Sunday, April 29, 2012

Green

 There was a free kids' crafting event at a local museum. We built little wooden alligators.
 Elliot helped. Sort of.
 Then colored the alligators. These "washable" Crayola markers took at least 5 washes to wash out.
(green lips!)
 

 
  There's a great little water play park next to the museum. The babies played a bit in the water areas, and more in the dry spots.
 New shades. This is about as close to the eyes as Elliot allowed the glasses.
 He likes swings A LOT more now than a few months ago.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A Visit From Grandma Elaine

 A sunny smile in a field of daffodils.
 Fun frog at the botanic garden we visited in Eastern NY.

 Some exciting reading while getting a diaper change.
 At the aquarium. There were real sea lions too, but they didn't sit still long enough for photos!
Practice with standing skills.

My First Splitters

Slippery socks plus slippery floors makes standing up a little challenging. Elliot is starting to pull himself up to standing, using all sorts of furniture (and other objects) for support. Sitting back down is the next step to learn.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Springtime Fun


Delicious dandelions. They're nice to wear, but better to eat!

Wagon rides through the flowers are great fun, especially with Monkey.


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Cute, but oh so frustrating


Chris is out of town this week. So I have no break from Elliot and his fussiness. He's been refusing afternoon naps for about a week (or only sleeping for a short 30 min if we go for a walk), which means he's a basket case by 6pm. Bedtime has been around 7:30. I'm thinking of making it earlier, though not sure how that will affect his morning waking. That's the other frustrating issue.

Elliot started mostly sleeping through the night a few weeks ago, with relapses now and then. but for the past week, he's been waking up earlier and earlier. When he wakes up, he moans, loudly. At first, it was 6am, then 5:30, then 5, then 3:30, last night it was 2:30am. And he's very fussy, and very awake. And hungry.

I've tried feeding his as much as possible before bed, but he only drinks so much. Tried "topping him off" when we go to bed, but that just usually wakes him up. Tried reinserting the pacifier and leaving him alone. Tried ignoring the moaning so he goes to sleep again on his own, but it escalates to crying (and the neighbors have said they can hear him crying at night, and I feel guilty). So I've been feeding him when he wakes, and then he usually lays there moaning for another hour, or until I give in and bring him into our bed with us. Bad habit. Then he sleeps until 7:30 or 8am.