Wow!

You should see my little boy...he's exploring the world more and more every day!

ROLLING all over the place,

scooting on his bottom!,

getting on his knees and forearms,

lunging forward until he can stretch to get the remote...

it is amazing! I love it! I love him!

IT won't be long!

I really need to get a video camera!

Elijah LOVES going next door!

We are so lucky to have Miss Janet and her family taking care of Elijah! He is sooo happy each afternoon that I pick him up! I love to see her name pop up in my email because it is often followed by entertainment! Recently the entertainment has been funny pictures of EJ...enjoy!

"One Elijah + One Exersaucer + One jar of vegetables = One big need for a baby wipe"

"UH, Miss Janet, the next time you ask Holly to play with me, could you remind her that I am NOT a doll!."

We are giving extra hugs, kisses, and love this week. We are counting our blessings. We are thankful for every moment that we have together. Please take a minute to do the same!

Back to School

I've really missed being a stay-at-home mom this week. I do enjoy my job but I really enjoyed being a full time mom this summer.

My time with Elijah seems so little compared to the week before. The mornings (6:30-7:30) are rushed...get up, get ready, eat, go next door. The afternoons and evenings (4:00-7:00) go by so fast...walk home, read and nap, eat, play a little, bath, bedtime routine, asleep. POOF another day is gone.

I don't mean to sound negative because I know I am blessed in so many ways. Elijah is growing and happy and safe. When I'm at work he is getting wonderful care, attention, and love from our awesome neighbors. I really am lucky because a lot of working moms work more hours and don't have their summers off so I know I shouldn't whine. Matt and I both have jobs (which many do not) and those jobs allow us to live a comfortable life. We really are very blessed.

Elijah is adjusting just fine to a new routine and new environment. It does make me happy to walk into the Nelm's house each afternoon and find my little boy with a smile!

It has been a busy week and the camera hasn't been out at all but I do have a few pictures from about a week and a half ago of Elijah and a playdate he had with his buddies...aren't they cute?

Hunter is a newborn -- maybe 5 weeks in this picture, Elijah is almost 7 months in this picture, Blaine is 3 days younger than Elijah (and is already crawling, pulling up, and nearly walking!), and Noah is 15 months. The mom's ate lunch and chatted while the kiddos played (actually we chased around and tended to the kiddos most of the time but we did get a little eating and chatting in).

See why I'd rather be home all day!Chillin'

I'm thankful for this weekend and have already enjoyed the morning with Elijah. He's down for his first nap so I think I might shut my eyes for a little extra rest this morning as well.

Happy 7 months!

Elijah is 7 months old today. I can't believe I just typed that. I can't believe how he amazes me every day. I can't believe how much I love him!

Elijah's first trip to the BEACH!

I've been trying to catch up the blog to the current time and I've finally done it! These beach pictures from the weekend were extra motivation! I couldn't wait to get them posted because it was so much fun! The trip was our final hoorah before football took over our lives. We were so glad we decided to go and will always treasure our first trip to the beach as a family of three -- Carolina Beach -- in Wilmington, NC. Enjoy our story...

Well, could there be a cuter boy on the beach?
Clapping -- something his Gram Bailey taught him to do when we were home. He's diggin' the beach!

Our "camp"site. :-)

Hmm, what's this new toy?

Yes, I'm a hunk and I know it!

New position -- practicing my boarding skills for the future!

Elijah discovering sand was one of the coolest things ever! After I convinced him not to eat it, he spent awhile figuring out what it was all about!

Hmmm...what is this stuff?

I think I'll grab some!

Wow, this is really cool stuff!

Dustin' it off!

A couple of hunks!

Really dad? I think I'd rather be back up there with you!

Seriously, those waves are crashing hard!

I'm really not so sure...this is a little bit more water than my tub at home...

Yup, I'm really not too fond of this cold water!

Mommy and Elijah...

Matt was proud of this one, he said "Rachel (our wonderful photographer) ain't got nothing on me!" Ha!

A very nice man walked up and talked to Elijah and offered to take a family shot!

And here is EJ sitting in the beach chair...

Sending a tired signals...

But still happy and clapping! Wow -- this was fun!

And he was out as soon as we took off in the car...

Guess where we headed to next....downtown Wilmington...to a place for dinner....called ELIJAH'S! Can you believe it! How cool! Of course, great picture opportunities there!He was so tired that I think he was SILLY the whole time we were there!

Yummy! That seafood was good!

And he slept the whole way home -- not a peep!

Then on Sunday morning a bath was on the agenda -- sunscreen and sand needed to be taken care of! :-) This was his first bath in the BIG tub!!! He did awesome and loved it!

Back in NC - 6 month check up

When we returned to North Carolina, Elijah visited Dr. Brantley the very next day for his 6 month check up. All was well. He had a little jet lag but other than that he did great, shots and all! He was a whopping 18 pounds (50-75th%) and 29.5 inches (off the charts)! Hmmm, who do you think he going to take after??? Look below!

Yup...you guessed it!






















Hopefully he'll have a little of his mom in him somehow or another. Maybe he'll be really good in math! :-)




















He's a happy camper in the bath but not always so much once he gets out!
















Here is his new hoop!














Yummy! Carrots! And I decided to help mom out! By the way, I finally got to use my high chair!














Daddy and EJ at San Jose!




















Chillin' in the recliner...



















A close up...very smiley!

Even closer!















Mommy's Mister Cool! For sure!




Elijah also had what I would call his first true illness this month. He had a nasty cold for over a week! He was quite tired of me picking at and wiping that cute little nose of his! Wow -- talk about a lot of snot in a little nose!

Girlfriends!

Elijah met lots of new friends this summer...

Annalise James is not just any friend though...she is his soulmate as her mom Jami would say! They were born exactly a month apart (she's older) and have so many similarities that they must be meant to be! Are arranged marriages allowed in the United States?

Hmmm, they seem to have something in common...they both like to have their hands in their mouth!
Elijah is playing hard to get! Annalise is making her move!

Awww...he made her smile!

And these would be his future inlaws...Annalise's sister (Emma) and brother (Austin). Cutie pies, huh?

The final picture shows that perhaps Elijah isn't just a one-girl boy! These are my college roommate, Jess's girls, Avery and Jacey. I love this picture!