Eleven Months

Super-Slacker Mom here. Elliott's been eleven months old for almost a week, and I haven't commemorated the occasion with a blog post. Well, here it is!

We're only holding his hands so he
doesn't run out of the picture

As usual, this was a big month. About three weeks ago, I finally declared Elliott "Walking" as opposed to just taking steps. He's off! He loves his new-found freedom to get places while carrying toys (or, lately, while waving a spatula around. Can't do that while you're crawling!)

This kid, sometime this month, turned into a toddler. I mean, I don't think it's just the walking thing. He's copying us more and playing games. He likes tickling Daddy as much as Daddy likes tickling him! When he's in a shirt, pants and shoes, I forget he's just a little baby, and I expect him to come over and have a conversation with me about the merits of sippy cup design. (He doesn't, but if he did, he'd wax poetical about the superiority of the straw cups to the ones you have to tip.)

Our lazy Thanksgiving morning

He celebrated other Firsts this month- his first Halloween and his first Thanksgiving. Halloween was somewhat anticlimactic, since I didn't let him eat any candy. It was an excuse to go visit family- which always makes for a good evening.

Thanksgiving was celebrated twice: once early at our house with my side of the family, and once in Lebanon with Josh's side. He was a good eater at both parties, and demonstrated his love for green beans and corn. Thanksgiving morning was a dream, for me. I turned on the Macy's parade, watching closely for my alma mater's marching band to make an appearance. Elliott danced to the almost-constant music and played in the living room. I let him play with his beloved spatula while I fixed a couple dishes for that afternoon. Something about the slowness of the morning, the quiet, the fun- I did my best to treasure it, since I get so few slow mornings.

One month until this little guy has made a full trip around the sun. One month until I have been wearing the badge "Mom" for an entire year. Wow.

Small Business Saturday

Shop local! Shop handmade! Shop small businesses!

That was the theme yesterday!

Earlier this week, Elliott's First Christmas ornament arrived in the mail. I ordered it from Amy Miller Designs on Etsy- not local, but handmade, and a small business. I couldn't be more delighted. I feel like it commemorates both his first Christmas (on the 25th) and his first birthday (on the 26th).

Yesterday was the big adventure. We hopped on the Holiday Shopper's Train, thanks to tickets I won recently. Elliott's first train ride! He LOVED it! Mostly, I think he liked looking out the window without being in a car seat. He squealed most the way there. The short train ride went from one nearby town to the courthouse square of our own town.

We got to the Noblesville square and made a beeline for a restaurant we like- Courtney's Kitchen- conveniently right next to where the train dropped us off. After breakfast, we just meandered in and out of shops with craft and antiques, mostly. Elliott's favorite store was The Wild, a children's book and toy store. Amazing. He played with the train table in the back (spoiler: he's getting trains for Christmas) while I looked at everything and resisted buying the entire store.

The local visitor's organization had free hot chocolate & visits with Santa going on in their office. Though the hot chocolate was unnecessary- it was as beautiful & warm a day we could hope for at the end of November- we stopped by. I wanted to try to get a Santa picture. Turns out, we got the classic baby-and-Santa picture. By "classic", I mean, he was terrified of the large, strange man. I'll admit, I laughed.

We ended the jaunt with a trip to Alexander's for ice cream and a train ride back to our car. Such a nice day!

See all my Small Business Saturday adventure pictures.

Giving Peas a Chance

This is an unnecessarily long video from a couple weeks ago of Elliott eating his vegetables- peas, in this case. Also, talking about vegetables, flailing his vegetables and giving his vegetables to the dog. He's practicing healthy eating here and fine motor skills- double WIN! I was getting over  a cold, so my voice sounds funny.

I never realized how much our house relies on natural light until I started trying to take videos in the evenings when I'm home. They're all so dark.

Glowing

A friend of mind got married last weekend. (Elliott's first wedding!)

I met Katelynn in high school. She was a part of a PE class I helped with, and sometimes came to the campus ministry groups I was involved in. We had the same lunch period for a while, and the two of us sat together- and this is when I really got to know her. I was (and am!) blown away by her faith, her commitment to prayer, and her ability to overcome whatever hardships and obstacles thrown her way.

And she has way, way more than her share of obstacles.

Since high school, she and I have hung out or talked once every few months, catching up on life. She's been my most loyal friend- and, I, admittedly, am not a particularly good friend when it comes to staying in touch. She didn't give up on me, though, and anytime we got a chance to talk, it'd inevitably be for hours.

And then! A boy entered the picture! A boy I've known even longer than Katelynn, at that. A boy that is also a committed prayer warrior with a huge heart, who has overcome his own set of challenges. I don't know why I never thought to get these two together- but, God didn't need my help. He had it planned all along.

And, then, Saturday, against all odds, they got married. The bride was glowing. The look on the groom's face when he saw her made me melt. These two were made for each other.

I can't look at these pictures without getting a lump in my throat. I'm beyond happy for them.

As a bonus, they'll be living just 5 minutes from my house, and going to church with us! Hooray!