8 Months

8 Months!!! Its seems impossible that Elliott is already 8 months old. These months have flown by so quickly it's crazy. Elliott is such a happy and sweet boy. He smiles at EVERYTHING and his newest thing is waving his little arm at people. He has two teeth on the bottom row and crawls with ease throughout the house. He wants to touch and explore everything in his environment....I am trying my best to make our home a safe place for him and one thing I've done is made the lowest shelves in the living room his. He has his books, a toy, and a robot bucket. He will crawl over and select something to play with and I love watching him do this on his own. He loves being read to and even tries to read along. Some of his other favorite things right now are playing the keyboard with Uncle Stephen, practicing clapping his hands, putting everything he can find in his mouth to chew on with his new teeth, riding in his buggy, wearing his hat, and playing in the bathtub. He is also vocalizing so much. He babababas all day long, and always has something to say. 8 months!!!!

Home

Today was a quiet Saturday at home. Elliott woke up around 6:30 this morning and played on the bed for about 20 minutes, stretching his way over to Beta, playing with his bunny, and playing his feet. I lay there watching him trying to remember to enjoy this special time with him despite feeling like I could sleep for several more hours. The weather was beautiful today, so I opened all of the windows and put on some music. We spent the day together at home, playing, laughing, just being together...in our home. We sat on the porch swing, Elliott sped around in his walker, we read books on the floor and I carried Elliott in the wrap while I folded laundry and cleaned. Elliott is eating more and more solid foods and I decided to make some homemade sweet potato fries. We both ate them for lunch together sitting at our kitchen table. This evening as I was nursing him before bed and reflecting on the day, I realized how nicely we have fallen into a routine together and how comfortable it is and how special it is to just be at home with him. We have our routines, our daily habits, our things we do....and it's nice. Really nice.

Orlando

On Tuesday, me, my mom, and Elliott made our first long drive to Orlando. I had to work at a conference and while I worked, my mom hung out with Elliott at the hotel. The car ride was great. Elliott slept most of the way there (and the whole way back). We brought his pack and play for him to sleep in and I set it up right next to my bed. On the first morning, as we were just getting ready to wake up, there was a small scratching sound coming from Elliott's crib. My mom and I both lay there laughing. Elliott likes to touch everything and feel different textures with his fingers. He was touching the side of the crib and making a scratching sound. It was the first thing we heard..no crying...no whimpering...just Elliott scritch scratching touching his bed. Figuring things out. It was a nice way to wake up...laughing with my mom. The trip was a success. Elliott loved looking at all the people in the hotel and around the conference center. He stares people down until they give him a smile and then he flashes them his big mouth smile. His sweet eyes are unavoidable and he makes everyone smile. He brings joy wherever he goes and to whoever he meets. But most importantly he brings joy to me and my family.

Swinging

Today Elliott went on a swing for the first time. First he giggled at a dog that was in the park and then he gave his big open mouth smile as we pushed him on the swing. How fun to be so little and so happy. And how special to watch.

6 Months

January has flown by. Elliott Henry is 6 months old today!! I cannot, cannot, cannot believe it. At six months old Elliott loves to play the keyboard at grandma and grandpa's house, sit up and play with his toys, try to crawl, and sing along to songs. He is a pro at getting around in his walker and spends a lot of time chasing Otis and checking out the kitchen drawers at grandma and grandpa's house and following Beta down the hall at home. He loves to have books read to him and reads along. Tobi and Adam let us borrow their high chair and now Elliott and I love to sit together for meals. He's been trying all kinds of new foods...some goes in, but mostly it just gets all over him and the high chair. He has tried avocado, steamed broccoli and carrots, sweet potato, bananas, and sucked on a piece of pita. Every time we eat, he watches so carefully trying to learn how to get the food into his mouth and so excited to try new foods. He has started to show more emotion about things, like crying when I take something away or leave the room for a moment. His smile is contagious and whenever we go to the store people are always coming up to talk to him. Six months seems like such a short time, yet here is this amazing little boy who has gone from tiny newborn to expressive baby. From lying silently in my arms to sitting up alone on the floor giggling at himself in the mirror. He is truly a miracle. A masterpiece.

Good Times

It's been a crazy week. Elliott celebrated his first Mueller Christmas, got to spend time with great friends, tried some avocado, played at the park, had a sleepover with Selah, went out for some good food, smiled, laughed, and did some more practice sitting up on his own. The holidays are always such a special time but this year was the best, with Elliott by my side.  I always look forward to people coming into town and this year Jesse, Tiffany, and Lila came from Philly, Selah came from Savannah, and Beth, Andy, Theron, Royal, and Birdie came from Sebring. While there were definitely a few people missing this year, it was so nice to be able to get together with friends who have been such an important part of my life and who are now an important part of Elliott's life. Our family extends out to this group of special friends and each one adds something to the way that Elliott will grow and the person that he will become. Lila is walking and watching her is amazing. I cannot even imagine watching Elliott play on a playground, sliding down a slide, running through the grass giggling. It seems so far away, but I know it will be here so soon. It's fun to watch her grow from a distance. Every time we see her she has changed so much. While we may only get to see our friends who mean so much to us so rarely, their love and support reaches us every day. I can only hope that they know how much we appreciate and love them back.

Tradition

It's December 23, but we are celebrating the holidays a little early this year. Tina has to work on Christmas day, so we bumped everything up one day making tonight our Christmas Eve. Elliott and I started the day by doing a little last minute shopping at the bookstore where the ladies doing the complementary wrapping gave Elliott a bow for his mostly bald head! A stop for lunch with grandpa, David and Stephen and then to grandma and grandpa's house to get ready for the name present exchange. Elliott napped while I went home to gather up some gifts and do some last minute wrapping. A nice walk around the neighborhood looking at lights with David and Elliott and then it was time for our Christmas Eve dinner. Everyone came over and we had Greek food. Our family tradition is to pick names after Thanksgiving dinner and that is the person you give a gift to on Christmas Eve. Even though Elliott is not a part of the name picking and gift giving yet, it was amazing to have him there with us for the first time ever. I gave Elliott a present to open, an illustrated Twas the Night Before Christmas. It feels so special to have my son a part of our family traditions and so exciting to begin new traditions with him. I am so excited for the morning....I feel like a little kid again. I don't think I will be sleeping very well tonight. Tomorrow is going to be magical.