Elijah's (first) Third Birthday Party!

With families spread across states, and no house to host them in anymore (yay!), Elijah now has the privilege of having more than one birthday party to celebrate. He doesn’t have a problem with this of course. More parties equals more cake!

Our happy little three year old!

His first birthday party this year was at Grandma Amanda’s house, with Jon’s family. We headed over there on Friday night and the party was on Saturday. We had a nice relaxed lunch together first (after convincing Eli that cake comes after lunch and presents), and then it was present time! Elijah helped Daddy and Uncle Jeremy clean up his toys and carry in his presents, and then Eli tried to corral the adults in to the living room for the opening. The adults were having a good time talking though, so Eli had to come in to the dining room quite a few times and say, “Present time! Come in here, present time!”

Once the opening began, it was pretty clear that Eli was having a Thomas-themed birthday. He ended up with a whole new setup for his trains, with a big blue suspension bridge, a roundhouse for the trains to sleep in, and Knapford Station (complete with a little announcing microphone that he can use). And he got Cranky the Crane and Salty, so he was on cloud nine. He also got a new blue sand bucket (his was taken at a park and when I replaced it with an orange bucket he was most upset because it wasn’t blue), a new dump truck for his sandbox, and a new game called Feed the Kitty, which we had been looking for everywhere and hadn’t been able to find. And he got a new Cars racetrack, a Thomas game and a Nemo game for his Clickstart computer.

There was a big difference in opening presents this year from last year. Last year Eli opened one and wanted to play and then not open anymore. This year he knew that there were MORE presents to be seen and would open one, look at it for about 5 seconds then put it to the side and grab for the next one. He was sidetracked by Cranky the Crane for a minute or two but then was off and ripping open again. Once all the presents were opened though he asked, “Can we open this one?” for each of his presents. I think we had everyone opening something and getting it out for him!

Eli got so caught up in presents and playing that when the adults said it was cake time he said, “No, I’ll have my cake tomorrow.” We had to talk him in to having cake; that’s how excited he was about his presents! We did get to eat cake though – another train cake by Mommy, with help from Eli this year. Eli put the M&Ms on the big train wheel and the front of the train. And he insisted on being RIGHT NEXT TO MOMMY while she was decorating (imagine how well that worked when I was piping icing, and you’ll understand why the cake this year isn’t as nice as last year). :) Eli was very proud of our cake though, and did a great job blowing out the candles (another improvement over last year when he wasn’t quite sure about those candle things). He ate only the frosting though (camera battery was gone so I don’t have pics of him), and then wanted more cake. Since it was his birthday we gave in. You can eat as much frosting as you want on your birthday, that’s a rule in our house!

Choo-choo train cake!
I made Mom put a 6 on it instead of a 3.

My proudest moment as a Mommy came when Elijah was saying goodbye to Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sherry. He gave them a big hug and then said, without any previous coaching by us, “Thank you for my wonderful presents!” I was stunned! What a polite little boy. He must have good parents. :) And that was a great end to a great party! What a fun day!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Eli!

It doesn’t seem possible that the tiny little bundle that we brought home wearing preemie clothes and looking so small in the carseat could be three years old. Yet, here it is – Elijah’s three year birthday!

Eli, Daddy and I had no idea three years ago that one little person could bring so much joy and love in to our lives. Your personality over the last year has continued to develop and shine through. You are silly and fun, know what you like and don’t like and aren’t afraid to tell us (I think you got that from Mommy), have become very independent, and are learning by leaps and bounds. You take everything in and absorb the world around you at an amazing rate. And your memory amazes us when you’ll tell us things or ask for things that we did one time months ago. You can now count to 20 (occasionally skipping 15), recognize almost all your letters (that D and H are tricky ones, I know), and recognize your numbers up to 8 (the number nine is still “six” sometimes and ten is 1-oh, but you’re getting close on those ones too!).

