18 Months

How did that happen?! 18 months old today - a year and a half.

Elijah Riley,

We have seen you grow and change and evolve these past few weeks in what seems to be a hurried fashion. Maybe it was the onset of you walking - and now you're parading around like a champ. Maybe it's all the new words you're learning - oh, how I love to hear you babble! It could be the sudden awareness you have of just how "cute" you are. You are such a ham, just like mommy! You love entertaining and it suits your emerging personality.

You still have your shy moments when someone tries to befriend you in the store. But boy, oh boy, did you turn your head and smile and laugh when all the pretty girls paid attention to the little blonde cutie at the football game! You knew exactly how to get them in the palm of your hand and you ate up every minute of the attention. Squealing and showing off your dimple when you smile with your whole face. Oh, how I love that face!

We've heard repeatedly how cute the little gap between your two front teeth is. (I know this may later cost us thousands in braces but for now I fully embrace this as part of your personality.)

You have started exploring and discovering new facial expressions in response to us or fostering your own responses. You crack us up with your many new faces!

You have no idea how much you bless my life. I love to watch you flipping through a book and then bring it to me and hold it up to my face to make sure I know you want me to read to you. I love how you will flop yourself on the ground and roll around and then stare up at me with your big brown eyes and just smile or laugh when you realize I'm watching. Sometimes you're unaware - and more now than ever, you're comprehending. Last night you went over to daddy, patted him on the knee, then walked across the room to me and did the same. You went to the center of the room - directly between us both - and just laughed. You know.

I continue to pray over you and your life, believing full well that the blessing you are to us is something God will use to bless others. May you know the Lord as your God. May you serve Him always. May you always know how much we love you - and how we are so blessed by the miracle you are!

Love,
Mommy