The Zoo Part I: By Elijah

We went to the Zoo for my birthday.  It was fun.  I fell asleep right before we got there and was a little slow to start.  As soon as we got in we went to see the bears. 

Mommy really likes the bears so she wanted to see them first.  It was a good choice mommy.  The bears were all being crazy.  We stayed there for almost half an hour watching the bears swim and walk around. 

Mommy and I got with in 2 or 3 inches from the bear.  I gave the bear a high five.  It was so cool. 

We spent so much time with the bears, I turned into one. 

After the Bears we went to the children's zoo but my polar bear needed a snack so I gave him one.

 Come back tomorrow for more zoo trip fun.

Happy Birthday Elijah

Oh Elijah,

Another year has passed and you have become a year older. I didn't think time could travel much faster than it did the year before from when you so new, but I think the last 12 months went faster than before. You keep growing and I keep thinking that if you get any bigger Daddy and I might have to talk about having another baby soon because you are so not a baby any more. You are definitely a toddler now. A copy everything you do toddler too. I think my favorite thing that you learned to do this year is put Rescue in her crate every time we leave. You still can't say her name. It sounds a lot more like "dodo" or sometimes "dedoo" but Rescues knows its her time because you would always have a yummy treat for her. I think one of my favorite times was when you tried to fill her food bowl one kibble at a time.

I forget how much you have grown over the year until I look back and compare your then and now pictures. You have so many teeth now, your hair is darker and thicker, you are starting to lose all of you rolly polly parts and stretching out. You are super smart, but I think all mommies and daddies think there babies are the smartest one in the whole world.  I forget that a year ago you couldn't even walk.  Now you look at us and take off running while you yell, "un, un, un, un" the whole time (run, run, run). You currently love your animals and know most of the animal noises. My favorite one is your wolf noise and of course your dino roar.

We didn't travel that much this past year. We just didn't have that may places to go. We still did a lot though.  You spent several nights throughout the year with grandmas and grandpas while Mommy and Daddy had some quiet time.  It felt weird to be in the house without you though.  Like we were missing part of our everyday routine.  Over the last year we:
Saw Fireworks with Grandpa,

Had plenty of Driveway BBQ's

Went to a real pumpkin patch with Grandma,

Went to Augustana for Homecoming

Carved pumpkins
Went Trick-or-treating as a spider

Got sick several times

Hung in your PJ's all Saturday

Had your first (knock on wood, only) ear infection

Saw Santa 4 different times and still couldn't get a good picture.

Wore your first suit

Made new friends

Were snowed in by the BLIZZARD of 2011

Went to the Car show

Played in the snow for the first time
Met your baby cousin Landon

Had a red carpet event with Grandma, Grandpa, and the Gregersens

Went on many Easter Egg hunts

Went bowling for the first time

Colored Easter eggs

Landscaped

Went to birthday Parties

Had lots of trips to the zoo.

To be honest Elijah, this last year you have given your daddy and I a run for our money.  You started being two around 15 months and have added some very trying behaviors at times.  I do say I am sorry for the 2 spankings you had this year, and for the numerous time outs you have had, just so I could get away.  You are really a sweet boy and if I could get you fed, or to sleep before you reach your breaking point we would have a much better life.  There are many days when heading to work is very difficult for me, because that means that I am missing out on 10 or more hours of natural curiously, but I am glad you have friends at school. 

I continue to look forward to the years to come and wonder what they will bring us.  With every day you show me something new and find a new way to push our buttons in just the way that will benefit you the most.  But kid, we love you.  You make us smile more times than not and the more you talk the more I understand what you are thinking.  I can't wait to see where next year brings us. 

Love Mommy

I blame the sun

I figured out why I am slowing down on my blog entries.  And since it is the longest day of the year, it fits. It's the sun's fault.  I get off work any time between 5 and 7 Monday-Thursday and when I get home the sun is still up and shining as though it is only 3.  So Since I know what is to come in several more months I feel that I should enjoy the time outside and have Elijah out there for a while.  Then once we are out for a bit a neighbor or two or three or four comes home and we hang out even longer talking to them about their day, week, weekend, or the kids across the street.  Then before we know it, it is 8 or so and we haven't even eaten dinner.  So we get in and make dinner then have to put Elijah down to bed.  By that time it is at least 8:30 and we need to do this or that and after I blink it is almost 10.  And I haven't even turned on my computer to check mail or facebook, let alone blog.  So, if the sun would not be up as long, I would blog more.  Unfortunately, I know that from here on to December 21, I get to watch the sunlight get shorter and shorter.  But on December 21, I get excited because each day gets longer and longer until today.  Wahoo! 

Reasons I love the Midwest

Humidity.  I love it in the summer.  To sit outside and pretend I am in a tropical area.  But in the winter it gets so cold all the crazy bugs die and it makes you appreciate the humidity.  Now most of my fellow Midwesterners do not appreciate the weather the way I do, however, it is okay.  I like enough for at least 20 people.  I don't care how my hair looks when I'm outside.  I love the way the air smells when it's humid and the way the flowers bloom the size of Frisbees.  I love sitting outside with a fire, or talking to the neighbors in the driveway. Humidity equals happy to me.  Sorry to all of you who do not like, just keep in mind that during the dog days of summer we get sick of the heat and love winter up through the end of December then we all want the humidity back.

