Almost 2!

This week Eli matured quite a bit. He had several big milestones and break throughs. He woke up on Monday and just seemed so much older. Here is some of what went on this week.

Jon and I have been switching on and off Eli duty as we take turns going to and from work. On Monday I left my job and went to pick Eli up from Jon's office. I was bracing myself for the screaming and waterworks as I took him away from his favorite person in the world. And I was shocked when he didn't even shed a tear, he happily waved goodbye and pressed the elevator button to (in Eli's words) "get down".  He is understanding so much more, the communication helps so much. He finally understood he would see Daddy later that night. Also new as of Monday, Eli was letting me kiss his head without him trying to hit me in return. The hitting me has been decreasing. Last week on a good day with me I used a clicker and counted 17 hits, I would estimate bad days to be triple that number. This week I think it has been significantly less.

Yesterday Eli independently said "on" to ask us to turn on his chasing kitty toy. This was a first, prior to this he would point and continually say "uh, uh" until we did what ever it was he wanted. He also brought Jon a book that same day and said "book", asking to be read to.

Today when I picked him up and put him on the couch to read a book he said "uh oh, da butt". I laughed so hard, when I had picked him up I didn't see his pants (which were a little too big) slid down below his butt. He was pointing this out using his limited vocabulary "uh oh, the butt". 

Eli will continually ask for "Daddy, daddy, daddy" all day when I watch him. I used to respond each time saying daddy was at work or at a meeting. Today I started responding by saying "no, Im mommy" to which he laughs and laughs. He seems to think its pretty funny that I think Im his mommy.

This week Eli pointed out how dirty the cabinet was under the sink, he then asked for the sponge and began wiping it down. Following that he began to clean his table and chairs. Now how do I get my husband to do that?

Eli helped me make a spinach soup. Not only did he help cook it, he also ate it and asked for more.

Milestones in Language

Look where Eli climbed up.. Just kidding, and yes one of us was waiting to catch him in case he made the plunge, but he was quite happy to sit where the junk food is kept.

Eli had a couple cute milestones this week. We have been teaching him body parts, and he can say a few of them. He can say ear, nose cheek, tongue, teeth, and hair, oh and his favorite, toes. Well we were at Aldi's doing some grocery shopping, and I said "oh that's cheap", he then excitedly put his hands on his cheeks, Home Alone style and said "cheeks". Well cheap does sound like cheek...

On another day we were addressing an envelope and he was helping me hold the pen as we were writing. When we wrote "Erie" Eli excitedly grabbed his ear and said "ear, ear!". Well yes we live in Eary I guess.

You don't realize how many words sound like other words until you are teaching someone a language. Eli knows the word stinky, and waves his hand under his nose, and he pronounces it "dinky". When we were working on a project I said scotch tape was sticky, and that confused him because it didn't smell. Sticky and stinky are much too similar.

Whats in your ear?!

Jon went on a walk with Eli in our neighborhood. They passed a tree with little berries. Eli picked one up and was looking at it for a while. Jon didn't see it after that and figured Eli dropped it some where along the walk. When they got home this is what Jon found... Eli turned to him with a huge grin.

Sept. 9th

The weather is a little cooler today, Eli can finally wear his cute outfit from his Aunt Chrissy and Uncle Taylor. He looks like a model!



Eli knows he is not supposed to touch the key board, but the buttons are just too tempting.

Drinking his morning Ovaltine (he know it as hot chocolate).

Bubble Bath Time!

Pictures of Eli

Well we have been extremely busy the past couple of weeks. I don't have time to write much but I thought I would add some recent pictures for friends and family to see. Eli has been talking in baby babbling quite a bit. His language skills are improving every day. Today he said "shower", last night he said "nose" and "teeth", and the other day he said "Oh my!". Can you guess who he heard that from?

Popsicles are an outside only food...

Eli's new bed from his Meme (Jon's Mom). I think he really likes it.



Most nights Eli helps me cook dinner. He samples things as we cook.



Here is Eli sampling the green pepper seeds...

Eli drinking his morning Ovaltine.

Eli noticed the camera and had to be a ham.



Eli at the beach on Lake Erie.



Hanging with Dad, while hanging on Dad.

week 3

So as Jon and I were having a seriously intense conversation about adding cabinets to the dinning room, we look behind us and see this... Mr. Butthead was playing with the water dispenser. I think he was just waiting for a moment we weren't paying attention to pull this one.

Check out Eli's new hat! His Aunt Sarah picked it out. He kept it on as soon as he saw Jon wearing one too. This week's highlights:
We went to Ikea yesterday and got Eli a kid bed. We'll see how he sleeps in it tonight. Jon is putting it together now. Eli currently sleeps on a mattress on the floor. Sometimes he rolls off and wakes himself up. We have a bed rail to add to his new bed.
We also got another cabinet for the bathroom. Hopefully this one works out and we are not returning it like the last one.
This week we also had half of our massive pool deck removed. Once it is gone we plan to add steps down and create a patio in the back yard.
It was also my first week back at work. I think Jon is now seeing just how much work it is to stay at home with a kid. I would come home, and he would ask for 20 mins to chill. I was like "where's my 20 mins?" I didnt even take a lunch.
Eli's new word for the week was "table". Jon and I kept moving the dinning room table around, he said table once very clearly. He will also repeat "Claire" when Jon is yelling to me from another part of the house.
He is still very attached to Jon, and I think he views me as competition for Jon's attention. When I wash his hands or face he screams and thrashes his body. He will calmly protest for Jon under the same situation. The only that calms him down when he is crying because Jon had to step out, is to offer him food. He loves trying new things and there are very few things he does not like. He had freeze dried okra today from Trader Joe's and almost ate the whole bag.