Friday, March 30, 2007

More strollin'

So, it snowed yesterday - just another Colorado springtime! But earlier this week, we went for more walks. On Tuesday, as we were getting ready to go out, I thought, "Hey, it's warm and sunny and we're spending time outside - Elijah should be wearing a hat and sunscreen!" Poor E comes from a long line of very pale people, so, trying to be a responsible mom, I found his hat and covered all exposed skin with sunscreen. E doesn't like lotion, but his eczema requires that we slather him up and down twice a day, so the sunscreen was nothing new. The hat on the other hand ... there was a lot of crying, and we didn't get very far. Fortunately, the ducks were very diverting. I guess the hat is going to take some getting used to.


The ducks and geese at Elijah's pond.
Elijah wearing his hat.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Little Man Suit


Elijah was so handsome in his Sunday-best!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Spring!




It's spring! After one of the snowiest winters I can remember, we have had a couple of weeks of fantastic weather. Elijah and I have been taking walks and enjoying the sunshine almost every day, sometimes with Daddy, Grandpa or Nana. E loves to stroll - he has been checking out all of the interesting things in the world outside, like birds and trees and dogs and ducks. I am enjoying all the spring flowers that are coming up - they are beautiful. I love spring!


Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Photo Shoot


Elijah was just so cute today, I had to take a few pictures. It's been a while since we've had portraits done, but I think these turned out just as well! Despite the onset of teething, E continues to be such a happy baby most of the time - smiling and laughing a lot.


Fun with Water


We have been working on a new skill - drinking from a cup! Elijah is getting the hang of it, sometimes. Some of the water actually goes down, but a lot of it still ends up dribbling down his chin. And sometimes the cup is just a fun toy for chewing on or playing with. It sloshes all around when you swing it!


Saturday, March 17, 2007

Practicing...



We don't quite know what he is doing here. Chewing? Talking? Practicing for something?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Elijah loves his Ireland jacket - so cool!

Friday, March 16, 2007

All Better!


Do you see those two little teeth?


It feels better now that they're through!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Ouch!


Mama, my teeth hurt!

Nice face!




When we asked Elijah what he thought about Uncle Cameron, he made this face.

We're getting there!

Rather, he is getting there, and we are along for the ride.

In addition to getting used to sleeping while being only 75% swaddled, E is officially teething. Both of his two front bottom teeth are coming in. One of them you can feel, and is actually quite sharp! The bestest news of all, however, is that he slept from 7.15 last night until 5.30 this morning when he was hungry. Actually, he was awake at about 3 a.m. to let us know that he was alive and happy, but we didn't go in, so he put himself back to sleep after pleasantly cooing for a few minutes. It was actually quite funny to hear him over the monitor. This is the first time in a long time that this has happened, and we pray for more of the same!

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Tired, but still laughing!



Despite a very rough day, Elijah had a ball playing with Daddy this evening.

Getting there, maybe ...

Well, last night was pretty bad. Today's naps were equally horrible, and we also realized that Elijah is getting his first tooth. So, it can get worse. Therefore, we have changed the plan: one arm out of the swaddle, instead of just going cold turkey. We'll get there - slowly. So he's sleeping, at least for now! Victory!

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Here goes nothin'!

7.09 p.m.

So, tonight we try to put him down without swaddling him!

I know, I know...he is 8 months old now, and should be sleeping without it anyway. Well, seeing as he has never slept well, and seemed to be calmed by the swaddle, we have not seen fit to change anything. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Well, it's not broke, and it doesn't work either. He has been up more and more during the night as of late, and thinking that it can't get any worse, we decided to go ahead and bite the bullet and start the transition of putting him down sans wrapping.

7.13 p.m.

He is not sleeping, but not fussing. Correction. Currently fussing. In addition to the pacifier that was in his mouth when we put him down, there are two others in the crib with him. He has always gone right to sleep with the swaddle, and then anytime after 10.30 p.m. is fair game for fussing or crying. It seems that he is not going immediately to sleep tonight. Hooray. Will report more later.

7.20 p.m.

Not asleep. Kicking. Quiet though. Hoping for more good things...

7.50 p.m.

Still not asleep. Still kicking and now sometimes fussing. Hooray.

8.28 p.m.

He was crying for over 20 minutes. I went in to let him know that neither was the sky falling nor had our love for him run out. I discovered that instead of my hope that he would use his now-free hands to put a pacifier into his mouth, he was taking it out and tossing it aside. He appreciated my supportive hand on his chest, but as soon as I left, he started wailing again. It has been quiet for a few minutes now. History has shown, however, that as soon as you think, "Hey, it's been quiet for a few minutes now," the tendency would be to follow that with the totally irrational presumption that he is asleep and will continue in his sedentary state for a period of time no less than 8 hours. I will not be fooled by this. I stand firm in my pessimistic state that this will indeed be a very long evening for all involved. To my neighbors, if you are reading this, I apologize in advance.

8.47 p.m.

Active fussing. I knew it was too good to be true. Here's hoping that the night won't be as bad as I think it will be.

6.19 a.m.

Remember how I said that it couldn't get any worse? I was wrong.

7.30 a.m.

Daddy is now at work. He got to wear earplugs last night, and was still up multiple times. Mommy didn't wear earplugs because it was her turn to be on duty last night. Very little sleep happened, and there was even less rest. Super. Mostly, those pesky hands got in the way of him getting to sleep. When we went in there, E was found to be rubbing his eyes a lot, and generally keeping himself awake, as opposed to lying there, still, waiting for his eyes to shut on their own. Here's hoping that he works this out soon.

Monday, March 5, 2007

Good morning, little man!


Just chillin' in my pjs.


A (long-ish) video of Elijah playing with his bear yesterday morning.

Cool sweater


Elijah, wearing the sweater Erin made for him - it matches his quilt!

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Update on the new "Duck tub"

Since a few people have asked about it...this wonderful little thing can be found, online at least, at Kmart.com. Additionally, they say that it is available at Target too, but I couldn't find it online. It goes for around ten bucks.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Bouncing, Bouncing, Bouncing, Bouncing

Mommy and Me!



Aren't we a cute couple?

Workin' it out


Elijah is getting used to his new schedule. He's such a happy boy when he naps well!