Eli is coming up on 2 1/2 years, and is definitely becoming more independent all the time. Other people have also noticed him maturing, and looking and acting older than his "baby" toddler self. One way that Eli seems older is that he's talking so much and so well! These are some of the things I hear on a regular basis:
- "Where are we going?"
- "Mom! What are you doing?"
- "Oh, what's that?"
- "I'm hungry."
- "Are we there yet?" (said when driving to grandparents' houses)
- "Come play with me."
- "I need/want ________ NOW!"
- "More show please."
- "More chocolate milk!"
- "I do it all by myself."
- (after trying and having trouble--"I can't do it."
- "Stop it!"
- "Nnnnoo!!"
- When introducing himself to new people--"Me Eli"
- "Scatter sunshine all along the way!!!" (The quote we have in our kitchen. He loves to raise his hands in the air and shout it really loudly.)
- "Go ahead." (What he says to the person getting ready to pray)
- "Mom! Where are you?"
I just LOVE hearing him talk so much, and getting to have fun conversations with him. For a few days whenever we'd sit down to eat he'd hand me his food and say, "Daddy made those. Try it!" (Daddy did in fact, NOT make the foods he kept claiming he did).
Speaking of foods, Eli is doing marvelously at eating! My used-to-despise-fruit-unless-it-was-pureed-child now is becoming a real fruit lover! He loves apples, grapes, bananas, kiwi, cantaloupe, canned peaches, applesauce, etc.! I'm still amazed. It makes feeding him SO much easier, and makes me happier knowing he's getting lots of good fruits in him now. He's still plenty picky, but I know there's hope for him!
I was trying to sneakily come up and take a picture of him playing, when he surprised me by turning up his head and smiling for the camera! Most of the time when I try to get Eli to smile for me he'll do a quick smile that's hard to catch on camera. If you keep asking him to say "cheese" he will start making a very forced, rather irritated look of exasperation. : )
I took this video back in March. I was making cookies and Eli wanted to stir something. So to keep him happy while I baked I poured some water in a bowl, added some food coloring, and he had a blast!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we8z7PvkOI8
Eli out on a Spring walk with Dad. It's been a bit of a nutty Spring, with late March snowfalls, plenty of cooler weather, several hot days, and LOTS of rain. May has been really beautiful, though, and we're enjoying many park days and neighborhood walks.
Found a puddle--
Boy does this kid never tire of putting rocks down the sewer!
One thing Eli loves to do, if we are walking outside when Daddy comes home, is "drive" the car home. David will pick Eli up from our walk, sit him in the driver's seat with him and let him steer the wheel.
Eli is incredibly obsessed with big machines, i.e. dumpers/diggers
("Scooping up dirt!"), bulldozers, ("He's moving!") rollers, cement trucks, and dump trucks ("Dump out dirt!"). He is also quite fond of fire trucks, tractors, buses, the mailman ("Picks up mail"), garbage truck ("Picks up trashcans"), and UPS/Fedex truck ("Brings package"). A nearby highway is getting major construction done this summer, so every time we drive on it is pure delight for Eli. He squeals, shouts, and claps to his heart's content at getting to see all the big machines in action. After we pass the construction he sadly says, "See more dumpers?" He can't ever get enough! I really think it's fun that he takes so much pleasure out of all of these machines and service vehicles.
One pastime that Eli has taken up is singing. He is incredibly fascinated with the conductor at church. As soon as the organ starts playing his ears perk up and he sits up or stands so he can watch the conductor lead the music. Oftentimes he leads along with her. About a month ago he grabbed a small table I have by our door and started using it as his conductor stand. He waves his hand around and "sings" VERY loudly. It really just sounds like he's yelling, but he proudly states, "I'm singing!" Now he loves to put on performances for me. He'll say, "Sit, Mommy," and wants me to sit on the couch while he "sings" me something. : ) A very sweet and LOUD hobby. : ) Here's a video of him singing and us having a fun little chat--
Enjoying listening to Pandora through Daddy's headphones.
Found a big stick at the park . . .
. . . perfect for fishing with! Lately Eli's really taken an interest in fishing. He's never actually gone fishing before, but he sure loves to pretend!
Here's a very cute video of Eli "fishing"--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WEeUImkbNk
Eli's doing so well at being nice to other kids and making friends! We have playgroups with our church every week, and he just loves being around his friends and plays well with them. We've also watched other family's kids several times and he's doing so well at sharing his toys and taking turns. I think Nursery has played a big role in helping him develop these skills. He's a very friendly little boy and enjoys talking to/playing with anyone who shows him attention, even complete strangers.
