31 October 2009
Busy as a bee
What a busy first Halloween I had. First, I had my swimming lessons where I'm getting very good at going under water. Then after a very long nap (crawling and swimming make me very tired), we went to Aine's house for a Halloween BBQ. Aine's mommy is in my mommy's mum's group and we also swim together and see each other at the gym while our mommies work out, so we're getting to be pretty good friends. At the BBQ, I had a great time flirting with Aine (she's the watermelon, by the way) and Beatrix and showing them how well I crawl now. I also played in the dirt for the first time and kept trying to eat it. But Mommy and Daddy are too good at keeping their eyes on me, and I didn't get to eat much.
After the BBQ, I went trick-or-treating at my Nana and Granddad's house (where I got a special Halloween treat) and looked around their veggie garden and Granddad's big old shed. I can't wait to get loose in there!! All this Halloween fun made me really tired so I needed another good long nap on the way home so I'd be ready for trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Sam made some special pumpkin puree just for me so she didn't get tricked. And all the neighborhood kids came over to trick-or-treat which made Mommy very happy. Australians don't do much for Halloween usually, but I think Mommy's love for the holiday is rubbing off.
After the BBQ, I went trick-or-treating at my Nana and Granddad's house (where I got a special Halloween treat) and looked around their veggie garden and Granddad's big old shed. I can't wait to get loose in there!! All this Halloween fun made me really tired so I needed another good long nap on the way home so I'd be ready for trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Sam made some special pumpkin puree just for me so she didn't get tricked. And all the neighborhood kids came over to trick-or-treat which made Mommy very happy. Australians don't do much for Halloween usually, but I think Mommy's love for the holiday is rubbing off.
28 October 2009
On the go!
Guess who started crawling yesterday. Yep, you got it, and if one important new skill isn't enough to learn in one day, Elliot also started clapping yesterday too. What a clever boy!
All of a sudden Paul and I are realizing that our lives are going to change quite drastically in the next week or so as he picks up speed and then, god forbid, starts walking.
Here's the evolution of Elliot's mobility so far:
Army crawling . . .
First crawling (and clapping too) . . .
Walking is still a ways off (we hope!), but he sure enjoys giving it a go . . .
All of a sudden Paul and I are realizing that our lives are going to change quite drastically in the next week or so as he picks up speed and then, god forbid, starts walking.
Here's the evolution of Elliot's mobility so far:
Army crawling . . .
First crawling (and clapping too) . . .
Walking is still a ways off (we hope!), but he sure enjoys giving it a go . . .
First trip to the park
Last weekend Elliot went to the park for the first time
where he got to try out the swings and the slide. I'm not sure that he's a
hundred percent feeling the park just yet, but I had a blast.
25 October 2009
Fun at eight months
 |
Playing with my cool toys
|
 |
Rolling over
|
 |
Taking a bath with Daddy
|
 |
Dreaming about my big league days
|
 |
Playing with my friend Tiana
|
LIFE IS PRETTY GOOD!
Elliot update: 8 months
Last week, I went in for my eight month checkup with the community health nurse so mom thought it would be a good time for me to write and catch you all up on all my exciting progress. I'm still growing lots, but Mom's pretty relieved because it looks I might be finally slowing down. I get the impression that she thinks I'm a little heavy or something the way she grunts sometimes when she picks me up, but she probably just needs to work out a bit more because the nurse said that I'm a very healthy 10.3 kilos (22.7 pounds) for my height 72.5 cm (29 inches).
The nurse also commented on how very active I am and that Mommy has her hands full. I reckon Mommy and Daddy are lucky because I keep them entertained with my silly antics and I help them stay fit by chasing after me and wrestling me to change my nappies and clothes and stuff. I really like being naked now and I wiggle and squirm and thrash with all I have to eke out a few more precious moments without a nappy or clothes on.
You might also have heard that I'm a man on the move now. It's a funny story really. You see Mommy and Daddy did everything they could to help me learn to roll over. They were beginning to get quite boring really with all of their "rooollll overs" and other nonsense. They really need to just relax and realize that I get around to things when I'm good and ready.
Anyhoo, they up and decided to start plopping me in my crib to go to sleep (I swear they should stop reading these silly parenting books--going to sleep in their arms is a much better arrangement). The thing is, I don't like to go to sleep in my crib and it's quite boring in there just staring at the ceiling or that same old mobile I've been looking at for months. So I started concocting ways to break myself out of there. This meant I needed to be able to get around a bit better. In no time at all I was rolling and skooching and sitting myself up all on my own. Too bad I still can't figure out how to get all of me out of that blasted crib. I can get a leg or an arm or even both arms or both legs out (which is a surprisingly comfie way to nap), but I usually tucker out after a half hour or so. Never fear, I will find a way out. Mark my words.
