Eli's 1st Birthday Party!

Eli's first birthday bash was a success!  Since he was born about 10 days before football season, we decided to have a tailgating themed birthday party...what else do you really do for a one year old?!  : )

My pictures were taken just before everything was "party-ready".  We were cutting it close Saturday morning to being ready for the 10am party.  I don't think I would have made it without my parents.  They helped Wesley and I out so much that morning, and my mom helped me a lot Friday night too.  Thanks Nana & Puddin'!!!

One of the food tables.  We had pigs in blankets, sausage balls, chocolate covered strawberries, buffalo chicken dip & fritos, apples & toffee dip, and fiesta ranch dip and chips - all tailgating foods!

My friend Ashley made me the banners to use at the party.  They couldn't make it because Emily Ann is due to arrive any day now.  The banners looked great and got so many compliments.  I also hung up Eli's monthly pictures (check out all of his monthly blog posts to see those pictures).

More food!

The drink table.  It did look a little prettier than this when we got started.  We had sweet tea, water with lemon slices, and cherry limeade punch, plus a few water bottles.  I got to use all of my Magnolia Lane Auburn china for this party.  I was so excited!  I keep it out in the Auburn room all year, but this was the first time I've actually gotten to display it.

I hung tissue paper pom poms from the ceiling of the carport.  My friend Sarah helped me the week before the party!

Eli and the cornhole game that Wesley made, and I made the bean bags to go with it.  It was a rush job, I still intend to spruce them up a bit, but I'm not committed to a particular idea just yet.  I'm thinking of putting "Auburn" on one and "Tigers" on the other, or an interlocking AU on one and the Tiger Eyes on the other...something like that!

This tent was a gift from Ginny & Pops to Wesley one year.  We used it at our tailgate themed rehearsal dinner!

Aunt Pam on the left, and Eli and I talking to our sweet friends Stewart, Kari and Levi (due in Nov), and Mallory.

Eli and I with my grandparents.  I love how Eli is looking at Grandmama, haha!

We love the Blains!

Eli & Puddin' playing with sidewalk chalk!

Eli had THREE of his girlfriends to come to the party.  This is Eli and Brentley!  We work with her Mommy and she and Eli are in the same class at school.  They are just a few weeks apart and are big buddies!

Eli's older woman, Kherington, and her Daddy!  Kherington loves the Broncos!  : )  Her 1st birthday party last year was Eli's first party.  Kherington is getting ready to be a big sister and we can't wait to meet little sis, Kinzley!

Another of Eli's girlfriends, Abigail!  Her only flaw is that she was wearing the wrong colors, but she was rockin the tutu!  : )

The birthday boy wandered off...

 After about an hour and a half of redneck golf, corn hole, horseshoes, ping pong, and lots of food and friends, it was time for cake!

I put my cake decorating skills to good use and made Eli's smash cake.

I didn't dedicate a whole lot of time to the decor on top because I knew it would be smashed BUT I must say, this was probably my best tasting cake and icing yet.  I didn't make it for others to eat, but somehow several people ended up trying it and it got several compliments...including from my husband who has tasted all of my other cakes too!

The cake we got for everyone else to eat was from my favorite bakery in Dothan.  Mom picked it up for me!

Eli was very mild mannered in his smashing.  He didn't tear into it, but certainly enjoyed the icing! 

One of my favorite moments from the entire party....Eli fed his Daddy some cake too!  I think I will remember this forever.

After cake smashing fun we opened presents!  Eli raked in the loot.  We're still trying to find a place for it all!

We had a great time!  The only downpoint of the day was when a table fell over on my foot.  As soon as everyone was gone I was popping some Tylenol and icing my foot.  Right now it's a little bit bruised and swollen and I'm hoping that's all that it will be.

The party was about 50 strong (but Eli really missed his aunt, uncles, and cousin....looking forward to seeing them in October though!), and Eli really racked up in the present department...in fact we're still trying to find a place for them all!  : )

Thanks to all those who came and celebrated with us!  I still can't believe my baby is a year old....he'll always be my baby boy though!  : )

12 Months Old

Eli Charles-Wow, 12 months old!  You have definitely made this the best year of Daddy and I's life.  We have never had so much fun!  We love watching you at each stage.  You are learning so much each day and it is a joy to watch!  We love you, Squirmy!

Firsts: Walking! On your birthday we turned your car seat around to face the front!  You have by far exceeded height and weight requirements, we were waiting for that birthday milestone though.  Your first birthday and party!  You've also had your "first day back to school" and gotten in a fight at school-you got bit..by a girl!  (Supposedly what meant down is that you were happily playing by yourself when your friend crawling over and tried to snatch your toy.  When you didn't give it right over she picked your little arm up and bit you!)  You've been to your first Red Devil (high school football) game.  Daddy was so proud to finally get to take you!  You also had your first time being picked up from school by someone other than Mommy or Daddy-Harden has come to pick you up!  Surgery was also a first-you got tubes this month!

News headlines: Earthquake in Virginia, Hurricane Irene strikes the NE coast...because we've gone back to school and work, we have no idea what else is going on!

Milestones: It's been a busy month, but walking is by far our biggest accomplishment!  You have really taken off.  You can practically run!  You started doing this on August 9. You can climb the stairs in our house, so Mommy and Daddy have the gates up all the time!  You are also cutting about 5 more teeth (yikes!) including your molars.  You love to share (except with your friends at school apparently!).  You will hand things to Mommy or Daddy and smile so big!  You are a great helper!

