Dance, Dance, Dance...!

Elijah loves to dance. When he hears any kind of music with a good beat he really gets down to business. He's got great natural timing and rhythm. Honestly, when I look at a photo like this I think of how great our God is and how we are created in His image. This is the look of Joy...!

Elijah is literally Dancing for Joy in this photo. That reminds me of a worship song we sing in church that has the lyrics:

'We're gonna dance, dance, dance in the freedom we know because the freedom we know is gonna last forever...!'

At 2 years old Elijah knows ONLY Freedom.


Personal Note to Elijah: -Way to go Elijah! -Thanks for showing Daddy what Joy and Freedom look like. You are such a precious gift from God. I love You very, very much...! -Daddy

The Chairs in Elijah's Life...

Here's Elijah in his stroller with Becca Adams looking on....

Of Course Elijah loves his Elmo Chair... Then daddy's lap makes for a comfortable chair any time...

Here's a photo of Elijah getting cozy on a big chair in our family room.

Not Pictured: Elijah's Red Plastic Chair. (Maybe next time...)

Elijah and Momma

These photos were taken at the super bowl party at FBC West Columbia earlier this year...

The dynamic duo of Mommy and Boo Boo...! -This is one of Daddy's favorite pictures...!

Oh How Time Flies...

Here's Elijah in a February 2007 Photo.

Here's Elijah about seven months earlier in August of 2006.

It's amazing how rapidly Elijah is growing up... It's a miracle of Life, actually. Praise the Lord...!

Elijah and Brittany

Brittany Brooks is one of my tennis students. She watches Elijah from time to time for us. Here's a photo of Elijah trying on hats in the tennis shop.

Here's a photo of Brittany, Elijah and Daddy during a summer tennis camp. Elijah is sampling our drinking water...!

Oh Elijah...

This photo was taken back in January 2007. I'm not sure exactly what day it was but it looks like Elijah has lost his comb and brush, that's for sure..!

Dear Elijah,

I had to work long hours yesterday and I missed you...! But we hung out together when I got home. After dinner we sat on the couch, watched Calliou and enjoyed a bowl of chocolate ice cream. Mmmm... Good Times!

This is just a quick little note to let you know how my favorite part of every day is just being able to come home to you, mommy, and Connor. You are a very good boy...!

I love you very much my sweet, precious Son...!

Love Always,

Daddy

Elijah and Riley

A boy and his dog...

Connor Comes Home Today...!

Elijah will be very, very happy to see his beloved Connor come home today! Connor has been traveling for nearly a month this summer. I am so glad Elijah has a big brother like Connor and they get along so well...!

Big Boy Bed

Elijah Loves his big boy bed, but he still prefers to sleep with mommy and daddy...!

Elijah at Connor's District Tennis Tournament April 26, 2007

Elijah and Daddy in between Connor's matches....

Elijah at the Restaurant with Connor after the tournament.

Elijah enjoying a fun moment with mom at the dinner table...

Still Enjoying The Big Red Car...!

These photos don'te really need any commentary, do they...? Elijah Loves his Big Red Car...!

Elijah's Tennis

Here's a photo of Elijah preparing to start a rally. He's using the new Babolat Aero Pro Drive. Elijah is not quite two years old in this picture but he sure looks like he knows what he's doing, doesn't he...? He's been watching daddy!

Elijah has had a keen interest in tennis since he was able to walk. He loves to hang out at the tennis center with his daddy. In this photo Elijah is taking a break and enjoying a snack after chasing down a few tennis balls.

Elijah at the Pool

As You can See, Elijah loves the swimming pool...!

Of Course the pool is even more fun when you have a big briother to play with! For more photos of Connor and Elijah go to Connor's Photo Blog

Missing Connor

Connor has been gone for a good portion of the month visiting his grand parents. Elijah has been missing him a bunch. (We all have...!) This photo was taken toward the end of May, 2007. Elijah and connor are hanging out in Connor's room watching tv and eating cereal in bed...

Elijah's Bike!

