Today I had one of those mommy moments that I'll never forget, one of those moments when I was so full of joy and pride that I couldn't decide between crying and squealing and ended up doing a little bit of both.
I went to pick up Elliot from daycare and when I put my arms out for him to come crawling to me, he instead took three big steady steps and lunged with a big hug and a smile. It was the most beautiful hug ever!
And this mommy was so full of pride that I told every single person I saw for the rest of the day that Elliot is walking!!!!
When we got home, I put Elliot down and he proudly toddled to Daddy to give him a hug too!
We tried to capture these first toddling steps on film, but Nacho was sort of blocking the view of Elliot's feet, but you get the idea anyway!!
23 February 2010
Sleeping Beauty
After many intense weeks of crying and little sleep (I almost hate to say it aloud and jinx it), but I think we might be on top of our sleep issues.
The week before our appointment with the sleep clinic, things were really starting to fall into place. Elliot slept through the night the two nights prior to our appointment and I'm pretty sure that we haven't had to get up to put him back to sleep since. Even better, is that he was starting to put up less of a fight to go to sleep (still a fight, but he wasn't pulling quite so many punches). After we got a few extra tips and loads of encouragement at the clinic, we were well on our way to sleeping success.
Now I'm happy to report, more often than not, Elliot quietly goes to sleep when we put him in his crib and it's now the rare occurrence that we have to go back in and settle him again after ten minutes or so of fussing. A month ago, I would have sold my soul to the devil to have him cry for only ten minutes before going to sleep and now he is settling down without so much as a peep. I could just kiss him and I do probably much more than he'd like!
The week before our appointment with the sleep clinic, things were really starting to fall into place. Elliot slept through the night the two nights prior to our appointment and I'm pretty sure that we haven't had to get up to put him back to sleep since. Even better, is that he was starting to put up less of a fight to go to sleep (still a fight, but he wasn't pulling quite so many punches). After we got a few extra tips and loads of encouragement at the clinic, we were well on our way to sleeping success.
Now I'm happy to report, more often than not, Elliot quietly goes to sleep when we put him in his crib and it's now the rare occurrence that we have to go back in and settle him again after ten minutes or so of fussing. A month ago, I would have sold my soul to the devil to have him cry for only ten minutes before going to sleep and now he is settling down without so much as a peep. I could just kiss him and I do probably much more than he'd like!
20 February 2010
Paul and I escaped . . . for a little while at least
Last weekend, Nikki agreed to watch Elliot so Paul and I could finally go out on a date. We were so excited since we'd only been out without him once before in the whole year since he was born. So, full of anxious anticipation, I purchased concert tickets to see one of our favourite African bands, Amadou and Miriam.
Things started out really well. We managed to get ourselves and Elliot fed and ready, and I only sounded minimally neurotic when I went over the important info that I thought Nikki needed to know. All the way into Perth, I kept turning around to talk to Elliot and panicking when I saw his seat empty. Slowly the panic would turn into glee as I realized that Elliot was in good hands and I didn't have to worry about anything but having a good time for a couple of hours. Well so I thought . . .
Turns out that I can't turn off my worrier very well and I found myself thinking about him all night. After just over an hour (I'd been wanting to ring since we got there) I snuck out to the bathroom to give Nikki a ring and found (as I suspected) that she was having a rough time getting Elliot to go to sleep. She assured me that she'd sort out something and that I should go back to the concert. A half hour later, I made Paul call because I didn't want to seem too neurotic, and Elliot was still awake and quite upset. Again, Nikki told us not to worry and have a good time, but as much as I liked the music I just couldn't relax and enjoy myself. Twenty minutes later, I rang home again and when I found out that Elliot was still awake and upset, I texted Paul to meet me at the entrance because I couldn't take it anymore.
By the time we got home, Elliot was finally asleep, but in his stroller because the only way Nikki could get him to stop crying was to walk him back and forth up and down the street for the past forty-five minutes. She even enlisted Nola, our neighborhood grandma, for support. They both looked visibly shaken and commented on how strong Elliot's lungs are. I'm not sure we'll be able to get either one of them to babysit again!
Of course, later that night, Elliot woke up as we were moving him from his stroller to his crib and let us know just how mad he was at us for leaving him on his birthday. (I didn't mention that bit before because I was feeling quite guilty about it, but seriously, it's not like he can read a calendar, right?)
The moral of the story is that I've accepted the fact that going out without Elliot is probably a bit overrated and certainly not worth the trauma that Elliot, Nikki and I endured. If we do, months from now, get brave and try to sneak out for a bit on our own, Paul and I will be waiting until Elliot is well and truly sound asleep!
Things started out really well. We managed to get ourselves and Elliot fed and ready, and I only sounded minimally neurotic when I went over the important info that I thought Nikki needed to know. All the way into Perth, I kept turning around to talk to Elliot and panicking when I saw his seat empty. Slowly the panic would turn into glee as I realized that Elliot was in good hands and I didn't have to worry about anything but having a good time for a couple of hours. Well so I thought . . .
