This has been a really nutso month so I'm not even going to apologize for being a delinquent blogger. So there. Nah.

Eli is growing like a weed. We just bought him some new shoes. On the advice of the pediatrician, he'll stay in those soft leather moccasins as long as he can since they're really good for foot development. Unfortunately for Eli, that won't be too much longer since the new ones we just bought that fit him are size 21-27 months-- and he's not even 16 months old yet!!! I can't imagine where he gets those big feet from...

But really, he is moving quickly from baby to toddler. Our friend Erin (rock star mother of Baikal and Rybolt) said the other day, "Wow. Eli's got hair and teeth!" And that part's true: he looks like a kid. But it is more than that. He walks like a kid and he's starting to run, too. He decides to do things rather than just acting on impulse. Often, he makes bad decisions, but that's part of toddlerhood, too.

And the cool part for me is that this part is pretty fun. Being the mother of a toddler is a hoot. I love chasing him around the park and wrestling him on the couch. It is awesome to watch him figure out spaghetti and give his opinion on the music on the radio. We still have a long way to go but he's becoming this funny little person. Was there really a world without him?

Sorry... I got carried away...

Christmastime was a blast. We were so so so busy with all of our visiting and playing and celebrating. Eli was awesome through the whole hting, a really trooper when it came to being carted from one family event to another. And since Mama and Daddy had a few shindigs to go to, Eli got to spend some time with Grumpy and Grandmaman. He's still not entirely sure about sleeping over at their place but loves to play the piano and torture the dog (merely a Doberman, of course).

Eli took to opening presents like a duck to water and was really intent on opening his presents, my presents, his grandparents' presents... He didn't really care much about the gift itself, but was thrilled to tear the paper and play with the bows. Even though we tried to keep it light on stuff this year (we don't need much!) Eli still got some good loot from his adoring fans. Mama and Daddy gave him a fun tunnel to crawl through, some wooden racecars, and a push toy that makes lots of obnoxious clacking sounds. Grumpy and Grandmere gave Eli a wagon for riding to the park. We're putting the wagon to very good use already. Eli calls it a "wawo" and plays with it inside and out. Grandaddy got Eli a radio flyer tricycle and a golf set (plastic, of course). Eli uses the golf set to play hockey and the tricycle to chase the dog. Good times (well, not for the dog, but certainly for the rest of us!). Eli's daddy, on the other hand, likes the golf game a lot and has trained Eli to be his ball retriever.

Cousin Hunter is also getting big. Eli was very sweet to Hunter (except for the part when he tried to whack him on the head with the plastic hammer, but no need to mention that part). Hunter's mom watches Eli with some amount of trepidation. Eli's such a fearless little wild-child, it is hard to imagine sweet little Hunter ever flinging himself around like that. Just wait, Jaime, the day will come!!

[I am having a really hard time uploading pictures and this is my third try. Be patient, Christmas pictures will come soon enough. Sorry!]