Melmo!

First of all, look at my two little matching cuties!

Oh the joy in dressing them alike! :)

We had a fun night filled with matching outfits, dinner at Okoboji Grill and Wal-Mart! As we were trekking through Wal-Mart, my favorite store it seems, all of a sudden we heard Gage exclaim, "Melmo!" We were in the helium balloon section. We looked around and saw an Elmo balloon in the mix. We decided to take it around the store with us.

All for the love of a child! (Thankfully he didn't even notice when Craig discreetly put it back.)

A Star is Born!

Well maybe not yet.

The Ames Bulletin Board is a publication that comes out every season to inform Ames residents on what is going on in the area. I know the owner and she invited Gage to be on the cover of the summer edition! I was so excited! We went to Reiman Gardens to shoot around the current gnome exhibit. It started out great...


Aren't they all so cute? That is the largest cement garden gnome in the world by the way.

And then we moved to another location... Well my little caged bird was FREE and all he wanted to do was EXPLORE! No straight-on-happy-face shots were to be had from this point forward.

So I wondered if Gage would make the cover after all...

Well he did, barely! And he also made the inside cover with a little article:

And if you take a closer look, you can see how he really felt about it:

Oh my sweet little free spirit! He does not want to be held back right now. I'm hoping it's just a phase and eventually he will be my little easy going free spirit.

(I have to give credit to "Images by Ngaire" for the Bulletin Board cover and inside cover photos!)

What's so funny Eli?

This little video just makes me laugh! Mostly because of the debate between Craig and I on who is the cause of sweet Eli's laughter, which unfortunately is overshadowed by the debate and coarseness of my voice...



Well, after the video was turned off, it was clear that Mommy was indeed the winner! And since there's no proof, I guess you'll just have to take my word for it!

It Still Fits!

I came home from garage saling last Saturday and was so impressed to see that Daddy had gotten Gage dressed! I looked a little closer and saw that his shirt was familiar...it was one he wore last fall and Eli could wear now - size 9 months! I had to laugh! Daddy made an oopsie, but the crazy thing is is that it still fits! My 16 month old and 5 month old can wear the same clothes!

Here he is in the 9 month shirt! Precious moments with Daddy...

A Yummy Recipe

I love it when people post good recipes on their blogs! I'm always looking for a new dish to prepare for my family. Awhile back I got one off of my friend Laura's blog (thank you Laura!) that I have to share too. It was yummy to begin with, but after making a few adjustments I think it's the best homemade pasta I've ever made, and my hubby agrees!

Creamy Chicken Pasta
1 1/2 lb. pkg. boneless/skinless chicken breast tenderloins (about 8-10)
1/4 C. butter
1 pkg. dry Italian salad dressing
1 can Golden Mushroom soup
1 can Cheddar Cheese soup
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 C. white wine (I use Holland House cooking wine)
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 can mushrooms
1 garlic clove, minced
Penne Pasta (or your favorite pasta)

Place chicken inside greased crockpot. In medium saucepan melt butter. Stir in dressing packet. Add soups, softened cream cheese and wine. Whisk until cheese is melted. Add tomatoes, mushrooms and garlic. Stir to combine. Pour over chicken in crockpot. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours. Serve over pasta.

Please let me know if you try it and what you think! It's a new favorite at our house! Gage loves it too!

5 Months!

Dear Eli,

You are 5 months old already! In some ways I can't believe it, but in some ways it seems like you've been with us a lot longer! You are just as sweet as can be. Daddy and I think you're so cute and love to make you smile and give you kisses. You smile and open your mouth wide when you see us coming in to plant a big one on you!

Many things have happened in this past month...

~ We've discovered that you really like to hold soft things in your hands. You have two favorite blankets you especially like, or Mom's fingers will do sometimes too.


~ You roll to one side and lift your head up! You don't want to miss a thing so if you're lying on your back you will raise your head and look around.

