Do you see what I see?

Hello there. I'm known as Shortstop around here, but I am pretty sure you all know that. My mom and dad love baseball so I guess I will be stuck with that theme for a long time. You should see my clothes...all sports and mostly baseball. I guess I don't mind. I don't really understand it all but I like what I hear so far.

My days are pretty good and pretty simple. I live a charmed life...not that I know what that means but I hear my mom say it a lot!

I think I like this place I live. There is a lot of laughter and I hear the term "good boy" or "sweet baby" at least 100 times a day so I must be doing something right.

I wake up and make a few noises to let my mom know I am ready to play. I wait patiently until she walks up to my crib. I love to smile when I see her, just to let her know it is going to be a good day. I like mornings...I get picked up and fed right away and then I kick and play while my mom rubs the sleep out of her eyes.

I thought I would show you what my day looks like, through my eyes. It is a different world!

When I am first picked up in the mornings I see this.

It is pretty comfortable and I can smell my mom's hair. But what I love is being able to look over it and take in all the shapes and colors. I don't like when my head gets covered and I can't learn about my surroundings. I then get to eat (but I won't show you my view) and then I go back up to that first view except this time it is covered in this.

I think it helps catch the gross stuff I spit out of my mouth when I burp. It is not always there and when I get it on mom or dad's clothes there is more laughter and then they wipe it up anyway.

After I get changed and dressed mom likes to read me a story.

She has so many books for me! I like the bright colors. Dad goes to work, which makes us both sad every day but he kisses me with his scruffy beard and I laugh because it tickles. And then he kisses mom. I think he likes her.

After story time I HATE to see this.

I just don't get why she puts me on my stomach. I hold my head up and cry at her but she tells me "Good job!" I guess she doesn't get that when I hold my head up I am mad about where I am! Oh well...guess I can put up with it a little longer.

I take a few more naps and eat a few more times throughout the day. When I see this it means mom needs her hands free.

She sets me up next to her and I hear lots of clicking and shuffling. Sometimes there is a short ringing but she makes it stop when she talks into it. She explains to me that she is working and will play with me in a minute. I don't mind. This contraption I am in vibrates and plays music. Plus I stretch and kick and talk the whole time which makes mom laugh. She can't resist reaching over and tickling me or making funny faces at me in the middle of working.

Then dad comes homes and there is lots of talking and story telling about their days. I just sit and listen and watch them. Sometimes their stories include me and something I did, like having a crazy messy diaper. Doesn't sound like a great topic of conversation but they seem to get a kick out of it. I like to smile and coo to be a part of the conversation. Then I see this which means we are going outside.

I love going on walks! Mom checks on me a lot by opening this up and I smile to reassure her I am okay, even if the walk is bumpy.

We come home and play some more. Then on to my favorite thing.

I love splashing and moving all around. Dad and mom love to tell me to splash harder to see if I can get them wet. I have once or twice! Then I snuggle in mom's arms wrapped in something soft.

After cuddle time it is massage time.

This smells so good! At first I hated this goop but now I really like it. Mom says the smell is supposed to help me sleep. Since I sleep 9 to 10 hours a night she may be on to something. We read some more, have family prayer and then both mom and dad kiss me and tell me how much they love me. Before I close my eyes I love to look at these guys.

They crack me up! I can't help but smile and talk to them for a minute before I go to sleep all by myself. I can hear mom and dad playing monopoly or watching TV in the background which helps me feel happy and safe as I drift off to dreamland. My life is pretty good.

Splish Splash...he's so big in the bath!

We have upgraded Shortstop to the big tub. He still fits in the blue baby tub but he LOVES to splash and move around. My kitchen floor and my clothes were getting soaked every night so we tried the big tub. It was a hit! He can be mad and crying and the minute I put him in the tub he is in heaven. Doesn't he look so big?

It makes me sad that he is growing like a weed but I love to see him have such a good time. And each stage of his life gets better and better. We encourage splashing at our house and the more he splashed the more Mark and I clap for him and egg him on. It is a fun time! He moves from the top of the tub to the bottom and then I move him back each time. I think we have a little swimmer on our hands.

