Eli turns 1!

So I CANNOT believe my precious little boy is 1 year old! It has gone by SO fast! I feel like just yesterday I wanted to die while having contractions. ::smiles:: I also feel like it was yesterday that I was hyperventilating at the sight of a positive pregnancy test. I remember the fears that I had, regarding our life ahead, were so big. But now I look back and cannot imagine life without my little man. He is so much fun, and is getting quite verbal…and doing a great job of letting us know what he wants. I have taught him a few signs so it is easier for him to communicate with us (such as “more”, and “finished”…along with a few more) It’s also interesting to see him mimic us already…such as yelling and pointing at the dogs…is pretty comical.

A few things about Eli…if you wanted to know (if you didn’t, I don’t care, I’m telling you anyways)
*He weighs 20lbs 1oz (15^th percentile)
*He is 28.5inches long (20^th percentile….let’s be honest, did you expect him to be tall? Zach and I are both 5’5 or 5’6 on a good, nice, tennis shoe/boot wearing day :Hahaha: )
*His head measured in the 70^th percentile….as though you should be surprised. Zach and I both have big heads!
*He doesn’t like you (particularly me) to leave him in a room without telling him where you are going. As long as I tell him where I’m going (as if he actually knows what the hell I’m saying) he is usually ok. If I don’t tell him, I can count on a panicking, screaming little boy looking for me, frantically.
*He loves peek-a-boo!
*He loves to dance! He will stop whatever he is doing if he hears music of any sort.
*He loves to shut himself in random rooms in the house and play. He thinks its hilarious when you find him. This annoys me. Hahaha.
*He loooooves his Daddy.
*In the last month or so he hasn’t had the best sleeping habits. We think he is having night terrors. He wakes up SCREAMING a few times a night, and it is obvious he has no idea what is going on or where he is. Usually we go through this about 4 or 5 times a night before finally we just put him in bed with us. Some people are against the co-sleeping situation….but I suggest you stay out of my business…I love cuddling! ::smiles::
*He loves to blow on things. By this I mean…if I put food on his highchair tray that he thinks might be hot, or things that aren’t hot…he tries to blow on them so they aren’t “hot” anymore. Its possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen.
*He likes to throw food. And when I tell him “No, No, Eli we don’t throw food.” He laughs and throws more. This also annoys me.
*He won't drink water or milk out of a sippy cup. He gets very pissed and throws the cup....at you...or me...whatever.
*He adores animals. I CANNOT wait to take him to the zoo!
*He likes to make silly faces, and see what reaction he will get out of you. If you laugh, he will keep it going! It's precious.
*He loves the bathtub. If you tell him “On your MARK, get SET, GO!!” He will lay on his belly and "swim." I can’t wait to get him into swim lessons this summer!
*He POOPED in the bathtub last night, and thought it was hilarious. I however disagree with him. I was not ammused while I scrubbed the tub and toys down for 20 minutes following the “incident.”
*He loves books. LOVES them. I’ve never seen a little soul love books so much. We read them all the time. It makes me happy…b/c Zach and I like to read magazines and street signs and that’s about it. SO I hope this lasts for E.
*He has a temper. Hmmm…I wonder where he got that from?! I like to blame it on my dad. Hahaha.
*He likes to “work” on things. He will flip over his trucks or little car things and inspect them and “work” on them. Its adorable and so “Zach” like.
*He loves to eat. There is barely anything this kid doesn’t like. His favorites are Grilled Cheese, Mac and Cheese, Lima Beans, red meat (steak, meatloaf, and roast beef), green beans, noodles of any sort and Ice cream J. Those are just SOME of his favs. He will eat pretty much anything, which I am SOOO thankful for.
*He tried to bite Carter at his birthday party. While others think this is funny, I am traumatized by it because I fear he will do this do his little brother (still nameless). My mom says its fine. I even asked the Dr. and he said he was ok and normal as well. I pray he won’t do this again. I’m freaking out.
*Umm I know I have left some things out but he is pretty much all around amazing, and so much fun to be around.

Thanks to my Mom, Nana, Aunt Kari, Grandma Lake (Zach’s AMAZING grandma, who helps us more than she will ever realize!) and others for their contributions to the party! We had a great turn out even though we got tons of snow the day before! I said the SHOW MUST GO ON!! Especially for me little handsome man! Zach and Uncle Matt (Zachs soon to be Brother in Law) snowplowed and shoveled so Eli's guests had room to park.
Eli got TONS of books and lots of clothes. He got so many toys for Christmas; I didn’t want him to get tons more. I told a lot of people to get him nothing, he doesn’t know the difference, but when they insisted, I suggested books and clothes and he made out like a little bandit! He also got some toys, bathtub toys, a dumptruck he can scoot along in, a great “Cars” chair from my parents, that he loves, and a CASTLE from his Mamaw and Papa T (Zachs parents). We have yet to put it together (its more for outside, but I imagine will soon be taking up space in either my living room or garage.), but it comes complete with a slide and a swing…and don’t forget the telescope! Haha! I can’t wait to see the look on this kids face when he sees it all put together :smiles:

I am BEYOND frustrated with Blogger and my photobucket (where i can put the links on here so my pictures show up) because neither one of them are cooperating with me. So right now you are just getting words...no pictures..I will try to post some pictures in a separate post.

xoxo
Tay