More bike photos coming soon...!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Elijah loves Elmo. This particular Elmo was a gift from Granpa Arno and Granma Judy. One evening we told Elijah to get ready for dinner and he got in his little chair and brought Elmo with him...!

Dear Elijah... You are such a sweet boy. Pictures like the one above are precious memories to your mommy and I. We love you very much...! -Daddy

Big Daddy-March 2007

Here's a photo of Elijah and Daddy back in March of 2007. I weighed about 242 pounds in that photo... A picture of poor health...! I'm happy to report that today my weight is down to about 215 pounds right now and I'm showing no signs of slowing down my weight loss...! I'm not stopping until I get below 200 lbs and that should be sometime around the end of this month or next month for sure... Actually, my ultimate target weight is 175 lbs. That was my weight when I achieved a number one doubles ranking in Texas Tennis back in 1997. YEA...!

I want my sweet baby to have a daddy in good shape who can run and play with him for years to come...!

Elijah, You've helped me in so many ways... Thanks for providing much of the stimulus for my motivation to get in shape....! I love you very much and want to be in the best condition possible so I can enjoy your growing up years with you to the fullest capacity....!

Love, Daddy!

Daddy and Boo Boo

This happy photo was taken at The 2007 USPTA Texas Conference Awards Banquet. Elijah is enjoying the Awards Banquet Dessert: Cheesecake...!

Yesterday was a long day at work for daddy. I didn't get to see you at all throughout the day and I missed you. Mommy reports that you were pretty good today. We went to dinner at Elmo's though, and you were pretty wiggly. After dinner you wanted to play tennis. I love how you love tennis. I hope you always enjoy it and it brings as much happiness into your life as it has mine...! -Daddy

The Giraffe Hat

Here's Elijah wearing the Giraffe hat we got him during a recent trip to the Houston Zoo a couple of weekends ago. Boy, was that a fun trip! We have to go back soon because there was way to much to see and do in one trip..! By the way, Giraffe's are one of Elijah's favorite animals.

Elijah, You had a nice day yesterday. (7-30-2007) You were very good for mommy. You came up to the tennis center and hung out with me for a couple of hours and that was a blast! I had to work a lot of work yesterday and I missed you. But When I came home we played together and you snuggled with me on the couch. Moments like that with you are the greatest moments of my life! My favorite thing to do in the whole day is to come home to You and mommy!

I love you very much. -Daddy

What a Day...!

MMMMmmmm.... We enjoyed a delicious home made chocolate cake last night for Elijah's Birthday.

July 28, 2007: It was an awesome day. A very, Very. VERY GREAT DAY...! Mommy posted alot of photos on her blog, too... Here's a link to Mommy's Blog

Happy Birthday Elijah...!

Random Photos of Elijah

Elijah Likes to 'organize'. Here's a photo of Elijah re-stacking can goods in our pantry.

Elijah loves his brother...! Here's a fun photo of Elijah and Connor clowning around at a restaurant in Houston.

Elijah Loves walking the dog. In this cute photo Daddy is helping shorten the leash.

Someone's About To Have A Birthday!

Boo Boo's Birthday is just a couple of days away...! I can't believe he'll be two years old...!

Dear Elijah,

Sorry that I haven't posted to your blog in awhile. It's been another really crazy, complicated, and busy summer for your daddy. I don't even know where to start... Thank Goodness Your Mommy has been blogging more frequently. She has been posting lots of cool photos and stories about you.

You are an amazing little boy and Mommy and Daddy love you very much...!

Love Always,

Daddy

A letter to My Sweet Elijah...

Dear Son,

I want to apologize for not posting in a while. It has been a busy, crazy time for me. The summers always are...

I just wanted to take a moment this morning to let you know how much I love you. You are the sweetest baby in the whole wide world...! You will be two years old in a little over a month...! I can hardly believe it....!

Elijah, since the day you were born my life has changed for the better. Having you as a part of my life makes every day just a little bit brighter. I can not imagine my life without you in it. Every day when I go off to work I can't wait to get back home to spend time with you, mommy, and your brother Connor.

