365 Days. 12 Months. 1 Year.

Well folks, it's here.  Eliot is 1-year old.  Our Baby Godzilla clocked in with a compact 22 pound 12 ounce and  29+ inch frame.  And with only 30 minutes of naptime all day, Eliot celebrated his first year on Sunday, February 13, 2011.

All the grandparents were in town, as were Aunt Liz, Uncle Pete, cousins Hudson & Grady and a sprinkle of friends to help us celebrate. As we sang Happy Birthday, Eliot ate every square inch of the icing - making sure to spit out any real cake that found its way to his mouth.

We decorated to honor Eliot's nickname-sake, Godzilla...(if Godzilla were from Mexico, however, instead of his native Japan.)  After all, Eliot growls, throws blocks, and snarls kind of like a monster - only his dimple shows while he's doing it, which is very poor monster etiquette.

A Godzilla pinata seemed a good idea until Eliot befriended him. So, we let the bigger kiddos crash into the #1 pinata and Eliot got to keep his new friend (he currently resides in the kitchen and makes sure Eliot eats all his dinner.)

Cupcakes were for dessert. We had six leftover so I ate two for dinner...what? 

Eliot's favorite toy is his maraca, aka "cha-cha". You may have seen the post where his is holding on to his cha-cha for dear life while he ate breakfast.  So, here they are as party favors in hopes that they didn't turn in to weapons...

Murphy, who is two hours older than Eliot, came to party. He is just as curious and adventurous, and it's sweet to watch them bond. I can only hope that Eliot's life will be blessed with great friends so that he too can enjoy the gift of friendship. Surely when Eliot figures out that sharing is a way better form of introduction than biting, he'll build a solid group.  Surely...

The time has quickly passed, but each day is just as joyous as the next.  Like people always say, it only gets better. Our love for this kid is overwhelming to say the least, and it's the greatest experience we have ever known.

Happy Birthday little buddy.

New Years Day at Gruene

With Eliot already being a musical savant having mastered the guitar, piano, maracas, & wind chime all by the age of 10 months, we felt it was time to take him to see his first live music show.  And what better place than Texas' oldest (and best) dancehall, Gruene Hall.  And, frankly, what better band than our honky-tonk hero friends, Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros.

He was quite the hit with the locals in his enormous kiddie soundproof headphones - he looked like he should have been directing 747s at the airport instead of 2-stepping with Mom.  Alas, 2 previous hours at the outlet mall, a lack of an afternoon nap, & too many of the aforementioned locals getting a bit too close for comfort had us leaving after 6 songs...

But it was still very cool to share one our of favorite places with our little buddy Eliot.  And with a little more practice on the wind chime, we're sure he'll be back & sitting in with the band in no time.