Cape 2010

We headed down to the Cape house for a week and less than 24 hours after we arrived, our clumsy toddler already had his first injury. He fell on the pool deck, tripping over his own feet and landing right on his forehead. Daddy heard his head hit the ground from inside the house!



Luckily, no serious damage done, just a few scrapes on his forehead and nose. He injures himself easily, but heals quickly.

The Binettes came down with us for most of the week. They had caterpillars with them that were in their chrysalis stage. Of course, one hatched overnight, then another hatched while we were on the deck for 10 minutes. When we came home from the beach, the rest had emerged...we missed them all! Eli was obsessed with them, pointing at them every morning. I think we will be hatching some butterflies here at home soon!

Corinne and Andy came down for the night and we headed to South Beach in the morning to see if we could spot some sharks! No sharks, but Coe got a great picture of us:



However, there was a rare sighting on the Cape...Mommy in the pool! Not only was I in the water, I was in the deep end! Mommy and Eli splashed around as we worked on not letting my fear of the water rub off on Eli!



Next stop was Red River Beach. Eli had a blast in the sand and water. Mommy's water excursions did not extend to the ocean - calf deep is my limit and even that is pushing it!





Eli loved his red wagon (not as much as the digger). He loved to be raced around the beach in it. There were horseshoe crabs at the house when we got there and they were all over the beach. He was obsessed with them ("crabbie") but, when Jeff caught a real crab, Eli couldn't have been less interested.

Eli also had his first popsicle and LOVED it! I had to give him two!



We were sad to see Jeff, Joanna, Emily, Joel, Gracie, and the butterflies leave, but Grampy came down on Thursday and we got to spend some time with him. Eli and Daddy went swimming with Eli's new floaties, which he seems to love.



He saw me give Reggie a piece of ice from the cooler and he wanted one. It kept him busy for a while...I will have to remember this trick!



Of course, the highlight of Eli's week was when Heather, Jacob, and Jillian arrived. Our hesitant little waterbug couldn't get enough of swimming with his cousins and auntie!





We had a great time at the cape this year! Eli's biggest obsessions there this year were his digger and dump truck, the butterflies, and Emily and Gracie. I can't wait until next year!

20 Months

He is getting so old...is he really almost two??? Okay, maybe he does need a haircut, but I can't let go yet.



My little angel is even sweet to the dog. He gives Reggie kisses! He also kicks him in the head, but Reggie seems to be okay with it. Don't worry - I stop it if I see it happen! Eli even shares with Reggie:



However, this was just paying it forward. This weekend, our benevolent beast taught our impressionable toddler how to drink from puddles. I had thought I was keeping my germophobic tendencies in check until this moment.

If I hadn't given birth to Eli, I wouldn't think he was my baby, although I have been told he has my eyes (and pout and whining qualities, but that's not very nice to tell someone, is it??). There is very little Mommy in this boy.

For example, how is this my kid? He has his fingers in his ears while Bon Jovi is playing (he later did this to Pat Benatar, too) ! Daddy has spoiled him with all his relaxing music (Dare I call it easy listening? I'm just saying, if they play it on Magic 106.7...).

Melting Mama

Say cheese!



That was the start of our photo shoot tonight (I needed a picture for this post, of course)...when he was still happy to be in front of the camera. Don't get antsy. You'll see how we ended it.

This cute little ham knows how to work his mama. I pass him to Dave in the mornings and as they are leaving, I usually ask Eli for a kiss on their way out the door. I typically get one kiss and then a gentle, yet firm push away (he has places to go and people to see, you know.).

Yesterday morning, I got a bunch of kisses. Then, as they were leaving, I said, "I love you, Eli." He said it back! Well, he said, "I wub ooo," but you get the point. I know he was just repeating it, but it still melted me!

His next new communication didn't quite melt me, but I was excited about it! It is something that only a mother could love. Eli was running in the hallway and stopped to look at me. He had a look on his face that said it all - I knew what was happening. But, he said it anyway: "Poop!" And he meant it! He told me he did it! I have never been so excited to check a diaper for poop.

So, now to the end of that photo shoot. Our little model was no longer happy in front of the camera. He wanted the camera. Here is how we ended the shoot:



Luckily, we avoided a temper tantrum this time. We are having more and more of those lately when we don't get our way!

Pool time at the Rossi's!

On Sunday, Mommy, Daddy, and Eli headed over to see Scott, Rhiannon, and Marisa, poolside! Eli LOVES the water now...he had a blast floating around!



Yeah, I have a thing about sun protection...what?

When Marisa went in for a nap, he wandered around the yard looking for "Risa." So cute! That boy is going to get around, though...on the way to Marisa's, he was yelling for "FIA!" (Sophia) in the car. He is lining the ladies up already!

I had to share these...

Here are some other Eli moments and pics from the last few weeks that didn't really work in any other blog post, but they were so cute, I couldn't resist posting them!

Is my halo on?




Hercules!




Laying around.




Where's your belly?

Gino

We aren't completely sure why, but Eli is OBSESSED with our neighbor, Gino.

He used to wake up and ask for Mama or Daddy (whoever was not in his room at the moment). He now looks at you and says, "Gino."

When we leave the house to get in the car, he points at Gino's house and says , "Gino."

When we pull in the driveway, he points at Gino's house and says, "Gino."

We had to close the blinds in the dining room that look over Gino's house because Gino was outside grilling one night and Eli kept yelling, "GINO!" while trying to climb out of his high chair (and you've seen pictures of Eli - my kid doesn't let anything distract him from food...except Gino). It is important to note that closing the blinds did not affect the number of times he asks for Gino, simply the intensity of the request.

When he leaves in the morning, I pass him to Daddy and ask for a kiss. He literally pushed me out of the way today, while saying Gino's name and looking out the door. I don't even get a wave anymore!

He asks for Gino more than Jacob!

I think the obsession started when Gino, who is a landscaper, was doing some yard work with a bobcat. Eli heard it and kept saying truck (ok - he was saying "duck" but he meant truck), so I brought him out to see it. I had no reason to believe (based on photographic evidence) that Eli was in anyway smitten with Gino.

Aforementioned photographic evidence:



At this point, we only have a few ideas as to why Eli wants Gino, a man he hardly ever sees, more than Mommy and Daddy (well, more than Daddy).

1. Gino somehow gets into the house at night and sneaks Eli blueberries and sings "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" over and over again.

2. Gino is just a really fun, easy name for toddlers to say. (This is really something we just tell ourselves to make us feel better.)

3. Gino owes Eli money.

4. Eli finds Gino irresistably attractive. (Hey, I love and support my son no matter what!) Maybe he does take after me - I, too, like older men!

5. Eli has some serious dirt on Gino and does not want Gino to forget it.

6. Gino makes amazing Italian sausages from scratch and, although we have not had them in about a year (ahem!), Eli remembers the taste and is feening for more.

7. Eli is desperate to connect with his Italian heritage.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know!

I can't hear you!

Mommy and Eli were goofing around, dancing to Fresh Beat Band and Dora on Nick Jr. tonight when Eli then discovered a new trick - he can put his fingers in his ears! I know he just did it and it sounded cool, so he kept doing it, but I was singing when this behavior started!

I know he wasn't being fresh, I know he wasn't being fresh, I know he wasn't being fresh...but he is Dave's son...I hope he wasn't being fresh, I hope he wasn't being fresh, I hope he wasn't being fresh...



In other news, I noticed a new molar on the top right in Eli's mouth last night! That brings the current tooth count to 10! Four front teeth on the top, four front teeth on the bottom, one molar on the bottom right and one molar on the top right!

You can actually see 9 of the teeth: