Sleep Training

So, I decided to sleep train Elijah for his naps during the day. I realized that I spent quite a bit of time putting him down for his naps and I felt like he is now ready to go to sleep on his own. Actually, he already knows how to put himself to sleep. It is helping him to do it by letting him know that it is nap time and not play time. Because of our transition, setting up our place, teething, and then a cold, I wanted to wait for the right time to do it. I decided this morning was the right time to begin. He woke up at 5:30am, ate, played, and then it was nap time. He was tired and was in need of a nap. I put him down, he cried, and then I went in every 5 minutes to reassure him without picking him up. He was mad each time I left and cried harder, but after 40 minutes of crying, he fell asleep. He slept for an hour and a half. (Recently, he started waking up after only 30-45 minutes of nap. I could tell he was still tired but he wanted to play.) Well, I just put him down for his late morning nap. He whimpered for maybe two minutes and he is down. :) We'll see how it goes!

Elijah Exploring His World

He is so inquisitive....I have so much fun watching him.

First Trip to the Himalayan Hills

We took our first trip up to the Himalayan hill town of Mirik. It was great to be in a cool place where we could wear warmer clothes, walk around without sweating, sleep with a blanket covering us, and be entertained just by being outside. We loved the fresh air. It was also India's Independence Day on August 15th, so we got to watch a small ceremony commemorating it. We are grateful for the refreshing time together.

Elijah loved being outdoors. He loved being carried by daddy and mommy in the backpack carrier where he could see everything around him. Elijah was a hit wherever we went. People wanted to see him and he gave them big smiles in response. Some people even asked if they could take his picture. We're praying that all the attention doesn't go to his head. :)

First Mess..

and probably not the last. Elijah is getting into everything he could get his hands on. He finally managed to get the sunscreen tube, open it, and get it all over himself while we were not watching only for a few seconds. Oh my, it's just the beginning!! :) We have given our son a new nickname: "Magellan, our little explorer" From the moment he wakes up (really, I am not exaggerating) to the moment he goes down for the night, he is moving, exploring, lunging, touching, and doing everything he can to figure out, master, and explore the world around him. It is a lot of fun watching him discover his world, but I must admit that it can be exhausting too for an old fart like me! ;)

More Photos!

Elijah trying the Johnny Jumper that we bought from an expat friend who is leaving India. Not quite ready for it....he needs to gain a bit more weight to really enjoy the springy bounce!
We spent a morning with our Bengali neighbors we had met in the very first apartment complex we had lived in in 2006. They have a son who just turned one. It was fun to share baby stories and watch baby massage in action.
Elijah loves kids, it seems. He usually reaches out to touch them and interact with them.
Daddy is trying out a baby carrier pack for the first time that our expat friend sold to us. The umbrella is keeping both of them safe from the UV rays. We're hoping to use it up in the hills soon!
Enjoying the morning sun and hoping for a quick dry!

Super Baby Food

This book is great. In some ways it has way more information than I can possibly read or absorb at this point, but it is a great reference book for first time moms who are starting their babies on solids. However, I am also discovering that some of the food suggestions for when and what to introduce certain foods are not that useful as I am limited to only veggies and fruits that are in season. It is not like America where everything is "in season." So, I've pretty much scrapped the suggestions and found towards the end of the book a reference guide that lists different fruits and veggies and the seasons that they are available, with information about what month of a baby's development it'd be good to introduce them. Elijah is now eating oats and has tried summer squash. He seems to like them. Surprisingly, he does not seem to like 100% pure apple juice we found here. Next week, I am thinking about giving carrots, green beans, or guava a try. :) Let's see if you like any of them, Elijah!

Milk...

He has begun using the sign language for milk! I had started using the sign language for milk starting when he was about four months old. I thought he started signing a couple of days ago, but I wasn't completely certain because I thought maybe he was playing with his hands. So, I kind of watched to see if he consistently started using the sign (clasping his hand) and when I offered my breasts, if he would take them. We have had a couple of misunderstandings here and there. But, today, it was crystal clear that he has started using the sign for milk...it was so cool. He asked, I gave, and now he is sound asleep taking a nap. :)