10.31.06 Halloween (Daddy)

Just a couple quick notes:
a. Mom screwed up Elijah's hair
b. Elijah dressed in a chicken suit for Halloween (pics to follow)

more on a:
Mom thought Elijah's hair was a bit too long, so she cut it. Elijah's hair now looks very "stooge" like. I tried to fix it by vertically trimming some of his bangs, in order to make them a little more uneven, but it didn't work well.

more on b:
chicken suit - $15.99
9 month old little boy in the chicken suit - priceless

summary:
Elijah dressed like a combo stooge and chicken for his first Halloween. I'm sure he'll never forget.

10.29.06 Socks (Mommy)

Elijah can now take off his own socks. A few days ago I put on a pair of soft fuzzy socks on him for warmth. By the time we got to June's they were off and in his mouth. And now socks are an endless source of amusement, fun, and intrigue. You can put them on him and he will pull them off.... when you aren't looking, that is. This mainly happens in the car when Dad and Mom aren't paying very close attention and by the time the notice, the foot is being pulled towards to mouth by the aforementioned sock. We tell him "No!" and he stops with this hurt look on his face. If Mom is looking he will try to cry, if not he will just pout a bit. As soon as Dad looked back to check on him a few minutes after we told him the dreaded "no" word, he blinked quickly and moved his hand away from his foot. Obviously he is getting very smart about this.
'Lijah is also making fishy noises with his mouth. No other way to describe it other than that. He is crawling around right this moment opening and closing his mouth rapidly to make said fishy noises.
My little sock loving fishy.

10.29.06 Clap (Daddy)

This morning was pretty incredible. Elijah, for the first time, really did mimic us. I was doing my normal acting weird thing for him, but was also clapping. I stopped every 30 seconds or so and put his hands together for him in a clapping motion and then returned to what I was doing. I clapped and SO DID ELIJAH!! He did it a couple of times on his own. What was funniest was the look on his face. Elijah seemed to say "well, if this makes you happy I guess I'll do it. I have no idea why my clapping makes you happy though". He was in a really good mood this morning, so that made him a whole lot more willing to play around. He has actually seemed to be a little more alert as of this morning. He's verbalizing nonsensical stuff and trying to get my attention. He is also responding to our telling him "no" a lot more effectively. Twice this morning he was whining, and carrying on. Dad and Mom told him to "knock it off" - he did.

Mom made Daddy crepes this morning - they were quite good. Daddy shared a little with Elijah and he chewed them completely and swallowed every bite. Normal sized bites, of course. Elijah seemed to like them too!

10.28.06 Tired and Stuff (Daddy)

Boy oh boy. I don't even know where to start here. I had been gone for so long, and missed out on so much time with Elijah that I don't quite know what is going on. He started cruising while I was gone and he started standing up in his crib while I was gone. Elijah was standing up in his crib Tuesday morning when I saw him active for the first time after getting home (I ended not coming home until Monday. Had to stay in Sacramento for an extra day). Seeing him standing, knowing I did not put him in that position, was a little . . . strange. What am I noticing Elijah is doing? A few things:
a. If you leave the room, or drop out of Elijah's sight, he immediately starts whining.
b. If I play with him, he'll just giggle and giggle. As soon as I put him down he tries VERY hard to start crying. We never pick him back up immediately, so he knows it is in vain.
c. He does love his warm apple cider. Good boy
d. He appears to be rocking back on his knees a little more often than he had earlier in the month.
e. He likes vanilla yogurt. Yes, it is okay for him to have yogurt.
f. When we say "no" to him he quickly stops what he was doing. The problem is he starts up again, almost looking for a clear reinforcement from his parents. We will say "no" again and he'll frequently move on to something else.
g. If we aren't around, or are busy, Elijah seems to think he can get into things he knows he isn't supposed to have. He seems to know when we aren't paying attention. Mom and I are going to have to watch out.

10.27.06 Rabid Baby (Mommy)

As I type, my son, oh wonder of wonders, is literally foaming at the mouth. He looks a bit like a high strung hairless monkey of sorts. 'Lijah has been experimenting with some new sounds and syllables. The latest and greatest is "bah bah bah- blah blah blah". He says his new "words" with such gusto and conviction that he drools, afterwhich the force of the air coming out of his mouth whips up the drool into a pleasant looking froth. Ah parenthood, such beauty.... I'm so very proud of my little offspring.
We had a bit of a play and photography session with dad taking pictures and mom and boy fooling around for the camera. I swear he said "mama". If he can sign it then he MUST be on his way to saying it. There is a lovely picture of me on the verge of tears after he repeated "mama" after me saying it fifty million times. It didn't matter that Andy declared "He did NOT say mama". It sounded like "mama" to me and made me weepy. Unfortunately I can't blame it on hormones this time. I can only wonder what will happen when he really does say "mama" for the first time.
So, in other news, I have lived up to the whole "nine months on, nine months off" theory. I am now 2 pounds lighter than I was when I started off being pregnant! YES!!!!! I can fit into 99% of my clothes, and the skinny pants now can be zipped, but not worn. I am so very close to having my body back. Not just the body I had before I was pregnant, but the body I had before I felt I had to stop dieting and working out in order to increase the chance of getting pregnant in my old life. It has been about 3 or 4 years since I have been on a "diet" of any kind and have really tried to get in better shape. Thus, it has been about 3 or 4 years since I have fit into my skinny clothes. I am almost almost there. Just in time for the holidays to pack the pounds back on....... Thanksgiving is less than a month away.

