Archive for December, 2009

Oh what a difference 6 months makes…

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Teeny baby E from R Kaye on Vimeo.

Happy half-birthday to Elliott!

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Yesterday was Elliott’s half birthday. In such a short time, it’s hard to believe how much he has grown, how much he has learned, how many people he has met and how he has changed our lives. Elliott is trying to cut teeth, pushing up on his hands and trying to crawl (though not succeeding yet), talking up a storm and already killing the ladies.

I suppose it’s especially fitting that we’re thinking about his half birthday at the same time as we’re turning a new leaf on the calendar… while I disagree with most people that 2010 marks the beginning of a new decade (as there was no year 0, decades should span ’01-’10)… it still feels like a major change. If nothing else, we’ll be declaring an additional dependent on our taxes for 2009! Whoa.

It seems like just yesterday, as well, that Auntie M and I were cautiously drinking small glasses of expensive champagne and bursting with anticipation of the new lives that 2009 promised. Mama and Daddy have been celebrating New Year’s Eve with S & M for about 7 years now, and this New Year’s Eve marks the 10th anniversary of Daddy meeting Uncle S and Auntie M… they have had a tough year, albeit blessed with their gorgeous daughter, and we feel fortunate to have them in our lives and in our son’s life.

Drag Me to…

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Hell… the North Pole.

Drag Me to the North Pole… from R Kaye on Vimeo.

Baby’s first Chrismachannukwanzstice!

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

We are still a bit puzzled about why baby’s first <insert your favorite holiday celebration> is so exciting. Elliott doesn’t seem to care about holidays… aside from being abnormally fussy due to the change in his routine and a fair dose of overstimulation.

All puzzlement aside, baby’s first holidays are, of course, exciting because having children around puts the sparkle back in the Universe for us jaded adults–kids renew our sense of wonder, awe and fun with which we experience and approach life.

In other words, baby’s first ___________ is about the grown ups. :)

Elliott’s first winter holidays were no exception. We had a blast–after Mama’s vacation started on December 23, we packed up the car and had a wonderful and delicious dinner with Mimi, Poppi, Auntie A and Uncle B. We had a sleepover at Grandma’s house and breakfast with her, Mr. D, Auntie A and Uncle B. From there, we drove through eastern Tennessee and western Virginia to Lynchburg to see Grammy, Grandpa and Uncle E. We spent a few days there, and Elliott got to meet his honorary aunties, S and B, and their families too. (As an aside… it’s hard to believe that S and B have been Mama’s good friends for over 20 years!!)

On the trip, Elliott did very very well, considering that we were in the car for 8.5 hours each way. He has been coming up on a big developmental milestone AND he seems to be working on cutting his first two teeth, so Mama and Daddy were especially proud of him. The weekend before Christmas, the ‘Burg got their biggest snowstorm in about 15 years, so Elliott also got to see his first snow! We have also been experimenting with more solid foods, and E got to try avocado for the first time. It was not as big a hit as sweet potato and apple, but we’ll keep trying. :)

We also received lots of wonderful and generous gifts on our trip. Elliott has been *very* helpful with reading the mail recently, Mama was not surprised that he was very excited about tearing open wrapping paper and tissue paper and bags and all sorts of other rippable objects. I’m sure at some point he may come to appreciate the objects that wrapping concealed. :) Among his favorite new toys are a drum, a set of tambourine-type percussion instruments, a singing Pooh bear, a rolling alligator and lots of new books. Mama has already updated the “Elliott’s Library” page that you can find on the right hand tool bar of this Web site. He also particularly enjoyed Mama and Daddy’s new marshmallow shooters. Apparently it’s hilarious to watch your parents shoot marshmallows at each other, even when you aren’t even 6 months old.

 

24 weeks

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Elliott’s really practicing his babbling, and his balance is getting better and better. He’ll be sitting up on his own before we know it. We haven’t seen any signs of teeth yet aside from a little new fussiness and the little guy turning into a total drool machine. The latter is particularly wonderful given that he really loves putting his own hands in his mouth (then touching others with them) and putting everything he grabs in his mouth as well. He’s quite an accomplished little slimer. He has also become quite fond of head butting and grabbing faces. E bashed Mama in the nose so hard recently that she was surprised he didn’t give her a nosebleed. The joys of parenthood!

 

22 weeks

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Happy 5 month birthday to E!

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Elliott’s been on the outside for 5 months, as of November 30. Hard to believe that it’s been so long and that he’s already so big, but we also barely remember what life was like before he arrived.

In addition to being a quite strapping young man, he is also grabbing everything in sight (and putting everything in his mouth), including his feet. He is also starting to understand a few words, notably “Mama” and “Daddy.” He recently learned how to splash in the bathtub. Mama isn’t sure how much longer that particular skill is going to continue to be cute!

  

 

First Thanksgiving

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Everyone had a lot to be thankful for at Elliott’s first Thanksgiving. Elliott was especially thankful to meet his canine cousin, Jake, and that Mama and Daddy finally let him get some of that yummy food into his mouth!

 

First solid food from R Kaye on Vimeo.

More yummy in his tummy from R Kaye on Vimeo.

More baby giggling

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

More baby giggling action–this time Mama and Daddy are funny!

More baby giggling from R Kaye on Vimeo.

Mama is hilarious! from R Kaye on Vimeo.

21 weeks

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Elliott turned 21 weeks old last week. He attended his first birthday party last weekend for his “cousin” A. Here are his new photos!