At three you love Thomas trains and Cars, and can play for hours with the huge tracks that Daddy builds you. You love to sing and talk to your cars and trains almost non-stop. Mommy’s favorite time of day with you is when we sing songs before going to sleep. You don’t want to stop singing at night, and even request your favorites. You like “This Little Light of Mine,” “Jesus Loves Me” (Daddy always sings that one last of all), “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” “Fishers of Men,” the ABC song, and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” the best. Of course, you’ve figured out that ABC and Twinkle are the same tune, and think it’s hilarious to mix up the lyrics. So we often sing, “Twinkle twinkle little star, H I J K L-M-N-O-P.”

You also love to play outside, especially with Trac Ball and hitting a baseball off a milk jug. You bat lefty interestingly enough, even though you eat and draw with your right hand. And you have quite a strong kick now – and always kick with your left foot! You love going to the park, especially Brewer Park, and this year aren’t afraid of slides or climbing at all. You have developed artistically this year as well and now love to do art projects, as long as there are glue, goldfish crackers, and markers involved! Besides art, trains, and being outside, you do love to play board games and card games as well. We can spend almost all day playing Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho Cherry-O (your favorite), our Eye Spy go fish game, and then pretending to play all the other board games in the cupboard. And you win a lot too (you got that from Daddy).

Your favorite place to go is Lexi and Tori’s house, hands down. You love playing with your cousins and every time we get in the car you are all excited because you think you are going to their house. And if we don’t go anywhere one day then you ALWAYS ask, “Are Lexi Tori coming to our house today?” If I say no then you reply, “Maybe tomorrow?” And Lexi and Tori are the two other people, besides Mommy and Daddy, that you will reliably say that you love. And now you’re going to be a big brother! I only hope that the love your sister as much as you love Lexi and Tori (it might be close!).

We love you so much, Elijah! God has blessed us richly over the last three years, and you have been our biggest blessing of all. You are a gift to us, with new challenges, joy, and laughter, every day. I truly can’t imagine our life without you in it. You are our precious son and will always be loved beyond measure.

Love, your Mommy and Daddy

What Eli's Been Doing . . .

Well, Mom and Dad have been all caught up in this moving, packing, selling the house thing, and Mommy's been really tired (and her tummy is getting really big too!), so I thought that if anyone was going to know what I've been up to, I'd have to post myself. So, here is what Eli has been doing for the last few weeks while Mom and Dad have been slacking in the blogging department . . .

First I went to Ohio!

Mom and Dad, and Grandma and Aunt Nancy and I went to visit cousins Joshie and Tyler in Ohio (I know they're really my second cousins or something, but that's confusing and they're as fun as my real cousins, so I just call them my cousins too). There was a little baby there too named Mckenna which everyone was all excited about. She slept a lot though so I didn't play with her. Mom said she'll be more fun when she's older, and that my sister will really like to play with her. I like Joshie and Tyler, so I guess it's good that my sister will like Mckenna.

On Saturday we went to the Cleveland Zoo and had a blast! This big polar bear made a nice seat for me too.

Joshie and I ran and ran to see who could keep up with us
(only our Daddies it turns out).

And I ran some more . . .

The real live animals were a little boring,
but this dog statue sure was fun.

My favorite part . . . riding in the wagon with Tyler. Tyler's my friend, that's what I kept telling Mommy for the next two weeks straight,
but she didn't take me back for another visit yet.

Back at Stacy and Steve's we played a little Wii . . .
Joshie was really good.

Tyler, uhm I mean Mr. Incredible, and I, Mr. No Pants, did some early trick or treating with the pumpkin buckets I found in the closet.
I hope I get to visit Joshie and Tyler again soon!

Then I went to the Meijer Gardens Again!

Mommy took me, Lexi, and Tori to the Gardens and we had a picnic lunch by the sculptures and then played all afternoon in the children's garden. A little windy, but a great day!

