More!

Kevin and I have been showing Levi "more" for months with no copying or response by Levi. Levi loves to eat, and so for the past week or so I would show him "more" and then use his hands to show "more" before giving him more food on his tray. This past weekend, I asked him if he wanted "more" and he repeated it back. I gave him huge praise, and he was SO proud of himself. He still gets pretty excited when "more" works (which it just about always does). At first, Kevin and I wondered if "more" just meant food, but he's shown "more" on several occasions for different things - toys, books, milk. But I think he still associates "more" with food, because he has also shown "more" and then pointed to the refrigerator. Oh well, it still gets the point across and he is so excited to be communicating.

The other thing he has learned this week is where everyone (except his own) nose is, but I haven't gotten that on video.

Carseat

We turned Levi's carseat around this past weekend, since he is one year old and well over 20 pounds.

The first picture is the first time we put him in the turned around carseat. He didn't seem quite as excited as we thought he would be. The next one I took while Kevin was driving. He seems a bit more excited.

I took this picture while Kevin was driving us to church on Sunday. Levi really does love books!

Praying for Their Footsteps

Father, Your love is amazing. Reveal Your love to Levi, so that he knows You as Savior. Bless Levi and keep him. Make Your face shine upon him and be gracious to him. Lift up Your countenance on Him. Give Him Your peace, which passes all comprehension. Guard Levi's heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I ask all this for Levi so that Your way may be known on the earth, and Your salvation among all nations.
Numbers 6:24-26; Philippians 4:7; Psalm 67:1-2

Playing Outside

We took Levi outside to play ball. He loves to be outside. Levi has figured out, though, that crawling on the concrete patio or the grass just doesn't feel very good on his knees...

So, I guess we can consider this crawl to be Levi's third variation on crawling. Now we're just waiting on him to decide that walking would be even better...

More from Levi's Birthday Weekend

I forgot to share some pictures of one of Levi's gifts from his great-grandmother and great aunt, who couldn't make it for the party but sent their gifts by way of Mama K and Q. Since they couldn't be here to watch him open the gift, I thought they might like to see him riding Homer. He wasn't quite sure about Homer at first, but he likes it more and more each time he gets on it. You can also see his big smile while he's on Homer but looking at Mama K's camera that has a picture of him riding Homer on it. Levi loves cameras, too - especially if there is a picture he can see of himself.

I also found this picture when I was looking at the Homer pictures. I thought it was cute - Mama K watching Levi use her Blackberry.

Levi is One!!

I cannot believe it, but Levi is one! This year has gone by so quickly. Everyone warned us it would, and it really has. We went to the doctor today, and Levi got a few shots. He was such a trooper. He didn't even cry with the first shot! He weighed 22 pounds, 9.5 ounces (50th percentile). He was 30 1/4 inches long / tall (80th percentile).

Some of Levi's favorite things: fans, remote controls, cell phones, food (current favorites include bread, cantaloupe, and peaches), books (current favorites include God Made You Special, Hop on Pop, Hand Hand Fingers Thumb, and What's Bigger Than Me?), the zoo.

Levi loves to make people laugh. When he does something that brings a chuckle, he will usually try to repeat it. Thus, the picture above with Levi sticking out his tongue. This isn't meant in an ugly way, he thinks it is funny, because Audry laughed at him the first couple of times he did it. Now he does it for a laugh or to have the person to whom he has stuck out his tongue copy him.

Levi still acts shy when he first meets people usually or when he hasn't seen them in a while.

Levi can be quite stubborn at times. He does things on his time table and no one else's.

He is a joy, a blessing to our lives, and we are so thankful for him. We love you, Levi!!

Out to Lunch

Before Mama K, Q, Aunt Chery, Uncle Chris, and Aunt Audry could head back to Alabama, we all went out to lunch and then walked around for a bit. Here are some pictures - Levi "walking", playing in the fountain, hanging out with Audry for a little bit longer, and hanging out with Audry and Q.

Levi's Birthday Party

We celebrated Levi's birthday today. It was a family only party, and Levi had a packed house. Some of the pictures above show Levi sitting with his granddaddy Hughes, talking with his "cousin" Tyler, wowing his great uncle Wes and great aunt Joy with his cell phone prowess, and playing ball with his aunt Audry, aunt Chery, and uncle Chris.

Levi wasn't too sure what he thought about the cake at first. He really didn't like the icing at all. I scraped it off, and he dug into the cake then. The icing streaks on his cheeks and forehead are courtesy of his daddy. Apparently, Kevin thought that Levi needed to look like he enjoyed the cake a little more.

After all the excitement of the party, Levi cooled off in the pool.

Visitors

Audry stayed this week to spend some extra time with Levi. They've had such a great time. And I have too. Audry is so sweet. Not only has she been taking care of Levi during the day, but she's also cooking dinner (and other goodies) for me. She's also been really helpful in transitioning Levi to more "real" foods - in the form of homemade wheat bread and fresh fruits and vegetables. Saturday we went to a roadside stand in Edgefield and bought fresh peaches and cantaloupe - both of which Levi LOVE.

My best friend from high school, Ryann, came to meet Levi. She brought her two kids, J and AK, and they were so cute with Levi - or Evi as AK, Ryann's daughter, called Levi. They played ball with Levi, and he thought it was fun to catch and throw with the big kids. J and AK wouldn't cooperate for a group picture with my camera, but I got a quick snapshot of them both.

Praying for Their Footsteps

You alone are God and Father of all. You are over all and through all and in all. You are Creator. Thank You for Your creation and particularly for Levi. Lord, teach him to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which You have called him. Let his walk with You and his life in general reflect humility, gentleness, and patience, showing tolerance for others in love.
Ephesians 4:1-3

Grow up Levi in all aspects of his life such that he is more and more made into Christ.
Ephesians 4:15

Beach Vacation: Days Five and Six

  
    

  

  

I didn't mention that Kevin's parents and aunt met us at the beach on Friday and left on Monday morning. They had a great time seeing Levi on his first beach trip.

Day Five: We went to the beach this morning and had a great time. Although, as you can see in one of the pictures, Levi has perfected the "hold me" pose. Once he pulls himself to the standing position, he leans his head between your legs and lifts his arms. Mama K and Audry got to the beach today to also partake in Levi's first beach trip. Once they got here we went back to the beach in the afternoon. We also went to the calmer side of the island after dinner. Levi had such a great time playing in the shallowest part of the water and playing in the sand. One of the pictures and the video show Levi in front of the drip sand castle his daddy made.

Day Six: This morning, we played at the beach. Audry and I took Levi into the water. He loved it. I have to find a pool when we get home. He LOVES the water. Almost the whole time we were in the water, his little legs were just a kicking. Maybe he'll follow in my footsteps and be a little swimmer! We went to the "shell island" after Levi's afternoon nap, and Levi was a trooper riding in the new kid carrier that Kevin got for Father's Day. Kevin found several nice sized shells for Levi and my mom. After dinner, we went back to the calmer side of the island, but tonight it wasn't all that calm. Kevin and Levi still had a good time playing in the water for a little bit and then putting shells on top of Levi's head. An older gentleman also entertained Levi by throwing crackers in the air for the sea gulls to eat. I don't think I've mentioned how much Levi LOVES the birds around the island: brown pelicans and sea gulls are his favorites.