Capturing memories...

When Elias was a few months old, I remember feeling so overwhelmed with how quickly our little peanut was changing and how I was going to capture and document all of the "firsts" that were blossoming daily. I've always dreamt of being an avid journal writer and what a great time to start right? But really, how could we possibly forget these milestones...they will for sure stay written in our minds forever! Well, I've learned how fast the months drift away...how the memories we felt would be so clear forever do fade and that I will continue to strive to write in a journal.:) I've also learned that these feelings will continue to be present and that we will remember the specific moments, like the first time we held our little miracle, that are instilled in us forever and the rest will be captured through photos, videos and our blog...yes indeed, the blog has become a journal, a techno-journal! I am truly greatful to have documented some of the many memories through our blog. My sister Sally discovered something fabulous that I want to share...you can make your blog into a book through blurb.com. I believe it's called blog to book where you basically insert the words and photos already present into thier numerous layout options. We have a book of our blog from the first few months that Sal put together for us and I look at it daily... I love having a hard copy and can't wait to create the other chapters to have as a keepsake.

Our little boy is only a few days from turning 11 months old, which means he is almost a year old...what?... and mom and dad are having a hard time believing this. Just this week he has learned to crawl on his knees, clap his hands and play peek-a-boo. He is starting to repeat some words and is really absorbing his world...and everything that goes into his mouth! He is watching, listening and doing everything! Oh, it is so much fun!! I love this stage...every stage brings new worries and adventures as we watch him become a little person with personality and understanding. Here are a few captured moments...

Elias has found a love for hockey through his papa. Chris took him out on the ice at the Rhino tourney a few weeks ago and Eli absolutely loved skating with dad. He has a little hockey stick that has become his favorite toy which you will see in the video!

My buddy August...he is four months old and I love him!

Did we mention peanut grew a tooth? Yep, it's a snaggle tooth!!

Thank you Grandpa John for the MN Gophers outfit!

Crawling...

Favorite toy...hockey stick! This was the first gift we recieved in the hospital from uncle Tim autie LyLy and the kids.

And here he is crawling to get his hockey stick...look for a dog who is longing for attention..poor Mikko!

Happy Valentines Day!

Sending big hugs and kisses to you...

It's a new year!

Happy New Year! We hope this note finds you well and enjoying the start of a new year. We've had a wonderful holiday season with family, friends and our little peanut. Elias is now 9 1/2 months and has grown so much...both physically and developmentally. He is now 10 inches longer than he was at birth (27 inches) and 17 lbs! As we look back at pictures from his birth, we are amazed at his growth...and thankful we have a healthy little guy. He is loving solid foods and drinking from a cup...this has been so fun to watch him explore the art of eating! Although he is eating some foods, he still gets most of his nutrition from momma...which we both still love! His vocabulary is growing daily. One of our favorite times of the day is waking in the morning to our natural alarm clock...babbles from Eli. It is truly so sweet and he gets soooooo excited to talk to us and tell us about his dreams. He must dream a lot about ma ma, da da, dursch, ki ki, gersh, etc....and whatever he dreams about must be funny because he is a giggly little boy! Even though he gets so excited to see mom and dad in the morning, he is even more excited to go find Mikko and Marla...who have become his best buds! Another favorite time of our day is storytime. He LOVES touch and feel books, especially the bumpy parts where he takes his little finger and scratches the bumps! Speaking of his little finger, he has been pointing at pictures, noses and eyes, and the teeniest tiniest pieces of "things" on our floor. Little specs we had no idea existed. Each day I am amazed at his learning and how his coordination and fine motor skills have changed. Chris and I have been saying to eachother a lot lately "Our little boy is becoming a BIG little boy"...as we watch him start to crawl and pull himself up on things! Here are some pictures of him standing holding onto his wooden box toy...

He loves to sit and play, play, play...

And then pull himself to a standing position!

Hanging out with cousin Aaron who teaches him all kinds of big boy tricks!

Not only does he love to play with boxes, he also loves to sit in them!

Daddy is so fun to play with...he gets SO excited when dad comes home from work and just loves him up...

Sharing toys with his best buddy Mikko!

Bye Bye from Mr. Blue Eyes! Love and Hugs to you all!!!

Ho! hO! Ho! MeRrY cHrIsTmAs!

Big boy moves!!

Our little peanut has some new big boy moves....he now sits up on his own for a few minutes before slowing falling to the side. It is so fun to see him grow and change!

Oh, such a cute sad face...

Nana loving Eli...

Peek-a-boo....

Strings and paper...a few of his favorite toys!

Just hanging out...

Grandpa loving Eli...

DiApEr HaTs and PaiNtiNg...

"These people we call children are intended by the pattern of the universe to play, to have time to simply be, to grow at their own pace, to have fun, to be loved and cherished, and to be free to enjoy and use their gift of imagination."

~Win and Bill SweetIntroducing...our little munchkin friends, Jacob (Jake, 5 yrs), Isabelle (Izzy, 4 yrs), and Andrew (Drew-man, 2 yrs). These are the wonderful children that I care for three days a week. I feel truly blessed to have found this amazing family who happened to be looking for a nanny part-time and are very accepting of Elias being with his mommy. (I've added their family blog to my list) Jake, Izzy and Drew are wonderful children who have become such an amazing addition to our lives. Elias loves to watch them play and they adore him to pieces. It continues to be an amazing journey to care for these little people we call children...

Packer Week

In honor of the Vikings vs. Packers game this weekend, I thought I would hack in to the blogsite again and post some of my most memorable moments of this great rivalry.

1) I remember when the Vikes absolutely spanked the Pack back in 1998 at Lambeau Field, when Randy Moss was a rookie.

2) I remember in 1999, I believe, when Brett Favre floated a pass directly to big time free agent acquisition, Chris Dishman, only to bounce off his chest and into the waiting arms of Antonio Freeman for a game winning touchdown.

3) I remember when Randy Moss "mooned" the drunken, angry, blaze-orange wearing Packer fans at Lambeau Field, in a playoff victory for the Vikes a few years ago.

4) I remember the Pack beating the Vikings the last five times the teams have played each other.

5) The most memorable moment I have came just recently, when I realized that my brother-in-law Phil has decided to mold his young son into a Packer backer. I was thinking about this realization today, wondering why someone would choose this path. I believe the decision can only be made out of pure love for his child. He is only trying to spare Liam from the pain and suffering that every Viking fan has had to endure in the past 50 years of their existance. Good job Phil... you are proving to me, and everybody else that you are a true family man! Myself... not the case. I have decided to take the alternate route, with the risk of exposing my son to years of disappointment and failure, in hopes that the Vikings can someday reach the promised land. Below are pictures of the cousins... Liam is decked out in his Brett Favre dinasaur jr. halloween costume, and Eli is showing his colors with his Adrian Peterson authentic replica mini-me dinasaur costume.

It also got me thinking... Maybe this will someday result in a good matchup of rookie sensations, in the year 2031 when the Green Bay Packers, led by strong safety Liam Berndt (rookie - Notre Dame) face the Minnesota Vikings led by left-handed QB Eli Ekern (rookie-Michigan) at the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Metrodome in Minneapolis.

One can dream.......

Brett Favre

Adrian Peterson