What a sweet, sweet boy.
A visit from the Big Guy!
10 years ago
11.25.2006
First Thanksgiving
Eli proved to be quite the ham on Thanksgiving. It was so fun to get to share his sweetness and energy with all of the people that get to read about him, but rarely get to see him. He had lots and lots of fun at Aunt Dottie's house, especially enjoying the hot rolls, the fresh corn, the ceramic cats, the "bear", the beagles, and as always, the attention! Patrick and I were suited up and prepared for a dinner no different than the ones we enjoy Monday thru Sunday at our own home- laps laden with kids, quick bites, quicker chewing, little tasting, and no conversation. That being said, we were more than pleasantly surprised by the way our kids, especially Eli, entertained themselves long enough for us to not only savor our first plates, but also our second plates, and our desserts. Everyone had a wonderful, relaxing time. Eli got the chance to bond with family and four-footed friends, Chloe overcame her darkest fears, and Patrick and I moved back up a notch in our belts. The day couldn't have been any better.
11.20.2006
Come On, Everybody's Doing It
As a card-carrying, dues-paying member of Weight Watchers, I can't help but hate skinny people. Nothing against them personally, of course, but they just annoy me (all of my skinny friends reading this, sorry, I do love you, but its true). I know some of them can't help it, I mean, I've seen them eat, but, well, it's just not fair. Then, on the other hand there are those skinnys, those weirdo freakish people, who just don't like to eat. You know the ones who say such insane things as "I was so busy, I just totally forgot to eat lunch" or "Yeah, chocolate doesn't do a lot for me." Those people. The people who don't love food. I don't get it.
Have you ever noticed how when there is something in life that you really don't like or think you can't love, God plops it right in the middle of your life and says "Learn this. Love this." That's my Eli. He is a weirdish freakish non-eater. As a mommy who wants to do the very best by my kids, this trait is by far the most frustrating and the most stressful of any others my children possess. You can actually hear his tummy growling as you try to get a spoon in, yet his lips remain locked. For nine solid months Patrick and I have been worried sick day in and day out because our child won't eat. He must be sick, he must have a sore throat, he's teething, he doesn't like this food or that food or any food. The list goes on and on. We've tried entertaining him, forcefeeding him, tricking him, everything we can think of. And while we have managed to keep him alive this far, it's absolutely exhausting. The newest modus operandi is the hip feed, wherein I stand and hold all 25 lbs. of him on my hip and slowly, ever so slowly, feed him his entire meal. Slow meaning roughly 20 minutes; whole meal referring to half of a banana. Apparently being attached to mommy is happiness enough to endure the agony that is eating.
I'm trying to just let go and calmly tell myself, he won't starve, he'll eat if he's that hungry. But then I remember how when he was a little baby he did almost starve because he wouldn't eat even though he was that hungry. So that's no help. It's better just to keep on and tell myself maybe he might just possibly be starting to come around. His tastebuds have, afterall, discovered the bliss that is the cheese pizza.
Have you ever noticed how when there is something in life that you really don't like or think you can't love, God plops it right in the middle of your life and says "Learn this. Love this." That's my Eli. He is a weirdish freakish non-eater. As a mommy who wants to do the very best by my kids, this trait is by far the most frustrating and the most stressful of any others my children possess. You can actually hear his tummy growling as you try to get a spoon in, yet his lips remain locked. For nine solid months Patrick and I have been worried sick day in and day out because our child won't eat. He must be sick, he must have a sore throat, he's teething, he doesn't like this food or that food or any food. The list goes on and on. We've tried entertaining him, forcefeeding him, tricking him, everything we can think of. And while we have managed to keep him alive this far, it's absolutely exhausting. The newest modus operandi is the hip feed, wherein I stand and hold all 25 lbs. of him on my hip and slowly, ever so slowly, feed him his entire meal. Slow meaning roughly 20 minutes; whole meal referring to half of a banana. Apparently being attached to mommy is happiness enough to endure the agony that is eating.
I'm trying to just let go and calmly tell myself, he won't starve, he'll eat if he's that hungry. But then I remember how when he was a little baby he did almost starve because he wouldn't eat even though he was that hungry. So that's no help. It's better just to keep on and tell myself maybe he might just possibly be starting to come around. His tastebuds have, afterall, discovered the bliss that is the cheese pizza.
11.13.2006
9 months
Eli is officially nine months old, 3/4 the way through his first year of life. It is truly amazing how quickly the first year goes.
His doctor visit proved that he is still a big and tall boy. He weighed in at 22lbs. and is 30in. tall. Dr. Lopez gave us the go-ahead to switch him over to whole milk if Eli cooperates. That is a big blessing considering a can of generic formula costs $15. We use close to 2 cans a week for a total of $100 a month in formula. That quickly adds up! He also gave us the go on switching Eli to 100% self-feeding and giving up on the jars of baby food, as long as he still gets his fruits and veggies every day.
Last week, Eli really started crawling and getting into everything. He pulls up at every opportunity, and is just staring to cruise. He can get from room to room on his hands and knees, and has already pulled a number of objects onto his little head. (Including the giant snowman at Picture People. Ouch.) He can pull books off the shelf and open and close cabinet doors. His disposition has become bearable as he has become more mobile. He is starting to like books (kinda) and he still enjoys cuddles, kisses, jumping, flying, and being with mommy. He loves his mommy and daddy, and cries everytime daddy leaves for work in the morning. The tears are every bit worth it when I see the daily reaction to daddy's homecoming. His excitement can't be contained as he squeals, smiles, giggles, bounces, and tries with all of his might to fly himself from the front porch into his daddy's arms. I can't believe in 3 short, fast, furious months, our last little baby will be a year old! We will be cherishing his First Thanksgiving and First Christmas and looking forward to his First Birthday as his "firsts" are quickly drawing to an end.
