Cello!

Elliot got to see Chad play his cello with Orchestra of Flight at the Boeing Museum last Saturday. He sat perfectly still on my lap and watched quietly until the last round of Christmas songs which he got up and danced for. Then he offered people in the audience and orchestra his dried cranberries.
While we were there Elliot said hello Santa and Mrs. Claus who arrived by helicopter. He wouldn't get close but they chatted for a while and Elliot got an airplane. Driving a prop plan was his favorite part after hearing the music.

Snow

We've had two snowfalls- one that was 90% melted by December 17th and the next that started December 18th. The first was a good dusting and caused a lot of icy roads. The second seemed to go on for almost 24 hours and left a few inches of snow for us to play in.














We took a walk to get hot chocolate at the coffee shop near our house and Elliot's was gone before Chad came outside to give the rest of us our drinks.

Hyperventilating dance

Dizzy.

Hippie

Elliot found the stash of glasses left over from Vrim's birthday party.

Downtown

We took Elliot downtown to see the lights and holiday decorations that have been put up. When we walked by the carousel, he shouted, "horses! ride horses!". I didn't even know he knew the word horses.

So, we got on to take a ride:














He watched the trains at the corner of Macy's:














We got handed a cup of hot cider by the Nordstrom's lady who thought we were in line to see Santa that Elliot enjoyed very much.

When we got home, we made a chocolate glazed chocolate tart. Elliot got to work opening the chocolate:

Fish

Only 21 months, 2 weeks and 4 days after Elliot was born, his walls are finished:

Career path

Is this kid going to be a politician? (he might have to wear pants)

Sock mittens

Pretty much as soon as we get Elliot into his carseat, he starts kicking his shoes off and pulling off his socks. As it has gotten colder, he uses his socks as mittens. Apparently it's not cold enough to keep socks on his feet.

In the car today, when he started the process, we asked him what he was doing. He said, "Naked Toes!"

He doesn't usually tell us about his bare feet but today it was important.

Zoo

We took Elliot to the zoo this weekend with his friend and her parents. He really liked the monkeys and gorillas and made goat and sheep noises. His favorite part:

Heather, Elif & Elliot

Pier 57 at sunset.

Pants?

We used to call Elliot 'The Pants' because he obviously wore the pants in the family. And he was cranky (pants) often when he was little.

He still likes to run around "naken" a lot.

Also, this is his favorite new pose for the camera. I'm not sure where he picked it up but he also often meows. See the cape twirling video below for proof.

Halloween

We skipped trick or treating this year but are excited for next year. Elliot seemed hesitant around folks in costume last weekend at a Halloween party and we were unprepared anyway. He did like drawing on the pumpkins and helping Daddy scoop.

Lollipop

Elliot had his first lollipop today while at a restaurant. A woman saw him lingering by the toy vending machines and offered him a piece of candy out of the bucket of Halloween candy. I let him take it thinking I would help myself to it later, but he insisted so I let him eat it. He said, "mmm...lolpop...mmm...lick it!" for the next 20 minutes.













He's also been stringing 2-3 words together more and more lately. It started with him asking me to stop chomping on his tummy, "no belly! closed!" and has become more frequent with everyday conversation like asking for "more milk, please." It's kind of wild how much he imitates what we say and do now. We really have to watch what we say which we're not doing so well at. He may have said some unsavory things already which we hope he doesn't repeat.

The Elliot dance

Bubble popping dance, meowing and cape twirling. Behold:

Pumpkins

We took Elliot to a local pumpkin patch yesterday to pick out a few pumpkins and he took to patting them as he walked by. He really liked the wheelbarrow ride.

Vrim's birthday and visits

Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle Krishna and Aunt Sandra all came into town to celebrate Devrim's birthday. Elliot, of course, was thrilled to see everyone. Grandpa built an amazing crane for Elliot that he loves. He actually left his breakfast after one bite to use it. Uncle Krishna helped.