Turns out that I can't turn off my worrier very well and I found myself thinking about him all night. After just over an hour (I'd been wanting to ring since we got there) I snuck out to the bathroom to give Nikki a ring and found (as I suspected) that she was having a rough time getting Elliot to go to sleep. She assured me that she'd sort out something and that I should go back to the concert. A half hour later, I made Paul call because I didn't want to seem too neurotic, and Elliot was still awake and quite upset. Again, Nikki told us not to worry and have a good time, but as much as I liked the music I just couldn't relax and enjoy myself. Twenty minutes later, I rang home again and when I found out that Elliot was still awake and upset, I texted Paul to meet me at the entrance because I couldn't take it anymore.
By the time we got home, Elliot was finally asleep, but in his stroller because the only way Nikki could get him to stop crying was to walk him back and forth up and down the street for the past forty-five minutes. She even enlisted Nola, our neighborhood grandma, for support. They both looked visibly shaken and commented on how strong Elliot's lungs are. I'm not sure we'll be able to get either one of them to babysit again!
Of course, later that night, Elliot woke up as we were moving him from his stroller to his crib and let us know just how mad he was at us for leaving him on his birthday. (I didn't mention that bit before because I was feeling quite guilty about it, but seriously, it's not like he can read a calendar, right?)
The moral of the story is that I've accepted the fact that going out without Elliot is probably a bit overrated and certainly not worth the trauma that Elliot, Nikki and I endured. If we do, months from now, get brave and try to sneak out for a bit on our own, Paul and I will be waiting until Elliot is well and truly sound asleep!
14 February 2010
My very first birthday party
It's been a week now and I'm still smiling from all the fun of my first birthday party. Mommy and Daddy hosted the party at the park down by Uncle David's house where there are all these beautiful big eucalyptus trees for shade. My nana and granddad and Uncle David and Rebeka and Rhiannon and heaps of my baby friends, our neighbors and Mommy and Daddy's friends all came down to celebrate. Mommy and Daddy made heaps of food and Nikki made my fantastic cake and Nana made some cute butterfly cupcakes too. It was a real great time that's for sure. Here's a couple of photos of the fun. If you want to check out more photos you can click on the link below. ~ Elliot
View more photos here.
View more photos here.
13 February 2010
1-Year-Old
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Every week for the past year I've received these emails from babycenter full of developmental milestones, fun games to play with baby, and encouraging words for moms and dads. And now 52 emails later, Elliot's a year old and I just can't believe that a whole year has passed since our eventful first meeting with our beautiful bright-eyed mini-Paul.
And what a year it has been! Let's hope that year number two sees lots more smiles and giggles and proud moments and fewer trips to the hospital and endless showdowns between Elliot and us in the battle to get him to just go to sleep!
Let's also hope that my newly budding mommy skills continue to grow over the coming years. I've been overwhelmed at how I've suddenly discovered my patience and self-acceptance and assertiveness and willingness to drop everything and change plans last minute.
And I guess, Elliot, I ought to thank you because you haven't only brought out some wonderful sides of me I hardly knew existed, you also have brought me more joy and love and wonderfulness than I knew existed in the world. You've helped me to appreciate the goodness in things and want to give back so that these things stay good for you to enjoy your whole life ahead.
12 February 2010
Elliot's first Valentine
Look who made us a Valentine. Judging by this, I'd say Elliot is the next Picasso.
We'd better get him into some kiddie art classes quick!
08 February 2010
The Birthday Cake
You may not know it, but I had my very first birthday party (a little bit early) on Sunday and it was so much fun. There were heaps and heaps of people there (some of them I hardly knew). Mommy has to post the pictures still, but thought she'd get started and at least post the birthday cake video.
Speaking of birthday cake, wowzer!, Mommy and Daddy have been holding out on me. Blue frosting is heavenly! (You can probably see that Mommy thinks it's pretty good too.)
And how cute was my caterpillar cake? That's thanks to Nikki who lives next door. She's the bestest; she gives me lots of cuddles and made the most specialist, bestest first birthday cake that a little guy like me can imagine.
I can't wait until birthday number 2! ~ Elliot
Speaking of birthday cake, wowzer!, Mommy and Daddy have been holding out on me. Blue frosting is heavenly! (You can probably see that Mommy thinks it's pretty good too.)
And how cute was my caterpillar cake? That's thanks to Nikki who lives next door. She's the bestest; she gives me lots of cuddles and made the most specialist, bestest first birthday cake that a little guy like me can imagine.
I can't wait until birthday number 2! ~ Elliot
An early birthday present
I was so excited about Elliot's new car bean bag that we got him for this birthday that I couldn't help myself and just had to give it to him early. I think he was pretty excited about it too! What do you think?
