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.