2013 Family Recap

This year was an eventful one for us! 

Adam has been continuing his schooling at the University of Arizona in the 5-year Architecture program.  He will be graduating in May of 2015.  It seems so far away but at the same time it’s creeping up on us!  Only 3 more semesters to go!  Adam was called in our church ward as the Ward Mission Leader in May, and continues to evolve his love of guns and sports.

Kami is still working in the mortgage business and is blessed to be able to do the majority of her responsibilities from home.  She also continues to dance, mostly ballet, at a local dance studio.  Kami was called in our church ward as the Primary Music Leader (children’s music leader) at the end of September, and quickly grew to love it.  She spends her time trying to be a good wife and mom, while also fulfilling church responsibilities and developing some of her many interests.

Our love and joy, Eli, was born right at the end of 2012, and we have loved every minute with him.  It has been a magical and humbling and wonderful adventure! 

When Eli was 3 and a half months old (in the middle of March) we took him, at the suggestion of our pediatrician, to see a pediatric plastic surgeon for an evaluation.  He told us right away that Eli had a condition called Craniosynostosis on the right side of his head.  The right suture in Eli’s skull had been fused or closed prematurely and was causing his skull to grow disproportionately.  The doctor told us this was not something a helmet could fix and that he would need surgery to correct it.  Eli had his surgery two months later when he was 5 and a half months old (in the middle of June).  The plastic surgeon and neurosurgeon team took about 4 hours in the operating room and we stayed in the hospital for 5 days.  Eli was swollen for a while, but he came out of surgery with only a strip of moisturized gauze over his zig-zag scar from ear to ear across the top of his head.  And when we left the hospital he had no bandages or restrictions, except to not be underwater for a week or two.  He did so great!  He recovered quickly and after a few weeks he was back to his normal, wiggly self.  We are glad this experience is behind us, but we’re sure Eli will have fun showing off and bragging about his scar and 86+ stitches!

Eli is *just about one year old* and FULL of personality!  He is so smart!  He started walking unassisted at the end of November, and is cruising all over the place in all the many ways he knows how, and gets into everything.  He has been taking swim lessons throughout the year, which he loves!  He learned to hold us breath to go under water after only a few months.  And he’s eating great – all kinds of “solid” foods, and he has 3 teeth so far.  He likes books, swimming, playing on the piano, exploring, playing peek-a-boo, being outside, the bathroom (and baths), and he loves when Daddy comes home!  We love it when he giggles, smiles, walks and runs around, babbles and squeals, gives us hugs and kisses, and so many more things!  We love our little miracle!

May your Christmas season be filled with love and family, and peace and joy through He who makes it possible.  And we hope 2014 brings you and your family great happiness and adventure!

With love,

Adam, Kami & Eli

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:1 1, 14

9 Months! (Baby Eli)

Here we are at 9 months!!!  Eli has been outside of my tummy for as long as he was inside...  Approximately.  It goes by so fast!  It's so crazy.  I know I say that every month, but it's always so true!  Here's what he's been up to in the last month:

• Sitting up.  He sits unsupported like a champ!  He has learned how to balance while sitting.  He used to start falling and then fall, but now he starts falling and corrects himself.  He still falls over sometimes though.  Usually when he's distracted by playing with something or reaching for something.
• Pulling up/Standing.  He always wants to be standing!  He even tries to stand up in the bath tub, constantly!  He loooooves to be standing.  And he's so smart -- He'll be sitting next to us and will turn around and grab our hands and start pulling himself up when he wants to stand.  :)  It's hard to get things done sometimes because he only wants to be standing, for which he needs supervision of course.  :)  In the last couple days have witnessed him pull himself all the way up from sitting to standing all by himself, twice!!
• Walking.  He loooooves to walk too!  He'll walk around and around the coffee table.  He'll walk around one of our cushion chairs.  And he's brave -- He'll be walking across the coffee table and then turn around and grab onto the couch behind him, or one of us or something.  He'll even let go of us when we're supporting him while he's walking to grab something else.  We like to hold each of his hands and get him to walk places -- to Mommy, to Daddy, to his room...  It's fun, and he's gotten really good at it!  
• Slapping.  And he'll slap things too.  It's so cute!  Walk, walk, slap, slap, slap, walk, walk...  He does that in his crib with the changing table that's attached, he does it on the piano, he slaps the entertainment center when he crawls up to it, and the coffee table of course.  And Eli will give Adam high-five's too.  :)
• Bouncing.  He bounces a lot in his exersaucer and when we're holding him.  He definitely thinks it's fun!
• 2 naps a day.  He's on a flexible schedule, has been for a couple months now, and it's awesome.  So much better than the 2 hours on, 2 hours off thing I tried doing for a while (when he was younger).  I'm glad he is able to handle this routine, it's really helpful for me!  He gets up at ~7am, has a nap at ~10am and ~3pm, and goes to bed at ~7:30pm.  And he sleeps through the night!  He's a champ.  For reals.
• Loves bath time!  He LOOOOOVES the bath!  The bathroom is right across from his room, and every time he sees it he kicks and flaps his arms and gets really excited!  When he's sad I'll take him into the bathroom and he is instantly happy.  But when I turn on the water to start the bath, he goes crazy!!  And squeals!  And I've been letting him stand next to the tub while it fills up for fun.  He loves it.
• Crawling.  Just in the last week or two Eli has finally been making forward progress with crawling!!  He got really good at holding himself up on his hands, and then turning himself around, and then he would reach out for things and then would end up rolling over.  He used to roll everywhere and it was so cute.  But he's crawling now!  And it's so cute too!  We're so proud of him!  He does a half-army crawl thing.  He army crawls with his left arm (bent, using his elbow to push himself), and reaches out with his right hand, with his tummy dragging on the floor.  But I think he'll be walking unsupported before he starts hands and knees crawling.  Guess we'll see!
• Poop.  Haha, just need to mention that he has regular bowel movements pretty much at the same time every day -- Usually right before or after his morning nap.  It's helpful to know!
• Tongue. He started feeling around his mouth with his tongue lately, it's cute watching him try to learn how to use it.
• Netflix.  He gets really excited when the red Netflix loading screen comes on the tv.
• Paper/Books.  He loves paper!  He will endlessly try to get a hold of anything with paper in it.  Hymn books at church or on the piano, books when we read to him, any paper we ever are holding near him...  I've been letting him play with one of his baby books (one of those with the stiff cardboard pages) lately and he loves it, he'll just play and play and play with it.
• Mirrors.  He still has fun looking at himself and Mommy and Daddy in the mirror.
• Head turn.  When he meets new people or when people talk to him who he doesn't recognize, he cocks his head to the side like he's shy and/or trying to figure them out first before he gets too friendly.  It's silly, but that's his thing!
• Friendly/Easy going.  He's really easy going and doesn't mind being passed around to other people.  He's friendly with anyone and just likes to play!
• Social.  He's become aware of other "little people" -- It's cute and fun watching him interact with other kids, which he doesn't get to do a lot of.  I have realized this month that it's time to get him out and socializing!
• Talking/Squealing.  He is exploring all the different sounds he can make.  He's making "cuh-cuh-cuh" sounds, and "guh-guh-guh" sounds in addition to his "buh-buh-buh" sounds.  Since he's been doing that I'll sing the ABC of sounds song ("Apple, apple, ah-ah-ah...")  He likes it, and I think tries to do some of the sounds back.  He also squeals often.  It's so fun and cute.  Sometimes he'll squeal and I'll do it back, and then he'll do it back to me.  Tonight he got a little scared from the sound of the blender but when I held him while using it he started squealing like he was trying to be as loud as the blender.  And later when Daddy was holding him and I started the blender, he looked over toward the kitchen real fast and started squealing again like he was happy and excited, and like he remembered from earlier.  So cute!!
• Tummy.  Maybe it's because I'm lazy and don't clothe him all the time at home, but he's become more interested in his tummy lately.  He looks down and plays with it, and his diaper too!  So silly!
• Cups/Bottles.  He loves cups and bottles!  He loves to try to drink from them, and also to chew on the bottom of them.
• Garbage/Kitchen items.  He will play with just about anything.  I don't know why people even buy any toys for their children!  He'll stay entertained by these things for a while.  Some include: empty tissue boxes, empty toilet paper rolls, crunchy sounding bags, cardboard boxes, whisk, cups, cookie cutters, even his Bumbo chair.  He also likes to roll around and play under the coffee table.
• Eating.  He eats like a champ!  He's eaten tons of new foods now.  I've even started making my own baby food.  It's a money saver for sure!  And who knows what they really have to put in baby food on the shelf at the store to make it last a whole year before it goes bad?!  Right now Eli will eat about 15-30 minutes after he wakes up -- he'll start with a bowl of something solid, oatmeal mixed with fruit in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening he'll have either veggies or fruit.  Then about an hour or so after that he'll have an 8 oz bottle of formula.  Occasionally he'll have more.  I feel like this is going really well and we've got it down!  (But I'm sure it will be changing soon...)
• Electronics.  This kid loves electronics.  He goes for my laptop even when it's closed.  He'll also go after the Xbox remotes, the tv remotes, our phones, any cords, DVD boxes, the entertainment center, etc!  I was telling Adam the other day that I think kids these days were taught how to use technology in the pre-earth life.  Like for reals!  They are so smart!
• Teething.  Boy is this boy teething!  He doesn't have any teeth to show for it yet.  But just in the last week or so he's started making these faces like his mouth hurts.  And he's been more fussy than usual.  And he sometimes sleeps longer than usual.  Poor kid.  I wish he didn't have to hurt so much!  But I'm not sure what we're going to do when he has teeth...  I don't know how to have a baby with teeth!  It's amazing how there is always something new to learn.  Once you get familiar and comfortable, another curve ball gets thrown your way!  Welcome to parenting.  :)