Did I tie this right?

Mark teaches Shortstop something new almost every day. He already knows a LOT about baseball and how to be nice to mom but this Sunday he learned how to tie a tie for church. Doesn't he look dashing?

24th of July

This is a big holiday in Utah but not one I have ever gotten in to. I just don't know where fun things are and Shortstop is too little to really care but I did have a 4 day weekend. My sister who lives in Kaysville knew this and invited us up to her house to spend the night for one night. It is so nice to get out of Provo that we jumped at the chance. In her usual fashion, she asked us what food would sound good and she would make it. Love that sister of mine! We got up there Thursday afternoon and while her kids played in the pool, Mark threw basketballs to them to see if they could jump off the trampoline, catch the ball and dunk it in the pool floating hoop. Looked like fun! Then Melanie made all types of homemade pizza and breadsticks. Mmmm! That night we got to spend some time with her kids watching Wipeout while she went to class. The next morning we woke up to cinnamon french toast and bacon. Seriously, she rocks. After that we all went to the Gateway mall, had lunch at Rumbi's and then went to Toy Story 3 in 3D.

It was awesome! I will admit that I got teary eyed at a couple of the parts. I can't wait to own it! Shortstop ate during the first 20 minutes of the movie and then slept the rest of the time. I had to leave once or twice while he fussed in his sleep for a second but still stood in the hall and watched since he wasn't crying out loud. He did so good.

After we got to our home in Provo we made a bed of blankets and pillows in the living room, ate dinner on it and then laid down as a family and watched a League of Their Own. It was kind of our date night but we stayed in. Shortstop was more interested in the fuzzy blankets to suck on than the movie but whatever keeps him happy!

Mark has been a part of intramural softball the whole time he has been at BYU, both co-ed and mens. This was his last season playing on a softball team. He is pretty sad about it being over but loved it while it lasted.

As always, he plans a pizza party at the end of each season. We go to a local pizza buffet where he hands out team awards. So this Saturday was the team pizza party. I don't think people believe him when he says it each season because it sounds so funny to have adults having a pizza party but this time we actually had a good turnout.

So although we did not celebrate the 24th of July for what it was, and yes I am grateful for the pioneers, I am glad I was able to spend the time with my family without any work!

Blessing day

Sunday in our ward, Mark blessed Shortstop. It was such a special day. We had both sets of Shortstop's grandparents, 1 great aunt, 3 aunts, 2 uncles, 3 cousins, a friend and his fiancee and good friends of the Elkington family. We felt very loved and and appreciated them all sharing this special time for Mark and his boy.

Shortstop is such a good boy. He had a happy morning like always and I made sure to get ready long before we needed to go just in case I needed to feed him more, change him or even re-do my entire hair style. (That was Mark's input. He said "Give yourself time for a wardrobe or hair change...for yourself." He knows me too well.) We got to church 15 minutes early, which for us is a record. I rocked my boy and got him to sleep 2 minutes before Mark needed to take him up. He slept through the whole blessing. In this ward, they have the mom sit on the stand, which I love. It was nice to walk up to the front as a family and then to sit close by and listen to the special prayer. Mark said things that will forever be in my heart and things I would never have thought about blessing Shortstop with.

I have thought about my first child's blessing day since before I was married. I could not wait to watch my husband bless our baby with whatever he felt inspired to say. I could not wait to be that proud mom that got teary eyed and held the baby afterwards. This Sunday was everything I could have asked for and more. I am so in love with Mark and am so lucky to call him my own. I love my son. That short phrase does not accurately express how I feel but I can't think of how better to say it. My life is one that I know I take for granted but on days like this last Sunday I am reminded to count my blessings and keep on smiling because life is good and sweet.

I had to take a picture of my hair. My sister taught me how to do the messy bun and I love it now! Plus she made me some cute flowers to wear as well.

All dressed up and wondering what the fuss is about.

I am so lucky. Look at my handsome boys!

