"Sick, Tired, and Sweet"

Believe it or not, we have made it to almost 20 months without Elijah Brooks being sick. He had one random fever virus that lasted 12 hours, but no symptoms, so I don't count that one.  

However, our "sick free" streak has now expired. He started running a fever last Friday and was beginning to get a cough.  I was going to wait it out through the weekend and see if he would turn a corner on his own like he did last time. After 48 hours of a fever that wouldn't go away, a cough that was keeping him from sleeping (AT ALL), and a lethargic and quiet child, we decided to take him in to the after office hours clinic at our pediatrician on Sunday. They pricked his finger and he didn't even flinch..., I mean he didn't move, didn't wimper, nothing.  I knew he didn't feel good. We were up for 2 nights with him coughing ALL NIGHT LONG - no exaggeration here.  Turns out he had a ear infection (who knew?), throat infection (who knew?), and some nasty viral infection that had set in his chest.  The cough was the only symptom so I had no clue about the other things.  Poor guy.  Kind of makes sense now when I look back and realize that his naps were constantly being interrupted after 30 minutes for several days in a row.  I guess that was the illness coming on possibly.  I assumed it was this nap transition - and maybe it still was.  I will never know.  All I know is I am thankful for antibiotics!  He is turning a corner as of today and is feeling like himself again, being so sweet and strong-willed at the same time! He is still coughing, but he feels so much better.  Jay and I are slowly catching up on our rest too. I forgot was it was like to be up at ALL hours of the night - and having a sick baby is the WORST.  

I do have to share something so sweet though. Here's a little bit of history, while Jay and I were dating (and before we said "I love you"), we had a little secret code for saying the words without really saying the words.  Laugh if you want to - I know it's cheesy, and I also know all of you probably did something super cheesy too in your dating lives!  Well, obviously EB can't say the words yet, so I have been teaching him our secret code.  Last night when I was rocking him at bedtime, I did the secret code and much to my surprise, he did it back to me perfectly - didn't miss a beat!  He just looked up at me and smiled - he knew exactly what he had done and he knew he had just pulled on every one of my heartstrings. I, as usual, teared up.  It was truly one of the sweetest moments of his life. We have a million "sweetest moments" with him, but this one is at the top.  

"Playgroup pics"

A group of us from church meet weekly with our kids and do various things around the city. Sometimes we will just meet at each other's houses, but other times we will head to the zoo, local museums, parks, splash pad, fire stations, "pump it up", and whatever else we can think of. The group is getting alittle smaller because new babies are being born, but those of us who can make it just keep on going each week. It's a great way to get out of the house, let the kids run around, and the moms socialize. We all need each other so much - and the kids need each other. I haven't taken pictures at every place, but below are some that were taken last week and today. 

Driving a FIRETRUCK! He was in heaven and threw a royal fit when we had to leave! 

After climbing up and sliding down one time with mommy, he decided to brave it on his own.  I was shocked!  I thought for sure he would get scared and I would have to go rescue him. 

Before I realized it, he was already sliding down the slide! All of the other moms seemed pretty shocked that he actually did it by himself.  I honestly couldn't believe it. 

This was his face when he stopped sliding.  I am not sure he even realized what had happened. I asked him if he wanted to do it again and he said, "No"  :) 

This monster slide was what my "baby" went down himself.  Still can't believe it. 

This was WAAAAAY better than jumping on mommy and daddy's bed. 

Elijah Brooks and his friend Jackson in action (2 months apart). 

"Coco" the cow at the "MOOSEUM". 

This picture just makes me laugh. 

Ummmm...., this kind of made me want to become a vegetarian! 

My little cowboy. 

"What Matters"...