~ You still sleep so well in the bouncy seat! Your first nap of the day is in your crib (where it usually takes you about 20 minutes to soothe yourself to sleep) but after that a nap or two are in the bouncy seat.

~ You are now only waking once in the night! Usually sometime between 3-4am is your middle-of-the-night bottle, then you sleep until about 7:30am.

~ You are eating cereal! You like it a lot better than your brother did! It's a messy occasion, but you like it!

~ You are a big boy! You are wearing 9 month clothes! Holding you is a good workout for my upper arms. :)

~ On Sunday, May 9th, 2010 Daddy and I dedicated you to the Lord. Because you are a very precious gift from God, we held you and Gage in front of the church and made a promise to honor and obey God, and raise you both in the training and instruction of the Lord! It is called a "Baby Dedication". We hope and pray that you will choose to follow the Lord for yourself when you understand what that means.

My sweet, sweet boy, I am so proud of you! After a rough start to life, you have grown into a happy, sweet, lovable baby boy. Now don't you grow up too fast because I want you to be huggable and kissable, and adoring your mama forever! Or I will enjoy that while I can, and will always encourage you to be YOU, and hope for hugs and kisses from you for a long time to come.

You are so special Eli. I am so proud and blessed to be your Mama.

Loving you always,
Mama

Just Stinkin Cute

Don't you agree?

Mother's Day Blessings

Mother's Day...my favorite holiday now that I am so blessed to be one! Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures that day because our camera is on the fritz I think. But I will always remember...

~ the bicycle burley and Craig's big grin waiting for me in the living room after I got out of the shower
~ the cute-as-can-be card I found from "the boys" on the dashboard on the way to church
~ dedicating the boys at our 9:00 church service
~ how emotional I felt before the dedication - so proud to be their mom and so sentimental about dedicating them on Mother's Day
~ how cute they looked in their matching white polos and jeans! And how proud (and relieved) I was of them both for being so good while we were on stage!
~ my sister and Craig and Will coming to the service and celebrating with us
~ taking a walk around the park and pushing Gage on the swing after church
~ eating at my favorite restaurant "Fuji" with Holly, Craig and Will
~ driving to Cedar Falls and having pizza and celebrating with my mom

It was a big day! It was a special day. I am so honored to be called "Mama". I can't help but hurt for those who so badly want to be but aren't. I can only cherish my role, and my boys, as I learn everyday what a blessing it truly is.

My Sweet 16 Month Old

Our growing boy continues to awe, amaze, and entertain us!

(Warning: I am claiming my bragging rights and will be filling the following post with amazing details about my amazing 16 month old!)

He is an ever-busy tower builder. The other day I went into the kitchen to find this:

Blocks, tupperware, yogurt and sippy cups...you name it, if it stacks he'll build it!


He is such a quick learner! Grandma E taught him how to sign "please" while we were in the Bahamas. It only took him a half of a day to learn it! And the other day Craig taught him to say "Elmo" at dinner (they were looking at his bib). Now everytime he sees Elmo on Sesame Street he says "Melmo!" He also says "caw" for bird (you know - from the sound they make! :), "up", "Mama", "Da", and he will pretty much attempt most words you ask him to say. I love to hear him say "Jesus"!

Something Craig and I have been excitedly waiting for is happening now...he is taking the dirty diapers into the bathroom for us! He doesn't quite open up the diaper pail and put them in yet, but a toss into the bathroom will do!

He runs into the bathroom when we say "bath", he brings me his shoes, and socks too, when I ask him to, he stands at the top of the stairs and shakes the gate when we say "time to go bye-bye" or "time to read books" (which happens before naptime downstairs in the chair in his bedroom). It is so fascinating to watch him understand more and more!

So strong! Look at my little toddler carrying around a 5lb. bag of potatoes!

Can you tell that we are absolutely, positively, out-of-this-world in love with our amazing, precious boy?!