On raising a geek: The Force vs. The Federation

This year for Halloween, Elliot is borrowing a Yoda costume from a friend. Here, you see him using The Force to stand and walk from the ottoman to the coffee table. 

Here, he's using The Force to levitate a box of Cheerios. I didn't get a picture of the box, sorry- they spilled everywhere.

Something I need to clear up, though- even though he's in a Star Wars costume, we're a Star Trek family. We'll raise Trekkies, without a doubt. We don't even own the Star Wars movies. When he does see them, I'm sure this costume will make more sense to him. For some, introducing your kid to Star Wars is a big deal. For us, the politics of the relationship between the Federation, Klingon, Cardassian, Romulan and Vulcan cultures will probably take a more prominent role in our household.

He already loves the Next Generation theme song!

He makes a cute Yoda, but pulls off a pretty cute Star Fleet recruit, too! Unfortunately, the Star Fleet uniform fit him in March, rather than for Halloween.

Ten Months

Yesterday, Elliott turned the big 1-0 (months). Double digits!

I missed posting since I was home sick with a sore throat and probable fever. Everyone else in the household (well, except for Casey) seemed to not be feeling well either. That didn't stop Elliott! After a late-afternoon nap, he took off. He was everywhere- mostly cruising all the way around the coffee table as fast as possible. Then he started a new experiment- could he get to pieces of furniture he couldn't quite reach while still standing? Oh, he tried. He took steps- just two or three- without holding on to anything. Sometimes he'd make it. Sometimes he wouldn't, and fall on his knees or hands. Even when he fell, he'd giggle, and we'd cheer. He's an adventurous soul.

When Elliott learned to crawl, it was like a switch turned on- there was no gradual gain of mobility- he went from not crawling one day, to full on hands-and-knees crawling the next. While getting his coordination, there were some bumps- mostly on his forehead, caused by our wood floors. With walking, I'm a little worried about bigger bumps, since he'll be falling about 5 times as far (6 inches vs 2.5 feet). I also wonder if he'll "take off" like he did with crawling, or if this will be a more gradual milestone. I also wonder what needs to be childproofed that I haven't thought of yet.

His Tooth Count is holding steady at 6. I thought he was teething for a week or so, but there's nothing to show for it. He's sleeping better at night. He had his first hair trim this month, so now his bangs are no longer in his eyes, and his hair is no longer halfway down his ears. He's eating lots, and taking less from a bottle. I think he'd like it if we let him subsist on Cheerios.

Last weekend, I boxed up the 12-month clothes. The 12-month shirts still fit, but are too short. We've discovered that 18-month overalls don't even fit. Also, where does anyone find the room to store all this baby clothing? He's on his sixth size, and an entire wardrobe is needed in each size... it's getting ridiculous. I need to find a baby boy to lend out these clothes to, and free up room in my closets!

Yesterday, Casey was locked in his crate because I had just gotten in the house and hadn't let him out yet. I sat down to check email, and look, and the dog is now wandering around. Curious. "Unlocking the dog's crate" isn't a developmental milestone I expected Elliott to reach so early, but apparently he had different plans. In other news, Elliott really likes playing in the dog crate, just like every other kid that has come to our house. In and out, open and shut. All day long.

It's been a big month, but I suppose they all have been, and will all continue to be. Watching him grow and learn is so much fun!

Thinking about Christmas...

This fall, every time I've walked into a store full of Christmas decorations, I've had a little pang in my chest. The reminders of Christmas are also reminders of an upcoming birthday... Elliott will be a year old! I'm not ready for it.

It seems that we do Christmas cards approximately every-other year, and last year they didn't happen. We've never done a photo card, and I've wanted this year to be our first. It only makes sense- we have a new person to introduce! When I start browsing the Christmas cards, though, I see the birthday invitations, too- maybe I should save the annual photo card for the First Birthday Invites? Or maybe both?

I take a ton of pictures, as you well know, since I regularly bombard the blog with them. What you may not know is, I have very, very few prints of these pictures. It's just in the last couple weeks I've printed any pictures at all of our almost-10-month-old! Bad mommy. (To my credit, I did create a Shutterfly photo book in addition to getting some prints. That should get me some extra credit or something.) A photo Christmas card would serve the dual purpose of wishing loved ones a happy holidays AND getting them a printed picture of our family, which pretty much none of them have.

Now to figure out where and when to get a nice family photo taken...

Do you want the chance to make photo cards from Shutterfly, too? 

