Looking back....

Chris holding Elias in his first days of life...he was so little! And here they are now...Elias is about 4 months in this photo and pure chunk!



We love to look back at the first weeks of Elias' life and talk about the journey...the tears and laughter, the worries and joys, the growth as new parents and our complete amazement of our little boy! He was such a peanut...Here are some pictures comparing Elias in his early weeks of life to now!!

I remember my sisiter Sally and I getting so excited to put him in his new chair...we just giggled as he barely fit in one corner. Now look at him...he is almost too big!!
Cousin Liam and Elias a day after Liam was born. (Elias was about 5 weeks old) And here they are already having beers together!

Four Months Old...

Hello Everyone! I'm loving being a four month old!! I'm starting to really notice my environment. I love to watch Mikko and Marla (Mikko really enjoys licking my hands and face!), grab for fun things like my daddy's nose and laugh when mommy and daddy talk to me! I love to put things in my mouth...anything that's near really, but mostly my hands! Oh, and I LOVE to be outside and watch the leaves on the trees blow in the wind. I'm a curious little boy!

Is that my mommy talking to me? Oh yes, it is....hey mom!

Oh, that was soooo funny!!!!!!! We had a fun weekend with the Renney family and the Bartz family! Here's a picture of dad and I along with one of my girlfriends, Lydia with her daddy! She's so cute and fills her diaper just like me AND spits up like I do too! We have SO much in common...
And here is another one of my girlfriends, Brinnon with her mommy too!! I can't wait to walk and talk like Brinnon!! Even though she's older, I still have a huge crush! I think it's her eyes...

Naked in the sunshine....

Oh, there's just nothing like it...a baby butt!! As you can see, Elias is growing some new rolls...everywhere! We are guessing he is around 12ish pounds and is growing to be a long boy...tall like his daddy! His eyes are blue...very blue! His eyelashes are long and his lips...oh so kissable! We are in love with his feet...for some reason they just get us everytime. He is very vocal...sometimes sounding like a seagull (which is the cue for...I'm tired mom!...NOW!!). He has started to "giggle"...the first time was when I was changing his clothes and diaper...who new this could be so fun! And then we really heard him giggle while Grandpa John was talking to him!!And, Elias has rolled over! (a trick Nana taught him!) For now, he rolls from his stomach to his back! He's not so sure what to think when his world turns upside down! We continue to be amazed by our little peanut, who is changing and growing so much...so fast! Don't you just want to squeeze that cute baby butt...

Let there be sunshine...

"It humbled my ego and stretched my soul.

It awakened me to eternity. It made me know my own humanity,

my own morality, my own limits.

It gave me whatever crumbs of wisdom I posses today."

~Erica Jong (American writer and poet)

This quote has so much meaning during this amazing journey in our lives, raising our sweet little boy. In so many ways, we feel awakened, stretched and humbled by our little one.

We were able to spend some time up north in Detroit Lakes and White Earth lake. Here are some photos of our adventures...

"Let there be sunshine.

Let there be blue skies.

Let there be mama.

Let there be me."

~Old Russian folk song

Nana and Grandpa with their grandchildren... Our family...
"Hey cousin Liam, do you see what I see?"

My first boat ride...

Hangin' out with Daddy...
Eli and Great Grandma Vogt...
My sweet Aunties...
The proud Grandpa's...

My ZaNy CousiNs...tHe GoOfY gOoBeRs!

Here they are...my zany cousins! From left to right (Will-2yrs, Grace-4yrs, Aaron-10yrs, Elias-8weeks, Ian-6yrs, and Raine-7yrs) We had a fun day with all the cousins at our house while we celebrated Will's 2nd birthday!
Here we are on a walk in the arb...trying out the baby bjorn! The forest was beautiful, lush and green! Elias slept the entire walk all snuggled in on mommy!!
Elias has started to SMILE!! This has been SO FUN!! He usually smiles in his sleep or when he has gas, but just this week he has been smiling at us! Oh my goodness...there is nothing like it.

Updates on our little peanut...

A few weeks ago we found that our little peanut had a hernia that needed to be fixed. On Monday, Elias had surgery at Children's hospital in Minneapolis. All went really well and we are home nurturing our little one as he recovers. He is doing so well and seems to be bouncing back really quickly. Below is a picture from the hospital. We were really pleased with the enviroment and staff at Children's...Elias was in good hands!Mikko snuggled up next to Elias... Mikko sure loves this little one and has done really well adjusting to our new family member.
Elias is now 8 lbs 5 oz. He is growing so fast and changing every day. Here he is sleeping away. He makes the cutest faces while asleep...from giggling with a huge smile to a frown to all kinds of little noises that are so sweet.

Bath time with Mommy! Elias loves to be in water...

Handsome little guy...many people say he looks like Daddy.

Hello everyone! We hope you are all doing well and enjoying the spring weather...yeah, it's finally here! Here are some updated pictures of our little peanut...
Elias is so in love with his Daddy! Look at my chunky cheeks...
Introducing my new buddy...cousin LIAM DANIEL BERNDT! Liam was born on May 17th...We are so excited for Jenn and Phil and their new bundle of love!
Just chillin' in my jogging suit!
All bundled up for a walk in the Chariot!