May 31 2011
It took us a year but we finally got Elliott’s haircut this past weekend. Everyone always thought he was a girl, maybe now they will see that he’s not. He did great, no crying or fussing during the process. Personally, I miss the long hair but he’ll be cooler this way for the summer. See before and after pictures below.
May 23 2011
My parents got a bike from a neighbor so Jonah has been riding that one when we go to their house. He’ll get a new one from us for his birthday too. We were planning to get him a balance bike but now that he has this one with training wheels I don’t know what kind I should buy. We may just bring Jonah to the store and let him pick.Below are 2 photos of Jonah on his “fire bike” (his name for it because of the paint job I guess). I can’t wait until he is actually old enough to ride on a path with me. I loved going on bike rides with my dad as a kid.
May 23 2011
As part of Elliott’s one year physical, I had to take him in to get some standard lab work done. Our pediatrician’s office doesn’t have a lab so I had to take him separately. I brought him in Saturday morning first thing and he did great. I don’t know if he loved the nurse or what but he didn’t cry for any of it, even the blood draw. It was amazing!
May 16 2011
Elliott is one now and while he still isn’t really talking he is at that point where he’ll follow basic directions: “Go get your shoes.” “Wipe off your mouth.” “What do you want, milk or water?” Those sorts of things. For the last question he has signs for milk and water. Plus he also signs now for “help” and “more.” Like Jonah, the “more” sign often just means that he’s hungry and the “milk” sign could mean that he’s just generally thirsty or tired and ready for his milk before bed. He still nurses 2-3 times a day but he’s drinking whole milk now and we’re trying to do away with the bottle all together.
He’s been sleeping better but still not great. Often waking up and crying out briefly during the night.
He still sleeps in the pack-n-play in my office instead of his crib in the boys room at night. We’ve never perfected the process of getting both boys to sleep at the same time in the same room. It’s made more difficult by the fact that most nights, Jonah likes to play in bed before falling asleep. Sometimes it might be quiet enough for Elliott to ignore, other nights it would not. So we don’t even bother. For now the system seems to work.
Elliott is also good at showing us his wicked sense of humor. This is the kid who would bite me while nursing then look up and smile. Also the kid who would smile and laugh in his sleep early on, and still does. Dream laughing is hilarious - biting - not so much. His new game involves starting something he knows he’s not supposed to do, pausing looking at you, then shaking his head no because that’s what he knows you’ll do. It does show he understands but then he’ll do it anyway, the little stinker.
Or he likes to walk into a room with something then turn right around to make you chase him. He’ll keep doing that until you follow.
Right now I think he’s on a growth spurt. He’s been taking long naps and eating a TON. I don’t know where he puts it! He’s about the same size as Jonah was at 1 year but Elliott is 3 lbs lighter. Neither of my boys were slim at 1 year but I can’t believe that Jonah was 3 whole pounds heavier. That’s a big difference when you’re talking about less than 30 lbs!
May 16 2011
There’s been a Buzz Lightyear resurgence in our house. First Jonah spent the weekend in his Buzz PJ’s - during the day that is. He had to take them off so we could wash them overnight. Then today he wanted to wear his Buzz Halloween costume to school. My feeling is that as long as he gets dressed himself he can wear whatever he wants! And at least I’m getting my money’s worth out of that costume.
My one fear is that he talks about how everyone will wear space helmets at his birthday party…not sure that’s going to happen…
May 11 2011
Elliott had a good first birthday. The extended family came over to our house for Mother’s Day/Elliott’s birthday. We had a nice brunch then Elliott got to open gifts. Or should I say, Jonah got to open Elliott’s gifts then maybe he let Elliott play with them.
Then of course there was birthday cake from which both boys only ate the frosting and left all the actual cake.
That was a couple days before his birthday so last night we also had cake and let him open a gift. Elliott is our musical baby so he’s been enjoying all his new music making toys. He got a little piano as a gift and I found him in the play room yesterday morning. He had pulled it off the shelf and even turned it on by himself. There’s a microphone on the side and he knows to “sing” into there. It’s very cute.
What wasn’t so cute, however, was him not sleeping on his birthday night. He went down fine at 8pm but then was up from about 10pm - midnight. I have no idea why. But he’s one now! And walking everywhere! Isn’t the sleeping supposed to kick into high gear right about now?
