Eli's First

Approximately 1 year ago:

 He started off his first birthday in superhero style:

 Then we took him to the park:

 

 On the ride home:

 With his favorite (and only) mom:

 The other kids generously let him play on the trampoline with them, which totally made his day:

And a few days later, he enjoyed opening presents:

 With Becca and Lia looking on:

 He loved it.  Can't you tell?

 If you know Eli, you know he generally hates the high chair.  So he was maaaaad when I put him back in after dinner:

 Until. . . :

 I think he liked it:

When I was preggo with Eli, I had a distinct feeling that there was a reason we were sent this little boy.  He needed to be with us and we needed to be with him.  Let's hope we all remember that when he hits his teen years:-) 

For now, we are happy to enjoy his exuberant personality.  He knows what he wants and he wants it NOW!  He loves to read books, snuggle with his blanket, get tickled, crawl on the trampoline, be outside no matter what the weather is like, play in the water (specifically the toilet), pull toilet paper off the rolls, play with his toys, pull on my pant leg to get me to pick him up, and knock down things.  He does NOT like to be in his high chair, to be ignored or told "just a minute," most foods (he doesn't feel like it's worth his time), the gate at the top of the stairs, the bathroom door closed right before he's about to reach it, and bedtime.

We are so happy to have this little guy in our family.