He is starting to tear the paper on presents. It helped that his birthday was four weeks prior and one of his good friends Asa’s birthdays was a couple weeks later. Now all you have to do is help with an opening and, wham! he’s got it open.


The christmas tree has interested the boy since we put it up last year for his first christmas. In fact there was talk about keeping the tree up all year, because it entertains the him so much. Elijah doesn’t mess with the ornaments like you would think. He just stares at the lights.


Santa pictures are some thing that all parents dread, but we had the skinny on a new location with little traffic and a good Santa. We loaded up the care with a clean baby and relaxed parents to see if all would return in the same condition. We met up with friends and made a day of it. The historic hotel where we heard Santa was stationed was great. Not just because I like historic places but because it had plenty of room for the kids to run around and explore.

No where in any book that I have ever read about babies, and let me tell you that was none, did it say that my 12.5 month old would want to help wrap presents. He got into the mad dash to finish before the big day that is started diving into the wrapping box to find things that we needed.

Now that we have all grown up and moved into our adult lives,  Cathy and I are teaching, while Jeremy is still “playing” and coaching soccer.  He has moved at various times between Savannah and Charleston, SC.  Around the holidays he is accustomed to making his pilgramage to the northern parts of Alabama and Georgia to where his family now resides and he visit us.

Jeremy comes with stories to tell of his coaching adventures from around the globe and updates on the “compound.”  This year’s visit was a little  more special because it was Jeremy’s first chance to see Elijah and all his glory.  He had not seen Elijah since we told Jeremy we were pregnant.  So, to see a 12 month old running around our home was, I am sure, a shock to the system.

Elijah was attached to Jeremy and his iPhone.  The kid makes friends so easily.  Elijah loves phones, iPods, computers, anything really that has buttons or flashing colors.  With the promise of Jeremy bringing a present for little Elijah for Christmas, the anticipation is killing him!

Actually, Cathy woke up with a very intense pain in her belly. Since we knew there was no baby this time, and the pain seemed to increase as time went by I decided it was time for us to visit the emergency room. The long and short of it. Hutcheson Medical Center makes very good beef tips and mashed potatoes and Cathy has a 4mm kidney stone. But enough about hospitals.

Thanksgiving was good. Had Cathy’s family over and since Elijah is walking now we chance him around. Boy, can that boy eat some cranberry sauce. I think he ate half that can himself.

So instead of boring our readers with a recounting of the birthday festivities, I would like to do a flash back over the past year.

1st long trip – Christmas in Ohio

Number of trips to emergency room hospital – 1

Number of ear infections – 6

Number of trips to the doctor – 17

Number of baby all-nighters – 2

Has traveled to 8 states

Has traveled by plane, boat, car, hay wagon, little red wagon,  and horse

Number of nights camping – 14

Numbers of babysitters – 5

Number of car seats – 4

Longest Night Sleep – 12 hrs

Number of total days parents have missed of work – 6

Number of Halloween costume bought before Halloween – 3

Number of baseball games – 7

Number of football games -1

Number of soccer games -1

Pairs of shoes – 13

Number of parades – 1

Number of fireworks displays – 1

Number of birthday parties -2

Number of pictures taken – 4663

Number of movies made – 11 (number currently working, 10)

Trick or Treat Video

So we had to pick out the costume.  Countless days and nights on ebay trying to find the “right” outfit.

Who knew this would be more of a chore than I knew it was worth. Yet, another difference between husbands and wives that I will never understand. Hey, all I was concerned about was that he looked comfortable and he enjoyed himself. Okay, maybe I was also concerned with getting a good picture or two.

First stop on the night was right across the street to Verlon’s house.  As neighbors we have looked out for each other and now that Elijah is getting out and seeing the neighborhood they wanted to share in Elijah’s halloween.

The next stop was to Aunt Libby’s house. At the house Elijah was still unsure of the whole tradition of taking candy from stranger…that or Aunt Libby, sure looked a whole lot like Grandma Doris, but at a different house.
The final trip was across town to undisclosed location. It’s undisclosed because it was at a house I’ve never been to before, to a neighborhood I’ve only heard about before, to people I’ve never met before. A family that invited us to the house had a little girl only 5 months older that Elijah. Both were dressed as Penguins, which turned out to be the hit of the night because ever house we stopped at the folks thought they were twins. Mom liked it because it was flat and the houses where close together. Elijah who was unsure of halloween at first, started coming around and really enjoying himself by the end of our trip. He was baby talking and rocking by the time we finished.

Following the hay ride we went back to the pavilion to roast hot dogs, eat pumpkin stew and banana pudding.

We finished the evening off with some s’mores.

Elijah had to change outfits after his dinner, but he was ready for deer season.