His current favorite shows to watch are Caillou, The Busy Town of Richard Scarry, and Martha Speaks. He does still watch an occasional Kipper, and started wrapping a blanket around his shoulders and calling himself "Super Dog." (after one of the episodes) : )
We made a road for his cars. All he ever wants to do is "park" them.
Eli adores his cars so much that lately he's wanted to bring one or two to sleep with him. At first it was just at nap time (he almost never naps anymore, so I figured it was fine to have a toy to play with in bed. But lately he's wanted one at bedtime, too. Funny kid, can't stand to part with them.
We've definitely been getting a big taste of the ugly Eli behavior around here, and boy am I not a fan!! My goodness his temperament can change so fast you'd think he was bi-polar! He will be all sweet, and then occasionally when he doesn't get what he wants right when he wants it he becomes Monster Eli, with the yelling and spitting. It gets old. Very fast. Most of the time I try steering his attention to something else. Maybe I need to put him in time-out more often, but I usually prefer to try working out his frustration instead first.
We have a big stick that's used as our "security" for our back porch door. Eli's always had fun playing with it, but a little while back he started taking it out and then "attacking" us with it (aka: he would use it like a Samurai warrior and point it at us while making a fighter sound, but not actually touching us with it. He loves when the person he points acts scared.) It sounds pretty confusing, but it's actually hilarious. : )
Trying on funny glasses at Grammie's house--
One day we walked to the park after a big rain. The grass was pretty flooded, and instead of playing on the playground, Eli just wanted to throw rocks in the water. Yes, he's very much a BOY and LOVES playing in dirt and rocks. The funny thing about dirt is that he loves playing in it, but whenever he watches the dumpers and bulldozers in the dirt he says "Eww, yucky dirt!" (emphasis on 'yucky'). I think it's hilarious! He must have heard me say that dirt he was playing in one day was yucky, so now he has it in his head that all the dirt that gets moved by his beloved machines is yucky, too. : ) Here's a little video of him throwing rocks in the "pond"--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhZeBCAlI2s
Another day at the park, where all he wanted to do was bury his jeep in the dirt. : )
Another day at the park, where all he wanted to do was bury his jeep in the dirt. : )
Can never seem to get enough "cow" cheese!
Very interested in potty and the contents of his diaper. Right after he poos he grabs the back of his diaper and says "I poopie," and is always ready to be changed right away. He always wants to see it and wipe it himself (I don't let him.) I frequently ask him if he wants to sit on the potty but he yells "No!" Guess that's that! Oh well, baby steps are good. : )
So much braver at the parks! Climbing up the big rock wall--
So much braver at the parks! Climbing up the big rock wall--
Loves going down the slides!
Video of him sliding--
Playing "choo choo" with the box--
Here's a video of him playing hide and seek in the box--
Received a fun little tin pot, colander, and utensils from G & G Hayes. Loves them!
A week ago a terrible rash appeared all over Eli's legs. I figured it was some kind of contact dermatitis, and rubbed calamine lotion over it. Then the rash would disappear, only to come back again just as bad. This lasted about 4 or 5 days and then it didn't come back. I don't know what is was that bothered him, if he was sensitive to a plant he came across at a park, or maybe even the bath crayons that we had been using that week. I'm just glad it finally got better!
Having fun with the bubble wand!
Having fun with the bubble wand!
Likes wearing his cap backwards--
The rest of the pictures were taken by my mother-in-law, while Eli was staying with them when we were in French Lick. She's a great photographer and got many terrific shots showcasing how much fun he had!
Cars with Grandpa H.
LOVES playing in the sandbox!
Enjoyed playing with his cousins, Ethan and Caeley--
Talkin' on the phone--
While Eli was staying with his grandparents they bought him a Big Wheel at a yard sale. He LOVES that thing! He and David drive it around the neighborhood most every evening. : )
I just love this picture. The other day Eli found this beanie and wanted to wear it and go outside. It was close to 90 degrees! I tried to talk him out of it, but he is of course the most stubborn kid I know and wouldn't budge. So we went out with him in his winter beanie while he "mowed" the grass with his popper.
There's no mistaking that this boy's a handful, but I also don't think they come any sweeter!
Love him a bushel and a peck. : )
There's no mistaking that this boy's a handful, but I also don't think they come any sweeter!
Love him a bushel and a peck. : )
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