One Year Old!

Well, we have officially reached the milestone of one year! This has officially been the fastest year of my life. I can so vividly remember the day that Eli was born, it is unbelievable that it has been a year since then.

While I can't say that I have enjoyed every single moment of being a parent, with all of the challenges that come with it, I have loved being Eli's mommy. He makes it all so worth it.

I feel like he is learning and growing like a weed. I constantly have to figure out new things to teach him.  This month, he started signing "airplane", and "milk", waving goodbye and nodding his head vigorously when asked a question. He is also saying "vroom", "book", "yuck", "yes", "buzz", "baa", and "hoo" (like an owl). He also understands and listens when I say "stop". He has also started pretending that various things are phones and puts it up to his ear and says his version of hello. 

He is also making a fishy face. We also find it really funny that when Nick gives him his goodnight smooch, Eli has started to push our faces together to make Nick and I smooch. Pretty cute!

He's still working on his 5th & 6th teeth. I'm actually kind of shocked that they haven't popped through yet. When they do, he'll have 4 on the top, 2 on the bottom. He has also learned how to climb off of the couch safely and carefully and is constantly cruising around the furniture, or really, whatever he can pull himself up on:

He isn't quite daring enough to actually walk yet, but as soon as he realizes he is capable of standing unsupported, we're in trouble! He did take one step towards Nick, but hasn't repeated it, especially after we freaked out with excitement!

He gets really excited when he hears Nick get home and loves to scream "DADADADADADADA" at the top of his lungs. Maybe it's because Nick does stuff like this:

Upside down!

Fun with Dada 

Storytime

My boys

Eli had his 12 month checkup yesterday, and he was a champ for his shots. He now weighs 20 lbs, 10 oz and is 29 1/2 inches tall. His head also grew about 1/2 inch in circumference and is now 18 inches around. I definitely thought he weighed more, but he has grown 2.5 inches since his 9 month checkup! Although he's at about the 41st percentile for everything, he's still definitely growing and has moved up to a Size 4 diaper.

He didn't try a whole lot of new foods this past month, except for pineapple, whole peas, and papaya, all of which he liked. He has also started to be extremely interested in everything that I am eating. I also introduced cow's milk in his sippy cup and we have begun the process of weaning!

First taste of milk!

He also "strolled" (rode in the jogging stroller) his second 5k!

He also went on his second trip by plane to my sister's wedding in California! It was a bit of a whirlwind weekend with about 12 hours of traveling each way, so we didn't get very many pictures. But, here is a collage of pictures on the plane itself:

Silly faces

Eli also celebrated his second Easter (he was 2 days old last time):

All dressed up for church

Here are a bunch of pictures from playing in our backyard:

Happy boy

Giving Rufus some love

That boy loves his Rufus

Swinging!

And then some various other pictures taken this month:

Glow in the dark

Looking out the window

Cutie

And, of course, there was the main event...his birthday party! We were able to celebrate with my family after my sister's wedding, and then had a little celebration at home, just the three of us. Although, of course, the cake was a must, and he was spoiled rotten with presents:

The cake!

Wanting to touch 

Not so sure about this sugar stuff

Frosting face 

Lots of touching of the cake 

Not sure face 

Dropping cake on the floor 

Covered in frosting 

Frosting covered hugs 

 Getting ready for the obligatory birthday bath

There was frosting everywhere! 

Post bath opening of presents!

 

Checking out his ride from Nonnie and Big Daddy

And, then, we took pictures on his actual birthday a few days later:

Good morning birthday boy! 

Playing his drum from Papa & GramMary 

My big boy 

Making noise 

I can't believe how big he is! 

 Baby face

SO BIG! 

Looking like a big boy 

It has been quite a year! I still can't believe we've already been through 365 days. It's amazing to look back and see how much Eli has changed. 

I'm so excited for what God has planned for our little man, and what He's going to continue to teach us through him. Because I know my life will never be the same, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" 

Jeremiah 29:11

11 months

Woo, I got this out in a fairly reasonable amount of time! We are so close to Eli's first birthday, it is ridiculous! This has been the quickest year of my life. It is amazing. My little man is now 11 months old! As usual, we had a very eventful month. I feel like Eli is just growing and developing by leaps and bounds.

He is talking up a storm and has added "nakey", "night night", "baby", and "moo" to his vocabulary. He can also do a smooch/kiss noise and a piggy noise. He can also sign light and fan, and enjoys as pointing at things as well:

"Pointing" at the moon (which he's totally obsessed with)

Signing fan

He has also started doing "so big" (lifting both arms in the air, kind of like touchdown) when we ask "How big is Eli?". We also got him a walking toy that he LOVES and can now pull himself up on so that he can zoom around some more:

Even more mobile!

Ya, I don't get much of a break because he's all over the place! At least, when he does start walking, it won't be too much of an adjustment.

Eli has also started sleeping through the night again pretty consistently, which, of course, I thoroughly appreciate. He has also popped his third tooth (he now has two on the bottom and one on the top), and his 4th (also on the top) has started popping through as well. Unfortunately, it has led to him biting me a lot more. Thankfully, that phase has since stopped. The new tooth has also led to a lot more smiling and "stinky face":

Showing off his teeth

"Stinky" face

His new foods this month included: mango, mac and cheese, pasta with tomato sauce, broccoli, ground beef and chicken & rice, all of which he enjoyed. 

Someone likes to eat

So excited about food!

We have also started the process of weaning with pumped milk and a sippy cup:

Eli has also started becoming a huge flirt. He smiles, waves his arms, and talks a lot to girls, especially 5 and under. We're in trouble now! 

Showing off his smile

He has also started sharing, or really just showing you whatever he has in his hand, and usually waving it around. He also likes to put lids on things, especially when you're feeding him out of a bowl. He also loves helicopters, motorcycles and airplanes, and will stop whatever he is doing when he hears one. We see and hear them a lot with all the time we spend outside (the weather has been gorgeous!), and Eli has learned to crawl on the grass:

Crawling away

Eli also loves storytime and has now figured out how to turn pages on books:

Reading his Bible

One of his favorite books

He's still having a bit of a hard time with separation anxiety, and cries whenever we drop him off in childcare for church or MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers). Or when I attempt to take a shower:

My attempts to keep him occupied while I shower

 I think he might be a bit of a mama's boy:

Mama & Eli

Although, he does love his Dada too:

Sliding!

Matching hats

"Hey Dada"

I also ran my first 5k this month, woohoo! Nick was gracious enough to run with me and push Eli in the jogging stroller, and Eli enjoyed it so much that he fell asleep

\

After our 5k

Eli also had his first St Patrick's Day and wore his festive bib for the occasion:

"Kiss Me, I'm Irish" (and doesn't he look it?)

Phew, it's been quite a month! I'll leave you with some more adorable pictures of our almost toddler!

Bathtub! 

Silly face

Squeals of joy

 Trying out those new teeth

Playing 

 "Oh, hey there!"

Blocks!