Other news is that I've started swimming lessons again and I just love it. I think that splashing in the water is pretty much the most fun thing in the whole world (except for maybe blowing raspberries while I'm eating my dinner and spraying Mommy and Daddy with peas and blueberries and ground beef -- that's pretty fun too.) I'm a really good swimmer, y'know. And I've starting going under water and I don't mind at all. Mommy was pretty nervous though when Daddy first swooshed me under. She really is a worry wart sometimes.
Okay, back to playing with my best friend, Nacho. Now, that's one HILARIOUS little dog!!
The nurse also commented on how very active I am and that Mommy has her hands full. I reckon Mommy and Daddy are lucky because I keep them entertained with my silly antics and I help them stay fit by chasing after me and wrestling me to change my nappies and clothes and stuff. I really like being naked now and I wiggle and squirm and thrash with all I have to eke out a few more precious moments without a nappy or clothes on.
You might also have heard that I'm a man on the move now. It's a funny story really. You see Mommy and Daddy did everything they could to help me learn to roll over. They were beginning to get quite boring really with all of their "rooollll overs" and other nonsense. They really need to just relax and realize that I get around to things when I'm good and ready.
Anyhoo, they up and decided to start plopping me in my crib to go to sleep (I swear they should stop reading these silly parenting books--going to sleep in their arms is a much better arrangement). The thing is, I don't like to go to sleep in my crib and it's quite boring in there just staring at the ceiling or that same old mobile I've been looking at for months. So I started concocting ways to break myself out of there. This meant I needed to be able to get around a bit better. In no time at all I was rolling and skooching and sitting myself up all on my own. Too bad I still can't figure out how to get all of me out of that blasted crib. I can get a leg or an arm or even both arms or both legs out (which is a surprisingly comfie way to nap), but I usually tucker out after a half hour or so. Never fear, I will find a way out. Mark my words.
Other news is that I've started swimming lessons again and I just love it. I think that splashing in the water is pretty much the most fun thing in the whole world (except for maybe blowing raspberries while I'm eating my dinner and spraying Mommy and Daddy with peas and blueberries and ground beef -- that's pretty fun too.) I'm a really good swimmer, y'know. And I've starting going under water and I don't mind at all. Mommy was pretty nervous though when Daddy first swooshed me under. She really is a worry wart sometimes.
Okay, back to playing with my best friend, Nacho. Now, that's one HILARIOUS little dog!!
22 October 2009
Best of buddies
Elliot and Nacho are really starting to develop an adorable
friendship. Nacho runs around in circles teasing Elliot and stealing sly licks
on Elliot's cheeks and ears, and Elliot just squeals in delight. Best of all no
matter what sort of cruel poking, pulling, slapping or kicking Elliot dishes
out, Nacho just takes it with never so much as a whimper. You got to see it for yourself; it's just too cute.
19 October 2009
Springtime visit with Gran and Grandad
A few weekends ago, we had a great trip down to Busselton to visit Elliot's Gran and Grandad and admire all the spring wildflowers in bloom. It was just gorgeous and lots of fun to get away for the weekend.
18 October 2009
Rolling over is so easy now!
It's taken a while to get these posted, but guess who's totally rolling over all over the place. It's hilarious because he just wasn't interested in doing it until we started putting him in his crib to fall asleep on his own, instead of rocking him to sleep each time. Well, he was not fond of the new routine at all, but being an enterprising young lad, he decided to make lemonade out of the situation and practice his new moving around skills. Within days he was rolling and skooching all over the place, smugly showing off like he'd always been able to do it.
Here's a little taste.
And if that wasn't enough, here's Elliot just being a show-off:
Here's a little taste.
And if that wasn't enough, here's Elliot just being a show-off:
13 October 2009
Faces of Elliot
Another couple of silly photos from weeks ago that got lost in our many photos of the little guy . . .
|
What a hunk!
12 October 2009
My hubby can fix anything!!!
After taking apart my computer, determining the broken part, finding and ordering the part on ebay, soldering it in and reassembling the whole ding dang thing, Paul has my computer working like new!!! Is there nothing that this man can't fix? I'm so happy to have my computer and all my files back. THANK YOU thank you THANK YOU, Paul. You're my hero!
![]()
10 October 2009
08 October 2009
A string of bad luck . . .
You might have noticed that we haven't been blogging as much lately and there've been a couple of good reasons for that. I started an online class on aboriginal studies which is interesting but taking up much more time than I expected. And hallelujah, after a very wet winter and the wettest September since 1915, the sun has finally come out!!! This means I can think of a lot better things to do (going for walks, gardening, playing in the backyard with Elliot) than sit inside in front of the computer.
But there've also been quite a string of not so fun things eating up our time (and money!). Early in August I strained my lower back and reinjured my groin. Thankfully, I've found a doctor who will listen to me and she had me really busy going in for all sorts of tests and seeing a specialist physiotherapist who works with women after giving birth. After all the tests, we discovered that my pelvic floor muscles have torn away from the bone on one side which has caused a bit of a prolapse (the reason behind my tinkling issues) and a lot of core instability (the reason behind me constantly reinjuring myself). I've been on a pretty intense regimen of core strengthening exercises (nearly an hour twice a day), but other than that, the only exercise I'm allowed to do is taking slow walks with no hills.
