26 August 2010
Sliding and swinging at the park
Here's me being a big boy swinging and sliding all by myself at the park near the shopping centre. Every time we go shopping, I beg and plead to go 'play'! And if Daddy's at the shops with us, he almost always talks Mommy into a little time at the park. I think Mommy doesn't much like the climbing up and down with me these days. ~ Elliot
Bapples!
For some reason, Mommy and Daddy love the way I say apples. I just know that I love to eat them!
Vinnie and Dommie came for a visit
Lucky for me, my cousins Vincent and Dominic came for a visit, and I got to spend the afternoon playing with them. Dominic is way better at blocks than Mommy and Daddy.
25 August 2010
I've never felt so needed . . . or so tired
Little Elliot is going through another rough phase where he just doesn't want to be away from his dad or I. It's really great because we get these beautiful displays of affection that frankly we're just not that used to. The last week or so I've become quite used to being woken up by Elliot climbing into bed with me and giving me a long cuddle or running toward me with a big smile and arms outstretched. Very adorable.
But then there's the downside. It comes about once the sun goes down and is not so adorable. Elliot has decided that he CANNOT be away from us when it's time to sleep. Our usual happy little bedtime routine has screeched to an unhappy halt with Elliot now desperately clutching and crying as we try to put him to bed. He screams with such sadness that we can't bear to leave him for more than a few minutes at a time, and as of tonight we've resorted to sitting in his room until he goes to sleep.
But that's not the end. Our little guy who has always been so good at putting himself back to sleep at night now awakes screaming for us. It's so heart-wrenching that Paul and I have taken turns laying down with him in the guest room the last few nights until he's sound asleep again and we can sneak him back into his crib.
I've spoken to the experts at Ngala today. (They're this amazing free parenting hotline who run a sleep clinic where we did a daystay with Elliot about six months ago. I pretty much love them!) Anyhoo, they've suggested that we make up a bed on the floor in Elliot's room and sleep there with him until he gets through this little phase. We've resorted to this tactic before and it didn't take long before he was sleeping through the night again. Let's hope their great ideas will get us back on the right track soon . . . although I wouldn't mind too much if the adorable cuddles continued.
But then there's the downside. It comes about once the sun goes down and is not so adorable. Elliot has decided that he CANNOT be away from us when it's time to sleep. Our usual happy little bedtime routine has screeched to an unhappy halt with Elliot now desperately clutching and crying as we try to put him to bed. He screams with such sadness that we can't bear to leave him for more than a few minutes at a time, and as of tonight we've resorted to sitting in his room until he goes to sleep.
But that's not the end. Our little guy who has always been so good at putting himself back to sleep at night now awakes screaming for us. It's so heart-wrenching that Paul and I have taken turns laying down with him in the guest room the last few nights until he's sound asleep again and we can sneak him back into his crib.
I've spoken to the experts at Ngala today. (They're this amazing free parenting hotline who run a sleep clinic where we did a daystay with Elliot about six months ago. I pretty much love them!) Anyhoo, they've suggested that we make up a bed on the floor in Elliot's room and sleep there with him until he gets through this little phase. We've resorted to this tactic before and it didn't take long before he was sleeping through the night again. Let's hope their great ideas will get us back on the right track soon . . . although I wouldn't mind too much if the adorable cuddles continued.
So much to do and so little time!
- We're tearing down the carport, shed and all the current retaining walls, fences etc. around the existing house.
- We're reroofing the existing house and adding a gabled alfresco entertaining area and a deck off the front of the house.
- We're building a detached addition which will include a massive garage and workshop, a games room, a guest room and a bathroom.
- We're putting in a small underground pool!
- And we're fencing in the entire yard so Nacho and Elliot can safely run amok!
Big plans, we know. And it will set us back a bit, but won't it be fun to visit once it's all finished?
Here are some of our early drawings (the actual plans are too complicated to post on the blog), but there are a couple of changes (like the fence will completely enclose the yard and the deck will wrap around the pool):
17 August 2010
But I still love books too!
(You might have noticed the huge bruise and knot on Elliot's forehead. He decided to take a nose dive off the couch and landed with a thud on the hard wood floors. Not a nice sound for a Mom to hear. He screamed for a minute and then acted like nothing happened. But the bruise and subsequent black eyes lasted for over a week! The mother's guilt is still lingering . . .)
Elliot's favorite things . . .
Bananas and his little doll Beau!
(P.S. The red spots all over Elliot's face aren't chicken pox or acne--just a funny viral rash that Elliot had for a while. All better now!)
15 August 2010
18 months and ready for the world!!!
Again, Mommy's been a bit slack lately, so I'm taking things into my own wee hands to let you all know about all the wild and wondrous things I've been up to.
