Growth Spurt

I think our little boy is in the middle of a big growth spurt. One of the things we have been very lucky with is that Eli really isn't very fussy. When he does get amped up, it's usually hunger-related or because he is overly tired. The last few days he's been like Kobayashi at the Hot Dog eating contest, going after food at every opportunity and chowing down as if he would never get the chance again. He has also really started sleeping through the night pretty well (knock wood) and his mom is getting quality rest.

Eli was also very pleased with the Tar Heels' defense this weekend against Va. Tech and ecstatic about Dook's ugly loss to Weak Forest. Speaking of dribbling...he has graduated to the constant use of a bib because the drool is out in full force. Before long, almost every shirt I have will start showing the telltale signs of a drooling baby on the left shoulder so it might be time to hit the Old Navy for some cheap shirts.

Hands-on experience

Eli is slowly but surely starting to discover his hands. Every once in a while you'll notice him moving his arms all around and they catch his eye. The look of confusion that covers his face at that moment is hilarious. He is also getting better at grabbing things and holding on to them for longer periods. The kid has an iron grip.

Last night Rebecca was cradling him and while they were looking at each other Eli kept swinging his left arm toward her face. After a few minutes of this it was clear he was trying to touch her but didn't quite have control over it yet. He managed to touch her face a few times during all the flailing and even grabbed her mouth once. Rebecca is starting to think he will be left-handed, which I have to admit I have been curious about. I'm predominately left-handed (though I write and play guitar righty because that's how I was taught) and Rebecca is right-handed. If he does turn out a lefty then hopefully he can make it past the notebook spiral imprints in his forearms and the green-handled scissors. That's the worst of it.

Eli has a laugh

Eli had his first real laugh the other day. Rebecca was tickling him and giving him zerberts and he let out the cutest little cackle. He's only done it a couple times since but we know it's there and can't wait for him to do it more. I guess as parents, we must learn to be funnier.

He also slept through his first UNC/duke game, which was a good thing considering the result. Sleeping through the game also meant that he didn't have to hear his dad's sailor mouth and the spewing vitriol that usually accompanies these rivalry games (I'm a UNC alum and Rebecca was a fan since she was little). Hopefully, I will be able to get my demeanor during games in check before he starts learning to repeat what I say. I don't think it's a real issue except during games against duke, where I can't hide how much I loathe them.

No, we did not name him after Eli Manning

It truly is the year of the Eli. Last night our little Eli got to experience his first Superbowl. He didn't watch the game, of course, but he cheered just the same. Our friends who hosted the party have a 20 month old and another good friend came over with his newborn as well so there were other little kids for Eli to party with. We watched as Eli Manning engineered one of the great Super Bowl upsets of all time. Just for the record...our kid was born almost 3 months BEFORE the Giants won the game although I'm sure we will get asked a lot if we named our kid after Manning.

Eli made it through his first full week of daycare and today he starts week 2. We both have had little head-colds over the last few days and I'm hoping it's just snotty baby stuff, not sinus issues and allergies like his dad. He's really feeling solid now and keeping his head up which makes baby transport so much easier. He also doesn't like being held in cradle position as much as being held upright so he can see what's going on.

The end of maternity leave and beginning of daycare

Today is a day that Rebecca and I have sort of dreaded. It's Eli's first day of daycare and Rebecca's first day back at work. It also means a hefty chunk of money leaving our paychecks every month and believe me when I say that daycare in the Triangle is frakking expensive. The good news is that we will finally be able to see what our routine will be like. Rebecca will also get to talk to real adults again. Eli is a blast to talk to but adult/intelligent interaction will be a good thing to get back to.

It was almost as if Eli knew yesterday and today would be stressful (particularly on mommy) so he gave her the best gift he could have...he chose last night to sleep through the night for the first time. The kid just plain rocks. Thanks Eli!

Eli's 1st X-mas

Eli's first Christmas with us was a busy one. The Saturday before Christmas we traveled to Burlington to visit with some of Rebecca's family. It has been really neat to see those branches of the family tree grow. There are five little ones now at the family gatherings, all under six years old and they provide boatloads of entertainment. Eli is the only one who isn't really mobile yet but that didn't matter because he was getting passed around all over the place.

The two days before Christmas we stayed at Rebecca's mom's house with her 3 sisters, our brother-in-law + child, her mom and 2 dogs. To say it was a full house is an understatement but everything went great. Everyone had a place to sleep and I know Rebecca appreciated being there with everyone for Eli's first Christmas. We got hooked up with some cute outfits and books for the little guy.

We also went to another little X-mas/white elephant party for the other side of Rebecca's family on Christmas eve. Eli slept the whole time while his one-year old cousin Jack was busy entertaining everyone by standing in a gift bag. Eli made out the best out of the 3 of us in the gift department...he received a very cool multi-colored stuffed turtle.

On Christmas day we traveled to my family's house to stay the night. My parents got a radio flyer wagon for Eli and we have some pictures of him laying on a pillow in it. I'll try to put one up here when I get it downloaded in the computer but for now I'll include the one we used for X-mas cards.

Eli's favorite place in the house

It doesn't matter what kind of mood Eli is in, there is one place in the house that automatically turns him into a smiling, cooing little boy. Luckily for us, that place is somewhere we have to visit very often, the changing table. Maybe it has to do with the distance your face is away from his or it could be that he really likes the little blanket on the wall with the animals. Whatever the reason, it makes me love changing diapers. He is really starting to coo and make funny noises a lot, which means we can carry on pseudo-conversations like this:

Me: Do you want the blue onesie or the green one?
Eli: Huuuuunnnhhh.
Me: Ok. Blue it is. After this we'll go do some tummy time, ok?
Eli: Ahhgoooo.
Me: Great!