Dear Elias,

We have had the eventful month!  You are now 10 months old and doing so many fun and exciting things.  This month we drove to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico on our way to Odessa, Texas for Christmas.  You slept a good portion of the way down into the cave but once you woke up, you let EVERYONE know you were there.  You really liked the sound of your echo.  It was fun to watch you, though I was a little embarrassed since we were told to BE QUIET! before entering the cave.  You were such a champ on the drive despite your affinity for hating the car seat.  As is your true style, you had several blow outs just miles after we had changed your diaper and miles from anywhere to change it but the car.  It's almost amazing how you seem to sense it :)  You spent your first Christmas in Odessa celebrating with you Great Grandmom, your Uncle "Junk" and Aunt Darla and your Aunt Jean and her family.  We came back home and the very next day moved from our little basement apartment into Tara and Aaron Brown's home.  We are renting from them while they are traveling for Tara's work.  We feel so blessed to live here.

This month you got 3 new teeth, all within one week of each other.  Your top two came in on the 27th and the bottom third one (to your left of your two bottom from teeth) came in about the day after we moved.  Although you had clapped before this month, you really have it down now.  You get a big smile on your face anytime you do something you think we should be proud of and you clap.  This month you also starting climbing stairs and basically anything else you can manage.  You first climbed the stairs at the Christmas Eve service at Grandmom's church which you and I missed, as is your fashion.  This month you fully understand the word, "NO" and you have one of two responses: 1. you smile and wave at us and conitnue to do whatever it is you were supposed to stop doing OR 2. you start to cry huge crocodile tears. 

On our car ride down to Odessa and back, we played a lot of peek-a-boo.  This month you can mimic the word peek-a-boo and you know what it means, so I'll count that as your second word.  You still say Dada but have yet to really make the connection of momma to me.  You are also starting to notice the dogs a little more.  You've said duh for dog but I am not sure you really know what that means.

Your favorite things are pulling open cabinets, riding your fire truck your Grandma Edna gave you, using your Crocodile walking toy, taking a bath, cheese, bread and yogurt.   

This month has been very difficult for me.  You have been pretty challenging in terms of needing me...constantly.  It is at its worse.  But in the midst of that, you have blessed me with so many fun, new memories of cute smiles and funny new noises.  I love you little man. 

I'll add more to this when Elias isn't screaming at my legs.  Pictures too.