Eli's First Easter

Happy Belated Easter from Eli:) We took Eli to Eagle River to see grandma and grandpa - he got a nice basket of goodies from the Easter Bunny there, including some yummy foods, a book, an outfit for the summer and a chirping Easter chick. He also got his first truck and sand toys from Grandma recently. Auntie Sam and Uncle Jerod got him a swimming pool for this summer, some yogurt bites, and some very adorable clothes.

On Sunday we joined Marc's family for dinner too, and Eli picked up the rest of his loot. He found jammies, books, snacks, a rolling/laughing monkey (I will have to post a video of this wild toy), and a shirt from the Dominican Republic (gma and gpa went on vacation, lucky!) in his basket from the Hancock Easter Bunny.

I tried to get a bunch of pictures of him digging through his Easter gifts, but only a few turned out because our camera takes blurry pictures when things are moving. No idea how to avoid that - we probably just need an upgrade;)

Huge Catch Up Post

I am going to make a valiant effort to catch up on the past few months. Months 6 through 9 have been BUSY. As in Eli is super busy, all the time. He can't stop moving unless it's time to sleep, and even then manages to move all over! He's gone through so many changes it is going to take me a while to lay out when and what has happened...but since this is my baby book backup I better get to it!

mmm freshly washed toes

Within a few days of his half birthday Eli popped two bottom teeth! Those pearly white buggers made for a cranky, stuffy-nosed baby and not a lot of sleep for us for a few nights. I am thankful that I was able to nurse him through those long nights, as nursing is just about the only thing that soothes my baby boy when he isn't feeling well or is in pain. On the even of his 9th month he is getting FOUR more top teeth, so far one has cut through the gums. This time, we notice no crankiness associated with that, hallelujah!!!

Six Months - Actual Solid Food Introduction

Between his half birthday and Christmas we started offering solids more frequently and introduced one new food after the other. Pretty quickly I discovered that Eli was constipated - in a big way! So constipated that not even prunes got his system going. I consulted the pediatrician, and they advised a tablespoon of dark brown sugar with 4 oz of breastmilk to 'jump start' his system. Still, that seemed to barely work. I asked a friend who breastfeed two babies and she thought her son also got constipated from rice, and eliminating that was helpful. So, I eliminated rice and gave him the brown sugar which helped some, but deep down began to hesitate all together about the solids. I was worried that it was too much too fast. So, I consulted my La Leche League group at our monthly meeting.

Many of the mothers could sense my hesitation about starting solids. Part of me was excited about trying new things, and part of me was sad that this meant the beginning of the end of our nursing relationship. Much of the literature indicates that many breastfed babies struggle with the introduction of solids because their tummies are so used to the fast and easy digestion of breastmilk. After some contemplating I decided to take a step backwards and reduce the solids for a while, and let Eli dictate his schedule for having solids. He was very fine with mostly milk...and so was I. Constipation continues to be an ongoing issue for him. I try to offer as many fruits and veggies as I can and limit the cereals, apples, and bananas (big constipators!). As of the time I'm writing this (late March) we've found out he gets a rash from prunes, plums and prune juice, so we use a combo of flax oil, miralax, and glycerin suppositories -poor guy. He probably doesn't eat as much solid food as most babies his age, but that is perfectly fine for a breastfed baby. When he's ready for more solids I am sure I'll know:) Until then, I'm happy he's my milk baby:)

would rather play with the tray, mom

Christmas

Here we are in front of the tree - our first time as a family of 3 at Christmas (+ Wilson of course). Hard to believe last year Eli was just a 16-week bump in my tree picture!

I think Eli LOVED Christmas. He got some super fun toys and spent a whole week straight with both of us at home with him. That made the post-holiday return to work extra difficult, almost as bad as returning to work after maternity leave!

