The Cislaghi's: April 2011

Watch this video if you need some cheering up. I cannot watch it without smiling and laughing myself.

The other night when I was feeding Elijah dinner, we started going through all of the vowel sounds. I would say "Ahhh, A, A, A" and did the same with E, I, and O. And then, for some strange reason when I came to U Eli started cracking up. So, I kept saying "U, U, U" and he was just laughing hysterically. I grabbed the flip video and came back and tried it again, and as you can see he still found it quite humorous.

It's amazing how a good dose of laughter makes up for all the dirty diapers that inevitably come with having a boy...or maybe just Elijah. :) Children truly are God's gracious gift and abundant blessing that fill our hearts with laughter and our lives with JOY!

Here is a look at Elijah's first year in pictures.

Originally, I had it in my mind to do 1 picture from each month, but who am I kidding, I have never been one to summarize. :) I really did narrow it down (from the thousands of pictures we have from the first year) and tried to pick out some of my favorites. I love to watch how he has changed, and grown, and learned so much over the past 12 months. I am thankful for each day and have loved the adventure of parenthood thus far. I look forward to all of the new things this next year holds!

March 2010

Getting ready...

April 2010- Newborn

He's here...although I'm not sure he was happy about it! Elijah's first picture.

First day home from the hospital. Our precious little bundle of joy all swaddled up and sleeping in his crib for the first time.

So tiny and sweet...there were lots of sleeping pictures from this first month.

May 2010- 1 Month

Elijah has always been such a happy baby! Even in his sleep, he has smiled from the start.

Sitting in his little vibrating chair that he loved and grinning big!

The boys having a little down time. I love this picture because it emphasizes just how small he was.

Not everyone was thrilled at first with this new arrival...but eventually Boomerang came around. :)

No shirt most likely means he spit up on it at this point, but he doesn't mind.

Waking up from a good nap. I used to love to unwrap Elijah from his miracle blanket (aka baby straight jacket) and watch him stretch.

June 2010- 2 Months

2 Months Old! In this picture Elijah was laying in his crib and watching his mobile. He loved fans, mobiles, and light fixtures in general.

All bundled up after bathtime

Such a coy little grin

July 2010- 3 Months

First holiday and first tattoo. Overall, he was not too impressed with the 4th of July celebration.

3 Months old, chillin with Mr. Hugs in his cute monogrammed outfit

First time "swimming". We were house sitting for some friends and they let us use their pool. Elijah was soaking up some rays after his pool debut.

Elijah and Shamu. In his early months I used to be able to lay him on the bed while I was getting ready. Crazy to think about now, as he would be over the side in about half a second if I did that today.

Trying to learn how to roll.

Saying his prayers.

First time in the exersaucer. Later we realized that we had it on the tallest setting and dropped it down a few notches for our little shorty. :)

August 2010- 4 Months

First time rolling over!

4 Months Old and loving life

At his 4 month doctor appointment, checking out that cute kid in the mirror and starting to learn about reflections.

Love this one. Knocked out in his car seat with his baseball cap on. :)

Sleeping with his little bootie in the air, like he still does today.

First time flying on an airplane. On the way to South Padre to meet Nana and Papa Coben at the beach!

First time in the ocean

It sure sounds familiar...something about this place makes me sleepy.

September 2010- 5 Months

Elijah Joseph, 5 Months Old

...and sitting up all by himself!

First time eating solids (hence the "Rookie" bib) and he gobbled it all up! His first solid food was mashed banana, which he loved at the time (but does not like today).

He didn't take to everything right away, and could be pretty dramatic...

...okay, very dramatic. Silly boy, we get the point...you don't like avocados (which he does like today)!

First time riding in the shopping cart sitting up with the cart cover on.

...and having a ball!

Can't think of a caption for this face, but it cracks me up.

Rolling back and forth like a fish, but much cuter

October 2010- 6 Months

All spiffed up for Tracy and Justin's wedding down in Houston. Looking sharp, Eli!

6 Months Old

Spent a lot of time playing in the exersaucer once he grew a little more

First time to the pumpkin patch

Wearing his denim overalls...Daddy's favorite

First time Elijah sat up by himself. Elijah did almost all of his new "tricks" in his crib first.

First Halloween

First time trick or treating at Ethan's office. He was the cutest little cow around!

November 2010- 7 Months

First time pulling himself up to standing...again done first in his crib.

Elijah LOVED standing up in his crib...

...although this new skill wreaked havoc on naptime. I was very happy when he learned to lay back down.

The great mystery, he stood in his bed but layed on the floor.

Began crawling at 7 months, often times with no clothes on if he could escape during diaper changes.

One little Indian

First Thanksgiving and I love what he is thankful for :)

Family Picture, Thanksgiving Day 2010

December 2010- 8 Months

First Picture with Santa!

Oh Elijah, how many hours have we spent watching you sleep! We love our video monitor.

Elijah has helped me to clean out many drawers and cabinets this year

We went on TONS of walks, and in December bundled up with mittens and a warm hat

Santa PJs...This sweet little one was definitely on the nice list for his first Christmas

First Christmas, opening presents with Mommy and Daddy

January 2011- 9 Months

Enjoying dinner at Central Market with Mommy and Daddy. For Ethan and I, dinner out was revolutionized once Elijah started eating table food. Instead of one of us rocking him in his carseat, hoping he would fall asleep, we had a whole new source of entertainment now literally at our fingertips.

Our little Aggie, 9 Months Old

At the park with Daddy on a beautiful sunny day.

This month was teething maddness for Elijah. He got his first two bottom teeth in at 5 months. Then, at 9 months all 4 top teeth and two more bottom teeth all came in right at the same time.

February 2011- 10 Months