Grandma also brought Elliot a cape that he whipped around, slinging it over his arm when the length got in the way of playing with the crane.

Everyone got wrapped in tie-dye and helped Vrim celebrate. It's hard being a hippy.

Cello

Elliot loved watching Chad play his cello. He stood in front of him while he tuned and played around and Elliot plucked at the strings as much as he was allowed.

The pox

The night before we left Turkey there were mosquitoes. On the way to the airport, we noticed Elliot had a few bites. By Friday we were suspicious that even though we don't have mosquitoes here at home, his bumps were increasing in number. We canceled plans to attend a 1st birthday party and went in to see the doctor on Monday so she could document Elliot's chicken pox. That's right - chickenpox. Apparently they have to document it now for school since he didn't get the vaccine yet (obviously).
So, if you saw Elliot between September 11 and now, be on the lookout for the pox.

Turkey

He went:














He ate:














He fell in love again:














He played in the sand:



















He floated in the sea:













He was loved:

words

When his pediatrician asked at his 18 month check up how many words he knew, I said he had about 2 dozen. When we got home I sat down and wrote some down. There are 60+, and I only counted words he will say without prompting that actually correlate to the correct object/being.

more, up, down, milk, water, cracker, cheese, apple, bread, juice, ice cream, banana, knee, elbow, eye, nose, hand, toe, foot, head, bottom, all done, cheers, pen, button, sock, shoe, toys, dog (& boof), cat (& meow), bird, airplane, dance, thank you, please, choo choo, bus, vroom (for car/truck), rail, mommy, daddy, tito, buddy, dooggie, amca, dede, light, book, outside, lid, fan, hot, uh-oh, on, off, open, close, bye bye, stool, ball, george, balloon, poop, toot, hat, boat

18 month stats

Height: 34 inches (90th percentile)
Weight: 24 lbs, 15 oz (45th percentile)- 11.3 kg
Head: 50.8 cm (>97th percentile)

Like a typewriter

We went to a BBQ on Sunday at the house of friends from a parents' group we joined when Elliot was born. All of the babies are within a few weeks of each other. Elliot was kind enough to share his corn with K, who had never had it on the cob before.

Firsts x 3

Today Elliot did not one, not two, but three things for the first time. In order:
1. Opened the basement door by twisting the handle (good thing we installed a latch about a week ago)
2. Went down a slide by himself at the park (no prompting from me at all- I wasn't completely prepared for it)
3. Threw up at bedtime (he happily ate crackers and had water after a shower and it explains his lack of voracious eating at dinnertime)

I blame the staff picnic yesterday. Yeah, that's it! He and Chris are really cute, though.

don't box him in! or do.

He's enjoying pulling boxes and shirts and laundry baskets on his head and bumping around the house. He likes it until he crashes really hard. Little collisions are like bumper cars; he giggles and moves on.

Windy

Elliot enjoyed his nap during the ceremony (and the food!) and was a peach throughout the day. Chris and Laura's wedding was fantastic and he hammed it up with everyone. His favorite part was the ferry ride to and from Whidbey Island. "Birz!"

Elliot hearts Grandma (aka Gama)

Elliot and Grandma have been having lots of fun since she got here.

She's already showed him how to buy too many toys at the toystore and how to play with all of them at once. Then he learned how to kick the ball around the yard, taking breaks to play catch. She also showed him the appropriate way to barrel roll across the couch and/or pillows on the floor.

Super Elliot

He's taken to wrapping shirts/dresses/blankets around his head and tripping around the house. This helped a lot when I had to take him shopping with me to buy a dress last week. He twirled around with them on his head, bumping into walls and admiring himself in the mirror. I wish I had the camera with me then.

Nonnie and Pap, drums and ferries

Nonnie and Pap agreed that Elliot is their most...recent...grandchild. They don't admit to playing favorites, but anyone could see that they noticed his brilliant intelligence and adorable nature. Who could deny it?