We spent a fair amount of time with both sets of grandparents, which was good for Eli because now he definitely knows who belongs (family) and who doesn't (strangers). Here are some pictures of him during 'christmas break':

crashed with his grandma

entertained by someone

with his musical rocking elephant from grandma and grandpa Numrich

with mom in his cool boots from Auntie Sam and Uncle Jerod

with his very own Eli chair from grandma and grandpa Nutini and his lumberjack outfit from Auntie Sam and Uncle Jerod

chilling with dad (this picture was taken shortly before he barfed directly in my mouth - ahh the pleasures of parenthood!)

with a toy from grandma and grandpa Numrich

First Illness- January 3, 2010

The weekend of New Year's Eli started getting fussy and clingy. I thought maybe he was already getting more teeth or was just having a few bad days. He wanted to spend an entire Sunday being held and nursed. While he was nursing I noticed he was playing with his ear, which I initially dismissed as him being curious about himself. Around dinnertime I told Marc that I thought he might have an ear infection. He kept batting at his right ear, and I contemplated taking him to the ER because I couldn't stand the idea of him being in pain. Marc said I was being silly. But mom knows best:) and when I saw him whining and pulling his ear while sitting in his high chair I just stopped what I was doing and packed him up to go to the ER. Sure enough, he had an ear infection. We got some antibiotics and he was all better in no time. As it turns out, apparently constipation is linked with ear infections---who knew! So, since then I've been especially careful to keep the constipation under control and no more ear infections!

antibiotics gave him diaper rash, so we let him spend some time airing out while keeping the living room from getting a shower

First Accident - Mid January 2010

This one is completely my fault and I feel terrible about it. I did what apparently most parents do at one point or another...ignored basic safety advice. Since I started going back to work I have struggled to get ready in the morning with Eli being awake. He doesn't always like to be set down, but when you've got to get out the door and don't want to make the baby cry while getting ready you will do whatever works. He had generally been happy laying in the middle of our bed as opposed to being laid on the floor - don't know what the big deal to him was, but he preferred the bed...I would pull down the blankets and lay him in the middle with some toys and usually he would play. Even when he started rolling a lot in December I still put him on the bed, but made sure to pay more attention to him. Then one day he started scooting, and I hesitated, but put him on the bed anyways. I bet you can tell where this is going. Yep. He scooted right off the bed in the 0.47246 seconds I turned my back to him and he fell about 3 feet to the floor, landing on his back. All I heard was a loud THUD! I ran over to him and he was already doing the cry where they are so upset they hold their breath between wails. I picked him up and checked him everywhere for bumps and he was frantic. I tried to nurse him and he wanted to but couldn't settle down. After a minute or two he finally calmed and nursed, and I couldn't decide what to do. He was so whiny. I called the daycare and asked if she had ever had a child come to daycare after a fall like that. I laugh now, but at the time was horrified/mortified, because her response was "not that anyone has ever admitted". Ha, of course. So I called the doctor and made him an appointment. Everything turned out fine, but you can bet that night we set up the pack n play in the bedroom and filled it with toys! We used that for a while and called it 'baby jail' because occasionally he clawed at the mesh walls. WAS THAT HEARTBREAKING!!! If only he knew it was for his safety! Now that he plays so nice on the floor I just give him a basket of toys and he entertains himself.

Milestones:

Sit unsupported: just after New Year's. This didn't take much practice on his part. One day he just did it for a few minutes and I sat near him and sat him back up when he slumped a bit. The next day he sat alone for 10-15 minutes, and since then he will sit for however long he feels like playing independently. We never propped him or anything or used the bumbo frequently, and it seems that his muscles trained themselves fairly fast. I had read that propping the baby or putting pillows to support them actually makes this milestone take longer to achieve, so this case seems to support that in a way.

this wasn't taken his first time sitting on his own, but here he is assuming this play position

Crawling:
This is a pretty new one, and he's still developing his crawling style, which seems to be a combination of the army crawl and dragging his left leg while using his right knee to propel himself. I haven't gotten this on video yet, but it won't take much convincing, he's all over the place! Especially if it is to get after a remote control, cell phone, or other electronics device. Here he is rocking on his hands and knees. On a side note, the blanket he is on was made by MY daycare provider, Kathy, who took great care of me from the time I was 6 weeks old until I was about 8 years old. She has a true gift for needle work, and you can't see many of the details in this picture, but take it from me - amazing work! What a special keepsake!

