Elliott says "Thank You Aunt Janine!"

Aunt Janine came to the rescue this week when our beloved day care provider, Anita, needed to take a few days off.  I thought I was asking too much when I mentioned to Janine that we needed help two days this week AND next week, but she agreed right away in her nonchalant, it's no big deal kind of way.  So she drove out from Santa Clarita early Monday morning to get here well before I had to leave for work.  Elliott loves Aunt Janine, and they had a great time together.  

Elliott's Saturday Adventures

Here's the thing I love about being a parent - everyday is an adventure.  Granted they aren't obvious or big adventures, like living in Africa, or working on an Abalone Farm, but exciting none the less.  

This morning started off slower than normal at 7:30am (ugh, when did 7:30 become sleeping in?).  I recently came to the conclusion that Elliott needs to start sleeping through the night. Even though he has been doing so sporadically, he has been sick so often that even at almost 10 months we aren't on a good sleep schedule yet.  So starting last night I decided that I am not going to feed him in the middle of the night to reduce the incentive for mid-night waking.  Being a guy that knows what he likes, he cried for almost 2 hrs straight.  So sleeping in until 7:30 this morning was much needed for everyone in our family. 

 To let Daddy sleep a bit longer, we decided to visit my work friend Roane's garage sale where he scored a new pony (stuffed pony that is).

Elliott says Happy Friday!

Well, it may have been a short week for us, but we still felt like celebrating the fact that it's (finally) Friday.  Since Elliott goes to bed around 7:30, we have to cram in all of our celebrating early.  We decided to hit up McConnell's for some of their amazing ice cream (if you're not a SB local you are missing out on the best ice cream in the world!)

Elliott goes camping

As many of you know, the annual 4th of July camping trip is one of the biggest traditions in my family. We have been camping with my cousins for longer than I can remember - maybe 33 or 34 years (does that make me old?).  I have many fond memories of these trips growing up, and now that we are all grown up with our own families the fun (and number of participants) has grown.  This year it came full circle as we initiated Elliott, and a few of his cousins, to the joys of camping at El Capitan State Beach, just outside of Santa Barbara.

The weather was beautiful for the first part of our camping trip, so everyone hit the beach.  Elliott absolutely loved the ocean, and playing in the wetsuit that my parents brought for him. My Dad already had him in the breakers on a boogie board, and is looking forward to getting him on a surfboard next year.

The Race is On! Elliott vs. the Kitchen Floor

And we're back!  The Elliott show was on hiatus while I adjusted to the very full life of a full-time working mom and weekend DIYer.  I've been striving to find that elusive place called "balance".  While I'm not quite there yet, I am finally at a point where I feel that I can start adding back in the things I enjoy doing -- like sharing my awesome kid with his adoring fans.  

Throughout the kitchen remodel one of our main goals has been to get the house put back together before Elliott becomes mobile.  We've made huge progress, and while we will be doing minor improvements for months to come (like molding and backsplash tile), we are so close to being fully functional.  There is just one final (pretty important) piece - the kitchen floor.

 VS.

Elliott Moves on to the 2nds

One of the greatest joys of being a parent is introducing your child to the world around him.  The amazement, wonder, and awe are contagious, and you remember how special life is, and how exciting even the most mundane details are.  I remember very specifically the moment that Elliott first noticed his hand.  He was sitting on my Dad's lap a few weeks after he was born when his hand caught his attention. His eyes got really big as they travelled from his hand up his arm, and back down again as if thinking, "No way - that thing is connected to ME?".  

Elliott's 1st Cold

Well, I knew it had to happen sooner or later - Elliott had to get sick at some point.  Of course my vote was for later, but at 3.5 months, and right after New Years, Elliott came down with his first cold.  I held off taking him to the doctor for a few days hoping it would clear up, but when eye goop began dripping out of his eye like our bathroom faucet before Steve fixed it, I decided to take him in.  (It's hard to see, but if you look closely you can see the liquid running down his cheek)