We have officially entered into a new phase of toddlerhood - tumultuous mood swings, independence, strong-willed tendencies, procrastination, and nap transitions. Most of what I say in a given day now seems to go in one ear and right out the other of my sweet boy..., if it went in one ear at all.  However today we were watching a "Wiggles" video to pass some time of a very long afternoon with no nap (that's another story), and we were watching the song, "Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car" (EB loves it). There was a scene of one of the guys eating a fruit salad.  Elijah Brooks is dancing all around the room to the song when all of a sudden he hears the part about eating.  He immediately stops dancing and stands perfectly still, folds his hands, and says, "Pray". 

At least he is hearing and remembering the most important things. Kind of renewed my hope! 

This momma is TIRED tonight! 

"Summer Days"

Let's just say we spend alot of time in the water and eating popsicles - it's a typical Alabama summer - and it's sweltering! I keep thinking I am going to have all of this time to sit down and journal some "deep thoughts" or some profound observations (or not so profound), but alas, it's not going to happen.  Why?  Well, I have a very busy toddler on my hands...., and lovely braces on my hands...., AGAIN (most likely from my very busy toddler).   After 7 months of being pain-free, my tendonitis has yet again reared it's ugly head. So, there goes any chance of typing for awhile. I guess you will all just have to settle for looking at pictures of an adorable little boy. Let me just say, his precious smile says words that my hands will never be able to type. 

This is his new way to "eat" yogurt. He looks at me each time to ask permission and says, "dink, dink"??  

With a smile like that, how can I say "no"?  He just turned it into a smoothie - otherwise known as a "moothe". 

Hanging out with my boy 

Pool fun with E-Daddy 

He would eat 100 popsicles a day if I let him (he really should have been outside or had on a bib. Oh well - the outfit was red too.  I totally just justified that didn't I ? 

Our niece and nephew, MaKenzie and Parker, came to stay with us for a whole week to attend VBS at our church with us.  Here they are making homemade pizzas. They are precious and we miss them so much already. 

And this is Elijah Brooks' contribution to making pizzas - eating the cheese! 

I kiss this sweet face at least 500 x's a day. 

EB and cousin Parker having fun in the pool 

I am not potty training him yet. He just likes to sit on the potty and "read". He actually did go tee tee 2x's in the potty a few weeks ago, but nothing since then.  No harm can come from him sitting there - and it makes for a cute picture.  We'll tackle this down the road. 

Love, love, love that sweet smile 

Yellow is a good color for him don't you think? He is very proud of his "airplane" shirt. 

Riding the tractor that Mr. Bill and Mrs. Brenda gave to him. They gave him a small tractor for his 1st birthday and then this one came home with us from Jay's graduation!! We miss them SOOOOO much. 

"Sweet Elijah Brooks"

It doesn't get much better than this. I love him so much. 

"Fun with Family and new Friends"

My cousin Lauren is in town for a few days visiting from Kansas City.  We only saw each other briefly over Christmas..., maybe just a few hours.  She and her hubby came over last night after all the kids were in bed and we had the best time!  It was so good to just have uninterrupted time with them where none of us had to play the role of "parent" for a few hours.  To say that I miss her is a huge understatement.  I could write for days, months, and years about all of our memories.  When I think about my childhood, Lauren is in almost every memory along with my own sister.  I am so happy that we had such great quality time last night together, and then she was sweet enough to invite me to a playgroup with some of her friends today downtown.  We had a fabulous time splashing in the fountains, having a picnic, seeing the train and riverboat, and dancing on the stage at the ampitheater.  It is amazing to look at our own children now together. It takes me right back to my own childhood watching them.  "Family ties" are truly some of the strongest in the world - and my relationship with my sweet cousin is so strong, nothing can break it. 

Definitely "all boy".   He is trying to climb up a pole for crying out loud! 

Sweet, sweet smile 

"Woo Woo"!  Was so glad the train came so close to us - although none of us realized just how loud the whistle was going to be!  The kids loved the train until the whistle blew. 

Even saw the riverboat out for a cruise 

My cousin's precious little one - Will or "Wilmon" as his sister affectionally refers to him! 

Elijah Brooks and Bennett having alittle chat together.  

So excited to go "splash"