our mvp is one...and then some

Elijah is one year, two months, three weeks, and five days…probably should’ve wrote this yesterday. I was finally able to get some pictures taken by my great friend Michelle Travis last week. I thought I would post them along with some fun facts about him being one. But let me just say. I LOVE this kid. Sure I love it when he goes to Nonnie & Papa’s or Mawmaw & PopPop’s for the weekend…but I LOVE it when he comes home. I love to hear him jabber because he has so much to say. Or watch him spin in circles because he has so much energy to get out. Watching him transform into a toddler is not easy…we all wish they can be babies longer or that time would slow down. Right now I am just so thankful that I get to witness this transformation. And that God is letting me raise this really cool kid.

Five favorite things to do:
1. play chase…or as we like to call it “I’m gonna get you”
2. watch Fresh Beat Band…works EVERY TIME
3. play in his room with the door shut…mommy’s not fond of this one
4. talk on the phone to daddy, nonnie, papa…anyone that would call
5. swing outside…or do anything outside

Three things I always know he’ll eat:
Elijah is a PICKY eater and sometimes he will not eat much of anything. Sometimes he will eat something on Monday and on Tuesday it goes RIGHT on the floor.
1. sweet peas…yuck I say
2. banana’s
3. ritz crackers

Two things that will make him laugh:
1. tickle him…anywhere…he is so ticklish
2. fall down…or get hurt and make an “ow” noise…

One thing he says the most:
Who can guess it? If you spend anytime with Elijah you will hear this over and over. He says other words but this one was his first and definitely his favorite.
1. Dad

Ma-ma-ma-ma

In honor of Mother’s Day this past weekend I want to blog about being me being a mother. It is fun and challenging. The fun is limitless. Elijah is at such a fun age. He is so sweet and loves giving kisses! He doesn’t give them away freely or every time you ask but he will get in these moods and he will just kiss over and over again. Or sometimes he will be walking by and just come and kiss me on the leg and keep on walking. Awesome moments. But oh is it challenging and I have only been doing it a little over a year. The challenge of disciplining a toddler makes getting up at 3 and 6 am seem easy. When should I be firm? When should I show grace? I have a feeling I will be praying this prayer the rest of my life.

I am thankful that I am not doing it alone though. I have a great family that is invested in our child. And parenting with Timmy is probably my favorite part of it. This is not to say that we always see eye to eye and that I am never a brat to him. Because sometimes we don’t and many times I am. It is kind of funny…when Elijah was first born the biggest adjustment for me was no longer just being me and Timmy. He is my love. My first love and I didn’t want anything to come in between that. But Elijah has not one time come in between us but brought us closer together. And Timmy and Elijah both make me want to draw closer to the TRUE LOVE, Christ.

I am also thankful for some wonderful mother friends. Not just because they are amazing photographers and take great pics of my kid. Or because it’s fun to watch the kids play together. But because at a time in your life when you need it they stop by your house with a pretty bracelet to say “happy mother’s day…what a wonderful opportunity we have to train up Godly children.” Or another that will say, “I had to come to a point where I wanted God more than this baby.” I don’t know how I acquired such friends but I am thankful. They make me a better mother.

Babydos is the size of a sweet pea now and has a beating heart…and we look forward to hearing it at our first doctor’s appointment a week from today. I am thankful that God is using my body to grow this baby but it does take something out of me. The better part of this week I have felt somewhat nauseated and sick and EXHAUSTED. But it is definitely worth it.