December 24 - December 26

Hi buddy!
Big post, big 3 days, lots of photos for you!  I am writing this on Monday morning after all the hoopla is over and you are going to be 1 tomorrow.  My baby is going to be 1!  Just in time to turn 1, I noticed that you have ANOTHER tooth.  Poor guy - you just keep getting tortured.

This photo is from 12/23.  You were playing with my camera and I took this one of you.  Just a great close up and a snapshot in time of my baby at almost 1 year - little milk drool to boot  :)

Friday

It is Christmas Eve!  It kicks off our 3 day holiday & birthday extravaganza.  We had lunch with Auntie Val, Grampa, Great Gramma, Auntie Kim and Uncle Jeff.  You hammed it up while you ate lots of mexican food.  Auntie Kim was so happy to see you and love you up.  Uncle Jeff was trying to teach you naughty tricks - blowing your lips so you would spit on everyone!  Afterwards, we ran errands and went to Great Gramma Faiman's.  You were better with her - you let her hold you and you crawled around her basement.  You even showed daddy your new stair climbing skills - you went up her stairs 3 times!  Then, nappy time before the celebrations begin!!

We went over Gramma Ruth's for dinner - you pigged out on Aunt Laura's ziti.  Then, presents.  You got some great new things but you weren't really into the wrapping and got tired quickly.

Yummy!  The messier, the better!

Look how cute I am in my red overalls!

Daddy, I am done - I don't care if it is the coolest Styx shirt ever.  Let me roam free!

After Gramma Ruth's we stopped over Great Gramma Lang's for a little bit.  Most of the family hangs out there on Christmas Eve.  We didn't stay too long because we were TIRED!  You did a great job on just 2 little naps!

Saturday - Christmas Day
It was the big holiday - your first Christmas!!  You woke up and we opened our presents together.

It started out promising - you looked excited to open your gift from Daddy.

 Sponge Bob video!  YAY!

Then, it was time to open your gift from mommy!  See your cool shirt that tells everyone your big news?  You are going to be a big brother!!

A Christmas book that mommy recorded for you.  YAY!

OK Daddy, I am done.  I don't care what I bought for you!

We went over to Great Gramma Lang's for Christmas.  First thing, we showed everyone your new shirt. Auntie Val screamed, Gramma was so excited, Auntie Kim teared up and Grampa Keith was so excited to be a Grampa again!  You rocked the shirt but, in hindsight, I should have gotten the one that said "This little monkey is going to be a big brother."  We had breakfast then you took a nappy!  When you woke up, you were exposed to your first session of Lang Christmas paparazzi.

 You didn't care much about presents there either!  You played, napped, ate and hung out with the family for the rest of the day.  You did cause quite a stir towards the end of the night.  We had you sitting on the kitchen table and you started throwing a fit with plastic bottles.  There were 2 empty ones on the table and you were lobbing them all over the place.  Even Great Gramma was DUCKING!  It was all in good fun and you enjoyed yourself.  Gramma and Auntie Kim enjoyed your faces and noises.

We stopped over Gramma Debi D's so you could see her for a few minutes.  You were tired but you warmed up pretty quick.  Then, we were home and in BED!

Sunday - Birthday Party!
BIG DAY BUDDY!  You had your first birthday party.  You were up wide eyed and in a good mood at 7:30.  We went to breakfast and ran errands.  You took a nappy and mommy went to decorate for your party.  I have to confess that I was a little emotional while I was hanging up all of your decorations.  It was just a weird feeling to know that I was having a party for my baby who is now a big boy.  While we have had a lot of milestones this year, this was a biggie!  Afterwards, I told your daddy that it is weird but it was one of the strongest times that I felt us as a family unit - Elijah, mommy and daddy having a party.

You did so good at the party.  It was overwhelming for you because there were so many people and so much activity but I was so proud of you.  So many people came to love you up!  Your Grampa and Heather did so much work for you & they were so proud to be able to help out.  They did all of the set up and provided all of the food.  You are lucky to be so blessed by so many people who love you!

All your Mickey Mouse decorations.

Your own personal cake

Your Godparents - Auntie Becky & Brian

This looks screams to me "I will get even with you some day mommy."

You ended up modeling the hat as if to say "I'm too Sexy for this hat..." 

Yay, fire!  I can reach out and touch it!

I can really just dig in?  Seriously?  I won't get in trouble?

This is too good to be true - they are even helping me smush my hands into it.

YUMMY!

I have never been this messy before but it tastes GOOD.

I am done.  Clean me up now please.

Thank goodness Grampa has this big bath tub for me - in the kitchen.  I like this as much as I liked my cake.

All clean!  Thanks for taking my pictures Uncle Zachary!

We didn't open your presents at the party because you just won't stay still. You roamed around and visited with everyone.  You got tired at the end so we brought you home and you took a nappy.  We loaded all of your Christmas presents and birthday presents upstairs in the living room.  We wanted to get everything written down.  When you woke up, you were surrounded by the biggest mess ever - loads of paper, toys, cards, clothes and everything in between.  You know what you played with the most?  A container of tic tacs that were in our stockings from Uncle Tyler and Uncle Zachary.  Hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of toys and you go for the $.59 tic tacs!

You were so hungry that you ate more than we have ever seen.  You had 2 hot dogs, 2 cups of mandarin oranges, a piece of toast and 1.5 bottles.  I think it is because you didn't eat much on Christmas Day or at your party.  You played with daddy & your new toy from Gramma Ruth - the cars seem to be the favorite right now.  Then, you and I played for a bit and it was time for bed.

I know you will never remember anything about this big weekend, buddy.  But, I hope that when you are older, you will see the photos of everyone who came out to love you up.  I told everyone thank you at the party - those who babysit you, those who find the perfect toy or outfit for you and those who just think of you and say a prayer for your well being.  I think that you can feel all of that love and those prayers because you are so darn happy all of the time.  We couldn't ask for a better baby and we both love you so much!