Happy Birthday to Elliott!

Somehow Elliott has become a little kid instead of a baby!

(Note:I wrote this on 6/14 but never published)

Size

Elliott weighed in at 20 lbs 5.5 oz for his 1 year check up, which is all the way up to 34th percentile! His height was 28.5 inches, which is only 8th percentile, so we are wondering if he's about to spurt (and grow out of all his clothing at once like he did his 9 month stuff). His head circumference was 17.75 in, or 22nd percentile. Previously, all 3 hovered around 20th. Clothing wise, he still wears 9-12 month clothing, but some of the shirts are too small (shorts are generally okay). The weather has been nutty, so I'm a bit sad that he might not even wear all the boys' cutest summer outfits once before he grows out of them. For the first time, Elliott is not going to match up clothing wise with the boys. Outfits that they wore on vacation at 16 months are looking too small on Elliott. Its a good thing his birthday party is tomorrow, we don't have any summer 18 month clothes. Shockingly, his 9-12 month sleep and plays still fit. 

Eat-Sleep-Play

I made it to one year nursing! Hooray! I currently still nurse him 3 times a day, upon waking, around 3, and at bed time. Hopefully we will cut the midday nurse soon, but he doesn't quite seem ready. He refuses all bottles, which makes me a little sad because we still have tons of frozen breastmilk. Perhaps when we drop all nursing he'll take a bottle/sippy cup in the am and/or before bed. Elliott's crib is in his own room now and he is doing well. He sometimes wakes up in the night, but goes back to bed without eating. Being home with his daddy has done him well with his nap schedule. He usually takes 2 naps, either both being 60-90 minutes, or one being longer, like 2 hours, and then a short 30 minute nap. Sometimes his first nap is long enough that he ends up not taking a second nap.  He goes down great for dad, but still cries his face off if mom is the one to put him down. 

Elliott still only has 2 teeth, but is possibly working on those top two right now. Yesterday he was trying to chew everything, he has been extra drooly, and he had a rough night last night. We shall see! He still eats like a champ! His favorite foods are spaghetti, burrito bowls, pierogies, rice, fruit (any kind really, but especially berries), and cheese. He eats turkey and cheese sandwiches, which blows my mind, and can eat an entire slice of pizza. His former love, yogurt, he now refuses to eat, which is a pain because he wont eat that or drink bottles and we need to get him to take his probiotics. While he still does not prefer meat, he likes sausage, meatballs, and chicken or fish when is has a tasty sauce on it. He likes anything with tomato sauce on it.  He. Loved. Cake. Likes ice cream too, although he'll eat a lot more cake than ice cream.

Elliott is still cruising (one handed). When he's distracted, he'll let go and stand for a second or two, but generally, he won't try to stay without support. He still uses furniture as a walker instead of his actual walkers, although he likes the shopping cart. His favorite toys are balls. On his birthday he spent the day in a ball pit and couldn't have been happier. He also loves these popsicles with letters that Uncle Chris bought the boys years ago. He can often be seen with at least on in his hand. His other new thing is pointing. At first, it was helpful to know what he wanted, but now he points at everything. Anything he is interested in and wants us to look at or get him, anywhere he wants to go, etc.

Personality

Elliott is still Mr. Personality. His new jam is giving mommy raspberries. If mommy lays down and pats her stomach, he smiles, crawls over, and gives raspberries. When he makes a good fart sound he laughs hysterically. He has also been known to do it to mommy's arm, shoulder, leg, face, pretty much anywhere skin is showing. Elliott also loves to dance and listen to music. He likes to explore everywhere, but always comes back for a cuddle.He loves his family and has been better about letting other people hold him, even men.  

Likes:

Mommy, Daddy, brothers, Penguin, Mema, balls, ball pit, cake, cruising, food (especially fruit, cheese, spaghetti, burritos, and pierogies), the pool, plants, balloons, toy ice pops, and toy cars.

Dislikes: Being told no, getting his diaper changed, waiting for food, and mommy putting him down for a nap (anyone else is okay).

New this month:

Pointing, barely holding on when walking, raspberries on mommy, dancing, happy food dance