Proof that Pap's drum lesson paid off:

While Nonnie and Pap were here, we stopped for ice cream after a ferry ride to Bremerton where Pap was discharged from the Navy. Elliot and Chad had equal amounts of fun playing at this fountain. Their laughs were contagious.

word update

Almost immediately after posting about Elliot's vocabulary, he started imitating words and sounds repeatedly. He used to point to something, say, "doh?" and look at your mouth when you said the word. Now he tries to repeat the word after you say it, sometimes really successfully.

An alphabet puzzle ended up on the floor next to his changing pad. Trying to keep him still one day, we started pulling out a piece of the puzzle and handing it to Elliot talking about the animal/item on the piece as well as the letter and sound. Now after you hand him one and tell him the letter, he tries to say it, then puts it down on the opposite side of the changing pad and waits for the next one. We usually get through most of the alphabet during a diaper change and he can say about 2/3rds of the letters. I feel like a flashcard mom, but it didn't develop that way at all. Promise.

He's added a handful of words in the last week. The language part of his brain must be burning a hole!

Nibbles

The kitchen at the Thai restaurant mistook our request for no spice to be medium-hot spice. Elliot kept asking for more, so we obliged, but he let his tongue waggle in the water for a few minutes at a time in between. The kid likes spicy food.



Elliot and Vrim made muffins together a while ago, and per Vrim, he stirred and scooped about 75% of the process. Maybe he'll make Mommy cookies soon.












He will only brush his teeth, or allow you to help, if you applaud every 15-20 seconds or so during the process. Sometimes you have to prep him with a little clapping and cheer leading. At least he doesn't expect us to wear little skirts or use pompoms. Yet.

July 4th picnic

We spent a lazy day at Lake Washington eating and throwing rocks.

Words

Current list of words:
up
more
dad
apple (ap-po)
dog (da)
down (do)
juice (jiss)
hot (complete with hand gesture, fingers splayed)
hat (pats head)
boat
mom (sometimes - at least i think so)

He will show you:
eyes
ears
nose
cheeks
mouth
lips
teeth
toes
knees
head
bottom
belly button
tummy
hungry (hand up to mouth open complete with waggling tongue)
poop (does the sign but not at the right times. when you ask if he has pooped, if he has, he will emphatically shake his head no)

We hope you feel much better very soon, Mim.

Father's Day

The plan? Fish tacos and time outside.

walking

watering from elliot on Vimeo.

Tearing it up

The floors, that is. Elliot is emulating a drunken sailor at higher speeds for longer stretches. He can easily make it from room to room, or as we found out yesterday from plant to plant. Mim, Elliot and I went to the zoo and while he liked watching the animals, he really liked touching the plants and rocks and roots and bark and other kids.

Last night while getting ready for bed, we saw something white on his upper gum as he was gnawing on his toothbrush. It turns out the fussiness yesterday was due to the fact that he's cutting his first upper molars as well as his last bottom incisor. Three at once. The poor guy. No wonder that ice cream cone Mim gave him at the zoo stopped any fussing and kept him quiet. Oh, it's the sugary sweet cool creamy dessert that did that? ok...

Car wash

Isn't he young to be washing his first car?

car wash

Props to Ninja Moms Everywhere

Just after this picture was taken, Elliot discovers gravity... again... but before his soft BIG head can hit decking, Elif's foot (the very one in the left frame) is there to cradle his noggin, not a nanosecond too soon. Within a half-second, she was down on one knee stabilizing him.

This is not the first time such feets of ninja-prowess have surfaced. I posit there is an electromagnetic field excited by imminent danger that triggers a reflexive limb to shoot out in the nick of time. Only further study can get to the bottom. Luckily for us, Elliot is on the cusp of walking so there will be plenty more ocassions to collect evidence. That will probably the last time I will ever write "Luckily for us, Elliot is ...walking."

Love, Chad