A first drink

We had a wonderful meal with our friends, The Palkas; Julie, David and their almost two year old daughter, Ellie. Elijah has been teething and chewing on EVERYTHING, to include one of the mini whiskey bottles in David's 'man-bouquet' from Santa.

Christmas Gathering & Friends

Tonight, we went down the street to have a meal with our friends Suzanne and Roy. They hosted a wonderful meal, complete with Christmas hats and antlers! We were even able to invite our friends Julie and David and their daughter, Ellie. The boys had a nice time talking Army and Marine stuff, while the girls and Elijah played and talked.

Dressed to impress

David and Ellie with Matt and E-bug

Daddy with Mr. No-Pants Elijah

SANTA WAS HERE!!!!

Santa Claus came to our house last night!!! Elijah opened up all his gifts, with some assistance, and seemed to really enjoy them. Matt and I enjoyed our gifts as well, to include my favorite, A NEW VACUUM!!!!  I even vacuumed the whole house while we were trying to get Elijah to take a nap (unsuccessful by the way).

Our first present

Daddy helping Elijah unwrap

We're excited!

Keys to my new car

My new car!!!

Something from the kitties to help me walk faster:)

A gift from our amazing friends down the street

Mommy's favorite gift!!!

WOO HOO

We are so blessed to celebrate Christmas as a family this year and with one another. God has given us so much to be thankful for and with so many things to look forward to in this coming year. We hope Christmas was great for you and yours!

Christmas Eve

We celebrated the Eve of Jesus' birth at the Christmas Eve service at the New Post Chapel on Fort Sill. It's our family church that we attend regularly, so it was very special to celebrate this joyous holiday with our church family. Together, we sang lots of beautiful Christmas songs and even listened to some song by the choir. Elijah really enjoyed himself and was such a good boy. He smiled, blew bubbles and even flirted a bit with the girls around us.

This year, we're thankful for the biggest blessing of 2011, Elijah. Thank you God for our little boy and for blessing our family with such a wonderful gift.

Merry Christmas and God's blessings to all.

Waiting for Santa

Elijah has been so patiently waiting for Santa's arrival. Tonight is the night and although there are some presents under the tree already, Santa will come down our chimney and bring presents for Elijah, Mommy and Daddy. We are so excited to celebrate this first Christmas together as a family.

Elijah learning how to shake the presents before Christmas

Now practicing our surprised face!

We will also be celebrating this joyous holiday with the New Post Chapel family tonight at the Christmas Eve service. To all of you reading this post today, Merry Christmas and God bless you and yours.

Our Friends

Over the past few weeks, we've been able to visit some of our friends. On December 23rd, we traveled up to Oklahoma City to see our great friends Bryan and Baylee and their two month old son, Owen. We had a wonderful lunch and then visited the rest of the afternoon. It was so wonderful to get to spend some time with them, especially since we've asked them to be Elijah's Godparents and they accepted. We're so blessed to have such great friends.

The mommas and the boys

Daddies and their boys

Tub Fun

Elijah learned a new trick from his Grandma when we were last in Texas. He's been practicing and is getting much better. Last night, in the tub, he did it over and over again and then splashed in excitement, as seen in the two videos below.

Work space

Elijah is enjoying more independent play these days and he's almost able to sit up alone! We've been placing him down in the full body boppy pillow and giving him a work space with his toys. He seems to enjoy it and we enjoy his ability to play without us right there all the time.

The other day, we received a package from my best friend, Lindy, and her daughter, Sonoma, with Christmas gifts! Elijah got his first laptop and he's already starting to utilize it and taking it around with him! Thank you for the wonderful gifts!!! We love you guys!

Foods We Love

Elijah has been enjoying so many new foods in the past few weeks. We've tried peas, zucchini, carrots, apples, pears, prunes and of course rice and oatmeal cereals. Of all those, we LOVE apples and prunes and when Mommy is sneaky, we'll eat our peas with apples. Matt and I get so much enjoyment watching Elijah eat foods and encounter new flavors/tastes. He's at such a fun and interactive age, which is really enjoyable and fun!

Trying to eat our socks while enjoying prunes!

Prune face

Cowboy Training

While enjoying another long layover in Dallas, Elijah had the opportunity to practice being a cowboy! YEEHAW!

Great-Great Aunt Susie

Today, we went to see my Great-Great Aunt Susie again. She lives in a beautiful new home in Bloomington, IN, though she used to live in Old Town Alexandria, VA. We had such a fun time seeing all the things she has done to her home and going out for amazing food and dessert out in town.

Christmas in Indiana

Santa came early to Indiana, since he knew we were visiting Nonna and Papa just for this week. I got all kinds of great gifts from everyone, to include my favorite toy, the dancing dog. Every time Mommy and Daddy press his feet, the doggie sings and dances! I also got several books about Christmas and what it really means! We had such a great day and enjoyed unwrapping gifts and wearing the bows.

Opening my first gift with Nonna

Practicing to walk with Papa

That evening, I got to meet my Uncle Kim and Aunt Sherry for the first time. Kim is my Papa's little brother, who lives about 45 minutes north of Nonna and Papa. 

Uncle Kim, Me and Papa

Indiana Fun

While in Indiana, we spent a lot of time with the family and Uncle Justin even made a surprise visit!

On our third day in Indiana, we ventured out to one of the most exciting places around...The Indianapolis Children's Museum! We spent the whole afternoon there and I stayed awake the whole time! Mom, Papa and I rode the carousel and we watched Daddy and Papa play in the water exhibit! Papa drove a bulldozer and Daddy and I drove a race car! What a day!

 

Papa working the bulldozer

Our carousel ride!

Taking off in the Indy 500 car

Underneath the blown glass artwork the runs the entire center of the museum

TRAINS!!!!! Papa was so excited for me to see this exhibit!

Nonna and I taking a break from the trains

Papa and Mommy driving the locomotive together

Flying to Indiana

Today we made the long trip to Indiana to visit my parents and family. We were able to fly out of Lawton at 7:00 a.m., which made it so much more enjoyable. The only downside was the 2 hour layover in Dallas. Oh well. Elijah did great and even met a friend in Dallas, a 5 month old girl that was screaming back at him from across the seating area.

Paying close attention to all the noises in the prop plane from Lawton 

Hanging out with Daddy in Dallas

Once we arrived to Indianapolis, we decided to make an unplanned visit to see Great Aunt Cindy and her new apartment! She just moved back to Indiana from Boston this past month.

Meeting Great Aunt Cindy for the first time!

After all the traveling and visiting, we called it a day and went home to relax for the evening.

Chunky Thighs

Elijah is getting so big and in the 18lb range these days. He has an extraordinarily long torso and somewhat shorter legs, which adds to their chunky appearance. It's amazing to see him growing so much and getting so big and strong.