Pulling to Stand:
This one he only does in the bath tub and if he really wants me to pick him up or hold him in my lap. A few weeks ago I put him in the bathtub just like I do every night, but that time he freaked out and threw a huge fit, pulled himself up on the edge of the tub and attempted to throw himself out. It happened so fast I couldn't believe what was happening. I thought it was a fluke and took him out, giving up on bath that night. He did that for two more nights after that. No idea why, but didn't like the bathtub anymore. Since then this little phobia has passed and he's back to enjoying himself. Here he is with his silly daddy:



Vocalizing:
He is starting to get vocal beyond simple baby babble. He somewhat chirps at us to get our attention or demand another spoonful of food. He yells "ahhhhhhh" back and forth with us. He says da da da and ba ba ba, and I've heard a ma ma once or twice. He has such a sweet quiet voice, I love to hear his drawn out coos and when he chatters to himself or looks me right in the eye and tells me stories. Sometimes when he gets really excited he will take a big breath and gear up for a huge scream/shriek and look so surprised at himself that he just made that noise...very amusing!

Sleeping:

Oh man, where do I start with this one? By no means does he sleep through the night, but I've come to understand that is an important part of his development and that he will sleep independently and through the night (whatever that means by many current standards) when he is mature enough to do so.

We co-sleep for the most part, but he always goes down in his crib and stays there for the first part of the night. Recently when he wakes up I will go in there and pat his bottom, and he usually is only half awake and falls right back to sleep. Once it is beyond 12 or 1 am and he wakes up crying Marc brings him to me to nurse and cuddle for the rest of the night. He sleeps fairly well in bed with me, and I hardly notice his nursing anymore. For the most part I love this time together with him, although sometimes I am tired and have to remind myself that these days have gone by fast and will be over sooner than I realize. His sniffles, eager sucking, and soft warm hands and breath on me make are welcome close mommy/Eli time since I spend so many hours of the day separated from him. He needs the closeness and so do I:) When he's done he quickly turns his head away and falls asleep peacefully. There is no stress, crying, rocking, or other fussing from either one of us. We stay in the warm bed all night and I give him eskimo kisses first thing in the morning. There's nothing more rewarding than waking up next to a happy, smiling little cuddly boy, and I am absolutely not willing to change that until he decides he doesn't want it anymore.

We get lots of comments that Eli is such a happy baby and a good baby from daycare and family. We feel blessed that he is so happy with life and surrounded by loving and nurturing people who obviously make his days great. As with all babies, he has his moments and I try to take them in stride and remember that the baby time is going by fast (almost over, infact) and that I'll miss having him as my baby.

suuuuper excited about his cool green diaper, obviously!

Looking back, each passing phase has been sad and the new one exciting at the same time. In all honestly, I regret all those moments that I wished he would just take a nap, go to bed early so I could have a break, or detach himself from nursing constantly, and if I could have all those minutes back from his babyhood I'd take them and use them to cuddle him a little longer. I try to keep that in mind every time I am clenching my jaw because I'm exhausted and he's wide awake at 4:00am, or he's fighting naptime, or just being fussy for no apparent reason, because I don't want to miss loving a single second of being his mommy and enjoying being in his presence.

this photo was taken on March 8th - our snow is almost completely gone today!

I LOVE YOU GORGEOUS SWEET BOY!

To Be a Mom

I got this email from a friend....love it!

******

To be a mom...
We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family."

"We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all.

I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child.

That she would give up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a caesarian scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love someone who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with their child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes.

"You'll never regret it," I finally say.

Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

Happy Half Birthday, Little Man!

We can't believe that Eli is 6 months old already...it has gone by so fast, and its been amazing. Every day I'm in awe that I am a mother to this little boy. He is so happy and intelligent. He's round and roly-poly. His cheeks are pink and his blue eyes are bright, he's never had more than a stuffy nose (knock on wood) and most days he's easy-going...we couldn't be more blessed! I am so glad that God decided to make us Eli's parents.

Within the last week he started rolling around like a crazy baby. He doesn't stay in one spot for long. Now when I lay him in his crib he automatically rolls to his left side. The last two nights I've woken to him whining because he was on his tummy with various appendages sticking out the crib rails. It's going to interesting until he figures out how to handle himself:)

We have a well baby visit on Friday. We'll let you know his stats - I'm guessing he's still 'average' but I think he's getting big!!!

