I Must Confess

This week’s spin cycle is on parent confessions. My confession is about food and my son. I have been called a food Nazi. Why? You may ask. Because, I am very strict on my son’s diet. He did not have sugar until his first birthday and he probably only had sugar a few times between his first and second birthday. (And, that would be at other kid’s birthday parties)


When I pack my son’s lunch, I pack fruit and veggies every day. (It is up to Eli to eat them.) And, I pack NO snacks with lunch. (Unless you count yogurt) I figure, he is given snacks at school. No need for him to eat an extra snack over healthier lunch food.


When my son starting eating solid food up until about 18 months, he ate his veggies in every color of the rainbow. (Except broccoli but he ate other green veggies) By 18 months, the number of veggies he would eat dwindled and now at 2.5 years old, he eats corn only.


I offer veggies everyday to him and if he eats them great, and if he doesn’t, I know I will be serving him corn later in the week.


The obesity rate in kids scares me so I do not offer Eli sugar or saturated fats. Now that he is older, if he asks for a cookie or snack, I give it to him in moderation. I cringe when my in-laws visit because all my MIL wants to give Eli is crap and saturated fat. Does she think he will love her more for giving him things that mommy does not offer? I don’t know but I always have to watch her around him when it comes to food. I don’t understand what a 1 year old needs more butter on his bread than a 32 year old? (Maybe I should ask her.)


So, what is my confession? When I need Eli to cooperate quickly (getting ready for school when we wake up late), I offer him crap food. Nothing major. Maybe a couple of fruit snacks (not the whole package). Just enough to keep him still while I get him dressed!


Am I a hypocrite? I hope not. But, that is my mommy confession.

Halloween

Jen's Spin Cycle this week is about Halloween. I thought I would showcase how adorable Eli has been for each Halloween.

Year 1: My Little Bear


Year 2: My Soccer Player



Year 3: (this year) My Hockey Player

Wow- does he grow fast!

Why?

I will take a break from the vacation posts for this small note about what is new in our household. Eli has started to question everything "Where is XXX? How much?" and his favorite is "Why?"

Here is how our conversation from breakfast went this morning.

Me: "Finish your cherrios."

Eli: "Why?"

Me: "Because it will make you big and strong."

Eli: "Why?"

Me: "Because it is healthy for you."

Eli: "Why?"

Me: "Because of the nutrients."

Eli: "Why?"

Me: "Because I said so."

Eli: "Why?"

Me: "Because I said so."

Eli: "Why?"

And it went on and on from there. I did not think the "Why" stage came until later but it is very cute. (at least for now)

Cute saying from Eli

Yesterday, I took a couple of hours to myself and went grocery shopping. When I came home, Eli said to me "I am so happy to see you."

So sweet.

Words

Eli is now 21 months old and I can’t believe the progress he has made in talking. The pediatrician said between 20 and 24 months that his words would explode but I did not believe it until I saw it.

I taught Eli baby signs when he was younger. It helped us communicate since he was not talking. He learned please, thank you, milk, more, eat etc. Eli still uses those signs but has started to incorporate the words with them. He now says more and milk.

Some of Eli’s other words include: mama, dada, Wallace (the dog), Bruce (the other dog), juice (one of his favorites), ball, pootball (football), ball ball (basketball), puck, nana (banana), apple, duck, up.

And his new word yesterday was ketchup! Eli is also learning the different sounds animals make. His favorite is the sound a horse makes!

I am so proud of my little man.

First Day of School

Today was Eli’s first day of school. I was nervous- did not sleep well last night. Eli slept fine!

I woke up this morning an hour before my alarm was supposed to go off. Went back to sleep and woke up at 6:20am (20 minutes before the alarm should go off). Got out of bed and got myself dressed. Then I heard Eli whine. (He whines when he wakes up.) I fed and dressed Eli and we were on our way to school.

It was pouring today. I know it is good luck if it rains on your wedding day but what about your first day of school?

We arrive at school and Eli eagerly walks to his classroom. We go inside and I talk to the teacher while Eli hangs onto my leg. I said goodbye to Eli and told him I would be back after lunch. He started crying and the teacher picked him up.

I left the room and peeked into the room two minutes later and he had already stopped crying. He was hanging onto the teacher but not crying. I consider that a great sign.

Lowell and I go to pick him up after lunch and Eli noticed Lowell and said “Da da” with a huge smile. One of Eli’s teachers said he did great and that he especially loved gym time.

Here is his report:

Ew Gross!

Today Eli found a lady bug. When I was not watching, he picked up the lady bug and smushed it and then showed it to me.

My little boy!

That is disgusting!

Eli- we do not poop in the shower!

That is disgusting!

I think these two sentences say it all!

Happy Halloween

My son and his friends were photographed by my talented friend in their Halloween costumes.

Enjoy

http://519photography.blogspot.com/2008/10/happy-halloween.html

Beginning words

I have been a little nervous that Eli is almost 17 months old and is not talking much. He has his own language which is mostly "da" and "dis" for every word. He also has words for objects which are pretty standard. For example "dat' for ball and "ati" for Seminole.