My "mom" bracelet

I once saw a TV show where the dad of a new mom gave her a present the day their baby was born. I always thought that was so cute and a long time ago, before Shortstop was in our thoughts, I told Mark this. He logged it away as important and months before we became parents my sweet husband ordered a beautiful bracelet for me. It is just like one my sister Alicia has so she helped us order it from the same person who made hers. It has a charm that represents a wedding ring and then the birthstone of each parent on both sides. Then you can add birthstones for each child that you have. Unfortunately, it did not come in time for Mark to give it to me in the hospital but it did come the day before the blessing. I think the timing was perfect! I love it! Thank you sweetheart! And thank you to my sister for helping it all work out.

2 months stats

We took Shortstop to the doctor a couple of days ago for his 2 month check up and first round of immunization shots. Both Mark and I were sad and nervous to do this for obvious reasons. But our little man cub did Awesome! He looked shocked and surprised when they poked him and of course they make mom hold his hands down so he was looking at me the whole time. He did let us know he was not happy but after a few minutes of crying and me nursing him he was just fine. He took a good nap in the afternoon, had a few rough hours of whimpering and crying in pain that day but then he slept through the night and has been fine ever since. What a good boy!

Not so happy with mom at the moment. You can even see the blood on his little leg. :(

Stats:

Weight- 11 lbs. 13 oz- 50th percentile

Height- 23 1/2 inches- 75th percentile

Dr. Savage says he looks perfect and is growing very well. He finally has rolls on his legs which I love!! He has been sleeping through the night for about two weeks now. He goes down on his own at 10:30 pm and wakes up at 6:30 am. What a wonderful baby. I could not be more grateful for such a good boy. Each morning he wakes up happy and when I say good morning and get in his eye sight, he smiles and starts coo-ing. Makes every day a great day to be alive.

Mark the other day called to me from the bedroom as he was getting Shortstop ready for bed. As I walked in, this is what I saw.

See Mark is very tender hearted with babies and children and does not like to do anything his little boy may not like. This includes taking his shirt off over his head. Shortstop does not cry or get mad but it makes Mark nervous to cover his face even for a second because it startles him and he squirms. But he also knew trying it this way would not work either. It was pretty cute and Shortstop just waited patiently for dad to figure it out or for mom to come in and fix it.

And here is a cute picture is a new outfit. It is the first time he has worn shoes and he suddenly looks more like a little boy than my newborn baby.

Family vacation!

What a fun couple of weeks we have had as a family. I took some pictures but still did not take as many as I would like. We have been very busy traveling around and spending time with family. Shortstop has met so many more family members and the verdict is the same...they all love him! This is a long post but mainly for my own journaling purposes.

To begin, we always go up to Seattle to spend time with Mark's family for the week around the 4th of July and his mom's birthday. We usually make this drive in one day but decided with a new baby we should break it up, so we left left on June 30th to head up to Twin Falls to spend time with my family for a day. We had a great time and Shortstop travels so well! He was better than me! I get pretty antsy in the car and have to move around. He needed to eat and be fed but other than that, no complaints from the back seat. To check on him every once in a while, I would just reach over and take a picture of his face to see if he was sleeping or not. This way I did not have to climb in the back or lean over the seat to check. Maybe I should invest in one of those baby mirrors. But here is one of the shots.

We got to my parents house late Wednesday night and my parents were gone but my sister and her family were there. We stayed up talking and then the next day spent most of the day at the lake. And of course I forgot my camera. My sister belongs to the Twin Falls Country Club which gives them private golf course and lake access right in the canyon. Beautiful! I spent the whole time lounging in the shade or putting my feet in the water off the dock while holding our little man. Here is his new outfit he wore which he borrowed from his cousin E-man who is back in Boston.

I love how his arms are the same as the crabs. Also, this is a 0-3 months outfit. That's right people, the newborn clothes are put away. So sad!

Mark also relaxed but did take some of my nieces and nephew out in the paddle boats. Thanks Alicia and Paula for such a fun day. We also got to go to my nephew's baseball game that night and loved seeing him play. He's a natural.

