TRUCKS

Eli has been all about trucks lately. It seems like all I hear is "tuh" all day long, it's great. He likes to practice saying it all the time...as soon as he wakes up, when he's eating, when he's playing, and also when he actually sees or hears a truck, too. He recognizes all types now and knows what they sound like. As I mentioned before, car trips are very fun because there are alot of trucks to spot, and pickups count, so they're everywhere! I think Mammy is the one who taught Eli about trucks when she was here for his birthday and was sitting with him in the backseat pointing out all the trucks. I think that's when he started saying "tuh". The highlight of his week is when the trash truck comes. This week when we went outside to watch the trash truck, he was in awe. He just stared with wide eyes, mouth hanging open, and completely silent. Eli's cousin Grayson also loved trash trucks when he was about the same age. So cute! I hope you can hear him say it in the video...you have to listen closely.

Makeover

Since it is the second year of Eli's blog, I thought it would be appropriate and refreshing to update it a bit and change the look of it. I'm not very computer-savvy, so this took me FOREVER, WAY too long! After I was very frustrated and thought I'd messed it all up and lost everything, John came to the rescue and fixed it. My hero! I hope you like it because I don't want to try to change it back. Change is good!

Big Time

For Eli's birthday, I turned his car seat around to face forward. This is a big milestone for him...well maybe more for me. He's been in his "big boy" carseat since he was 6 months because he outgrew the baby carrier that was supposed to last until he was one. The car seat has had to face backwards, but now that he's one he can turn around and see the road and everything around him from a new perspective! How exciting! He absolutely loved it. Trucks are much easier to spot now. All I heard from the backseat was "tuh" and giggles. Eighteen wheelers are very exciting! I got some pictures, but don't worry, John was driving when I took them.

Birthday Zoo Trip

Eli and I took a trip to the Austin zoo for his birthday. It was his first time to go to the zoo, and he loved it! To him, the trees were just as amazing as the tigers! He kept trying to tell me what he saw by lifting his hand up and saying "duh". I think his favorite animals were the goats. As soon as he saw them he started mooing, which is what he does when he sees a cow. They're similar to cows, right? He loved it when the goats talked back! It was a fun birthday for both of us. I hope to continue the special Mommy/Eli time for his birthdays to come. I'm thankful for times like those.

Eli is 1 year old today!!

Can you believe it? I can't! He's so much fun right now...now that the teething has subsided! He's on the move...crawling and content with that for now. His language is taking off, and he's becoming quite the communicator. He's trying to repeat alot of words, and they actually sound recognizable. The most recent favorites are: truck, book, and Boone. He's still signing, too. I love when he is babbling in long "sentences" while looking strait at me with wide eyes like I'm supposed to know exactly what he's telling me. I of coarse I act like I know and have a conversation with him.






We had Eli's birthday party this past Saturday, which was supposed to be at the park...ha! We had to move it to my house due to the weather. I can't believe it was sleeting that day!! We had the party with Ellaiden, our friend who was born the day after Eli. We had about 40 people at the party, and it was so fun.


The best part was watching the two kiddos smear cake all over their faces. Well, Ellaiden wasn't too into the cake, but Eli had chocolate cake all over him. He loved it! He was overwhelmed with all the people in his house at first and was a little clingy to me, but after he got his cupcake, he was happy! He was attached to my hairbrush that day, so I let him have it for comfort since he was overwhelmed. Therefore, most of the pictures at his party, he has his brush. I'll be explaining that to him when he's older and looking at the pictures. Thanks to all who came to the party inspite of the weather and for all the fun gifts!

We also had a baby dedication at our church's Easter service. Eli and his three best friends (Ellaiden, Cash, and Naomi) all were dedicated together. It was very special and meaningful. I'm very thankful that we have them and their parents as friends. Thanks for being our friends!

Dancin' Machine

This is hilarious!

Signs and Books

Eli is now signing and trying to say words. He signs more, drink, dog, light, and all done. If he wants to sign something but doesn't know how, he just moves around his hand in a circle. He says 'deh' when he's happy or thinks something is funny, says dada to John, and says 'buh' for book and Boone. Sometimes he says mama to me, but only after I say it, so I think he's just repeating. He also loves books right now. He likes to turn the pages, touch things in the books, and is content sitting in our laps listening to us read. That is, as long as it's the book he wants to read!
He'll pick up the books he likes and hand them to us, it's great. I hope the interest in books lasts. He's also into cows lately. He'll point to a picture of a cow and say "hmmmmm", like it's mooing. I love to see him make the connections. It'll be fun to hear him talk!

This video demonstrates his side-stepping abilities. The motivation is to get the books!