I'm a Big Boy Now!

Can you believe that it has already been a year? Elijah celebrated his first birthday this past weekend and had quite the party. He had an Elmo theme complete with an Elmo cake.

His guest list included family (both sets of Grandparents, Uncle Amos, Aunt Meredith, and Isaiah), and friends from the ranch and church. A great time was had by all. His gifts quickly piled up but he and the other kids had the most fun playing with the paper and boxes. He received books, puzzles, tub toys, DVDs (Elmo and Baby Einstein), clothes (including a Packer outfit), a John Deere tractor, a Tonka truck you can ride on, and a Power Wheels Batman 4-wheeler. He also has a new outside swing hung in the tree.

It is hard to say which are his favorite but suffice it to say that he has played with and slobbered on all of them multiple times already.

At the end of his first year Elijah had seven teeth, hair long enough to go over his ears, and the strength of a 1st grader. He walks, jumps, and runs on his own. He says Mom, Dad, Bawey (Bailey), and a host of other sounds that don't resemble words yet.

He can figure out any toy you give him within minutes (if not faster) and follows simple directions (no, sit, up, bring it here, come here, etc).

He eats anything you feed him and can drink from a regular cup (if you don't mind half of it ending up down his front). He loves to play outside and chase after Bailey. He still takes two naps a day and hopefully will for a while so that Leigh Ann can keep her sanity.

On another note: Eli was a lion for Halloween. He showed off his costume for Grandpa and Grandma Rice. No trick or treating this year. Check back soon for pics of Elijah's first haircut!