Measurements: Size 3 diapers, size 12 month clothes, I'm guessing 23 or so lbs and about 28 inches

Like Mommy: eyes, books, and our toes are kind of alike

Like Daddy: you love being outside, laid back personality like Daddy

Favorite Toys: You love to play in the cabinets and pull out anything you can.  You have currently broken two pitchers!

Sounds: /b/, /m/, /d/, /n/, you say 'mmmm' when you eat and you like it, you can say 'mom-ma' (it melts my heart every time!), 'da-da', and 'bye bye', you're pretty close to the /p/ sound also.  You can also say 'grrrr' and blow your lips where you make a sound like a motor boat!  You love to make a sound like an Indian!  You pat your hand over your mouth and say /ughhh/!

Challenges: Still walking, learning to not always get your way, teething, bedtime

Our Days: You are usually up around 6am on school days.  You nurse once in the mornings.  You have breakfast and lunch at school.  You eat like a big boy there!  You nap on a cot at school now.  They say you nap from 12-2:30.  We are usually home around 4:15 from school.  You nurse again for a short time in the late afternoon and sometimes you will take a short nap too.  We get lots of play time in in the evenings.  You eat whatever we do for supper and get a bath afterwards.  You nurse one last time (this is usually your best feeding) just before bedtime.  If we don't have to get up for school, you usually still wake up about that time, but after I feed you I will put you back down and you will sleep until 8ish.

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's Favorite: Your first birthday!

Daddy's Favorite: Watching you walk!

Nicknames: any variation of Squirmy (Squirms, Squirmy Bug, and more)

Upcoming Events: Your first birthday party, Auburn football

Happy Birthday, Eli!

One year ago today my sweet baby boy was born.  It was the BEST day of my life.

Eli, I can't believe it's already been a year, but at the same time, I can hardly entertain thoughts of what our life was like before you were here!  You have made Daddy & I SO happy.  You show us love and joy like we've never known before.  This has honestly been the best year of our lives!

We just thought we loved you on this day in 2010, but everyday since we have loved you even more than the past.  You have shown us how good God is, and we pray we are showing you that too.

We love you, Eli!

- Mommy & Daddy

So these aren't the most glamorous of pictures, but they are some of my all time favorites.  : )

Tubes

We FINALLY got tubes on Wednesday morning.  We were at the hospital bright and early - 6:15 a.m.  (although I can't really say it was bright, it was still dark outside).  We even had one of our friends/ministers from our church come for a visit at 6:30-I was impressed he was up and functioning so early!  : )

The worst part of it was no eating/drinking after midnight (that was hard for a growing boy!) and having to wait with five other babies in the pediatric holding area for almost an hour and a half.

The cutest patient I've ever seen in my life!

Eli pulled the curtain back and made friends with the baby in "bay 2".  It was hilarious!

Like I said, we got there at 6:15, they didn't come to take him to surgery until 7:37 (yes, I looked at my phone).  Thankfully it wasn't too bad.  I had just rocked Eli to sleep and when I handed him over to the nurse he stayed asleep.  Wesley said he was proud of me for not crying, but it was touch and go there for a minute.  If Eli had been awake I know he would have cried and I would have definitely have lost it.

We were in the waiting room for approximately 15 minute when Dr. M came out to tell us the surgery had gone well.  He had drained the fluid and inserted the tubes and Eli did great!

About 2 minutes after that a nurse took Wesley and I back to pediatric recovery.  I heard Eli crying as soon as we got back there.  Turns out they were trying to get him to take some Similac and he was NOT having it, haha.  I politely told them that he was a breast milk baby, so they got us some apple juice instead!  Eli drank 3 or 4 ounces of apple juice/water (we always dilute it).  The other "worst part" about the whole experience was him trying to come out of the anesthia.  He was so disoriented!  Wesley and I rocked him and talked to him and he eventually calmed down.

We were back in the car headed home by 8:30.  We went home and all took naps, and my mom stayed with Eli that afternoon while Wesley and I went back to work.  I'm so glad she was able to come and be with us.  By the time I went back to work at noon, Eli was talking, playing, and walking!  He had a great afternoon and didn't act like anything was more than normal.  I'm anxious to see how these tubes improve things for us.

Many thanks to all the friends and family who prayed for us and checked up on us yesterday!

Wordless Wednesday

Cornice Boards

I've been wanting cornice boards for awhile now, but was having a hard time committing to a fabric.

I finally decided on burlap!  I'm so pleased with how they turned out.  Wesley and I actually made two:  one is in our downstairs half bath, and the other is in the upstairs guest bath.  The pictures don't do them justice.  It was hard to get a good picture because it's difficult to find a place to stand in the bathroom!

 (I love little man's bath towel hanging up!)

I used this tutorial I find via pinterest, but they're really self explanatory.  They were seriously easy, I few screws, some scissors, and a nail gun was all we needed!

Back to School

Monday was Eli's first day back at school!

My family always took pictures on the front porch on the first day of school.  This year was a little different than last year's back to school picture.

Eli was excited to see his friends again!

"Ok, Mommy...."

We both did great that day.  Eli's teachers and daycare directors were so excited to see him.  He only cried just a bit when we left.  He stopped before I even made it down the hall, and I didn't cry at all!  : )

Little man picked right back up where he left off though.  I called at lunch to check on him and he was hanging out in the office being the teachers pet, catching up with everyone who missed him during the summer!

He's such a big boy-he eats lunch at school now!  On his first day he had a ham and cheese sandwich and tore it up (so they said)!  It's so nice not to have to pack bottles to send to school.  It certainly makes our morning routine that much quicker!