Baby Eli, Zacary, & Kylee: *** Eli is 18 Months... Teaaaar ***

Oh wow- my lil man is 18 months old today. A year and a half- whaaaaat? You are such a joy to our lives and we love you so so much. I can’t say it enough- and not only that but you are a very good boy and seem to be learning new things every single day while also talking more and more each day too! You have seemed to have adjusted very well to your new big boy bed and get so excited when you see your big boy bed! You sleep so much better without banging your head against the crib bars due to you being a bed hog every night and you are getting better and better with naps everyday! I am very proud of you… even though the first night you did sleep in your big boy bed I cried and cried at how fast you are growing and how well you were doing in the bed! There has been one night you wanted to sleep with Mommy and Daddy- but that’s ok! I accepted your offer and let you haha! Gotta love that snuggle time! :]

Other then adjusting to your new big boy bed so great- you are also into coloring and watching Elmo and Mickey Mouse. I swear if Daddy and I left the room while you were watching one of these shows you would have no idea because you are that glued to the TV hahaha! Now of course we wouldn’t do that to you- but I’m just sayin- you are so into those shows it’s so hilarious! You could literally sit and color forever too. I love to color as well- so we always color pictures together! He is actually starting to see where he needs to color in the lines and is getting better. It’s so funny when a crayon breaks tho when he is coloring with it. He gets soooo concerned and brings it to me saying “uhhh ohhh Mama it broke” and he is so sad. Awww I say it’s okay buddy you didn’t mean to and then he hugs me. He is so stinkin sweet all the time!!! I love it soooo much to see him enjoy coloring and also reading books! That’s still a big kick too of course and I have started to read him a book each day before nap and before bed time too- he loves it!

Eli is talking more and more. He says: Mama, Dada, Papa, Zach, Grandpa, Belle, Dog, Pop, Popsicle, Corndog, Hotdog, Mickey Mouse, Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie (for Cookie Monster haha), Bert, Baby (that’s what he calls cousin Jasmine and brother Zacary), Car, Truck, Thank You, Baseball, Hi, Bye Bye, Uh-Oh, All Gone, All Done, Football, Meatball (for when we eat Sketti O’s and for Snuffy off of Seasme Street), Shoe, Bubble, Apple (and knows what an apple looks like too), Jo (for Uncle Josiah), Buzz (off of Toy Story- another one of his loves beside Elmo and Mickey Mouse), annnnd there could be more for sure but as of right now that is all my mind can think of ha :] He is becoming quite the talking machine. He also says “I poopied” when he goes or before he has to go. This is a sign of potty training soon!!! We shall see.

Speaking of potty training- not sure when we will be able to start that now. The Zehr household is very very busy every single weekend until mid Sept- and then who knows- Zacary could be here by then! SO we are afraid to start him anytime soon and then be gone for a weekend and it confuse him and makes him upset if he messes and all. I do not want him confused or not understanding why he has to do this like it is a bad thing. We need to find time where we are going to be home for quite a bit of time including weekends and work our way through it from then. I will not put him through any confusion or upset him over being potty trained- just doesn’t float my boat. PLUS he just got a new big boy bed- so we are adjusting to one thing at a time with a good amount of time in between. We will see where time leads us though and what works out for the best but for now- we are thinkin to wait a bit when things slooooow down! I wouldn’t want to be potty trained through all the stuff we have going on between weddings, vacations, visitors, Siah’s family day, swim lessons for me and Eli, etc so I am not making him… whether it happens before Zacary is here or not it doesn’t matter- we will still work on good timing with him one on one with it! :] I refuse to let it ever stress me out!

Eli has 13 teeth with 4 more coming in at the same time… he almost has a fulllll mouth of teeth!!! He is now wearing 2T shirts and 18 month pants and in size 4 diapers :] He wears size 7 or 8's in shoes- his feet have grown soooo much! He is still eating the same as normal but can be so picky sometimes! I just keep tellin myself it is a phase he is going through! He is really into popsicles these days too and I found mini popsicles at Kroger that are JUST his size. He can eat them all by himself and all- they are so little and cute! He loves them!

Eli loves to swim, be outside, ride his toy 4-wheeler, ride in the wagon, go for rides in Daddy’s truck and be able to look at everything outside, go to Wal-Mart with Mama (he literally gets so excited and kicks his feet in cart with a huge smile on his face each time haha), he loves to read, color, watch cartoons, play in his room with all his toys with us, go to playgroup with Mommy, loves to see his Dada when he gets home from work (he runs to him and says Dada Dada Dada- melts my heart soooo much! They are such cuties I love them both sooooo much :]), loves to see family as much as we do when we are able to spend time with them, loves having days with just Mommy and Daddy, loves wrestling with Daddy already- YIKES ha, loves helping pick out what to wear everyday, as well as what shoes to wear too. Not to mention he love loves to smile, wave HI and BYE, laugh at anything, giving Daddy and Mommy hugs hugs hugs and kisses alllll the time (he just will come up to us out of no where and give a hug and kiss and when he kisses he says mwwwwuah :] It is the cutest thing ever and he is always so so so sweet!) You also love your dogs Benny and Belle (although sometimes you pull Benny's tail and he doesn't like it so much and I can't say I blame him haha!) Although you are getting to be such a big boy you still love to sit on Daddy and Mommy's laps and also have us hold you. Makes me smile everytime- you have become more of a snuggler too- you love to lay in our bed with us and snuggle... sometimes we even take naps together <3

You know where your nose, mouth, eyes, feet, toes, hands, fingers, and ears are- and you can also show us where ours is too when we ask :]

He yells Mamaaaaa every morning when he wakes up… never upset- just wants my attention I spose haha! I can always hear him wake up though because I am up before him and he never gets out of bed but drags a toy into bed with him that always has noise haha He also loves to pat baby brother and kiss him and use him as a pillow for now :] He runs to Zacary’s room when we mention his name and is always so excited! I am pretty sure he can’t wait to be a big brother :]
Eli has his 18 month Dr appointment Monday July 19th. I am thinkin we will hafta do shots too- ouch not lookin forward to that! Break my heart :/

My lil man makes my day every single day in the smallest ways. I am so proud to be his Mommy and just can’t believe he is as old as he is already. Makes me have a tear! He is such a good boy and I am so proud of him for how happy and thoughtful he always is! I just love him to pieces sooooo much and so does his Daddy! We talk every night about how absolutely good he is all the time and how we just love him so much! I thank Noah for everything he does for Eli and I- he is the main reason we are always so happy! He is such a wonderful Daddy and Husband for sure and does anything for us and I am absolutely thankful for that soooooo much! Lil Eli we love you more than any words can explain lil man!!!!!!! You are theeeee best <3 Always know that Mommy and Daddy love you so much!