Sneak.

Here's a peak at the front of Eli's birthday party invitation. I took this photo last Tuesday for his 11 month photos. Admittedly I took like 68 photos of him last Tuesday. I had planned on taking other photos/different outfit for his invites but this one captures him so well I decided to go with it. He's such a charmer.

Before we head into his sister's week (that's how I think of it anyway), I decided to spend time thinking about Eli and where he is at, enjoying the details of our dear, charming boy. This is what I came up with, an "all about Eli" list if you will (feel free to skip this over-the-top momness):

• He LOVES cheese. Like serious love. I think he could be full to the brim and still find room for cheese. 
• He eats anything. A few times his scrunched his nose up after a bite, but he'll always eat it. He's a true Kasowski.
• He still nurses and doesn't truly know how to use a sippy cup. I'm planning on weaning this month but I honestly have no idea how my doesn't-use-a-bottle boy is going to handle it. 
• He thinks it's a fun treat to have Cheerios in the back of his dump truck.
• He is really into cars/wheels. He likes to sit on the kitchen floor and make his cars go. 
• He still likes a plain old ball. Rolling, somewhat throwing, face-planting... much fun. 
• He is selfish.  
• He can go in a complete circle while sitting. He can scoot a little on his bum especially if he's on the kitchen floor. He can get to his belly from sitting now too, with some effort.
• He crosses his little legs (more accurately his ankles/feet) often while sitting. 
• He talks. We are convinced he says "Dad" for Greg and babbles a whole lot more. 
• He can wave "hi" and "bye bye" especially to himself in the mirror.
• He has become a pro at turning off the light switch. Has yet to master turning it on.
• His pointer fingers are always, always on the go, out there, reaching, working towards something. Those two fingers do a lot. 
• He can walk if we support his hands. If we hold one hand, he can stand. He will pull himself up if we give him support.
• His favorite time of day is when Greg comes home, they go into our room and have silly time: wrestling, puppeting, tickling. There is much, much laughter. 
• He is daring when on our bed. He has no fear there whereas he is more tentative when, say, on the living room floor. 
• He has become more concerned about where I am in a room when other people are around. 
• He doesn't break out his smiles as often for strangers. He used to smile at anyone but now he's more conscious. 
• He's a fan of bath time and doesn't whine when we pour water over his head. He's fascinated with the drain and wishes he controlled it.
• He has become crabby when getting his diaper changed unless he has something to play with or to distract him. 
• His favorite toys right now are his guitars.
• He is wearing mostly 18 month size clothes. He has a long torso.
• He has four top teeth (with one or two coming along) and two bottom teeth. 
• He hates the booger-sucker (bulb syringe). 
• He likes music to fall asleep to for nap times but doesn't have to have it.
• He gives the sweetest hugs. He will cuddle up often, most especially when he's tired.
• He might give up on something too easily.
• He is smart. He will use one toy to help himself get at another toy out of his reach. 
• He likes when I say "buzzz buzzz" or if I imitate his "ba ba ba" ramblings.
• He still puts most everything into his mouth. Hence the leaf, weed, tissue and post card that he got a bite out of in the past weeks. Loves to chew, not suck.
• He sometimes whines when he wants something. He has a pout.
• He remembers which little button to push to make the music he likes.
• He is fascinated when his older friends come over and play and likes to sit and watch them. 
• He has certain stories/books that are his favorites and will automatically make him smile when at his favorite page.
• He takes after his momma in that he's a total crab right after he wakes up and needs a few minutes to re-orientate to being awake.
• He knows his name, Eli, as well as Pookie, which I call him sometimes (after some of his fav books). 
• He loves to "look down" at me and be taller than me. He'll always laugh hard when on Greg's shoulders looking at me.
• He pulls at his hair or rubs it when he's tired or flabbergasted.
• He'd probably consider it pure bliss if I gave him my phone and allowed him to chew on it. He loves the phone and loves to hear people talk to him on it (for a bit, then he just wants to eat it).
• He's got a gap in his front teeth. It's cute. 

Wow. I better stop rambling. I want to capture these Elisms before he changes and becomes a full-on little boy and not a baby anymore... thanks for allowing me to treasure these moments.

-Heather