Another crappy thing that happened in August is that I got a ticket for not wearing a seat belt (which I know I should have had on and I always do!) one of the few times I've been out with some friends without Elliot. You might think, no biggie, it's just a seat belt ticket and I thought so too. Trouble is that in Western Australia a no seat belt ticket is 500 smackers! AND they decided to give my friend Amanda a $500 ticket as well for having a passenger in her vehicle who wasn't wearing her seat belt (which I of course paid). It ended up being a very expensive night out!
Another expensive and annoying bit of bad luck is that my computer got knocked off the desk and broke. It was getting a bit old and we were thinking of getting another one soon, but we weren't ready to get a new one quite so soon. Paul's ordered in some parts and is trying to fix it, but in the meantime it's so frustrating to not be able to use my computer and have to figure out everything on Paul's Mac.
And then it's been the string of colds that we keep on catching. Elliot, Paul and I are so tired of snotting and sneezing and coughing especially after the last one we're all still trying to shake. Elliot got so sick that one night he woke us up making a ghastly sound (like a baby seal getting clubbed to death). We took him to emergency and found out that he had croup (an inflammation of the upper airways) which can be quite serious. Thankfully in Elliot's case, it was really mild. We were given some steroids which Elliot took every night for three nights and no more baby seal noises. And you should see Elliot's muscles now . . . .
Even Nacho has gotten in on the bad luck. First, he got attacked by a dog out on a walk. He wasn't really hurt but seems to be quite traumatized by it. And when we were down visiting Paul's dad a few weekends ago, he hurt his knee quite badly. It seemed to sort itself out, but has flared up a couple of times since then. We've done some research and it looks like this is a common thing for chihuahuas and often needs to be repaired surgically. So we've quickly taken out doggie insurance and are crossing our fingers that it doesn't get any worse while we wait out the waiting period.
Now after this bad luck, we figure we're due some good mojo. We've been buying lottery tickets and have already begun shopping for the dream house that we'll buy with all the dough that's due to be rolling in. And hey, if that doesn't happen, we'll be super-stoked to enjoy some sunny days with no more colds or accidents!!
But there've also been quite a string of not so fun things eating up our time (and money!). Early in August I strained my lower back and reinjured my groin. Thankfully, I've found a doctor who will listen to me and she had me really busy going in for all sorts of tests and seeing a specialist physiotherapist who works with women after giving birth. After all the tests, we discovered that my pelvic floor muscles have torn away from the bone on one side which has caused a bit of a prolapse (the reason behind my tinkling issues) and a lot of core instability (the reason behind me constantly reinjuring myself). I've been on a pretty intense regimen of core strengthening exercises (nearly an hour twice a day), but other than that, the only exercise I'm allowed to do is taking slow walks with no hills.
Another crappy thing that happened in August is that I got a ticket for not wearing a seat belt (which I know I should have had on and I always do!) one of the few times I've been out with some friends without Elliot. You might think, no biggie, it's just a seat belt ticket and I thought so too. Trouble is that in Western Australia a no seat belt ticket is 500 smackers! AND they decided to give my friend Amanda a $500 ticket as well for having a passenger in her vehicle who wasn't wearing her seat belt (which I of course paid). It ended up being a very expensive night out!
Another expensive and annoying bit of bad luck is that my computer got knocked off the desk and broke. It was getting a bit old and we were thinking of getting another one soon, but we weren't ready to get a new one quite so soon. Paul's ordered in some parts and is trying to fix it, but in the meantime it's so frustrating to not be able to use my computer and have to figure out everything on Paul's Mac.
And then it's been the string of colds that we keep on catching. Elliot, Paul and I are so tired of snotting and sneezing and coughing especially after the last one we're all still trying to shake. Elliot got so sick that one night he woke us up making a ghastly sound (like a baby seal getting clubbed to death). We took him to emergency and found out that he had croup (an inflammation of the upper airways) which can be quite serious. Thankfully in Elliot's case, it was really mild. We were given some steroids which Elliot took every night for three nights and no more baby seal noises. And you should see Elliot's muscles now . . . .
Even Nacho has gotten in on the bad luck. First, he got attacked by a dog out on a walk. He wasn't really hurt but seems to be quite traumatized by it. And when we were down visiting Paul's dad a few weekends ago, he hurt his knee quite badly. It seemed to sort itself out, but has flared up a couple of times since then. We've done some research and it looks like this is a common thing for chihuahuas and often needs to be repaired surgically. So we've quickly taken out doggie insurance and are crossing our fingers that it doesn't get any worse while we wait out the waiting period.
Now after this bad luck, we figure we're due some good mojo. We've been buying lottery tickets and have already begun shopping for the dream house that we'll buy with all the dough that's due to be rolling in. And hey, if that doesn't happen, we'll be super-stoked to enjoy some sunny days with no more colds or accidents!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)