Resolution update #2

Blog more (than 2010): Yup, Still up by 4, wait make that 5 blogs up through the end of this month.  I know, You're probably thinking if you keep slacking like this you will break your resolution.  I'm getting back to blogging after crazy birthday season is over. 
Eat less (sugar): Check.  Now that I have a new phone I can actually track the amount of sugar I eat daily.  I do believe I am eating less sugar even before I had my new phone.  I was real good and only eating one bite or one small piece of candy/dessert.  I'm not really even craving it as much.  But I still love it.
Clean more (during the week): NOPE.  I like to sleep and relax.  Not clean.
Watch TV less (decrease # of shows I follow): Yes.  Since getting a DVR, we record shows that we really want to watch when we are busy taking care of life and then when there are things that are not on, we watch what is already recorded.  I defiantly think I watch less TV. 
Save more ($$): Still working on that.  I still have 6 months right????
Weigh less (than ???):  YES!  Down almost 5 pounds from my heaviest weight.  How?  You ask, not by exercising.  I like to relax at the end of my day and when I get home at 7:30 two nights a week by the time I eat dinner and get Elijah to bed it is 8:30.  Then it's my bed time.  But my new phone app allows me to watch my caloric intake right down to proteins, sugars, and vitamins.
Work hard (at work):  YES, My caseload on the books is over 60% accuracy.  Wahoo!  Go Me.
Play harder (at home and on the weekend):  Yup, Every weekend we have another fun event planned.  We are spending lots of our evenings outside in our driveway with our neighbors.  Elijah runs up and down with Cole and all the grown-ups sit around and gossip about the rest f the neighborhood. 
Read more (books): been on a reading drought lately.  Recently just started Book Six of Harry Potter, after about 100 pages in I wished I would have started at book 1 but I don't think I have enough time before I want to see the last movie.  Oh well, at least I am liking the reading. 
Clean car (inside and out): Yeah no.

I think I'm doing better now.  I just need to stay on track even more for the the last half of they year. 

If only...

If only there was a video camera in my therapy room I could have my own sitcom.  Yesterday I had a kid burp in my face, then tell me he he burped, and it came from his mouth.  I practically peed I was laughing so hard.  Today I was sitting in my room at my table and working with a kid.  Every 3-5 minutes I would give him a break and he would talk though the world's most annoying mega phone.  During those moments my kiddo is completely unaware of me.  I spend those moments getting ready for the next 3-5 minutes of therapy.  During one of the breaks I am looking down and when I look up I see a spider hanging from the ceiling inches from my face.  I jumped so high, let out a yelp and practically fell out of the child chair I was sitting in.  After I gained my composure I look over to my kiddo who didn't even realize what had just happened.  I then had to kill the darn thing and continue on with my therapy session. 

Ahh...If only...

I got a birthday present early.

I got a smart phone.  I convinced BJ to get me my phone early because it would take me quite a while to figure it out how to use the darn thing.  It took me quite a while to figure out how to make a simple phone call let a lone send a text message.  But I am in love with the new thing. I have apps on it to help track what I eat, I have games for Elijah, I have facebook apps, and there are a million other things that I want to put on the thing.  Everyday I find something new.  The first day was the crazy ridiculous flashlight app.  Yesterday I figured out how to put my calender on it.  Today was the fit food program.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.  So any good droid apps that I can add for Elijah?  I tried a talking giraffe but she is kinda spooky.  BJ and I had fun with her for a while but it is to complicated for Elijah to complete. 

The best part about the phone.  It has a purple case.  And it matches my wedding ring.  Wahoo. 

Cheat #3

I didn't die.  But I am so sleepy I can't get into the blogging mentality.  So in honor of someone else doing the work here is what we started with.  And hopefully there will be pictures of what we ended with.  Always impressive. 

http://renee-montgomery.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html

Bugs

I don’t like bugs.  I don’t like them in my house especially.  I can deal with them when they are outside but inside, not so much.  Lately we have had a HUGE ant issue in our house.  Since we live on a concrete slab they can get through the cracks and get into the house.  Well I don’t know the way ant brains work but apparently like teen age women, they travel in packs of 3 or 4.  They never travel farther than several millimeters apart but where you see one, you will be able to find 3 or three more.  What’s real weird is that they are in the middle of a wall, not at the door.  Why can’t the bugs just use the door?   Now I have to spray the entire house.  Boo to ants. 

Cheat #2

Here were my friday activities.  AKA during.  It counts for a blog post for me becasue Elijah, my mom and I are all pictured.  See  It's just like if I was to blog, but without all the brain power of typing and waiting nicely while the pictures up load. 

http://renee-montgomery.blogspot.com/2011/06/update-on-mega-garage-sale.html

Totally cheating

I am still here.  I do think about you when I am driving and almost asleep.  Therefore I will let you all see what I am up too but someone else will do all the hard work.  Here is the before. 

http://renee-montgomery.blogspot.com/2011/06/garage-sale-ready-for-donations.html