Story time with Grandma Sue

Friday at the Ukrainian Village Children's Center

Baby Natalie in action

Action is limited to squirming, smiles and various tongue poking moves.

Big Snow

E. B. tests out his snowsuit from Grandpa Owie.

D comes for Thanksgiving

Uncle Dallas came and took Natalie for her first swing on Thanksgiving.

Eyes (increasingly) Open!

Nat solo and with Grandma Sue.
Possible red head alert.

Two faces of Elliot

Grumpy and Surprised faces.

Halloween - costumed pair

Tigger -- eyes crossed and looking ahead thinking "dude, is that my nose? What's that hand thing in front of my face? Don't I have paws?"

Elliot's 2nd birthday continued

The Navarros (our neighbors) brought Elliot a pinata loaded with toys. Over two weeks later he continues to talk about this thing that spilled forth toys.

Elliot's 2nd birthday

Spiderman (aka Eli-bi-bo) hung out with elephantes (Piper), dragons (Zoe), ladybugs (Madeline) and lot of other creatures including grandma's at the gym in the park for his birthday.

Elliot as a mini baseball-er

So, I'm convinced when Elliot gets older and actually tries to hit the ball, he'll swing and miss. However, right now, he has an uncanny ability to hit the ball virtually every time. The parental units do, however, continue to fear for the safety of their digits.

Elliot as a mini basketball star

Elliot loves shooting the ball. I think it's the hours at Wicker Park seeing the older kids on the court. Thank goodness no one lives below us. Dribbling and shooting a full-sized basketball would make for some pretty unhappy neighbors.

Cowboy hat modeled by Dad and Gpa Owie

Ponties

We went to a friend's birthday party in Evanston. They rented ponies (or 'ponties' as Elliot calls them) and gave out cowboy hats. Elliot loved it. He also insisted on wearing dad's yellow Dorky Vest. The party was just a few blocks from Grandma Bonnie's place for an added bonus.

concern about the cats

One can't get one's son at a bar watching college football soon enough, really. Elliot is watching Northwestern play Michigan State. He looks concerned even though the Cats are ahead by 30 late in the second. Mom thought his concern was unwarrented. Ah, but the Cats broke a Big Ten record by letting State get the most points in the 3rd ever. Yep we lost. (Boys if the numbers aren't exactly right, you get the gist.)

Week 6 Natalie begins to focus on objects

Natlie loves her mobile -- thanks Lynelle for sending it our way.

Elliot and Natalie at a similar age

Natalie Enjoys Bathtime

Okay, so we need to try to take more pictures of Natalie. She's really super cute in my non-biased mom opinion.

The Bjorn back in action

Elliot lived in the Bjorn and it looks like Natalie will follow suit. Natalie seems as if she'd enjoy more time in her bouncy seat than Elliot did at her age were it not for constant threats of being projected through the air by an overzealous big brother's attempts to bounce her.

Elliot in the fall foliage

Mom threatens to shave her head (E feeds N)

Shaving the head:
On the hair front, well, you get more hair when your pregnant. It takes about 4 months after you have the child to lose that hair. Anyhoo, as you all know, I do not lack for hair. Combine that with the fact that my hair is just above my shoulders and on humid days frizzes around my neck like an unbeard (defined by T. Zipprich as hair starting from your chin and going down your neck), this sleep deprived mom made some serious threats to shave the head.

The Feeding:
Elliot continues to say, "I love you Baby Natalie", and here you see him in a sweet moment. It is likely, although I don't recall, that he pinched her foot soon thereafter.

He does proudly announce to folks on the street that the appendage on Mommy's chest (in the Baby Bjorn) is his sister, "Baby Matalie".

Ukrainian Village Children's Center with Elliot

Geoff took Friday off again and watched Natalie while Elliot and I went to this nearby Children's Center. I've signed up for every Friday. Elliot seems to love it.

Tiny Monkey

Here's a shot that will give you an idea of how small Baby Natalie is. Plus, the look in Geoff's eye attests to the lack of sleep we had last night between the hours of 1 and 6 am.

Team Feeding

Grandma Bonnie and EB helped feed Natalie today. Elliot lost interst in about 30 seconds but did succeed in turning up the pressure on the breast pump much to Mom's chagrin.

4:45 am -- best time for open eye sightings

Currently between the hours of 3 and 5, Baby Natalie is quite alert. Geoff usually tags in around 4 or 4:30 am. Here's a shot of those bright blues. Sorry about cutting off her head. It was 4:45am you know. =)

Natalie's first bottle

This just happened moments ago. Baby Natalie had her first bottle. Hooray! She sucked it down with shocking speed. Here's some shots of it -- a close up showing one milk drunk baby. Geoff in his skivvies is an extra bonus, of course.

I'm seeing some night time feedings going the way of the daddy. Hmmm....

Big Poops in the Big Boy Toilet

Okay, so the only thing that kept me from posting a picture of Elliot's "big poops" was the fact that I couldn't find the camera. I do believe I am losing my mind. Elliot did poop in his "big boy toilet". He was quite excited and had to call daddy at work to tell him.

An Elliot quote from this morning, "Daddy no work. Home." Awww...

Baby Power

Our little milk tick has gained almost a pound in two weeks. Go baby Natalie!

Fib Dibblers

So Geoff asked Elliot if he wanted a Fib Dibbler. Geoff often goes through a list with Elliot that grows increasingly more ridiculous. Elliot always says yes to the non-existant or impossible -- in this case the Fib Dibbler. Geoff decided to pull out my headbands. Elliot asked for the "Dibbler" for the next three days.

Day 11 a walk to the park with the family

Elliot did a hand print (to the right) for the tile mural at Wicker Park. He also has a fantastic fake smile, in my opinion. The double stroller is finally tested and seems to be well worth it. Hooray!