy to so many people.  I am praying now that he will know the joy of the Lord one day, that God will protect his heart, and that he will not lose the joy that he has now.  Honestly, I think when we move, this community will miss him more than us...., I really believe that. 

*He can say the words, "dada, bye bye, and Gus..., pronounced "Guh"!   Yes, our cat Gus made it on the list before mommy did!   I am pretty sure that he said, "all done" the other day after his dinner.  Jay was my witness!   He obviously understands so many more words than he can say..... "mommy, daddy, cat, Gus, Callie, eat, milk, night night, naptime, turn the page, banana, more, bye bye, wave, clap, toys, truck, hungry, no touch, book, up, down, all done, walk, car, home, water, drink, pat, peek a boo, outside, swing...., just to name a few"!   These words he understands 100% and that's exciting.  

*He has 8 teeth now!  4 on the top and 4 on the bottom. 

*Can wave, clap, and click his tongue on command.

*Can play "peek a boo" using his own hands and also pulls our hands off of our eyes. 

*Claps every single time we say, "yay"!   

*Absolutely hates with a passion, to have his nails trimmed :) 

*Seems to thrive in a structured environment (schedule), as do we. 

*Plays great by himself and entertains himself so well. 

*Loves animals..., especially dogs!  We don't have dogs, but he loves them when he sees them. 

*Has learned to flush the toilet and unroll the toilet paper. 

*Has a very long attention span..., longer than I thought a child this age would have.  He also shows great concentration skills and does not give up trying until he has mastered what he set out to do...., it's amazing to watch. 

*Already showing interest in puzzles...., I mean "actual interest", and not just eating the pieces! 

*Understands and can demonstrate concepts such as "in/out", "up/down", "on/off" with his toys.

*Understands and can play "high sounds and low sounds" on the piano on command. 

*Still has not experienced separation anxiety. 

*Haven't found much he doesn't like to eat :) 

*He has not been sick to date..., praise the Lord. 

*Loves to spin wheels..., any kind of wheel.  In fact, I take him to Kindermusik each week, and 

  most of the time he can be found not in the circle with the other children, but in the corner 

  spinning the wheels on the other kids' strollers!   

*Loves, loves, loves his mommy and daddy! 

Happy 10 months my darling son. 

"Saturday Ritual"

On Saturday afternoons, we like to visit this beautiful barn about 2 miles from our house so that Elijah Brooks can see and pet the resident horses.  We have become quite good friends with these beautiful animals and always take them some carrots and apples to eat.  Elijah Brooks squeals with delight when they rub their noses on him! It has become something that we really enjoy doing as a family and look forward to on Saturday's. 

 

"Baby Mozart"

This is a familiar scene in our house.  The piano is in the office/cat room, but we try to keep the door closed as much as possible so that Elijah Brooks will not be found eating cat litter..., or cat throw-up.  Wait a minute, he has already eaten that!  Anyway, everyday he will sit in my lap and play the piano.  However, the past several days I have walked into this scene.  And let me just say, he's pretty darn good :)

"Teeth"

My son has 8 teeth in his little mouth now..., 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom.  That's right, 8 teeth and he will be 10 months old tomorrow.  Just sayin'.