Eli Dad

What we needed after that crazy morning: sunshine in the country

The scene, the end result

Match Day

Erica and Daniel looking adorably nervous beforehand

Aftermath

Match Day Madness

My name up on the screen

Eli and I giddily collect my envelope

Get it open, get it open, I'm dying!

Relief

Crossed ankles, almost always

Happy little elf boy and orange cup

Eli delivers a harsh reprimand

Boy Wonder Juggles With Mouth, Crowds Agape

Eli Loves Cameras

...and the swings.

He's starting to like the slide.

Even his 'I'm about to cry' face is cute.

Really wants it.

Eli sees the camera and wants it.

Eli taking the puzzle apart.

Because this might be the cutest thing EVER.

Developmental update: 12.5 months

words Eli said in the last two weeks:

bunny

piggy

monkey

doggie

book

duck

owl

bird

bread

bells

most of these were with considerable prompting (and, to be honest, might not have been recognized as that word by strangers), but the one time he said 'bread!' it was very clear and totally of his own volition, inspired by his imminent dinner (cheese melted on toast).

animal sounds he knows how to make:

raaawr (lion)

moo

hoo hoo hoo (like a monkey)

animal magnets/stuffed toys/real animals he can identify:

lion

frog

monkey

doggie

duck

facial features he can point to (on our faces; I'm not sure he realizes that he has them, too):

nose

mouth

Trip to the Park

Love that smile :)

Eli, Scout and I at the park this week.

Written by Kristen

Eli and Kristen's First Full Week Together!

Makin' calls.

Super happy to see his mama.

Eli snuggling with Bear-bunny and Bear-bear.

Eli + Haus = Fast friends

See?!

Eli LOVES the camera and smiles every time I take his picture.

Eli meeting Julie's cat, Alley.

Eli meeting Scout (my dog) for the first time.

Written by Kristen

Our shadows on the wall at sunrise

Look, Mom, I'm juggling!

Kristen!

Our wonderful nanny, Kristen, started watching Eli full-time today as I headed back to school. In one day, she taught him to:

*correctly identify a lion magnet (out of a group of 19 magnets we borrowed from a friend just last night)

*correctly identify a frog magnet

*make the sound a lion makes when asked (rawwwr!)

*say 'bunny'

*say 'piggie'

He was doing none of these things when I left the house this morning. By the end of the week, he'll be potty trained and reading!

All kidding aside, Eli and Kristen appear to truly love one another, which means I am able to go to school and NOT WORRY, which means I can actually be mentally and emotionally present for what I'm doing there. This is such a gift.

We heart Kristen.