Tea and Snow

This winter has been very up and down.  I think it has been one of the coldest on the books but snow wise although we have missed 11 days of school we really only had two bad storms.  One of those storms happened to be a on a day when Andrew and I had a double date scheduled and the babysitter all lined up.  Since the winter had been such a bust up until that point we decided that it would probably be a bust again and we were going to go on our date.  So our dear daycare mom Mrs. Beth came and picked up Elisha and they were off for a day of fun.  Jamie and Beth Bavis came to pick up Andrew and I so we could go to tea!  Yes, I said tea and not coffee.  I love going to a tea house and having tea, finger sandwiches, and scones!  I never realized that tea houses actually existed until I moved to Bel Air, I just thought they were an English thing or something from the movies.

Anyway, we were off to tea.  Much to our surprise as we left on our adventure it was actually snowing quite a bit but we were determined so we forged ahead.  We enjoyed a great lunch with delicious food and tea in the winter wonderland.  It was snowing way more than any other storm we had all year....

Here are the boys getting back to the car.

Here is the tea house when we left to go home.

Needless to say, what is normally a 20 minute ride home really took us an hour.  We didn't even go home because we were afraid that the Bavis' minivan would not be able to make it into our neighborhood.  Our son was also at Mrs. Beth's house, which is in the same neighborhood as the Bavis' house.  So we ventured over to the other side of Bel Air unsure of when we would get home.

Here are pictures of the traffic/snow on 24 (this is the main road through Be Air).

Once we arrived at the Bavis' house, the Merson's (Daycare Mom) came over and picked us up so we could be with Elisha.  They have two, 4 wheel drive vehicles so it was a lot easier for them to maneuver in the snow.  After a few hours hanging out with them the snow started to slow down some and Tim Merson was able to drive us home.  It was a crazy day that was full of all kinds of surprises.

Pictures with Jennifer Casey

Right before New Years, Andrew was on Facebook and he saw an ad posted by a local Annapolis Photographer.  She was doing a Fresh Face Casting Call it was for babies up to a year.  We inquired to see what it was about.  She emailed us back asking a few questions about Elisha and then she said she would love to see him for a free session!  She wanted a few pictures to advertise her new business adventure, renting/selling some of her props and backdrops to new photographers.  Not only would we get a free session but a set of proofs, an 8x10 print framed, and if we were interested in buying any of the other prints/digital rights they would be 40% off!  It was an amazing deal so we jumped on it and the pictures are amazing! 

Side note: the day after Elisha took these pictures he woke up with a fever... his first real fever that was not shot induced.  The doctor said he had his first nasty ear infection, although you would have never guessed from these pictures!

Thank you Jennifer Casey for capturing my precious little boy! 

This is the box that we got with all our goodies! And so many extra things!

I loved all of her personal touches, the sticker has Elisha's name, she gave us extra prints, and there were bubbles, lollipops, and a camera rattle that she made in the box as well. 

Nana made the sweater that Elisha has worn many times and Grandma Kassouf made this quilt for him.  He loves sleeping with it every night.

I saved the best for last! Seriously, he is so cute!

Elisha's First Car

A car that he drives, or Daddy drives .... 

Elisha's Great Aunt Julie and Uncle Karl sent him this amazing Christmas present.  Uncle Karl loves to play with remote control cars, boats, and helicopters so when he saw this toddler sized remote control car, he thought directly of Elisha.  So the car came for Christmas and Andrew was super stoked (because really its his toy that Elisha will ride in as Andrew controls it at first).  On Christmas Eve, after church Andrew said "We need to build Elisha's car tonight so he can see it in the morning."  When we went to open the box at 11:30 and saw it in a million pieces we decided that was to big of a project for us to complete on our own.  We were going to need some back up support to help us put it together; because with our child riding in it we figured we should make sure that it was put together correctly.  

So a few weeks ago Mr. Tim and Brandon came over to help Andrew build this car.  Let me tell you this is a luxury car!!  Not only is it a life size remote control car but when Elisha gets bigger he can drive it on his own.  There is also a horn and headlights that actually work!  It has a radio!  The car has 5 songs that are pre-programed into the system and their is also a hook up for an mp3 player so you could play any music you want.