Well, last night, he started saying "Ba" for ball. So now ball is "dat" and "ba". A good sign. And, Eli says "Da" for dog and I thought he said "duck" the other day. And unfortunately, one of his words is "gat" for gator.

I am hoping he comes up with a few more words before his 18 month appointment.

Now, Eli understands everything we say. It amazes me. I told him to turn around yesterday and he did. Eli also signs a lot. He signs no, yes, eat, more, please, and thank you.

Fun at the Fair

We went to the town fair yesterday. There are a number of little kid rides and Lowell said we should put Eli on one. I was trying to find a ride that we could go on with him but there were none. We found a fish ride where the fish goes around in a circle and goes up and down. We strapped Eli in and then went to the waiting area where we were still close enough for Eli to see us. He loved being on the ride.

The ride began. Eli loved it. He smiled and gave us game face every time he passed by. It was wonderful to watch him have so much fun.

I'm a Big Kid Now

My husband was watching my son while I went out with a friend visiting for lunch. He called and said, "Eli just pooped on the potty." What? I am thinking. We don't own a small potty for Eli yet. We have not started potty training him, yet he pooped on the potty!

Eli makes a face when he poops. We call it his "poop face" and Lowell has said we should put him on the potty when he starts making the "face". Well, he did yesterday and Eli pooped on the potty.

So, he is probably one of the only kids that have pooped before peed on the potty.

Are we starting to potty train Eli? I am not ready yet. He is too young. But, I think I will invest in a potty so we have one at home.

It is Mommy, not Ali!

Eli does not say many words yet but the one word he says all the time is Dada! If we are upstairs and he hears my husband downstairs, he screams Dada.

Well, mama was his first word months ago but he has not said it in a long time. When my MIL was here a couple of months ago, she thought Eli was calling me Ali. But, I did not here it. Last night, Lowell told me that he though Eli was calling me Ali.

So, I guess he is calling me something and I will take what I can get.

Baby signs

This blog is suppossed to be all about my experiences as a first time mom but there always seems to be other things to talk about like exposed breasts or gas crisis so I figured I should give you one post about Eli.

When Eli was an infant, I tried to teach him baby signs which he never really picked up. I finally gave up and stopped signing until months later when I saw all his little friends signing to their parents and then I started again.

Now, within a few weeks time frame, Eli can sign the following words: more (his favorite), eat, drink (milk), and his newest sign - please!

I am so proud.

Boo!!!

Now is the time of year where stores are displaying Halloween and Christmas decorations (which piss me off - it is September, I have no interest in seeing half a store of Christmas decorations and listening to those same songs that are so annoying!)

Lowell and I went to Lowe's with Eli. I was holding him as we entered the store and Lowe's had displayed a 4 foot tall witch which had her broom in a cauldron. As we approached the witch, she starting moving (stirring the cauldron), talking and cackling and her eyes glowed and moved.

Eli almost jumped out of my arms and had a mixed expression of gameface and I just sh't in my pants. Lowell and I were hysterical laughing at his expression. (nice of us!)

I have read that kids are not scared about monsters and stuff until age 3 but my 16 month old was petrified!

He is so adorable!

Last night, I was able to get away from the house to go to a bar and watch the Seminoles play with a friend. I said goodbye to Eli, gave him a kiss and took my keys out of my purse. Eli went to the kitchen and took his lunchbox off the countertop and followed me to the garage door. He was ready to leave with me. I picked up Eli, gave him another kiss and then passed him to Lowell.

But, the experience was heart warming.

Thank you

• The 14 months of interrupted sleep was difficult.
• Working at 6am and then again at 8pm to spend more time with you has been stressful.
• Missing two seasons of FSU football home games has been odd.
• But, spending every second with you has been wonderful.

Eli, these first 15.5 months have been amazing and the smallest things touch my heart. Yesterday, when we were at dinner and you took turns kissing myself and daddy, it melted my heart. Thank you for being such a wonderful and sweet little boy.

All Da!

Eli has been working on physical milestones in the past couple of months: walking, running, climbing etc. He has not been saying many words that are easy to understand but he babbles all the time.

His new word is Done. Now, when he finishes eating, he waves his hands and says "Da" for All Done. I need to capture it on video. It is very cute.

Discipline

Eli has always been the laid back, easy going kid who never got in trouble because he goes with the flow. Then, he started walking...

Before, if Eli did not get his way, he did not care and would just move on. Now, if he does not gets his way, he complains, cries, or hits the wall, floor, etc.

Today, Eli did not get his way and he bit me. Yes, bit me. I am as shocked as you are. I thought it would be years before I had to discipline him. But, today, Eli went into timeout for the first time. I sat him on the floor next to the wall and told him he was in timeout and we sat there for 60 seconds. Then, I let him go back and play.

I am still in shock.

A relevation

I am currently reading "Toddler 411" and the book says that the terrible twos start at 15 months. Eli turned 15 months yesterday.... The terrible twos have begun.