Unfortunately, I can't post any pictures since our laptop crashed the week after we returned home and all the pictures were on the hard drive. Luckily, I uploaded them to the Kodak website so I did not lose them.
Since our return to CA we have been busy with many new things. First off, our little baby boy, Eli turned one on September 5th. I can't believe an entire year has gone by and it still feels like we are newcomers to California and not that we have been here for 2 1/2 years! Ethan and I baked Eli a cake for our family celebration. I am not a seasoned cake baker so was a bit nervous about it, but it turned out fine and what cake isn't good with an entire tub of Betty Crocker frosting on it!
At first Eli was not sure what was on his tray and poked at the cake very cautiously.
However, it did not take him long to realize the yum factor and pretty soon was digging in!
The following weekend we had a birthday party for Eli at the waterpark. Thank goodness it is still sweltering in September and we had a great day.
Looking back at the past year, Eli has completed our family and we can't imagine life without him. He is such an easy going boy and adores his older brother. He is just about running around now and loves to chase after Ethan. He is very smart and if you show him something once he will do it again. He already knows the signs for "more, all done, eat and please". He says mama and dadda and understands commands when you ask him to do something. I think he is going to be a sports nut like his older brother. He gravitates to any type of ball, immediately tries to throw it and when he sees a basketball hoop will throw anything he can find in it! We love him to pieces and can't wait to see what the next year brings. After everything we have been through in trying to add to our family, Eli is everything we had hoped for and more! At his 1 yr well exam he weighed in at 21 lbs 3oz (25%) and is 30 1/2 inches (75%). He is the exact same height Ethan was at this age, just 4 lbs lighter!!
The next big event this month was Ethan's return to preschool. This year, upon his request he is going 5 days/week and staying until 3:30p. He loves going everyday and immediately runs to join his friends when I drop him off. He talks nonstop about the things he is learning and we have seen such a change in his maturity, manners, vocabulary and interests. He has done such a great job with the transition from 3 days/wk to 5 days, it almost as if he has always been going full time. As much as I know he enjoys it, it does make me a little sad knowing that he will from this point on, always go to school everyday and the little boy who gets to stay home with mommy is gone. This "letting go" thing is tough!!
Speaking of letting go, Eli too has started going to daycare as I have begun to build my private practice. He goes to a home daycare very close to the house and we love it. There are only about 4 kids total and they are all close to Eli's age. Even his best bud, Carson from across the street is there! He goes 4 days/week for a few hours each day. The first week was tough, he cried at drop off and pick up. However, after I would drop him off I would hide around the corner and he always calmed down within 30 seconds. The second week, he not only doesn't cry when I leave but reaches for his teacher when we get to the house. Such a relief knowing that he happy while I am out seeing clients. It also helps that he is now facing forward in the car and will just about drive anywhere so he can sit in his seat. Since we turned him forward, he hasn't stopped smiling, laughing and holding hands with Ethan!!