03 February 2010
01 February 2010
First haircut
Elliot's curly locks were beginning to get carried away and a little bit daggy (according to the twins and Paul, anyway) so much to my dismay, it was time for a little chop. Lucky for us, we live right across the street from a haircutting expert and all around great friend. So Sam and her shiny silver scissors quickly worked their magic on Elliot while I tried in vain to keep Elliot a little bit still. Sam did much better work than I did, and in the end (despite a couple of tears--gosh, I've gotten really soft) I have to admit that Elliot looks quite dashing in his big boy haircut.
Before:
Before:
And after:
A family outing at the beach
Eating sand and playing on the big toys makes for a great day at the beach! ~ Elliot
Getting back into the swing of things
Things have been pretty hectic since getting back from the States. As you all know I started back at work three days a week the week we got back and on top of learning all the stuff that changed in the year I was gone, I started training my job-share partner the very first day. The good news is that she seems to be just great and a really quick learner. The bad news is that due to all sorts of crazy circumstances that transpired before I returned, I had about a thousand emails to catch up on plus the enormous task of putting together the reference materials for new students in all six of the courses I advise on. After putting in well over 50 hours at home over the last three weeks I think I'm finally getting on top of things and ready for the mad onslaught of phone calls, emails and appointments from anxious new students that I can expect in the next four weeks. And then maybe I can breathe.
Elliot has had a pretty busy life too. He went back to his PMH docs for another follow-up and we got the great news that his development, hearing, everything is exactly as to be expected. His doctor is so confident that everything is going well that we decided to pass on the scheduled follow-up MRI and don't have to go back in for our next follow-up appointment for a year. At our visit we also learned that Elliot is now at the 90th percentile for height and only the 75th for weight. No more chubby jokes for our little cutie!
Elliot has also made the big transition to daycare kid two days a week. In most ways, he's handling it marvelously. Paul stayed with him the first week as he got used to the place and he happily reported that Elliot was so busy playing with the kids and new toys that Paul felt pretty invisible. Now I drop Elliot off in the mornings and he gives me a small piece of his mind as I walk out the door, but the daycare ladies say that it doesn't even last a minute until he's off and playing. And when I pick him up in the evenings, he doesn't even notice that I've arrived. The only troubling thing is that so far he has out and out refused to take a nap which makes for quite the cranky little guy in the evenings.
Elliot's sleeping (or lack of sleeping), in fact, has been the most difficult thing we've been dealing with since coming back to Australia. While we were in the States, because Elliot was sick and teething and in a different place in a different time zone, Paul and I got soft on the sleep routines. Elliot got pretty used to being cuddled to sleep and we got pretty used to being woken up in the middle of the night. We've tried to turn things around and get back to the old routines since we've been home, but it seems like nothing we try is working. Elliot fights and screams everytime we put him down to sleep and wakes up regularly during the night (some nights up to four times!!!). We've been reading all sorts of books and trying all sorts of new things. This Friday we're even booked into a sleep clinic. Lord, I hope they give us some magic solution. I'm really sucky at this no sleep thing and can't wait to get back to the way things were before.
Elliot has had a pretty busy life too. He went back to his PMH docs for another follow-up and we got the great news that his development, hearing, everything is exactly as to be expected. His doctor is so confident that everything is going well that we decided to pass on the scheduled follow-up MRI and don't have to go back in for our next follow-up appointment for a year. At our visit we also learned that Elliot is now at the 90th percentile for height and only the 75th for weight. No more chubby jokes for our little cutie!
Elliot has also made the big transition to daycare kid two days a week. In most ways, he's handling it marvelously. Paul stayed with him the first week as he got used to the place and he happily reported that Elliot was so busy playing with the kids and new toys that Paul felt pretty invisible. Now I drop Elliot off in the mornings and he gives me a small piece of his mind as I walk out the door, but the daycare ladies say that it doesn't even last a minute until he's off and playing. And when I pick him up in the evenings, he doesn't even notice that I've arrived. The only troubling thing is that so far he has out and out refused to take a nap which makes for quite the cranky little guy in the evenings.
Elliot's sleeping (or lack of sleeping), in fact, has been the most difficult thing we've been dealing with since coming back to Australia. While we were in the States, because Elliot was sick and teething and in a different place in a different time zone, Paul and I got soft on the sleep routines. Elliot got pretty used to being cuddled to sleep and we got pretty used to being woken up in the middle of the night. We've tried to turn things around and get back to the old routines since we've been home, but it seems like nothing we try is working. Elliot fights and screams everytime we put him down to sleep and wakes up regularly during the night (some nights up to four times!!!). We've been reading all sorts of books and trying all sorts of new things. This Friday we're even booked into a sleep clinic. Lord, I hope they give us some magic solution. I'm really sucky at this no sleep thing and can't wait to get back to the way things were before.
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