10.27.06 9 Months (Mommy)

Whew, it's been a long time since I have updated. Okay, a lot has been happening. In the general family news arena we have put a bid on a house in Portland. Don't ask how much! We are currently awaiting news on possible mold and such and then we will decide how much further we want to go with this property. But one thing is clear; Portland, here we come! I will be so glad to get out of Nevada, away from the ex-life I had, the little troubles and all of the memories. Some distance is needed.
Now, onto more important things: our boy.
'Lijah can now do a plethora of fun and interesting things intended to drive his parents up the wall and over the ceiling. First off he is into EVERYTHING!!!! Boxes, cartons, baskets, furniture, papers, food, dirt, you name it. Also, I discovered, 'Lijah can open cabinets! When I said this in front of June (the babysitter) she just laughed and informed me that he has been doing that for quite some time. Ah, the woes of the absentee mom. Damn the need to work and make a living for my family!
Also at the babysitter's Lijah has been signing "mother". June asked me what the sign for "mama" was the other day and when I showed her she said that he had been making that sign when she was talking about "mama". This is very strange because I haven't been signing "mother" to him lately. I used to always sign "Mommy loves you" to 'Lijah when I put him down for bed at night. But about a month or so ago I gave up because he was starting to catch on and would look away so he didn't have to see that it was bedtime. And now he's just signing it on his own! Sneeky, very sneeky.
So now I don't have a baby any more, I have this very inquisitive 9 month old boy who walks holding on the furniture, climbs up three stairs when his mom isn't looking, and prefers his apple cider warmed up, thank you very much! I know I have asked this before, but how exactly did this happen? Where did my little tiny infant son go? I had this perfect little bundle who stayed wrapped up and liked to cuddle with his mom. Now I have this perfect little todder-to-be who wants mom in the room with him, maybe holding him, but not, I repeat, not, cuddling or kissing him. I mean, YUCK!!!
His dad is home, finally, and 'Lijah is so very very happy about it. The world is his burrito. Now he has someone to toss him around and make silly faces at him. He really missed Andy and it was very clear when Andy came home that 'Lijah was just a whole lot happier.
There is lots more to blog about, but I'm going to let Andy get some information in also. Just know that I now am the proud mom of a child on the very edge and verge of walking and talking.

10.22.06 Still Gone (Daddy)

I'm taking a few moments to let everyone know that I'm still around, albeit in Sacramento at the moment. I have only seen 'Lijah for about 3 hours since the 12th of October. Didn't realize I would be missing the little rascal. Everyone knows I miss Becca. I'm in Sacramento moving a client who lived in Vegas and is moving his business. Drove from Vegas to Sac over 2 days in 11.5 hours. What a trip, and it didn't stop yesterday as I worked from 5am till 6pm unpacking and getting him set-up in his new place. I'll be finishing up today (Sunday) and will fly back to Vegas tonight.

We're really sorry that there haven't been any October pictures posted, we really haven't taken any either. No one has been home and no one has seen the little boy in much of a good mood due to his emerging teeth.

We should be able to catch people up in a little while. I'd love some pictures of Elijah cruising.

10.18.06 Holy Cow! (Mommy)

It's a quiet morning in Henderson, NV. It's still a bit cloudy outside at 7:15. I have packed the diaper bag, showered and dressed and made breakfast and lunch for my little guy. I head up to his room to get him up and dressed; he is uncharacteristically quiet this morning. As I open the door and turn on the light, something catches my eye. There in the crib, quiet and serious as can be, is my son..... standing. I nearly jump out of my skin while he looks on with a bemused look on his face.
That darn kid! He's just GOT to stop growing up!
Seriously, 'Lijah has been doing a lot of experimenting and maturing. He now is able to "cruise". In case you don't speak baby talk, cruising is when the little munchkins walk around while holding on to furniture. This started at our babysitter June's house where her couches are a bit lower. He would pull himself up to a standing position and then "walk" down the couch to get to someone. Elijah tries this a little bit at home, but he falls quite often as our couch is higher and more slippery due to the leather.
'Lijah has also taken to standing at our couch and then turning around to get to the coffee table. He is quite skilled at this, but once he gets to the coffee table, it is just a matter of time before he takes off like he can walk and then falls and bonks his head.
Walking is coming. This is scary.
Our little boy really missed his dad. He has been in somewhat of a foul mood over the past few days, (as have I for other reasons) and I think it had something to do with the dad being away. That and the fact that I have been trying to have him skip his evening nap and go to bed around 7:30. But anyway... as I carried 'Lijah into the airport to meet Andy I heard not a peep from my son. As soon as he saw his dad though, it was a different story! He smiled and kicked and babbled all the way home. Then when he had to go to bed, he was mad because he wanted to play with dad. He absolutely adores Andy. Mom is great, but not near as much fun.
Story of my life, I guess.
I have more to tell, but my son is complaining loudly about how horrible his mom is. Better go tend to him.