I love our little miracle!!!  :)

Utah Trip

At the beginning of August we took a little trip.  First stop: Utah.

 Eli enjoying his first sucker

Adam's sister is getting ready to serve a mission at Temple Square (how awesome is that?!) and she went through the temple for the first time while we were visiting.

Eli and Auntie Holly

Siblings!

Baczuk Family

Ferguson Family

Classic Ferguson Family Rank-Face Pose

Eli got to meet lots of family.  A few include:

Eli & Great Uncle Gregg

Eli and Great- Grandma & Grandpa Baczuk

Eli & Cousin (once removed) Jake

4 generations!

The other reason why we went up was because Adam's brother got married.  So happy for him and our new sis!

Second stop: Colorado

Third stop: South Dakota

Forth stop: Back to Colorado

8 Months! (Baby Eli)

Eli is 8 months old today!  I can hardly believe it.  He is the best thing in our lives so far and we love him so stinkin' much!  Every day with him is a joy.

Some of the things he's been doing lately:

• Scratches at things with different material (like the couch or carpet or his play mat, etc) by opening and closing his hands on them
• Puts his top lip over his bottom lip and talks, "ba ba ba ba" or makes a popping sound
• Rolls everywhere!  Anywhere he wants to go, he rolls.  Sometimes he tries to crawl but ends up rolling over.  Or he'll move forward by rolling back and forth from one side to the other on his tummy.
• Getting really good at holding himself up on his hands.  He moves his upper body around, but just kicks his feet.
• Loves balloons!  He goes crazy for them.
• Loves tags.  He goes for the tag on every toy.
• Loves the Bumbo chair table.  If he can see it he will try to get it!  He loves to play with it, so silly.
• Some of his favorite foods: bananas, apples, sweet potatoes, popsicles, oatmeal (with fruit in it!)
• Puts his feet up on anything in range
• Still uses his feet like hands!  He holds onto things with all fours.
• Loves music
• Always wants whatever Daddy is drinking, no matter if it's from a bottle or cup or anything.  Eli loves cups and bottles, and goes crazy for them!
• We had a framed picture of our little family out from the hospital when Eli was born and he loves it!  He will roll over to it and touch our faces and give kisses to us in the picture.  It's so cute!
• We give him a diaper to play with when we change his diaper so he doesn't roll over and grab other things he shouldn't, like the cords on the blinds!
• We've been trying to teach him "kisses" for a while now, and he does them really well now!  He gives us kiss attacks!  He'll lunge at us and grab the sides of our face (or hair!) and hold on really tight and pull us close to him and stick his wide open, slobbery mouth on our face.  Sometimes multiple times in a row.  He loves us!
• Adam has been trying to teach Eli how to do high-fives, and he started doing them when prompted by Adam by himself just the other day 
• Sits up unsupported really well, but we still have to keep a close eye on him to catch him when he falls backwards
• Hates when we clean out his nose!
• Likes watching sports
• Super smiley!
• Just in the last couple weeks we graduated him from the infant bath seat to a laundry basket for bath time.  He sits up in the bath and plays and splashes -- so cute!  And he loves his rubber ducky.
• Still tries to eat anything he can get his little hands on!
• When he's sitting on anyone's lap, at some point he will try to eat their knees
• We've noticed just in the last few days that he's trying to lift himself up!  In the bath the other day he grabbed on to two sides of the basket at one of the corners and lifted himself up passed halfway!  And just this morning Adam was asking him for a high-five and Eli grabbed on to his hand with both of his and tried with all his might to lift up!
• Easily distracted by feet - Mine, Adam's or even his own!  He still sucks on his big toe occasionally
• Sleeps mostly on his tummy, or on his side.  Sometimes when we put him down for a nap, right away he rolls to his side and falls asleep!
• He had his first ride in a shopping cart in the kid seat yesterday!
• Likes to play the piano, and likes when Mommy plays
• This last month he visited his first new states (in this order): Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota & New Mexico.  Now he's been to 7 states!  (Not counting Idaho when I was pregnant... ;) )