Building the Car

Elisha wanted in on the action.  We let him work on the engine.

Elisha was super excited when we put him in the car.  He loved pushing the button for the horn and he kept jumping up and down in excitement.  Andrew now has lots and lots of practice to do, because he won't be driving Elisha until he has it mastered.  

Elisha is Playing!

Thank you Uncle Karl and Aunt Julie!  I am sure that this toy is going to bring us hours and hours of enjoyment!     

Kassouf Valentine's!

Valentine's is a holiday that Andrew and I have done every year but it has never been a big deal. With the exception of our first Valentine's because that was my first Valentine's ever with a significant other; so Andrew made that one a big deal.  This year though is a very very close second because this year I had 2 valentine's! 

Andrew and Elisha made me a special project, that is hanging on the wall in my living room! 

Daddy painted his feet... 

I got this adorable sign!!

This picture is worth more than words can express.

 Seriously, I love it!! My big man is an amazing dad and husband. I am so glad I get to spend everyday with him.  My little man is just so adorable and the last 10 months have been a whirlwind. I can't even begin to fathom what the future will hold for him.  

Andrew and I also exchanged gifts.  I made Andrew this deck of cards. 

52 Reason's I Love You

Andrew got me this Beauty and the Beast figure.  It is my favorite princess movie! Isn't it super cute? 

So even if you don't like this holiday say "I love you" to the people you care about! I love you, Andrew! I love you, Elisha! Happy Valentine's Day.  

Up Up and Away

Up Up and Away!  As you saw in the last post Elisha has been into everything and now you can add stairs to the list.  Two weeks ago we were at a friends house and Elisha was sitting on the floor playing with the bottom step; and one of the mom's said, "Elisha is at the stairs do we need to move him?"  I responded saying, "No, he won't go up the steps he's fine.  He just likes to play on the bottom step."  Well lo and behold, within 10 minutes I looked over and he was standing on the first step trying to figure out how to move up to the second!  I really think he listens to every adult conversation and then sets out to prove us wrong!  So the fun has begun.  He loves climbing our mountain of stairs just for fun!  I think he also likes it because everytime he gets to them we run after him and who doesn't want that kind of attention.  My little man is completely mobile.  

He is ready to show you what he can do! 
... He's off ...

 Time for a break, this is hard work.

 Now to finish

He can climb the entire staircase...oh we are in for some major trouble now!

Don't Turn Around

Everyone said, "Enjoy this 'Immobile' time because once he starts moving everything is over." Well my friends, not only is he moving everywhere, he is pulling himself up onto any and everything! When I say everything I mean EVERYTHING! When things are quiet it is no longer a good thing because that means he's concentrating on something and 9.5 out of 10 times he is getting into the things he shouldn't be.  

He started with the drawers in the kitchen. 

Yes, Elisha those belong all over mommy's floor.

Then he moved to the pots and pans. 

Thankfully they all stayed stacked up!

Then the pantry.  

All kinds of yummy stuff!

And finally drawers all over the house.

Today I would like to wear these pants.

So now he plays inside a box while I try to get something accomplished .    

It worked for like 5 minutes!

Elisha's first Antibiotic :-(

Well it was perfect timing to have off school today for ice ... because my little man woke up with a fever :-( Besides a small cough here or there Elisha thankfully has not been sick, until this morning.  He had gotten up twice last night which is no normal! And he was super fussy this morning and lethargic.  I though maybe it was his teeth bothering him because he had a very low fever so I gave him 1/2 a dose of Tylenol.  He took a great nap and when he got up he was still really lethargic and his fever was climbing.  

At the height of his fever :-(

After some Tylenol

So we called the doctor and long behold my little man has an ear infection:-( 

After his second dose of Tylenol and two doses of antibiotics he is back to his normal self! He is crawling all over and as curious as ever.  Thankfully ear infections are not contagious, because Andrew and I get enough germs at school!

After one dose of antibiotics he was more lively!

Then by bedtime my little man was back!