I did not get pics of Paula's kids with their newest cousin but here are some of Alicia's. Her little 3 year old LOVED to kiss and wave at Shortstop. She would run up to me and say "Where is your baby? I need to see him please." He loved the attention!

We left the next morning but not before I had some fun with my eyeliner. I was getting ready and Shortstop was just hanging out on the bed listening to the soothing sounds of my blow dryer. I had my eyeliner in hand and thought, "Here is an opportunity for some fun." My nieces and nephew got a kick out of it!

Seattle was great and Mark's family was so happy to have their only grandchild in the house. He met Aunt Allis for the first time and it was love at first sight! She was so sweet with him. Mark loved seeing the baby with the baby (she is the youngest).

We spent time talking and hanging out all weekend. Mark's grandparents and Aunt Susan and family came up from Eugene to spend Saturday afternoon.

Sunday, the 4th of July, we went to Celebration park and sat in the same spot we do every year. It was cold so Shortstop spent the whole time under a very warm and gorgeous blanket my mom made. He did awesome when the fireworks came. He woke up once a little scared but went back to sleep after eating.

Federal Way always has an amazing fireworks display! We had a great time with family and friends, including one of Mark's high school friends (and his wife) he has not seen since graduation. And Shortstop is wearing another cousin E-man onesie. E-man was born on the 4th of July last year and this is what he wore home from the hospital.

Monday we ran some errands and went to Ivar's for lunch. Best fast food seafood ever! We love our Ivar's! That night Mark got to take his boy to his first baseball game and it was the Mariners at Safeco field. Mark's dad was with us so the three Elkington men all together doing what they love most...baseball! It was a sweet moment for Mark. Shortstop wore his baseball hat and even got a special certificate.

There was a lady behind us with an 8 month old boy who was wearing the cutest Mariners athletic jacket and it was his first game too. I commented on it and she said she got it at a garage sale. Halfway through the game she came over and said her boy was too big for it and they were going to give it away anyway to someone who could use it so she gave it to me! I was so touched and excited. Mark was thrilled! He will probably be able to wear it in the Fall.

It was such a fun game. My father-in-law and Mark know more about baseball than I know about any topic I know a lot about. They love the sport and even though the Mariners are not doing well, the experience was perfect.

We loved singing "Take me out to the ball game" during the 7th inning stretch as our little family. Shortstop was perfect the whole game. When it came time to feed him I went to the best mother's lounge! Safeco really is a great ballpark.

We went back through Twin Falls on our way home and spent another 2 days there. We went down to Shoshone Falls and had a picnic and this time my parents were back in town. Mom got to bathe her newest grandson the first night and loved holding him as much as she could the whole time we were there.

The day after we got back to Provo, we went to my family reunion with my grandparents and extended family. So Shortstop met my grandpa and grandma. He has now met his 4 of his great grandparents. And again, forgot my camera or did not have the right picture opportunities. But the memory is there!

Thanks for pushing through the long post. Hope you enjoyed it!!

2 months old...

And look what I can do!

We took this a few days before Shortstop was 2 months. We are so proud of how well he coos and we can even get him laughing. It is the best thing I have ever heard in my life and it still brings tears to my eyes.

Happy 2 months, little man cub. Dad and I love you so much!

Newborn pics

I have SO much to catch up on. It has been an exciting week of vacation and meeting new people and so many firsts for Shortstop. But before I do that I wanted to post the newborn pictures my sister took. I have waited to post these because they were a gift for Father's day for Mark and then we left for almost two weeks for vacation. But here are some of them. And they were a hit with his dad! I put the baseball ones in a big wall frame for him and he loved it!

This last one is by far my favorite. He comes by this face naturally from his dad and grandpa. The best is that Shortstop looks like a grumpy umpire and it is so fitting with the mitt and everything. He is such a happy baby and smiles and laughs now but when he is just relaxed, he has this grouchy expression. Love my baby! Just wait until I get pictures up from vacation...he has changed so much!