The Eating Saga Continues...

No bananas cut up, please.
I want the whole thing to hold and eat.
Mama says big bites are a choking hazard,
But I say that is okay.
Mama can always dig her fingers in get it out.

I am too smart to be tricked by mama now.
She mixes in bits of cheese with cheerios,
But I don't fall for that sneaky trick.
Oh no! I pick through and only pick out cheerios.
Sorry mama. Any new tricks up your sleeves?

My favorite sign during meal time is "All done."
Mama complains that I sign, "All done," even when I am not.
She is right.
Sometimes, I am not "all done" being hungry,
But I am all done with the food if I don't like it.
My "all done" sign often gets me off that booster seat,
Because I'd rather play than eat.
As my baba says I eat to live,
I don't live to eat.

Mama works hard to make sure I get good food,
But, I might be like baba when he was little,
I might be a picky eater and not that interested in food,
If that is the case, baba says, I am gonna be one skinny boy just like he was,
One day, you might be able to count all my ribs.

So, the saga continues.... but, don't be too frustrated mom.
Remember, until I am one years old,
most of my nutrients still should come from breastmilk.
And, I know that you have plenty to keep me happy and healthy.

New Sound

Before I forget, I want to jot this down. Whenever I would see a bird in books or outdoors, I have been using the sign language for it and making a chirping sound. Well, we were out at a training where Paul was teaching and there were chickens running around. He began making the chirping noise to say that they are birds! Well, they do belong in the bird family, I guess. To him they probably all look the same. It is so fun to have your child communicate with you.

9 Months Old

Nine months old today!

As you can see from the video, he has begun to cruise. I don't know how soon after cruising babies begin to walk, but he is so eager to walk. We are so excited to see his growth and development.

One of the games we have been playing with Elijah has been "Where is so and so?" kind of like a peek-a-boo. We realized today that he totally understands our question, "Where is ah-pa (daddy) or where is um-ma." Because it is a game, when we ask, either one of us is hiding and asking. It is so fun having him look for us....a prelude to hide and seek. But today, it was so evident to us that he understood our question because as Paul was holding him, I asked him, "Where is ah-pa?" He looked straight up at Paul and smiled! How sweet. He knows his ah-pa.

He now knows how to wave good-bye. Today, for the first time, he shook his hands for "all done," after his meal.

Developmentally, he is also going through a phase where he wants to do everything HIMSELF and do what we do. He doesn't want me to feed him. He wants to feed himself. So, right now, he seems to only want finger foods. Of course cheerios is a big winner. I have been smearing mashed bananas on his toast, melting cheese on them, etc. because he is not eating very much of anything else. The other day, I had cut up small slices of pear for him. But, what he wanted was to hold the pear in its entirety and eat it. I did the same with an apple today too. I just peeled it and gave him the whole thing. He held it and gnawed and bit on it for some time. I have always given him a spoon to play with during the meals. Now, he puts them in bowls and plays around. I have this feeling that eating is going to be even messier, but that's okay with me as long as he eats! It is another opportunity for him to explore. He hates gooey and mushy textures. You should see his face! Ha! He has that, "Gross look...." where he frowns, touches a bit, quickly removes his hand, and looks at me like "What in the heck is that?" Hopefully, it is only a phase and he will grow to like mushy things and smear them all over his face too!

I'll post photos tomorrow when I am not so tired. Need to go to bed....

Prelude to the Chase

Elijah's Obsessions

Door handles, hinges, small holes, bed posts, chairs, tables...basically anything that he can use to pull himself up, and oh yeah, cheerios and toasts(besides these two things, he refuses to eat and is driving his mom crazy with his eating habits! Hopefully, it is just a teething thing....but then, I think everything has to do with teething! :)) He also loves his daddy. Today, Paul came home after a long day at work and Elijah, upon seeing his dad was laughing in joy and repeating the words, "Babababa." So cute to watch. Now, for some photos!!

What are you going to become when you grow up Elijah? He definitely likes to tinker around, investigate, and wants to master whatever new thing he has discovered.

Teething

He has three top teeth and another bottom tooth coming through. No wonder he was not a happy camper today. He was clingy today and not really himself. I finally gave him Tylenol to help ease the pain a bit. Hopefully, he will sleep well tonight....for his and our sake. I am so tired!

Well, I will post more photos and other thoughts when I have more energy. We were planning to go out for our ten year anniversary but we couldn't find a babysitter and both Paul and I developed bad headaches and were not feeling well. We had ham sandwiches for dinner, a bowl of ramen, and now we're ready to sleep....yes, Elijah, your mom and dad are old farts! :) For some reason, we are reminded of this reality more ever since we had you!