What?

Am I not supposed to be in the box?



I was literally left the room for three minutes to feed the dog and give him some water. This is how I found Eli when I got back. I'm not quite sure how he managed it, but I am sure I will see this move in action soon!

Walking (and standing and waiting) and Talking

Mommy and Eli took a walk with Reggie after dinner. We stopped by Auntie Heather and Uncle Joe's house to say hi to Jacob and Jillian. Then, on the way home, someone was mowing the lawn of one of the houses we had to pass.

After Reggie tried to drag Mommy and Eli back up the hill, I got him to sit and had to stand there for about 10 minutes until the guy finished. Reggie wouldn't budge until it stopped! And to make it better, two guys were walking up the other side of the street and one was singing "I Would Walk 500 Miles" at the top of his lungs.

Ahhhhh...gotta love Green Street...

While we were standing there waiting for the evil lawn mower to stop so we could walk by without being eaten by it, Eli started pointing up at the sky and saying, "moon." Jacon and Jillian had been showing him the moon from their yard while we were there. He remembered and was actually pointing up at the moon.

He also started meowing at the kittens in "Goodnight, Moon." It was too cute. I love my little guy!

Utensils

We have been working on using a spoon and fork with Eli and tonight, I made fork progress (and food progress - I got him to eat mac & cheese)!

First, it was all fingers.



Then, you could see him thinking, "hmmm...I can put this thing in the bowl..."



"And if I stop hamming it up for the camera, I can scoop with it."



Then, the answer: "I can use this to shovel food into my mouth!"



Who knows what skill he will master tomorrow?? (I hope it is regaining the ability to lay still while having his diaper changed, but I am not holding out much hope.)

Striptease...

Here is how we found Eli when he woke up from a nap.



I guess he got bored...we let him talk in the crib for about a half an hour. He hasn't done this since, but I am waiting for the day he takes it all off...

But he was happy to see us, even though we left him there for 30 minutes. He loves to play with Daddy!

Ring around the Roseola?

I took Eli to the pediatrician today, after being up since 2:30 with him screaming. I was convinced he had an ear infection, with the fever the last few days and the screaming last night.

It's roseola, a virus that causes a fever, followed by a rash of red spots. I noticed the rash this morning, but it was so mild, I almost just thought it was from all the crying.

The crying is caused by teething...here come the molars (and there goes my sleep)!

And this is why I love my dog...

And this is why I love my shedding, drooling, scared-of-his-own-shadow, allergic-to-everything, big, goofball of a dog.

Here is Eli fascinated by stepping on Reggie's foot. He was amazed that Reggie moved his foot each time he stepped on it.



This is Eli buttering Reggie up, petting him gently, throwing him off the scent of what is coming next...



And this is what was coming next:





Yes, that is Eli crawling on Reggie's head. And poor, sweet Reggie laid there and took it. I actually had to protect him at one point because Eli thought this was so much fun, he wouldn't stop!

But they were best buds again soon...

Easter 2010

I had warm and fuzzy images of getting Eli out of bed, and letting him run into the living room to find his Easter basket on the floor. He would run over, go through it, eat the Cheerios in his eggs, thumb through his books, and love his Momma for putting together such a healthy, educational basket...



Not this kid! He woke up cranky, cried whenever I tried to put him down, and would not even look at Elmo! He finally played with it, but really just shook around the eggs...

Later that day, he LOVED playing with his cousins! His general state of being when he is with Jacob is ecstatic.



He is such a little boy now...no more baby in this boy!



Of course, he was cranky during day because of a fever. It was low grade during the day, but at bedtime it was 103 degrees! This is not our week!

Humpty Dumpty

Even his auntie and his momma couldn't put him back together again...but the doctors at Newton-Wellesley's ER could!



Eli fell yesterday and gave himself a good bump and a few cuts. One would not stop bleeding, so Mommy had to take him to the ER - thanks to Auntie Heather for taking such good care of him until Mommy could get there!!

We went to the pediatrician first, but Dr. Nishiyama took a look and sent us right to the ER for a few stitches. They took us right in after we registered (why do people keep pronouncing Eli as Ellie?) and applied a numbing gel. Eli and Mommy snuggled in the bed and watched the Wonder Pets while the gel did its job.

When Eli was all numbed up, the doctors came in, wrapped Eli up like a burrito, and fixed him right up with two stitches. He screamed through the stitching, but Mommy was reassured he was just scared and not in any pain. Mommy stayed and helped hold him still and didn't even cry (I have to brag here, even though this is about Eli - I usually go into hysterics at the sight of a needle)!

The doctor predicted at least one black eye, but as of this post, no black eyes have developed yet!

Our little trooper is acting just like he did with the burn. After getting stitched up, he cried for about a minute (he cried more when they peeked under the band aid in triage), then ate a sandwich! So far, he has not even acted like he is aware of his bumps and cuts. Mommy is learning all kinds of lessons from her tough little guy.

I hope this is not Eli's idea of an April Fool's Day joke on his parents and auntie. So far, Eli seems to be predisposed to holiday injuries...I am dreading Easter this Sunday!