Enjoying tubby time, sitting like a big boy

Learned to stick that tongue out.

Also learned to chew on his feet!

But I don't wanna sit in the bumbo anymore, mom!

Eli Update - Lots of Development going on here!

It's been a while since I mentioned what new things Eli is up to lately. In the past few weeks he's conquered:

• Rolling from tummy to back
• Using his feet for many of the same things hands would be used for
• Eating his feet
  
• Anything size 3-6 months: outgrown
• Making razzing sounds
• Sticking his tongue out
• Laughing when he's tickled (very ticklish little boy!)
  
• Grabbing Wilson if she's close-loves to pull her ears
  
• Sitting in his bathtub
• Standing with help
• Holding his own bedtime bottle
  
• Eating peas, carrots, rice, and bananas
• Playing happily for some time on his belly
• Maneuvering 360 degrees in the exersaucer
• Maneuvering the floor while on his back (spins like a clock)
  
• Swiping and pulling toys closer to him while playing on his back
  

Things he's making progress on:

• Rolling from back to tummy. I guess he does it at daycare all the time. At home he mainly gets stuck on his arm. Since he doesn't love being on his tummy there isn't quite enough incentive to roll often (my guess). But, he is starting to figure out that he can use his knees to get him places (creeping?), so it won't be long before this is a normal mode of transportation:)
• Applesauce - still thinks its a little tart.
• I think he is starting to understand his name and a few phrases we say a lot
• Warming up to relatives (still a mama's boy)
  

Things to do in the next weeks:

• We'll be trying butternut squash, green beans, beets, avocado, apricots, and pears next I think (in some order, it is going to take a while). Maybe another type of cereal too to vary the rice.
• Drinking from a cup.
• Hopefully sit up on his own! Playing will be so much more fun then! He wants to sit so bad, so we spend a lot of time holding him that way on the floor with his toys.
  
• 6-month well baby appointment - another shot :(
• Pop a tooth through - he's still drooling and chewing everything but no teeth yet.

He's getting huge! I will be excited to see his stats at the next appointment. He continues to nurse nurse nurse and eat solids pretty well. He doesn't open wide for the spoon, but he kind of attacks it. Hard to describe. He gets pretty bad gas from eating solids, I hope his system adjusts soon. I am somewhat looking forward to pumping less at work, but overall, I am sad that my full time nursing is just about over. I savor our time we spend together doing this because he's already starting to have less of an attention span for nursing. I plan to allow him to wean himself...whenever that happens is fine with me whether it is in the next months or year. Hands down still one of the best and worst memories I have of his childhood so far and I will cry when it is all over.

I am really enjoying introducing him to foods, and I've made all my own baby food so far and intend to continue with that. It's super easy and helps give me meal ideas for us anyways. I have ziplock bags in the freezer with cubes of baby food made up, and a whole book of baby food recipes my mom found-some look so good I can't wait to try them myself. My rule of thumb is if it is not appetizing to me then why would it be for him? I think he agrees. For instance I had some banana baby food given to us....I thought it smelled funny and he wouldn't even swallow it. So I mashed up a banana on the counter - LOVES IT! He's a fresh food lover already!

Pictures soon :D

Family Pictures

It seems like no one in our family is huge on taking pictures, and the fact that we have about 2 random family shots of the 3 of us goes to prove that! So, we took Eli for a quick family portrait and MAN is he a different baby with the photographer than he was two months ago. He has major stranger anxiety and getting him to smile was like pulling teeth! In fact, the first time we went he just cried so we had to re-schedule. Since the pictures didn't turn out overly great we didn't spring for the photo rights, so here are a few copyrighted pictures to tease you with.

Weekend Activities Lately

Some random pictures we've snapped of Eli being himself (cute!).

asleep with his toys after church.

hanging out naked in his crib while mom cleaned up his blowout mess.

wet comb over hair.

ha! bundled up in the stroller for a walk. not happy about it.

a boy and his toys. rough life.