Dress Up, Nap Time, and Back Yard Fun

Eli and I had a lovely day at home. We goofed off mostly, and I got a bit of work done.
Eli played dress up. First, he represented for Obama.
Then he practiced for Halloween in his turtle gear.
Even turtles need to rest.
Turtliscious.
So...I put Eli down for a nap and got straight into the studio to work on some pots. He talked and played for a while, which is normal, but then I heard the paci hit the floor and knew he'd need me to retrieve it if he was going to get to sleep. When I opened his door - this is what I found. Nudie boy! Luckily I sometimes hang the camera on his doorknob to catch his super cute just-woke-up face, so I clicked a quick shot of his naked, oh so pleased with himself, hiney.
And, the super cute, just-woke-up face.
Smoooch!
Then out to the porch for the post-nap snacky time.
Mouth full o' banana.
Then we walked in the woods, swung a bit, and jumped on the trampoline. He got the greatest static hairdo!
Fabulous.
Watching an airplane (and eating a pine needle, incidentally).
Shadow of Mama and Son at sunset. Look how tall I am!


Porch snacktime silliness.

Tidbits

Random goodies have arrived throughout the week for Eli's birthday. He has had such fun opening up his loot. The Yun family from church sent him a fun dinner set and hoodie. The set provided him with his first plate, and is currently being used as a drum set.
Silly monkey.
zzzz. We're celebrating St. Patricks Day in October apparently.
That is some good sleeping.
In his bed with beloved Harry and his "Who Loves Baby" book.
Finally, a bit of self-sufficiency. He's getting better and better with utensils.

Now...six photos...that's a reasonable blog post for ya!

Some fun...

We have had the most fun two days! Friday at swimming a friend made Eli a cake and another friend made him birthday banana bread. So there was singing and candle blowing and yummy goodies. Here's Eli in a cake haze.
Here's Eli after swimming, all clean and wearing his new convict outfit (which I didn't realize it resembled until I put it on, long after buying it).
Today my calendar was marked "Miles and Eve Day O' Fun!" We had a full day of activities planned with Eli's bff, Miles. We started out the day introducing Miles to the breakfast food play area and Eve to gymboree. We shopped, played, and ate lunch. Miles was a dashing dinosaur.
Eli's head was a bit large for the dino hat, but he was a good sport about it.
"Trade jya"
Miles on the waffle.
Taking a walk with his Mama, Eve, on the banana balance beam.
Then we went back to Miles' house for rest and play for the kiddos (with a babysitter) while the Mama's had a cook-for-your-toddler lesson by the baby chef, Chelsea (www.babychef.net). She was incredible! She brings ingredients for the four meals you've chosen to prepare. And together you prepare a months worth of those four foods which you can freeze and serve easily. We made veggie bites (potato, zucini, carrots), protein patties (brown rice, beans, veggies, seasoning, etc), blueberry and flax pancakes, and turkey apple patties (for Miles, a carnivore). I learned so much! She's Denver based, so for all you Denver moms, I highly recommend it!
The boys had a big time exploring. They are such good friends!
What a doll!
After our cooking session we took the boys on a beautiful autumn walk. They both crashed from the excitement of a full day of fun.

Birthday Wrap Up

Eli and I have had a wonderful 1st birthday! We stayed around the house and played. He took two sweet little naps (rare these days) so I could get some work done. We had two nice rain showers, complete with some thunder. Mostly, we just celebrated the existence of Eli.
Man, this is the best photo ever. That's one pleased little goof.
Look at that one-year-old (in conductor pants, just in case a train comes by).
Once Dad got home, we had a quick dinner. After a few bites, Eli began to reject the veggie and pasta mush. I guess he saw the cake on the counter.
First Birthday Carrot Cake!
Exciting!
He never did dig in. He took tiny bird bites, but enough to make a fine green mess and get a nice sugar high.
So, the birthday was a sweet one. Thanks to all of the loved ones who sent happy birthday emails, wishes, goodies, text messages, and voice mail serenades. We love you all. Eli is now up 32 minutes past his bedtime, with permanently green fingers and cheeks, and skittering all over the living room like never before. The sugar has definitely kicked in.

Now, as an Eli's birthday gift to all of you - see him take some steps! He has walked up to six steps at a time! But in this video, he takes just two. He usually get's hip to it once we get started, and starts just jumping and playing instead of walking. But, it's all so fun, we love it!

Birthday Blog!

Good Birthday Morning! Our little Eli is a one-year-old this morning. Unbelievable! Here he is having his birthday breakfast of organic waffles and strawberries. Yum! Oddly, he seems smaller to me this morning, and lighter, though not any less funny, smart, or sneaky.

Today we remember his sweet arrival.
Birth Announcement
Birth Story

And...what's more fun than a one-year-old digging into some presents? Eli is very lucky to have so many sweet grandparents who love him and send him birthday goodies.
Reading the card from Grandma and Grandpa Decker. And, pointing out his first dollar bill, which was taped inside. He's very into the cards. At what point do you go from being genuinely interested in the cards, to giving them an obligatory look before you get to the good stuff?
He tore into the paper to discover three fun soft vehicles! He loves to roll them across the hardwood floors. They go surprisingly far!
There is a green tow truck, a red fire truck, and a blue plane. He even makes brrrrrrr sounds when he drives them, and lifts the airplane up to fly. We tell him about Grandpa (the pilot) flying in airplanes.
Yesterday two boxes came in the mail - one from Eric's Mom (Gram) and one from mine (Yaya) and my sisters Maddie and Michelle.
Daddy helped him break open the box.
He was overwhelmed with excitement.
There was a lion inside! Oohhh, love the lion (that's what we say when he snuggles something).
There was a tractor too. Tractor, meet lion. Lion, tractor.
He loved tearing the paper. What one-year-old doesn't?
There's a tractor on my head!
Hey! There's a panda in that box!
And some books! What a lucky boy!
Now onto Gram's. Ooooo, fun yellow curly ribbon!
More ripping! Good times.
I found some pants!
Eventually he cut to the chase.
Ooooh, fun snow boots!
He also got a sweet turtle from his Great Grandma "Moo". We named her Shelly. Oohhh, love Shelly.
He's got hours of fun reading and playing ahead. Thanks for all his goodies!
We are keeping pretty low key for his birthday today. In fact, I don't think we're even going to leave the house. There will be playing and reading, and may renditions of "Happy Birthday to You". Then Dad's going to bring home a little cake and we'll celebrate at dinner. The real partying happens on the 11th, when his friends will join him at the Botanical Gardens Pumpkin Patch for a picnic and pumpkin pickin!

October 1st - Labor Day

I'm going to take a cue from Amy, Maid Marian's Mama, and celebrate today, October 1st, as my day. Tomorrow will be Eli's day - more specifically his 1st birthday! But today, I'm celebrating my labor day. One year ago today I began to feel - well, different. Our breech baby had been flipped, and I had worked tirelessly to finish large orders before he came. But on this day, after unloading a kiln while contracting, I called my Mama (who is all knowing about such things), told her what I was feeling and she said "this might be it!" We visited our midwife for the second time that day, and I was indeed in labor. She sent us over to the hospital, and we went to work bringing our son into the world.

What followed was simply magical. My experience of labor was actually fun. I had my hubby and mama, excellent music, and a spirit of bliss and excitement. Here, for your memory lane walking pleasure - the Labor Day Blog Entries:

Labor Day Entry 1
Labor Day Entry 2
Labor Day Entry 3
Labor Day Entry 4
Labor Day Entry 5