The Shopping Cart

Thanks to Julia and Tom who's baby Joseph has outgrown his shopping cart (although he did look very sad when we took it away), Elliot is now finally free to roam, explore, and go shopping! This simple little thing is really just the greatest thing ever, from the first moment he got his tiny hands on it he just took off with a pep in his step and laughter in his trail.

Since then we've basically been following him around as he walks up and down our railroad apartment. Unfortunately though he does not know how to steer so we have to follow behind and adjust his trajectory so that he walks through the doorway instead of into it and curves around the couch. He loves this thing so much if you try to pick him up when he's holding on he'll actually grip it tighter and you end up lifting him with the cart dangling from his little body.

Yesterday Elliot even had a moment of independent balance! As you may know, he loves to (un)sort the recycling, so he was holding on to the cart with one hand while riffling in the recycling box. He picked up a plastic bottle with the recycling hand, and then moved his other hand to it so that he was standing completely on his own and holding this bottle with both hands! It didn't last long, but I saw it first! This brings me some sense of satisfaction since Josh is the primary baby caretaker and I'm sad to miss out on fun moments, and especially first moments, so even though Josh will likely see Elliot's first real steps - which will happen any day now - I can still say I saw the first pre-steps!

Pure happiness :)

Almost 10 months old

We're so happy that it's finally summertime! It ain't easy being inside all day with an active little guy like this, breaking up the day by going to the park and taking walks in the stroller definitely help to keep him entertained. As previously mentioned, Elliot is no calm gentle baby, oh no, he is constantly on the move reaching, tasting, throwing, touching, looking and he is exploring his environment more than ever now. It's no surprise to me, remember those belly kicking videos? I knew he'd be a mover and a shaker and man can he wear you out! Two recent tricks he's acquired are clapping his hands and smacking his lips in a kissing fashion. He's also getting good at kicking a ball if it's in front of his foot. He frequently says mama and dada, as well as many other interesting sounds like Oh, yeah, and other cooing noises I won't attempt to spell out.

His hair is also getting so long and has the quintessential blondie curls above the ears. We like to make mohawks, and in case you're wondering when we are planning on cutting it, never! Well, definitely not for a long time, we're going to let those golden curls grow long.
He is growing so fast I really can't believe it, although looking ahead I'm excited for all the things he still can't do that he soon will, like saying funny stuff and walking. Tune in for the walking thing, I just know he's getting really really close to taking his first steps without any assistance. He can already walk pretty well if you hold his hands and I'm pretty sure it won't be mom or dad that will entice him to yearn towards our embrace but probably some ordinary household object out of reach that he'll feel motivated enough to want to poke and get there on his own.
Toothwise, he's already had the two at the top for a while and now there's a tooth starting to come out on both sides of those front two teeth, plus a 4th coming out on the bottom, that will make a total of 8 teeth already! That would explain why he's really eating basically anything these days, he can munch down a rice cracker no problem, quinoa, chicken, steamed veggies, whatever you've got!