12 Months

Yep, I didn't post for the 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 months, so here's a few pics from today's 12 month session.  It's really, really hard to get pictures of Elgin now, so I'm especially glad that we got a friend to do some real photography about two weeks ago.  I'll post some of them later.  They are beautiful.  Meanwhile, here are the ones I took today with my camera on the wrong setting.

Big bruise from a fall down the slide at school.

 Always looking to chew on something

Lips

 Both are always on the go!

I love that this boy smiles so easily... laughs, too.

 And gets a little cranky sometimes...

 Silliness is a family trait.

 His hair is so silky and so curly!

Elgin can be summed up with the following:

Toothy: 8 fully processed and at least two more on the way
Smiley: Smiles are reserved for most of the day and for anyone who will look his way.
Crazy about waving: Loves to wave at his people and to be waved back to.  You should see that return smile.
Snuggly: Well, when he wants to snuggle.
Laughy: It's easy to get him to laugh.  Sometimes you don't have to get him to laugh.  He just cracks up at himself, too.  It's good to laugh at yourself.
Pinchy: He pinches me a lot... bites me, too.  Still, I love to nurse him.
Mama's boy: He runs to the other side of the crib if Daddy goes to get him when he wakes. He screams until I come into the room.  We're in trouble.
Independent: Don't try to get him to go where you want him to go.  See above cranky pic.

A day to celebrate

Our Elgin is one! It's almost 10:30 PM, and I haven't cried yet today.  I think I got most of the tears out already, and I'm feeling celebratory about a year well-lived. We started out with Henry's present to Elgin, a Batmobile.

Henry was far more interested in giving the gift than Elgin was in receiving the gift.

 Until...

Too slow with the camera! This pic is right after he put the bag over his head just like H did on his first birthday... what will we do with two entertainers in the house?

 Getting the hang of gifts...

 Special snacks!

 Sweet boy:

 Yea for being one!

Later, after school, a birthday dinner of special favorites:  Grapes, Turkey (of course!), and Broccoli

 Birthday allergen free brownie:

 Birthday brownie face:

The rest of his presents

 Happy Birthday, Elgin! It's nice being the mother of the cutest, sweetest, funniest boy born on August 24.

One year eve

My sweet boy fell asleep in my arms for the last time as not yet one tonight.

Rest assured, we never got around to sleep training the baby, so I'll be nursing him to sleep for a while. I find comfort in our nightly snuggle. (Except for when he bites. Then I just find amazement in my ability to not throw him across the room in a surprise moment of the sharpest pain.)

Elgin, I love you. Even when you bite.

Brothers

Having two boys is already awesome.  And, believe it or not, Henry never gets mad at Elgin for more than about two seconds.  He's an amazing big brother. I know they'll argue and fight soon enough.

Elgin's one lucky little boy to have such an awesome big brother who loves him without condition.

I look back and see them holding hands in the car at least once a week. They are going to be fun to watch.

Hatching some adventures

I'm not really an adventurous mother.  I do enjoy getting out with the boys, but I typically require backup--Cory.  The boys didn't have school two Fridays ago, and rather than stick around Greenville where I would surely be lulled into housework, I packed up the boys and hit the road to the state fish hatchery.  The road, the place, and the trails are filled with childhood memories for me, and I wanted to share them with my boys. I credit Elgin's birth after a particularly inactive gestation for my willingness to get out with the boys on my own--staying in isn't an option.  Plus, with boys, you don't really have to use a public restroom.

The path to the hatchery

 Making the fish jump (Although, by the time I took a picture, they caught on that no food was flying from H's hand.)

 Picking up rocks, of course

So many brook, brown, and rainbow trout.  These mature fish are just kept for kicks, and H figured out how to jiggle the fish food dispenser so that we could throw out some free food since I didn't think to bring in change.

 Have to keep a close watch on this one!

 Taking the bridge to the trails

 H took this one

 Nice stump for a quick snack

 Taking over the backpack

 Thank you, Elgin.  You made me a little braver.

And, Elgin, you're quite the adventure, yourself!

A few things I want to remember

Elgin gives the best hugs.  When I pick him up at our lunchtime visit, he holds me tight for a really long time and smiles at everyone who will look. His body is clearly saying, "Yeah, I got my Mama."

He started waving a lot about three months ago and loves to wave to everyone and anyone.  He waves every morning as we walk down the school halls.  He waves every afternoon to the front desk staff before we slip into the nursing room. He garners gregarious waves and smiles all around him.

Sometimes, at night especially, when I slip back into shushing to soothe him, he begins to "ssshhhhhhhhh" back to me.

From yellow to purple

I made my usual trip to hang out with and nurse Elgin at school today, and when I walked into the classroom, Ms. Renee said, "Hey.  I have something for you."  I could tell by her face that she was a little worried to give me whatever it was.

Perhaps I have a reputation for being a little sensitive.

Meanwhile, my eyes were darting around for Elgin, who usually scrambles to me like he's on fast forward.  He makes me feel so loved!  He was nowhere to be seen.

I said, "Where's the baby?"

He then crawled out of his favorite corrugate shipping box. 

I turned back to Ms. Renee who was handing me a paper with the news that EW will transition from the yellow to the purple room beginning next week.

What?  Already?  He only just turns one on Friday?

My eyes immediately spilled over, and they eventually had to get me a tissue.  I made them cry a little, too.  Good grief.  I need more time!  I'm sure Elgin's ready to advance, but what about me?  I want a few more weeks.  It feels so cold turkey to me, even though it's a week notice before the transition period.  It still feels sudden and so extreme.  

He's my baby. I like his teachers.  He loves his teachers. He misses them when they're not there. I love our routine in this room. He's so much smaller than the purple room kids. I don't really know those teachers very well. Those purple room kids don't climb on the table when they eat. Will he get knocked over in there? Can I bargain for another week in yellow? 

So many racing thoughts.  All I could manage was, "Can he take his box with him?"