"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth..."

Here are yours.... You might have another tooth coming out on the top as your gum was bleeding a bit the other day, but it's hard to tell right now....

Dogs, Frog, and a Giant Spider

God created them all, whether we think they're cute, ugly, a nuisance, or disgusting! What do you think of them, Elijah? We can find them inside or just nearby our apartment.

A Letter to Elijah

Dear Elijah,

I decided to write a short letter to you about today. Today is Sunday, so we went to church. Mommy and daddy discussed a bit whether it would be better for you and I to stay at home or go to church with him. Daddy was preaching today and the whole service lasts usually over two and a half hours long. Usually we go a little late after your nap, but we couldn't today. We decided that we would all go and see how it goes. Unknowingly, mommy and daddy chose the hottest day since our arrival in Siliguri to be the day that we ventured out to spend over two and a half hours in a small but packed church service.

In the middle of the service, we stripped you down to your diaper because it was so hot and we could hardly feel the fan in the room. You were sweating all over, but you were such a champ. You didn't whine or cry one bit. Instead, you were so intrigued by the guitars, the drums, and the people around you that it seemed as though you hardly noticed the heat. But mommy and daddy did, so we took turns blowing on your head and body to cool you down a bit. You decided to make it even more adventurous for mommy by asking her to feed you in the middle of the service. There is no "nursing" section here, so mommy discreetly nursed you in her seat as people were singing. You eventually fell asleep in my arms. Unfortunately, your sleep was interrupted by the clapping around you....but, again, you didn't fuss or cry. You just snuggled right up to mommy and watched the people behind you as they tried to make you smile. When we returned home, you were overly tired and a bit hyperactive....you were very tired but fighting sleep. Eventually, you calmed down enough to take a nice nap. You woke up feeling refreshed and ready to play again! Mommy just wanted to say "Thanks for being such a good sport and for being a flexible kid so that we could all worship Jesus at church together with our friends. You're our little champ! We love you so much."

The jury is in...

no sweet potatoes for our son. He doesn't like it. I did not get to test it out to see if he is sensitive to it because he refused to let me feed him....How did he let me know that he does not like sweet potatoes? He kept his mouth shut, puckered up his lips like he does when he's unhappy about something, and finally he spit it out. So, I stopped trying and pureed bananas to give him. He liked bananas! So amazing that at six months, he knows what he likes and what he doesn't like....I tell ya, babies are little people, that's for sure!

New Words

About two days ago he started saying, "Mem mem mem..." and "Babababa" So, I think he's trying to say "Mamamama," and "Dadadada..." or possibly, "Um-ma or Ah-pa" (mommy and daddy in Korean). Or maybe I'm just wishful... :) He loves saying these new discovered words and I love listening to them!

Eli and I went swimming today for the first time with a few YWAM ladies. Although it was 4pm in the afternoon, the water was warm from the hot sun beating on it all day and it was a perfect way to cool off. I wasn't sure how he would do in the water, but he LOVED it!! He spent probably over an hour in the water. He even started moving his arms and legs as if he was trying to swim and had so much fun. We need to do it again. Of course, I had my camera, but left the memory card in the computer back at home....Oh well, next time.

Food Sensitivity

So, I am finding that as I start Elijah on solids, there is much more to consider due to his food sensitivity issue. Because he is still breastfeeding, whenever I am introducing new food in his diet, I have to make sure that I don't eat something new either. For example, I started him on sweet potatoes. However, today, I had toast with jam (berries) and chicken salami. Right before I fed him the sweet potatoes, I breastfed him. I noticed that after I finished giving him sweet potatoes (which he didn't seem to like that much), he had a rash on his back. Now, the question is, is he sensitivity to sweet potatoes or is he sensitive to the jam or the salami from breastmilk? I'll try again tomorrow and make sure I just have plain toast and a banana, then see what happens after I give him the sweet potatoes...

Arghhh... honestly, it is starting to get a little frustrating for me. Ever since I have completely cut out soy, eggs, dairy, citrus, and nuts, his skin has been mostly free of rashes. I tried yogurt once and he was gassy that whole day. I actually think he might be lactose intolerant and but not allergic to dairy.... Thank goodness that he is not sensitive to wheat! I've been living on lentils and rice (with vegetable and chicken) and spaghetti, but besides that I can't venture out too much. Going out to eat is more work. A couple of times I had other kinds of Indian food, he woke up multiple times crying at night time and developed small rash.... as I reflected back on each of the incidents, I had peas.... I wonder if he is sensitive to peas too (which is in the same family as peanuts). He's been wheezing since we have been in India (I'm not sure if it's due to the dogs, the environment, or food) and some days it seems worse.I am praying for healing for him and that he would outgrow this issue.... If this continues, I think I want to have him get tested for food allergies after he turns one. Nevertheless, he continues to be a happy, cheerful little guy, and for that I am thankful.

I can move, well kind of..sort of..

Here's a video of Elijah scooting himself on the bed....Oh my, once he gets moving, I think he is going to keep us really busy!!