A Woman of faith.....

Grandma,

The past few months have been a whirl wind of trips to the hospital. It was hard to see you suffer but it gave me peace knowing that you were ready to go and be with Jesus. Nothing would have made you happier. No more suffering or waiting, no more fighting your old body to work another day.
You have been an ever present and sweet Grandma, a grandma of faith. I am so blessed that Elijah got to meet you. He was the apple of your eye and the highlight of your days. Thanks for loving me and loving him.

I am happy you are in a better place with a new body and your Jesus by your side. You will be remembered and loved forever Grandma.

Feeed Me!

First time in my highchair and ready for my food...where is it? Waiting for my first bite of real food...well, baby food!

I like it! Rice Cereal!
Hmmm...I don't know if I like these things you say are peas!

Shawn and I gave Elijah his first taste of baby food on Father's day. Peas! Well, it was more like not even a half spoon full. But it was fun to see his reaction. The rice cereal he liked but the green beans are his favorite so far...next comes the yellow and orange veggies and then fruits! Of course we waited 3 days between each new food to look for reactions and he is doing great so far. He is getting to be such a big boy and is really showing us his personality (not that it was ever lacking from day one).

A spoon full!

All done!

Thankful on Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, to two of the most amazing fathers I have ever known. I love and cherish you both.

Daddy,
If God were to take the love of all of the fathers ever created and put that love into one heart, it would be your heart. You have such a huge father's heart and I am so blessed, everyday, to be able to call you my father. Not only have you been an everpresent figure in my life but you have been a father figure to those you aren't as blessed as I am, to those that don't have a loving and stable father in their lives.
I have more memories than I could ever count of days spent "on the job" with you, or when you would pick me up for our special dates together, or the time that you bought me a corsage for prom and you made sure it matched my dress perfectly. I remember early mornings waking up to a big hug and a prayer before I was on my way for the day. And sometimes, I remember waking up to you sitting on the edge of my bed praying a blessing over your last born child. Even though not all of our memories are great ones, I do remember you fighting for me and praying for me and even when I thought I knew it all and you couldn't tell me otherwise...you quietly and faithfully prayed and trusted God....and through it all you were still there to listen to me in my time of hurting and pray for me.
Today, I want to honor you for the father you are and the father that you have been. I want to display my gratefulness and admiration for you. Thank you for being faithful to Mom for 33 years and being a living example of a committed husband and father. Thank you for being my Daddy, for being you.

Your LBC,
Woodstalk


My love,
This last year of our lives has been the most intense year throughout our 3 and 1/2 year relationship. We have grown closer to eachother, our families, and to God.
You have been by my side through the fun times that we have had laughing together and goofing off and through the times of sadness and heartache, but most of all....the time of SUPRISES. From day one, you have been active in Elijah's life and excited to become a father. You went to every doctor's apointment with me and took care of me when I didn't feel well. I have to admit I used the "pregnant" card quite a bit, but you didn't care, you were happy to fun around all over town for my latest craving. You labored with me throughout the night and made sure that every single detail was just the way I had wanted it. And when our son arrived...you were there to rejoice with me.
When I got up with Elijah throughout the night, you did too. If I needed a break or some sleep, you were there. It's been a life changing experience seeing our son get bigger and bigger and to see you active in your role as a father and from the beginning you have blown me away at your commuitment, patience, and excitedness. Thank you for being my best friend and Elijah's daddy. Thank you for being faithful to me and a support system. I love you.

Splish Splash

Last Saturday it was about 102 degrees here in California so Shawn and I decided that we were going to take Elijah over to Grandpa and Grandma Fox's for his first swim of the summer.

He absolutely loved it! He floated for about 45 minutes without saying a word, just relaxing and having a good ol' time! He was so relaxed....he feel asleep! Ha!

3 1/2 months and learning new tricks

Last night Shawn and I were playing with Elijah on the floor and I put him on his tummy and he was loving it (rare). He was laying his head on the floor and just relaxing and then all of the sudden...he rolled over onto his back! I screamed and then I cried. Haha. And Elijah just looked at us like..."What? What did I do!?"

We had to make sure it wasn't a one time thing so back he went on his tummy and he flipped onto his back right away! And I tried it this morning and he did it again! We have a flipper! Yay!

Okay...I am done with my proud mom post!

Summa Summa Summa Tiiiime

Well, not really, but it sure does feel greating having 85 degree weather here! Elijah got his first sunburn! I know...I feel like a horrible mother! They say not to put sun screen on babies under 6 months because their skin is so thin and absorbs the chemicals in the sunscreen. SO....I just kept him outta the sun...or so I thought. But he was a trooper and LOVED it when I rubbed the aloe on him.

Shawn has been working long long hours so it is a little hard adjusting to being alone with Elijah for such a long period of time...but I treasure the moments I have with him.

Elijah is grabbing everything now and putting it in his mouth and he smiles so big! He is close to giggling and turning himself over...but not quite yet. I think I will cry when he does turn over.

It has been so warm here I haven't been able to put him in my favorite outfit of his. I put him in it in Washington and 20 minutes later he pooped through it. So one day was pretty cold and windy so I got to dress him in it....and here is my lil copilot!

More Washington

At Maggiano's for Grandpa's 59th birthday.....we love grandpa (daddy had to go home boo)

Showing daddy his new moves..

Yummy fingers....

Our little family on our first Easter together

Sleeping on Easter at the Hardebeck's....he LOVED that seat

Fresh dressed like a million bucks....aww little sweater vest

Elijah all dressed up with Daddy on Easter before church

On the airplane...our little peanut slept the whole time and was a perfect little one...as always

At the airport about to go to leave for our flight...

Washington

Here we are in beautiful Wa. Just kidding....no I am serious about the Washington part...but not about the beautiful part. It is rather cold...but that is okay. My parents, Elijah, Shawn and I all flew up to spend some time with my sister and her husband. We don't get to see Auntie Alie much.

All I have to say is my son did AMAZING on the flight. He slept the whole time and the short time he was awake he was content in mommy's arms. I am blessed to have such a great first child.

Shawn had to return back to California tonight because of work and right after he left it started pooring down all this beautiful snow! It is a little winter wonderland here!

I am posting some pictures of the shower that my sister threw for me up here. And lots of pictures of Elijah.

Oh, and I chopped my hair off! Thank God! I felt like such a gross mom that never gets her hair done...and I love it and feel so refreshed! I wish Cara didn't live so far away! Boo..

2 months

It is hard to believe that my little man is two months old today! He has grown soooo much! We had his two month check up and he weighed 10 lbs and 5 ounces! He is a big boy now! He also got his shots....that was very hard for mommy, but he was so good and stopped crying as soon as I gave him his binkie.

Bills, Bills, and more Bills

Wow, Dr.'s are really good about sending out bills! I have bill after bill from the Hospital and from my Dr. and Elijah's Dr. It's a little over whelming!

Although, I have to say that I am SUPER blessed to be in the situation that I am in. My work's insurance pays for 80% of all my bills and the 20% that is left over is actually cut down to 10% that I have to pay because I am a hospital employee. God watches out for his children....he really does.

Even though Elijah was a suprise little bundle God was watching out for us and making sure that we would be able to pay off these expenses. He never gives us more than we can handle....and sometimes....he puts us in situations to prove to us that we can handle a lot more than we think we are capable of!

Just random thoughts......

by the way, my son is incredibly adorable...and almost 2 months old! *tear*