As you probably know Friday was my 18 month birthday. Mommy told me that now I've been out in the world twice as long as I was cooking in her tummy. She seemed to get a bit choked up about that, but I don't really remember much at all about that tummy business.
I do know that I've been learning some really amazing things. I probably know like a hundred words or more by now. Mommy says it's thanks to daycare, but she and Daddy have something to do with it too y'know. I can say 'car' and 'plane' and 'train' and 'blocks' and 'box' (but these sorta sound alike). I can say 'up' and 'down' and 'more' and 'outside' and 'juice' and 'banana' and 'bye' and 'hey'. I also say some random things like 'bag' and 'bed' and 'shoes' and 'boots' and 'book' and 'bird' and 'kiss'. And I know all sorts of animals only I call them by their sound instead of their name. I'm kind of cool like that. One of my favourite things to do these days is to look at picture books with Mommy and Daddy and point to the words that they say. Every now and then I surprise them with one that they don't think I know and they get so excited. I like that. But Mommy and Daddy's favourite words that I have learned to say are 'please' and 'thanks'. I'm pretty good with 'please', but save 'thanks' for special moments. I've got to keep them on their toes y'know.
Another one of my favourite things to do is to play outside in our backyard. There's a big sand pit now and I throw the sand and slide down the sides into the pit and smoosh it between my fingers and pretty much wallow in it like a little piggy. Sometimes I get so dirty that Mommy and Daddy won't let me in the house until they've stripped off my clothes and hose me down which I really don't mind at all. I also like to push my wheelbarrow around and pick peppers and limes from the garden and feed them to Nacho.
I also really love to go and play with the neighbours. I sit in Tiana's lap, and I play footie with Blake, but my favourite is jumping on the trampoline and wrestling with Reuben. He's so nice to me and always shares his toys and is really gentle with me even though he's so much older. Mommy and Daddy think I'm lucky to have him for a friend. Sometimes all of us get to ride our bikes in the street. Alright, I don't get to be in the street with the big kids. I have to stay on the sidewalk, which I don't really like, but it's loads of fun anyway.
When I have to be inside I still love reading books and playing with my Little People (especially the baby, I love putting her into her crib and pushing the mattress so it sings lullabies). But my new obsession is playing with blocks. Mommy thinks it's a miracle because I can sit and play by myself with my blocks now for twenty minutes or so. I'm pretty particular though. So if you come and visit, please know that I don't like you to put blocks on my creations. If you're anything like Mommy and Daddy, you probably don't know anything about how blocks should be put together.
Mommy has also started letting me watch a bit of TV in the mornings. I really like Sesame Street and the Wot Wots but most of it still doesn't catch my attention. Once in a while for a treat (coincidentally, it always seems to be at the same time as Mommy wants to cut my nails, hmmm) I get to watch some of a video. I really really like 'Up' because of all the doggies.
But to be honest, I don't have a lot of time for TV watching. I'm too busy running around and chasing Nacho or Mommy and Daddy. It's a big job keeping them entertained the way I do. Sometimes I wonder how they could ever want to leave me, but I don't mind too much when they do because that means I get to play with my friend Jack at daycare or with Nana and Grandad when they come to watch me. I really like that.
Let's see what else? I'm a pretty good sleeper and go to sleep within ten or so minutes when I feel like it. I sometimes wake up in the night because I miss Mommy and Daddy, but most the time I go back to sleep once I hear their voices. I have to confess though, I don't really like sleeping in most mornings. Once I hear those birds chirping at quarter to six, I'm ready to play. It's funny, Mommy and Daddy don't seem very happy to be up and playing.
If you were to ask Mommy and Daddy, they'd probably say that I'm not such a great eater anymore. But I still eat well, only when it's what I want to eat and I feel like eating it. I love meat and rice and pasta and avocado and hummus and fruit and broccoli and sweet things. Anything else I'm pretty much not interested unless of course Mommy and Daddy aren't around and then I'll eat anything. I'm funny that way.
Mommy and Daddy would also say that I'm pretty strong willed sometimes, but you try being little and have every one tell you what to do all the time! So sometimes I throw my food or refuse to hold Mommy or Daddy's hand in a parking lot, or pitch a proper fit when they try to force me to do something that I absolutely do not want to do. Wouldn't you?
P.S. Mommy thought that I should add that I'm learning to count. If you say 'one', I'll say 'two'. And if you say 'three', I'll say 'two' again! ~ Elliot
As you probably know Friday was my 18 month birthday. Mommy told me that now I've been out in the world twice as long as I was cooking in her tummy. She seemed to get a bit choked up about that, but I don't really remember much at all about that tummy business.