Mother's Day / Father's Day

Just wanted to mention our first Mother's Day and Father's Day this year and share some super cute pictures.

Eli signed cards for both days.  :)

1st Mother's Day
(before surgery) 

1st Father's Day
(after surgery)

Mommy's birthday
(after surgery)

Celebrating 3 Years

I'm playing a little catch up...  (Aren't we all??)  At the beginning of June, Adam and I celebrated 3 years of marriage.  I can't believe it's been 3 years, and I also can't believe it's only been 3 years!  It's been a fun and awesome journey and adventure so far.  Some things that have happened in the last year include:

- Adam completed his 3rd year at the School of Architecture at the UofA
- We bought a house
- We had our first child (son)
- I started dancing again (ballet) 
- My grandfather passed away, and I got to sing with my cousin at his memorial service
- My brother got married
- We learned our son would need major surgery (Craniosynostosis)
- My other brother got married
- Eli started swim lessons
- Eli went to his first D-Backs game

And lots of other good and fun things!  We celebrated with a nice dinner at home after Eli went to bed.  I love my husband, and I love my family.  I'm so happy we were able to be married not only for time but also sealed for eternity in the temple.  What a wonderful place the temple is, and what great blessings it brings to our home and to our family.  Jesus Christ is the foundation of our love, our happiness, our joy and hope and everything!

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

4 Months! (Baby Eli)

I can't believe it.  Eli is 4 months old today!!  Time goes so fast.

Life has been so crazy and so awesome.  We just LOVE having Eli in our family!  It's the best!

4 months:

- liking tummy time more; he's gotten really good at holding his head up! he's beginning to be more stable
- loves swimming classes!
- drooling everywhere! he's definitely teething, which also means he hasn't been letting me sleep through the night anymore :( and he also spits up everywhere
- loves to put everything in his mouth - especially his hands! and by hands I mostly mean fists
- smiles when he sees Mommy or Daddy; and he recognizes our voices through the phone too!
- still loves looking at lights and fans on the ceiling; but he's looking at people more and even the tv!
- looks at the camera when we're taking a picture of him, but he hasn't gotten down the smiling for the camera part yet (he'll smile for us, but not the camera)
- so wiggly!
- I think his eyes are going to be green
- plenty of hair on the back of his head (although some is getting rubbed off from sleeping on his back) but still just little hairs on the top of his head! they are so little and not very dark and it makes him look bald
- recognizes himself in the mirror and smiles and then gets shy!
- finally starting to (kind of) get the hang of long naps (yay!)
- loves playing with Daddy
- talking like crazy - especially during prayers!
- talks a bunch when we sing to or around him; I think he's trying to sing along!
- doesn't mind other people holding him - he's pretty friendly
- loves to stick his feet in the air!
- holds onto his toes (we're still waiting for them to make their way into his mouth!)
- falls asleep in the car, but not all the time
- breastfeeds like a champ!
- takes a bottle like a champ, and even holds it (for those few times when Mommy has to be away)
- giggles every once in a while
- apparently tickleish on his neck! he's been laughing when we play with him and tickle him sometimes
- kicks and flails his arms and legs like crazy when he's excited
- still curls his toes up around things like they are hands trying to hold stuff

I'm sure there's probably tons more, right?  But he's doing awesome.  He's the best!

Here are some super cute pictures:

Swim class!

At Mommy's dance class

Love holding onto his feet!

Eli today! 4 months!