10.12.06 Single Mom (Mommy)

Andy is in Portland. I am here, with my kid, shleping around like a mad woman. Must make more food. Must do more laundry. Must email lesson plans. There's more to this list, much, much more.
A few short updates.
1. 'Lijah can pull himself up into a standing position by holding onto the edge of June's couch. Oh Lord.......
2. 'Lijah is now able to climb stairs. So far he hasn't gotten past the 2nd step, but that is only "so far". Again, I blame the grandparents. He seems to learn all sorts of interesting things when they are around. I'm sure that Grandpa Duane finds this delightfully funny, but he's not the one who has to chase this little guy around.
3. The two upper front teeth are coming in. This makes for a very sleepy and cranky 'Lijah. We're talkin' 3 hour naps, if we let him. This also makes him a little more needy and whiny since he's not feeling the best.
4. The new sound is /k/. As in /k/ for cracker and cookie. He loves crackers now! You can even hear his little teeth bite into them. He gets them ALL over, but it's still cute. Anyway, the new sound is /k/. I have consulted the speech therapist and a sound development chart and learned that, yes, this is advanced. I need to get a life.
5. 'Lijah has a bike! Okay, it's not really a "bike", but it is a darn cute Radio Flyer scooter thing with 4 wheels, that oddly enough, looks like a tricycle. 'Lijah looks cute standing and holding on to it, but at this time he is more interested in the box it came in. Overall, though, a wonderful gift from the aforementioned grandparents who came down to Vegas to haul up a bunch of our my hodge-podge stuff. They are SO cool.
So that's the scoop. Stay tuned for more details, but right now I have clothes to put in the dryer. :)

10.5.06 Meanness (Daddy)

I've been thinking about this one for a few days and am just now getting a chance to write about it. I believe I had my first gut reaction to protecting my son. Elijah has a new baby sitter, June. June is great. She even washes his dishes before we pick him up. Anyhoo, Elijah was at June's house with another baby, a close friend's baby. June told Rebecca that this kid had been mean to Elijah. I don't know exactly what June meant by that, but I immediately wanted to take Elijah away from this other boy. Ya, I know, this is kind of ridiculous, but it signals a shift in my brain, one I hadn't really expected; I'll defend my little boy from other little boys. How is that for parenting?

In other news, Elijah has discovered himself. Yes, this is a very frank statement, but it has just happened, and was bound to happen according to the books. Actually, this morning was the first time. I won't go into details, as they aren't needed, but the hands are now moving around. Mom will be proud.

As time marches on, some of the things that happen here at home sorta escape Rebecca and me. We also can't remember if we have blogged about some of them before, and we are too lazy to go back and read 8 months of writings to find out. I say this because I don't know if we have mentioned this before, but I think not. . .
Elijah LOVES Mom's little trampoline. It is a single person trampoline that Rebecca bought so she could "jump" while she watched TV. Okay, whatever. Anyhoooo, Elijah watched Bell, a friend's young daughter, bouncing on this trampoline the other day. He started crawling on to it! He made it on the top of it and then fell off. I was there to catch him, so he didn't hurt himself. He then went for it again. Elijah wanted to jump!! So, I picked him up, held him tight so his head didn't flop off and boy did the giggles ensue. He had a marvelous time. I asked Rebecca if she thought he put the bouncing and the trampoline together in his mind. She said "no", but moments later, I picked him up again off the floor and headed for the trampoline. He immediately started kicking his feet and showing clear excitement. Rebecca said "well, maybe he does!" We have bounced a few more times since then and he has the biggest smile every time. It is really adorable.

Elijah's West Coast Grandparents will be here tomorrow. That will be fun, as they haven't seen Elijah in person since July. A lot has changed in 3 months! They won't be too surprised, I think, but they will certainly have a lot more fun with him. I know I have been having more fun with 'Lijah than before. He's begun to move, begun to try to say words and begun to explore. Makes for a challenging day, but is also more exciting.