I want you to know that I'm going to try to do a better job posting my thoughts to you on a daily basis because I want you to have this blog as a legacy of your growing up years. I look back on my life and I have many unanswered questions. And since both my mommy and daddy are gone now and I'll never have a chance to know what they were thinking when this or that happened.

But you will.

And You will always know what a blessing you are to your mommy and I. And you'll always know how much we love the Lord God Our Savior Jesus Christ...! Oh our God is an Awesome God...! We are all about honoring God in everything we do, because He first honored us...!

I thank God every day for you, my sweet precious child! God loves You.

And Elijah, Your Daddy Loves You, too...!

Bye for now,

Daddy

What's Important...?

Dear Elijah,

I want you to know that we had an awesome day yesterday. The weather was gorgeous and after church your mom and I took you on a stroll through the Columbia Lakes property. We walked up to the tennis center and played tennis, and also played in the park. You got really dirty playing in the sand on the playground. But that's what little boys do...

You're really talking a lot now... You have Mommy's manners already. You're very good about saying 'please' and 'thank you'...!

Elijah, I want you to know how much I love you. And I'm sorry about not updating your blog much these past few months. Let's just call it temporary insanity. Because seriously, that's what it was. But I've re-priortized my life and You are right back in your regular place of honor.

My new routine is to update your blog every day right after my morning devotional. God is first. Then you, Mommy and Connor are right the very next items of importance in my life.

-I hope you don't mind being second to God on my list of priorities. You, Mommy, and Connor are my gifts from God. So I have to reverence God, first and foremost in my life.

But after God, nothing is more important to me than my family. And that's where I've been a little bit crazy. You see, I've been placing my career ahead of my family too much here recently. Sometimes I've even placed my career ahead of my relationship with god and that's a big no-no...!

Any way, Daddy's doing better now and I'm happy to report that You had a happy day yesterday, too!

Bye for now. Remember that daddy always loves you...!

Love,

Daddy

Special Note To Elijah

Dear Elijah,

Hello My Dear Sweet Son,

Your Daddy is very sorry I haven't posted on your web page in some time. The spring time is always a busy, busy time for me as you'll come to know as you get older. But that is no excuse. Honestly, You are way more important to me than my career.

And your mother will vouche for this: although I've been very busy with work, You and I have still had plenty of quality father-son time. (I've made sure of that...) It's just that I've had to cut back on all my blogs these past few months in order to have a little sanity.

Busy-ness has plagued me for sometime. I hope to have it defeated before much longer.

I NEVER want you to have to deal with busy-ness.

Elijah, I love You very much. I am so blessed to be your daddy. You have brought much joy into mine, your mom's and your brother's life.

I'll try to do a better job of documenting your life from now on... I want this journal to be a complete chronicle of your growing up years. I wish my mom and dad would have recorded more of my life when I was little.

Well, I need to close here... I love You, Daddy

Elijah at Play

Here's Elijah playing with one of the toys at church. He loves going to church and I think it's awesome that Elijah enjoys going to church so much... Church is really his social time. He's already got some good friends his age there and all the adults working with the youth just love on him and treat him like he was their own.

Photos from Elijah's First Super Bowl Party

Elijah had a great time at his first Superbowl party. It was held in the FBC West Columbia Family Life Center. There was a worship band singing contemporary Christian music, and Ryan and Danielle's little boy Eli was there for Elijah to play with as well.





Here's a photo of another one of Elijah's Buddies, Braden Bell...!

Mommy posted some photos and commentary on her blog, too. Check them out by clicking here.

Take a look at all those teeth...! Oh Elijah... This photo tells your life story up to this point. You are still just the happiest, smiley-est baby your daddy has ever seen...!

Boo Boo Down...!

Here's a sweet photo of Elijah stretching out on the big chair. He's had a big month so far... He's had the church super bowl party and a Valentine's party... Both firsts for the big E...!