• Jump on the Groupon deal expiring tonight (10/21) - 40 5x7 photo cards for $40
• If you have a blog, and would like to write a post about your Christmas cards, register here for 25 free cards.
• Enter here to win 25 photo cards! Leave a comment with your family's Christmas card tradition- I need inspiration! I'll pick THREE winners next Friday, October 28.

(Disclosure: I was provided with photo cards and prizes by Shutterfly. As always, these words and opinions are my own.)

Packed Full

We just had a crazy busy weekend. All really good stuff, just busy.

Friday, Ashley, Paul, and Savannah rolled in, and we got to share a meal with them. They were staying the weekend with us, and we got to chat with them until way past my bedtime.

Saturday morning, I got up early-ish to make a dish to carry along to a get-together later in the day, then Elliott accompanied me to a baby shower for Josh's cousin. This new little guy will be the closest in age to Elliott, of the local cousins & second cousins. I expect they'll be best buddies at future family reunions and Christmas parties!

From the baby shower, we headed home to let the dog out and pick up the bean dip, then went straight to Marion, to a college-friends reunion. The group that showed up for dinner was bigger than ever, and it was so refreshing be able to catch up with everyone and watch the ever-growing group of kids play together. I wish we could have had more time!

We headed home from Marion late and went straight to bed, because Josh had to be at church early-early Sunday. After seeing off Ashley & crew, I only had to leave for church sort-of early, to pick up a friend on the way there. After church, we went to lunch with my friend, dropped her off, and hurriedly got ready for the last event of the weekend, dinner with our bible study group. We still had a few things to pick up from the store & prepare!

Dinner and discussion was great, and we were home somewhat early. After the dishes were done and the house was sort-of put back together, we just collapsed into bed. Big weekend. 'Tis the season.

Happy Babywearing Week!

It's International Babywearing Week!

 I've mentioned before how much I love to wear my baby- even now, when he's trying to crawl every direction at once, wearing him will calm him down and center him. It makes shopping and housework possible some days! Because I'm normally the one wearing the baby, and taking a picture of yourself is hard, the number of pictures are not representative of how often he's in a carrier.

This summer, we've mastered the ring sling, and it's my go-to carrier for quick trips. Thanks to my awesome mother-in-law, my ring sling just last week got a makeover (and had a large hole repaired). It now has color! As we've spent time outside this summer and in crowded fairs and festivals, or even at church, I've been glad I haven't had to wrestle a stroller between crowds and over bumpy ground- or carry all 22 pounds of Elliott in my arms the whole time.

The pictures I do have of babywearing are often of others wearing babies (because, again, I'm the one with the camera!) In the below slideshow, you can see how Elliott grows in relation to the Ergo carrier- from not being barely able to peek over the sides, to ready to climb out! His friend Timothy also makes an appearance.

 

 I love babywearing! 

Evolution of a Farm

This weekend, I harvested a few tomatoes, a bowlful of summer squash, and even a green pepper from my sad pepper plants. The 80-degree temperatures haven't left yet, which is crazy, but I'm not complaining. We have just a few warm days let, I'm sure.

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  I know, this is a Chipotle ad, but, I love it. I love Chipotle.

Also, the video is stop motion, not computer-animated, which blows my mind.


 The pink pig cubes are what get me. Pretty much what happens (except people call it bologna).

  Video HT Jeremy via G+

Autumn, so far.

Monday evening, on the way home from work, the weather was perfect. Once dinner was over, I couldn't stand to be inside anymore. Elliott and I went outside for an impromptu photo shoot. Josh worked more on the siding project while I tried to get Elliott to look at the camera and not eat leaves and grass. He wasn't particularly happy with me, but I got a few good shots, with one of his new jackets (50% off Goodwill sale!).

The last smile was just because Josh was looking at him from the other side of the fence. Daddy can get a smile out of this kid without fail. Melts my heart.

He got tired of sitting in the grass, but I wasn't ready to be done being outside in the beautiful weather. I picked him up and we walked around for a little bit, then landed on the A-frame swing in the back of our lot, for him to have a snack.

The snack turned into a nap.

This moment-swinging with a sleeping baby, with the sun low in the sky, surrounded by trees and yard and not another house in sight- was very close to perfect. I savored the quiet, the sunshine, the baby, unsure if I'd get another fall evening like this. Soon, it will be cold (this is why I don't love fall, like so many others- it's Foreboding Winter) and we'll be inside. Next fall, he won't be a baby anymore.

The time goes so much faster than I ever imagined it could.