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At 10 months, we have a real kid on our hands. We no longer feel like we have a baby to take care of, but a real kid. A kid who can’t walk or talk yet, but a kid nonetheless. He has emotions, curiosity, likes, dislikes and even communication. He’s not speaking in words, but we can still pick up on attempts at language through motions and sounds. Sometimes very bizarre sounds. (see clip below)
Over the past few weeks, Eli saw his Uncle Brian get married, met new relatives, went “swimming”, tried lots of new food, and just got back from a camp weekend with his grandparents (Nana & Papa) in Lenox, MA. The Berkshires are home to summer camps attended by Rachel, her brothers, her mother and her grandfather. Over the past few years, we’ve been making an annual ‘camp’ trip to the area with Rachel’s family at the end of the summer. Photo above is from Eli’s first visit to Stockbridge Bowl.
On a side note, I’m watching a 30 for 30 documentary about Michael Jordan’s stint in baseball while I type this. The documentary series has been outstanding. In particular, “The Two Escobars,” “Run Ricky Run” and “Winning Time.” Check them out if you haven’t caught on already.
At 9 months, Eli feels more like a family member than just a baby in our lives. His personality is coming out, he’s exploring everything he can get his hands or mouth around, and he’s on the move. He has the knee crawl down, but he moves faster on his belly, and usually prefers that mode of transportation. He’s standing and walking around tables, chairs and anything he can use for support. And if there is anything unbolted to the ground, he’ll grab it, put it in his mouth and then throw it across the room. As parents, we’re spending more and more time chasing him, pulling things out of his mouth, and picking up the path of debris he leaves behind him. The result is a new kind of exhaustion. Not the sleep exhaustion from the first 3 months, but something new. The closest thing I can compare it to is the mental drain you feel after a tough exam. (One you didn’t study for…)
Here’s a video of his new favorite activity – the shoulder bounce:
We went to a friend’s house for a crawfish boil last weekend, which I couldn’t fully enjoy due to a nasty stomach bug I’ve been fighting. But Eli had had a blast, meeting both chickens and crawfish for the first time. Maybe it’s natural for this age, but he has no fear. I had to keep pulling his hands out of the chicken coop, and he was diving for the crawfish. I can’t imagine what this Eli defense is going to be like when he can actually walk around. It’s exhausting! A professional photographer was at the crawfish boil, and he sent a few pictures of Eli and me. Thanks Tom.
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I had been trying to capture this on video for a while, but could never get him to do it on cue. But this was a video my dad took while on vacation a few weeks back and I just found it on the computer. Oh, and I recognize that this may be one of those things that is only funny to the parent, but nonetheless, take it away Eli:
So, what do we know about you, at 8 months into this life?
- You have two long rabbit teeth, with two more on the way
- You have a small head and meaty thighs
- You love standing, bouncing, and playing in water
- You seem to like people, the outdoors, music and dogs
- You are curious and energized by just about everything around you
- You’re refreshing in that way
As parents 8 months in, we are starting to wonder which traits will be a part of your future personality and which are just passing phases. But you’re only 8 months old, so we’ll just have to wait and see. The picture above is from your first visit to a finger lakes winery. We’re getting you started early.
Well Eli, with the amount of travel you’ve been through over the last few months, we’ve been joking that your future memoir will be titled, “Growing Up in the Back Seat of a Volvo.” Between work, weddings, family visits and vacation, you’ve already logged in over a thousand miles in your car seat. And fortunately, you’re a pretty good sport about it all. Right now we’re in NJ visiting your grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles on your mom’s side. Tonight your incredible cousin Noah is giving a speech at a fundraiser for his non-profit organization Calcutta Kids. I’m sure you’ll visit him in India with us someday soon.
Last weekend you met your cousin Robin for the first time and saw your Uncle Brian & Aunt Marilyn. Below are two clips from your travels and visits. One at your music class and one in the Westfield pool. You seem to be really taking to music and water. Is it a sign that you’ll be a great swimmer like your mom and a great musician like your cousins Tim, Mira, Dora and Noah? Can’t wait to find out…
We took a trip down to Cape Cod with my father’s side of the family. It was my first visit to the area in 15 years and Eli’s first time to the Atlantic. At a time when we’re living through the worst oil spill in our nation’s history, it seemed appropriate to bring him to some clean ocean water while we still have it.
While Eli is still only 7 months old, I’m beginning to understand what it means to live through your child’s eyes. As I get older, and a trip to the beach gets a little less exciting, I now get to watch my own son go through all these experiences for the first time. On top of that, we’re able to share his happiness with our parents and extended family. And there was something about having him around that made everyone feel a bit closer.
Rachel and I took one afternoon for ourselves and a trip to a town called Wellfleet near the tip of the cape. The town was recommended to us by a friend from the office where Rachel and I met each other. Her family lives in the area runs a seafood business called Mac’s Seafood. Welfleet is a perfect little coastal town and Mac’s is a perfect little seafood shack. We stuffed ourselves with fish tacos and fried clam strips. Then we bought 4 pounds of scallops and cooked them up for the family meal that night.
All in all, a perfect break from the giant to-do list that keeps filling up at home and Rachel’s big work event in NYC coming up next week. Eli- For the record, you hit a few milestones on this trip: First toe in the Atlantic, first taste of watermelon, first meeting of the Clark family, and first 6 hour road trip. You’re a blast to have around, little buddy. Even after 6 hours in a car.
We appear to be turning a milestone corner with every day now. In the last few weeks Eli has shown off his ability to sit upright, crawl (or something resembling a crawl), scream, hold his own bottle, and today he stood for the camera (with a little help). As for parenting, we feel like we’ve been in a sweet spot for two months, right after sleeping through the night, and right before he turns fully mobile and begins terrorizing everything in his path. Oh, and one other big development, this boy has developed from his father’s chicken legs to a pair of meaty thighs. You can thank your mom for that someday, Eli. She’s excited to teach you how to use those in the pool this summer.
Video of his new tricks (& thighs) below:
Knock on wood, we seem to have a pretty happy boy on our hands. Ever since his first smile and laugh, he hasn’t slowed down. Sure, he can throw a fit and a breakdown with the best of them, but overall he seems to enjoy himself. After traveling for the last 7 days, it was great to come home to the family and warm weather in Ithaca. Here’s a clip from Russert’s new favorite game of tug on the bottle. Eli is a huge fan.
Well Eli, you’ve been in our lives for 6 months now. It’s hard to believe, but since we just started sleeping again a few weeks ago, it’s all a bit foggy.
So for your 6 month birthday, your mom was out of town and we spent our first weekend alone together. I grilled for us on Friday, but you slept through that. Then we watched a documentary about Reggie Miller beating up on the Ewing/Starks Knicks. (You slept through that too). On Saturday we went to your music class and you chewed on a maraca. Then I gardened a bit on Saturday while you played in the grass with Russert. And then we had to sleep at your grandparents house because of the leaky water pipe that ruined our dining room. You weren’t feeling great last night, so ‘grandpa with a mustache’ bought you Tylenol at 4am. Today we went to a diner, we went shopping and then we spent the afternoon transplanting string beens, zucchini and cucumbers. You really liked the soil. You made a mess. Tonight I gave you a bath, and a bottle and you fell to sleep on my shoulder.
I had a really great time with you this weekend. And i’m also very glad you mom just got home. I’m wiped.
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