19 Months

Eli, oh Eli,

You are incredibly fun to be around these days! About a month ago, a switch flipped inside your little head and you suddenly became the funnest, most well-behaved little guy! I don't know what caused the overnight change, but we are enjoying every last minute, because knowing you, it'll change tomorrow.

One of the things that I think helped give you a better mood is you broke 6 teeth total the last month. 2 molars and 4 canines. I feel so bad for you little guy, it looks incredibly painful and you've been so patient throughout it all. That brings your total teeth count to 14! You have a mouth full of teeth and you are not afraid to use it! Sometimes when I am washing dishes and you want me to give you my attention, you'll come up and bite the back of my thigh. You have also started chewing on your tongue and it's so cute. I think you are investigating what's new in your mouth.

And the talking! My goodness you are picking up words incredibly fast these days! I'm going to try and make a consolidated list here if I can remember them all:

Duck
Blanket
Bye
Truck
Car
Juice
Kitty
Dog
Meow
Bow Wow
Up
Cheese
Yummy
Hiccup
Ball
Hat
Agua (Spanish)
Bath
Mama
Dad
Jake
Stop
Go
Goal (Spanish)
More
Where'd it go?
Light
Tere
Banana
Shoes
Hot
Cold
Bird
Beep
Mas (Spanish)
Caca (Spanish)
Popo (Spanish)
Pipi (Spanish)
And your own little version of outside which sounds kind of like "yayaitz"


Wow, that's a lot! I feel like every day you either learn a new one or you have some new "trick." You are growing incredibly fast and it's both amazing and heartbreaking. A couple of nights ago, dad and I were talking about you as a baby. It brought me to tears to realize that I don't remember what you felt like, what you looked like, what you sounded like, and I am starting to forget what you smelled like. I have the pictures, but it just isn't the same. I want to remember the weight of your little body in my arms. How did I hold you? Was there really a time where you would lay in my arms and let me hold you until my heart would explode and my arms would fall asleep? I don't remember and it's killing me. There are certain parts of life I want to freeze and hold in my mind forever and try as I might, I just can't make that happen.

There is one blessing in having you grow up, you have become incredibly affectionate. You are giving out lots of hugs lately and you are actually holding our hands. Last week, you held daddy's hand and my hand at the same time, and I nearly collapsed I was so happy. I have been dreaming about that day since before you were born. And to have it come true does incredible things to my heart. You've also been giving us kisses and that just might be the death of me. Death by cuteness, I'd go so happily.

Last weekend we went camping for the annual family reunion. My favorite part of the whole trip was the first night we slept in the tent. You were laying next to me and we were cuddling and playing and waiting for you to wind down and go to sleep. You reached right over to me and put your hand on my cheek, then you laid your face on my face and we laid there cheek to cheek. I wish I knew what was going through your little head. I want to believe that you know that I am your mommy and that you love me too. It was the most random thing to do, but you made me so incredibly happy. Every moment of anxiety and stress completely melts away when you give me a heart felt smile, or hug, or kiss. You're so incredible Eli, and you're becoming a lovely little boy.

You do amazing things for my heart and I'll never stop being grateful that you are mine and I am yours.

XOXO
Momma