I do know that I've been learning some really amazing things. I probably know like a hundred words or more by now. Mommy says it's thanks to daycare, but she and Daddy have something to do with it too y'know. I can say 'car' and 'plane' and 'train' and 'blocks' and 'box' (but these sorta sound alike). I can say 'up' and 'down' and 'more' and 'outside' and 'juice' and 'banana' and 'bye' and 'hey'. I also say some random things like 'bag' and 'bed' and 'shoes' and 'boots' and 'book' and 'bird' and 'kiss'. And I know all sorts of animals only I call them by their sound instead of their name. I'm kind of cool like that. One of my favourite things to do these days is to look at picture books with Mommy and Daddy and point to the words that they say. Every now and then I surprise them with one that they don't think I know and they get so excited. I like that. But Mommy and Daddy's favourite words that I have learned to say are 'please' and 'thanks'. I'm pretty good with 'please', but save 'thanks' for special moments. I've got to keep them on their toes y'know.
Another one of my favourite things to do is to play outside in our backyard. There's a big sand pit now and I throw the sand and slide down the sides into the pit and smoosh it between my fingers and pretty much wallow in it like a little piggy. Sometimes I get so dirty that Mommy and Daddy won't let me in the house until they've stripped off my clothes and hose me down which I really don't mind at all. I also like to push my wheelbarrow around and pick peppers and limes from the garden and feed them to Nacho.
I also really love to go and play with the neighbours. I sit in Tiana's lap, and I play footie with Blake, but my favourite is jumping on the trampoline and wrestling with Reuben. He's so nice to me and always shares his toys and is really gentle with me even though he's so much older. Mommy and Daddy think I'm lucky to have him for a friend. Sometimes all of us get to ride our bikes in the street. Alright, I don't get to be in the street with the big kids. I have to stay on the sidewalk, which I don't really like, but it's loads of fun anyway.
When I have to be inside I still love reading books and playing with my Little People (especially the baby, I love putting her into her crib and pushing the mattress so it sings lullabies). But my new obsession is playing with blocks. Mommy thinks it's a miracle because I can sit and play by myself with my blocks now for twenty minutes or so. I'm pretty particular though. So if you come and visit, please know that I don't like you to put blocks on my creations. If you're anything like Mommy and Daddy, you probably don't know anything about how blocks should be put together.
Mommy has also started letting me watch a bit of TV in the mornings. I really like Sesame Street and the Wot Wots but most of it still doesn't catch my attention. Once in a while for a treat (coincidentally, it always seems to be at the same time as Mommy wants to cut my nails, hmmm) I get to watch some of a video. I really really like 'Up' because of all the doggies.
But to be honest, I don't have a lot of time for TV watching. I'm too busy running around and chasing Nacho or Mommy and Daddy. It's a big job keeping them entertained the way I do. Sometimes I wonder how they could ever want to leave me, but I don't mind too much when they do because that means I get to play with my friend Jack at daycare or with Nana and Grandad when they come to watch me. I really like that.
Let's see what else? I'm a pretty good sleeper and go to sleep within ten or so minutes when I feel like it. I sometimes wake up in the night because I miss Mommy and Daddy, but most the time I go back to sleep once I hear their voices. I have to confess though, I don't really like sleeping in most mornings. Once I hear those birds chirping at quarter to six, I'm ready to play. It's funny, Mommy and Daddy don't seem very happy to be up and playing.
If you were to ask Mommy and Daddy, they'd probably say that I'm not such a great eater anymore. But I still eat well, only when it's what I want to eat and I feel like eating it. I love meat and rice and pasta and avocado and hummus and fruit and broccoli and sweet things. Anything else I'm pretty much not interested unless of course Mommy and Daddy aren't around and then I'll eat anything. I'm funny that way.
Mommy and Daddy would also say that I'm pretty strong willed sometimes, but you try being little and have every one tell you what to do all the time! So sometimes I throw my food or refuse to hold Mommy or Daddy's hand in a parking lot, or pitch a proper fit when they try to force me to do something that I absolutely do not want to do. Wouldn't you?
P.S. Mommy thought that I should add that I'm learning to count. If you say 'one', I'll say 'two'. And if you say 'three', I'll say 'two' again! ~ Elliot
13 August 2010
Elliot's Words at 18 months
mommy, daddy, nana, nacho (nano), no, please, thanks, blocks, books, baby, bag, bin, Beau, bike, outside, more, off, down, cheese, banana, apple, jump, juice, light, house, bye, head, hair, ear, eye, cake, Blake, Reuben, Tiana, shoe, boot, dancing, bird, door, car, plane, train, owie, dip, ta, bath, hand, yes, up, ta-da, ball, peekaboo, teeth, yummy, run, cheers, play, slide, Elliot, stop, plus the sound of a train, dog, cat, snake, monkey, cow, sheep, lion, horse, pig, duck and a car.
What a clever boy!
What a clever boy!
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