To my sweet Elijah-bug on his very first birthday...

Elijah,
As I sit here today and reflect on the past year, since the day you were born, all I see is joy and happiness.

From the day we found out we were pregnant until this day- You continue to amaze us. I hope you enjoy this some day looking back, a journey through your first year of life.



On the day you were born, mommy was so happy. A lot of emotions filled my heart that day- because I wanted to see you so badly. But I finally had my baby boy in my arms to hold and love.


Lots of people got to share this exciting day with us...this is just a few of them!


As you began to grow your personality began to shine through. You are such a loving little man and you loved to smile and giggle at us.



At 3 months old, you were a tiny little peanut but mommy wasn't worried. This is our very first family photo (other than a few in the hospital that I think might have been taken.)


You and your sissy are like two peas in a pod, wherever she goes you want to go and wherever you go she wants to go.


You also love to chill out with daddy- I love how no matter how tired you are, you get hyper when he's around and giggle like crazy!


I just can't get enough of these kinds of pictures, how much your sissy adore's you!




And you and your daddy like to be silly together... here is just a few examples:


You also like to make the silliest faces:


You love special time with mommy when she wears you!



You finally started eating big boy food and you started chunking up :)


And even daddy got in on the wearing you... I think he's secretly starting to enjoy it now!


You've learned so many new things. First it was rolling over and smiling, then it was sitting up, and then crawling and pulling up.


and oh boy do you love a great mess!


and you're as cute as a button when you sleep :)

oh how I have a ton of sleeping pictures of you because you just look so sweet!

You continue to amaze me as you grow and learn.





At 11 months you are now no longer a little peanut but a chunky monkey ( I mean that in a cute way) and you are the most precious little boy.


Elijah, Mommy loves you so very much. You have been the answers to a lot of prayers in my life and God has blessed me with such a wonderful son. I cherish you and these days while you are still small but look forward to the time ahead when we will learn and grow together as a family. May your first birthday be one of great memories for us all and may your life continue to bring glory to God as long as you shall live. May He pour out His blessing upon you and place a calling on your life that will bring Him great glory!

I love you son!

Uncle Jared finally gets to meet his mini me!!!

We are so thrilled that Jared is home for a few weeks! For those of you who haven't kept up with this story- Derek's brother Jared, is in the Air Force and is stationed in Italy. He left just a few weeks before Elijah was born last year and finally got home on Monday! We went over and had dinner with the whole family last night and he got to meet Elijah for the first time!

I'll have to scan some pics of Jared as a baby- but Elijah is a spitting image of him, especially when he was little with his dark hair.

Anyhow here are some pictures of everyone last night during the fun.

Wordless (well at least for now) Wednesday!

My heart

Lord, may Your name be glorified in all the earth. May Your presence fill me tonight as I am humbled by your greatness. Lord, I'm in awe of who You are.

Father, my heart is aching tonight for baby Stellan... You see his pain and his suffering Lord. You see his sweet little soul, laying in the hospital struggling to get well.

How great a work You alone have already done in his life Lord, that his life is already a living testimony to Your love and Your greatness Lord.

Tonight as I reflect on the many lives touched already by this sweet baby boy, I'm humbled. Humbled because You have blessed me with so much. My children are healthy, our family is together and You reign over our home.

Daddy, my heart aches for his beautiful family. His father who is at home with his siblings who longs to have his family whole again. His siblings who are at home wondering what is going on. His mother who is by his side aching to see her baby be healthy again.

Lord I pray tonight that you will touch them, in a special way right now... Consume them with your loving arms tonight Lord. Envelop them with Your grace and Your peace tonight as they rest.