This sculpture was made of letters! Cool! And we found all the letters for our names in it, which was even cooler! Finding the "x" in Lexi was pretty tricky though.

We ate lunch by this funny guy . . .

We climbed through these; Mommy said we could ignore the silly "Don't climb on the sculptures" sign. Who makes giant rings with a path right up to them and thinks I won't want to climb in them?!

Big orange sculpture = an awesome hide and go seek venue.

Mommy found us again! I think she cheats.

Having a rest by the waterfall. So peaceful.

Relax, Mom, we're just looking at the fish.
Besides, you can swim so I'm not worried.

We slayed a dragon. Here's the picture to prove it!

We moved!

Mom and Dad spent A LOT of weekends packing, which gave me a lot of time with my Grandma's and Grandpa's. Then we put all our stuff on a big truck (and Mom forgot her camera) and unloaded it in our storage unit (note to self: not our new home). Mom and Dad had lots of helps thanks to Mommie's cousins and aunt and uncles! Living near them could be lots of fun!

Our storage unit with our stuff . . . don't know why Mom and Dad were worried about it fitting. Looks like plenty of room to me!

Works done, let's eat cake! Joshua and I are only 3 weeks apart, so we shared a birthday cake!

We should have picnics at the park with family more often.
This cake is nummy.

Then I went to Ohio again!

To celebrate Mother's Day, Uncle Scott's birthday (everyone keeps saying 40 in a funny voice, so I think that means something), and Aunt Jill's birthday, we headed down to Ohio for a weekend visit. I was very excited to go to Natey and Andrew's house again and really didn't want to stop for lunch or at the rest stops, but was ignored. My mommy had to stop about 5 times, which seemed like a lot to me. She should really consider diapers like me, since being potty trained didn't seem that convenient on this trip. We finally made it there though and I got to see Natey and Andrew again!!

We went to the arboretum on Saturday afternoon to "enjoy nature and being outside" (that's what Grandma said). I just like being with my cousins and running, so I had a great time!

Daddy called me, Lexi, Tori, and Andrew, the "fast heroes" since we ran ahead on our nature walk. We're resting here and waiting for everyone else to catch up. Check out our pink cheeks!

Uncle Scott set up the bouncer, which I DID NOT like. Everyone else was jumping but I ran back in the house.

I tried bouncing once everyone was out and it was fun!
I bounced for about 30 seconds and that was enough though.

Uncle Scott's about to throw the ball in the air . . . I'm ready!

I think I might get it this time . . .

Yes, it's all mine!!! We played ball like this for a long time.
I love Uncle Scott (even if he is 40). :)

Playing and other stuff

I've been going to LOTS of parks since the weather's been nice, but Mom usually forgets her camera. Grandma found a park called Whistlestop Park where we can feed fish and ducks and go on walks in the woods. I told her at first it was a "bad park" because I really wanted to go to Brewer Park and she wasn't listening to me, but now I've decided that Whistlestop Park is a "good park." I saw Mommy put 5 loaves of white bread in freezer for the fish (that's what she said), so I think I'll get to go back there a lot this summer!

Mom keeps saying she loves this picture of me playing at the park.
I guess I am pretty cute.

My BSF class ended for the year last week, which made me sad and happy at the same time. It's hard to be away from Mommy for so many hours on Mondays and Wednesdays so I'm happy to be with her again, but my class was a lot of fun too and I learned so many great songs and stories that I'm going to miss it. And Mommy is impressed with all the songs I know that she didn't teach me (like I can't learn anything without her). My favorite is "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." My trains really like it too, that's why I sing it to them every day. If you see me just ask and I'll sing it for you too! You just have to join in on the "alleluia" part because that is supposed to be REALLY loud.

Anyway, that's all for now. There was something about my big boy Thomas bed, but Mommy said that she wanted to do the blog post about that. If she doesn't get around to it I'll do it though, don't worry. Someone has to stay on top of things around here!