His doctor visit proved that he is still a big and tall boy. He weighed in at 22lbs. and is 30in. tall. Dr. Lopez gave us the go-ahead to switch him over to whole milk if Eli cooperates. That is a big blessing considering a can of generic formula costs $15. We use close to 2 cans a week for a total of $100 a month in formula. That quickly adds up! He also gave us the go on switching Eli to 100% self-feeding and giving up on the jars of baby food, as long as he still gets his fruits and veggies every day.
Last week, Eli really started crawling and getting into everything. He pulls up at every opportunity, and is just staring to cruise. He can get from room to room on his hands and knees, and has already pulled a number of objects onto his little head. (Including the giant snowman at Picture People. Ouch.) He can pull books off the shelf and open and close cabinet doors. His disposition has become bearable as he has become more mobile. He is starting to like books (kinda) and he still enjoys cuddles, kisses, jumping, flying, and being with mommy. He loves his mommy and daddy, and cries everytime daddy leaves for work in the morning. The tears are every bit worth it when I see the daily reaction to daddy's homecoming. His excitement can't be contained as he squeals, smiles, giggles, bounces, and tries with all of his might to fly himself from the front porch into his daddy's arms. I can't believe in 3 short, fast, furious months, our last little baby will be a year old! We will be cherishing his First Thanksgiving and First Christmas and looking forward to his First Birthday as his "firsts" are quickly drawing to an end.
11.07.2006
His Own Two Feet
For the twelfth time in just under an hour, I have just returned from my journey down the hall to rescue Eli. Eli has a problem. You see, like many babies his age, he is becoming quite good at pulling up and standing tall in his crib. He grabs onto the bars and pulls and tugs and works his way up, hand-over-hand, till he is standing erect, peeking over the side Kilroy-style. This is all very cute and dandy, but the poor boy is completely inept when it comes to getting down. It's the same every time. When Eli is put down for a nap, he lays quietly until I leave the room. Soon thereafter the silence turns to little grunts as he works hard to reach the top. The grunts then become happy giggles of accomplishment. Soon its the sounds of nervous laughter which quickly evolve into panicked squeals that in no time whatsoever morph into full-force wailing. Every time, the same. The only real difference is the ending pose. Once I found him standing with his legs spread as far apart as his footed pajamas would allow, his feet still begging to slide. Another time, his attempt to land himself resulted in his arm sliding out the rail and turning akwardly away from his body. Yesterday, he had slid down until his legs popped out, one on either side of a side bar, leaving him in a sort of suspended stand, half in and half out, his feet hovering above the floor. Most of the time, however, its the same. Eli is standing there, wailing, coughing, crying, shaking, but still standing. I bend him at the knees, push his bottom down to the mattress, lay him back, and gently calm him before leaving the room. Then its time to catch a breather, take a restroom break, grab a sip of Diet Dew, kiss Chloe on the head, and get ready for Round 13. Eventually exhaustion has to win.
11.04.2006
11.01.2006
Count It All Joy
As I went down to pick up the kids from their respective classrooms after Bible Study this morning, the wails bellowing out of the nursery could be heard clear down the hall. They were much, much louder than usual. I got Chloe and hurried down to Eli's room wanting desperately to relieve the poor ladies that had been stuck in their for 2.5 hours. As I got closer I peeked in and saw babies EVERYWHERE and all of them were screaming at the top of their lungs. Frazzled moms were holding crying babies, patient workers were holding crying babies, swings were holding unhappy babies... it was unreal. Then, like a bright spot in the middle of the floor lay Eli looking around contentedly. The only baby in the room not wigging out. As I went in and scooped him up an older lady ran over to me and said "What number baby is he?" I searched around for my numbered sticker to show her that he was, in fact, my baby, when she continued, "surely he's your third or fourth baby. I've never seen such a happy baby.. he's the only one that didn't cry.. and that smile.. so sweet.. such a beautiful disposition...I just loved having him.." As I always do when I hear these things, I looked at the lady like she was a nutcase and explained why and how she was completely wrong. Didn't she see how he started wailing the second I walked in? He is not this happy at home! He's a pain, yadayada.... She looked hurt, and I felt awful. I ended by sheepishly telling her thank you, that he is indeed a sweet baby, and making a beeline toward the door with my bags and babies in tow. Before I could get out, the full-time nursery worker stopped me and said "I told everyone not to worry about Eli, all you'll hear from him are happy squeals. He didn't dissapoint, no sir. Such a sweet baby."
I've been thinking a lot since then. What a blessing it should be for me to see my child bless other people. He is such a joy to others, and he loves me so much! I should feel so good that he reacts to seeing me. I should love the fact that when I walk in he wants nothing more than to be in my arms. What a blessing from God. I'm reminded of the old hymn.. "count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.." God is full of surprises, they're there all along. Sometimes we just need a little perspective.
I've been thinking a lot since then. What a blessing it should be for me to see my child bless other people. He is such a joy to others, and he loves me so much! I should feel so good that he reacts to seeing me. I should love the fact that when I walk in he wants nothing more than to be in my arms. What a blessing from God. I'm reminded of the old hymn.. "count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.." God is full of surprises, they're there all along. Sometimes we just need a little perspective.
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