Babydays

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September 27, 2006

I've decided

I've decided to no longer complain about lack of sleep. Why give up such a cherished pasttime? Simply put, I know I'm going to miss some aspects of it (outside of the delirium). Case in point: Elias is sprawled across my lap right now, arms flapped out, missing one sock, belly exposed. He is the picture of relaxation. He was in his crib for about two hours, but something stirred him. And I'm loving it.

Perhaps another reason I'm so chipper despite the time is the arrival of my new videophone. As soon as I can figuree out how to use it, I will be signing up a storm with one mother of mine in Iowa.

Wow. We've come very far from the days before we even had relay services, when I'd have to call my mom direct and YELL REALLY loud, with a very high pitch...even then, the whole thing was just a comedy, with my mom on one end hoping that it really was me on the line (no caller ID on the good 'ole rotary phone). Since she couldn't really make out a lot of mumbled words, she would try to guess what I was calling about and phrase them in yes/no sentences. She could catch yes and no, and often I'd be on the other end just yelling and laughing 'cause I could hear her kind of laughing about the whole thing. It was simply ridiculous.

Here has been our communication strategies while apart:
1974-1982ish: yelling or interpreters
1982-1993: relay service (I speak to an operator that types what I say into the TTY, and reads back what Mom types)
1994-2000: email, email, email, with some relay
2000-2006: IM everyday, rarely email, rarely even use relay
2006-?: VIDEOCONFERENCING!

Posted by janna at 08:59 PM | Comments (0)

September 22, 2006

I challenge any adult to hold this pose...while half of your body is under the couch

Ah, Eli. Ah, Gus.
This is going to sound like a sound byte, but I really mean it when I say that being your Mama is the best thing I've ever done (well, right after marrying your Papa...I've just been lucky!).

I was reminded last night and again this morning of how amazing it is to be with both of you. Last night, I brought Eli into Gus' room to get into PJs and for book reading. Eli was on his back, kicking up a storm, when Gus decided to join him. So here they were, kicking away, when Gus suddenly asks, "You want to kick with us?"

How does one say no to such a sweet request?

There we were, the three of us, flopping our legs up in the air, laughing hysterically, and all I could think of was how incredibly lucky I felt to be in the moment.

The good feelings continued this morning. At daycare, Gus came up to me before I left and planted a big kiss on each cheek. As I walked out, the cool air washed over my face, chilling the wet kiss marks on my cheek. It was the best instant reminder that I had been touched with sweetness.

As you can see from the picture, Eli is into yoga. Tonight I saw my first official 'rock' from Eli while up on his hands and knees (he put himself into that position).

Me <------ freaking out.

Posted by janna at 12:22 AM | Comments (0)

September 18, 2006

gus love

"Papa?" Gus says from the back of the van.

"I'm your best friend."

He is gobble-up sweet. He's even sweet when he is contemplating stepping on Eli, he holds his foot over Eli's foot, looks at me and says, "Hmmm??" inquisitively.

But Gus, beware. Eli is on the move and on the grow. The dynamic between the two is about to become interactive to a degree not even on Gus' radar.

Eli had his monthly check-up today... he apparently believes in finding a place on the curve and sticking to it.

Last month he was 19 lbs 10 oz. Today he is 21 lbs 3 oz!
Last month he was 28 1/2 inches. Today he is 29 inches!

Posted by janna at 11:55 PM | Comments (0)

September 17, 2006

will he crawl soon?

I really am afraid that my life as I know it is about to change drastically. I'm guessing Elias feels the same way. The boy is starting to get up on his hands and knees, and with some creative rolling, pushing off of feet and pulling with hands, he can get to almost any item on the floor.

Be afraid.

Perhaps it's because he's eating solids three times a day. Maybe it's a give and a take... Eli says I can eat chocolate only if he gets to move.

Fine. I'll take chocolate.

Posted by janna at 10:58 PM | Comments (0)

September 14, 2006

Most recent Google search: toddler won't swallow food

We went to pick up Gus and Eli from daycare on Thursday. All the kids were playing in the backyard, enjoying a reprieve from the rain-soaked week. As soon as I got to the back, Cristy tells us that Gus didn't want to drink milk that day, which was very unusual. I then looked at Gus, who was smiling at me, closed mouth. I instantly knew he had something in his mouth. He is a talker and an open-mouth smile kind of kid.

Do you have water in your mouth, I asked.
*shakes his head no*

Do you have a cracker in your mouth, I asked, thinking he had a snack.
*no*

Cristy brings a kleenex over and puts it under his mouth. Gus opens his mouth and out spills...
unchewed pieces of vegetables.

I look at the contents, then look up at Cristy as she gasps.
"Lunch!" she said.

It took me a second to understand what was going on. Then it hit me... Gus kept unchewed food in his mouth for FIVE HOURS. And if he kept food in his mouth for FIVE HOURS, that means he took a nap with food in his mouth.

My initial reaction was to giggle a bit (inside... didn't want Gus to think it was funny), but then I felt so lucky that he didn't choke on his food while he slept. Reflecting on it now, I'm just impressed with his fortitude to keep it together for five hours. And for what? When I asked him why he did it, all he could say was, "Because."

Of course. Why not?

(I'm happy to report that Gus has had no problems since then. Our little chat must have worked.)

Posted by janna at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)

September 06, 2006

Grandmas

Grandmas, we miss you.
Grandma Shirley came to visit for the weekend, and to make the weekend even more special, Granny Janice came over on Sunday for a trip to Morton Arboretum.

Elias really paid much more attention to the Grandmas this time around, easily giving his heart-melting smiles and giggles. He has a gift.

Gus had an instant audience for his new trick: He can spell his name! I don't know if he really understand what that means, but he belts out G-U-S with such gusto. Have I told this story already? I feel like the gusto phrase is old and dated!

He has many more tricks up his sleeve, this Gustav does. I believe his favorite thing to say right now is, "It's not my turn, it's Eli's turn." This most often comes after I say we need to change his diaper. After one such incident this weekend, when I told him that I had already changed Eli and that it was, indeed, HIS turn, he said, "No, it's GRANDMA'S turn." Umm, nice try.

Posted by janna at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)