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