He's a funny guy

Elliot is really at a fun age now, he's so much more responsive and engaging, he has incredible tenacity and curiosity, and he's just a happy little guy who's always interested in stuff. He's leveling out in terms of growth, just as mama had predicted, and he only gained one pound in the last month, which we don't mind at all because carrying around a 20-pounder is still quite a weight. He is mid-sippy-cup-transition and it's very cute to see him tilting his bottle with both hands like he's all grown up.

Here's some other funny stuff he does:

• When it comes to pacifier manipulation he's got it down, he can find that thing at the bottom of a mound of toys or ruffled blankets. He finds it when he wakes up from sleeping, but doesn't really wake up, and groggily shoves it in his mouth multiple times the wrong way until he finally inserts the nipple side in properly, then sucks so happily it makes me long for the simplicity of innocence. He even (when we're lucky) puts it in his mouth when he gets cranky and knows we don't want to hear it! (ok, he only did that once but it was the best self-shut-upping ever!)
• He loves to wave his hands in the air like he just don't care when he's zooming around in his walker, plus the little sound board attached to the front tray makes all sorts of funny noises that are sort of his sound track so that when he sees you coming he cackles and waves his arms and makes a boingboing sound as he wheels himself towards you.
• He is a twister, lately he just doesn't have the patience or time of day to get his diaper changed and simply won't lay still. He'll tilt his head back as leverage and flip his leg over super quick and start crawling away with his bare tush in the air and the nearest grippable object already in his little hand, and consequently in his mouth. If you flip him on his back again he'll just do it again and again quicker than you can slap that diaper on, it's becoming the first real opportunity to assert myself as a parent. I flip him and sternly say 'Elliot, stop' and he seems to understand for a milli-second before he laughs and flips again leaving me to eat my words.

We ordered a real crib this week and I'm going to miss the co-sleeper that has served us so well - especially since Elliot is still not quite sleeping through the night and sometimes need a little TLC/turn on the music box in the middle of the night, which is easier to do without having to get up. But we can't leave him in that bed unattended anymore unless we're absolutely sure he's asleep because he can pull himself up and tries to climb over it now. It's time for a big baby bed. The real hard part is finding space for it though, we had to really put our tetris skills to the test for this one but we are going to make it work and keep the crib in the bedroom. It's definitely time for a bigger place now and we're going to move this summer into a real two-bedroom. 

I'm also really looking forward to Spring and Summer now. We've been cooped up in the apartment for a while since it's been cold, even though we still take him outside all bundled up as often as possible, so the prospect of sunshine and warm days and exploring the outside world as he engages more and more is so exciting. I keep seeing a vision of him running in tall fresh grass and it instantly calms my  crowded mind and makes me happy. And going to the beach! Oh I just can't wait :)

In other baby news

Oh just had to share this, my half-sister Paulina, Elliot's Aunt!

Yummy Tummy

Balancing work and motherhood sure ain't easy, oh no. My mind is an endless to-do list, my body is still in recovery - actually that damn tailbone problem is not only NOT getting better but now I'm having serious back issues as well - and my home is a mess because there's too much stuff and not enough space and because I don't have nearly as much time to keep it as clean and organized as I'd like. But what can I say, que sera sera, I'm learning to ignore the chaos that surrounds me and expand the stillness of being present when I have those rare moments with Elliot when he's not crying, or trying to eat the computer wires, or pooping, or vomiting on me, those special moments when he just looks at me as if I am so incredibly interesting and laughs with a cackling gurgle like I just told the joke of the century.

I definitely have a lot of mommy guilt because of the whole working and leaving him every day thing, especially when Josh tells me some basic thing about taking care of him as if I'm some stranger. But I make up for it by making sure he has wholesome homemade baby food always at the ready to supplement my milk when I'm not there. He is about to turn 6 months this week (!!) and has already tried potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, rice cereal (that stuff in a box is awful compared to real rice grain), bananas, peas, and crackers. Tonight I made him a yummy batch of baked butternut squash with apple (in mush form of course) and I have to say it tastes freakin' delicious and I'm going to remember that recipe for the next time I go to a pot-luck!

He's getting better at eating real food too, most of it ends up in his belly instead of on his face, and he looks so cute when the spoon approaches and he opens his mouth with calm anticipation ready for the next bite.
Have I mentioned that we're teaching him sign language? Well, 'teaching' is not the right word, we just sign certain words to him at the appropriate times so that he learns them. So far we have been using the signs for mommy, daddy, up, change + diaper, drink, water, book, sleep, quiet, cat, and dirty. The idea is that with repetition he'll be able to start using the signs to communicate as soon as his hand coordination catches up with his brain, usually most babies start doing it by around 8 months.

             Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting Zora!