Buh-Bye Margie.

Miss Margie that has come to our house the last three months is leaving. She actually got another job but the real reason for her not coming every Monday is that Eli doesn't need it anymore! He won't qualify for services because he's hitting all the marks he needs to for now. That's great news! I wasn't ever too worried but it was nice to have someone come and bring toys and ideas to help Eli along.

Eli was never a fan of this arrangement, however. Sadly, he never has liked Margie. She's the only person I can say that Eli has officially not liked... and I think it has to do with her working so hard to get him to do something he didn't want to do (stand, walk, etc). He knew when she walked in the door that she was going to try make him walk with that blasted hula hoop and it made him unhappy. She loves him, of course, but he keeps giving her the cold shoulder.

Today, her last day, Eli decided to turn over a new leaf. In his over-tiredness, he fell and bonked his head and Margie was there to pick him up and he let her. Finally he seemed to be okay with this lady. I took a photo to document this but really, it's so deceiving. He has never been this snuggly with her.

Eli doesn't suck his thumb (as it may seem here) or a pacifier or anything really. He's a blankie-stuffed-in-my-mouth sort of guy ... which means I think he's going to be a biter. He bites when he's frustrated or upset. Usually it's blankie or a pillow or a random piece of furniture that he gets. He (mostly) understands he's not to bite people. With his eight front teeth and four molars... well, an Eli bite sure can hurt. 

Some more Eli-isms to record as he hits sixteen months today:

• He's walking like a champ now, less and less like a drunken sailor. We always find it hilarious when he walks around the corner and just shows up. It really makes us smile.
• His hair is growing. We tried one snip around his ears last week and did a horrible job... so I hope it keeps growing to fill in our little mishap. 
• Eli whines more. It's not very fun for anyone. 
• He LOVES certain books and would have you read them over and over and over. 
• Eli signs "please" (rubbing hand on chest). We taught him "please" but it turned into "give me what I want" quite easily. Example: brings book to us by forcing it into our hands then signs "please" and expects a story right then. 
• He stills eats well but he has become more opinionated about food. We are learning to feed him the not-as-tasty things first when he is famished and will eat anything. He used to eat a whole banana every morning but now he can barely eat half... his appetite is decreasing for sure. He loves Quaker Oatmeal Squares and would eat them alllll day every day if he could.
• Eli will push buttons. Washer, Dryer, DVD player, etc. He will stand on his tipppy toes and reeeach that finger out to push a button and see a reaction.
• Last week I was reading an ABC book and replaced the K word with "Kasowski" and Eli promptly tried repeating me. No idea why he chose Kasowski but now he tries to say it often and it is super duper cute. He blabbles more and only Greg or I probably understand anything he tries to say.
• He loves his Da Da. Like "will run to the window when I say he's home to watch him arrive", that sort of love. I'm pretty sure he loves me too. 
• Eli will give hugs. They usually include a love pat, too. Melts your heart every time. 
• He's got some mean dance moves. He does a half squat up and down and then breaks out his happy hands. Very fun. This happens often when Greg plays guitar.

Okay that's enough for now. Grateful for each month, each milestone with our boy.

-Heather