First Christmas

Eli celebrated his first Christmas in Plano with lots of festivities!

FIRST GIFTS

Eli really got into opening gifts.  If I positioned his hand just right, he would grab onto the paper and rip the gift open.  I think he really liked the colors on the paper, the sound of the paper ripping, and the silly response (all of the oohs and aahs from the adults) he got.

SANTA

We visited Santa at a mall in Plano, The Shops at Willow Bend.  We got there a little after they opened at 10:00 and there was already a looooong line.  We ended up waiting and hour and a half with lots of other kids to see Santa.  We were a little disappointed in the quality of the Santa (he was a little greasy) and his attitude (we were working to get Eli situated in his lap and Santa said "If you guys would move out of the way we might have a chance at getting a good picture") but hey, at least we got a good picture (which I seem to have misplaced, gasp!)!

Waiting in line to see Santa!

FIRST TRIP TO TYLER

On Christmas Eve Eve we headed to Tyler to visit Eli's great-grandparents, Granny and Papa, and see his cousins and great Aunt Angela and great Uncle Chris.  We had a great time and Eli definitely didn't lack for attention.  Everyone loved seeing him and couldn't believe how much he had grown.  He is such a good traveler and slept the entire drive there and back. 

Papa carving the turkey

Time to eat!  Thanks P for the cheesy face!

Eli and his Great Aunt Angela

He's reaching for everything these days!

FIRST VEGGIES
Eli turned 5 months old on Christmas Eve and since he had done so great with the rice cereal over the past few weeks, we decided to try some green beans on Christmas day.  He took the first few bites (in the video below) then I think it actually hit him that it was something different from the rice cereal and he started gagging after every bite.  He only ate a small portion of the container, but the next night and every night after, he has eaten the entire container.  He is now eating a fruit and rice cereal for breakfast (his first fruit was bananas and he LOVED them) and a vegetable and rice cereal for dinner.  He LOVES eating and after every bite, he opens his mouth wide for the next one.  When we are finished, I have to do the sign for "all done" so that he will know "we're finished".

He is now doing a "solid" breakfast (fruit and rice cereal), a bottle at 11 and a bottle at 2, then a "solid" dinner (vegetable and rice cereal), and a bedtime bottle.  He's got a great schedule going!