Introducing… Elliot and Winston!

Born April 2012 and May 2015

5 Generations!

Logan took Elliot to see his family on Friday for Linzy’s birthday while mommy was at work. Here are some videos I received.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3V-XJDP5pE

On Saturday, we got the five generation photo of Elliot, Logan, Gam Gam, Granny, and Grandma.
Will insert photo here!

Then we went on a picnic with Logan’s family.

Here’s Elliot with Cousins Alissa and Bryce.

Logan, Gam Gam, Aunt Linzy, Baby E, and I went on a walk after dinner. I carried Elliot in the Bjorn and as we crossed the top of a hill we heard a funny grunting sound. “A wild boar!” Logan exclaimed. “Good. I was afraid it was a bear.” I said, to which Gam Gam replied, “A boar is worse!” “Yeah, they are aggressive!” Logan stated as he scouted ahead. Meanwhile, Gam Gam and Auntie strategically positioned themselves between me (and Elliot) and the noise. It felt very tribal, like I was a momma with a papoose that we all had to help protect. We ended up turning back to play it safe.

Sunday, we took Elliot to the Ijam’s Nature Center.

Monday, Logan’s cousin Christian came over to visit. He is very good with Elliot, even though Elliot did scream at him when he woke up from his nap. Logan and Christian played with Logan’s War Hammer armies and Elliot and I relaxed in our comfy recliner. He fell asleep with me rocking him around 8 and by 9 I was asleep too. At 11 Logan woke me up and I put on my PJs and brushed my teeth and went back to sleep, cuddling Elliot in our bed. At 2 Elliot woke up… So that would be 6 hours right in a row of blissful sleep! YAY!

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No time for posting – there’s holding to do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXv2kAPAjWs

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You knew I would make this at some point…

Some of my coworkers are having babies soon so I made them each an infant hat.

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I hope they have a sense of humor (and babies with heads smaller than “pumpkin head ” here…) The pattern I used can be found here. I used Lamb’s Pride bulky since I had a lot left over from making everyone in the family Jane hats. I might have to buy the pattern for larger sizes and make one for Elliot with an orange nipple!

And as for the battle on breastfeeding, I’d just like to say the one thing that every nursing mother is really thinking. “Yay! I get to run around in public with my top down and not get in trouble for indecent exposure! Take that Puritan based society values!”

Ha! Not really. I can’t say that I have actually just bared myself in public, but I have breastfeed draped in a restaurant a couple of times. It was either that or take the screaming baby home without me getting to eat. As frequently as babies eat and as disruptive as they can be it is nice to have the option of breastfeeding in public.

In other news, baby Elliot get bigger and more mobile every day. We have started using the size 3 diapers and have purchased a baby gate for the stairs. Yesterday when I got home from work Logan told me that Elliot had managed to launch himself forward while on all fours about a half a foot. He also tells me that on the hardwood floor at Gam Gam and Slappy’s house Elliot can really scoot!

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I am really looking forward to when we can start giving him solid food. I think he will really like it. I admit that I have snuck him a little dab of whipped cream and Logan has given him tastes of lemon and meat. We have rice cereal on hand. Now if we can only stand to wait until his 4 month birthday…

Elliot went on a picnic Sunday while mommy was at work. He reportedly slept most of the time.

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Here he is resting in his pack and play.

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Photo and outfit courtesy Auntie Cat

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I love this photo of him and Bryce! So sweet!

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Neither Teenage, Mutant, nor Ninja…

Look what daddy caught for baby E today!

I’m pretty sure he had no idea what to think!

Also, his favorite Gingy came to visit and bring mommy and daddy some beautiful furniture from Aunt Betty Lynn. We are so fortunate!

Elliot sat up in the booth at Gondolier (briefly) like a big boy!

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Roll with it, baby

Now that baby Elliot has gotten pretty good at rolling back to front, he has discovered that he really likes sleeping on his stomach… Sunday night I checked on him at 1:30AM and, since I was awake anyways, flipped him over. He promptly kicked up his legs and flopped back over on his side for another 30 minutes until he was ready to eat. I can stop him from rolling all the way over when he sleeps in our bed, which makes him mad, but I guess there is not really anyway to stop him in his crib. I wish I could stop my anxiety over it. How much time has to pass before you stop checking on them to see if they are still breathing?

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Your weekly update

I picked out the following pictures for Elliot’s baby book and frame.

Don’t they look cool!

I woke Gingy and Grandpa Monday morning with a baby surprise! I brought Elliot to them as I was leaving for work. I was going to try to sneak him in bed with them but they woke up. They were happy to see him and he was happy to see them. Mom said he was just wiggling and flailing his extremities excitedly!

Gingy got Elliot a Bumbo, which he enjoys.

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I lucked out and did not have to go to conference, so I met Elliot, Logan, Gingy, Grandpa, and Tom for lunch at Agave Azul. It was great to get to see them, especially since Grandpa was heading home that afternoon.

That night we had a scary storm, but Elliot was not afraid. Logan and I would say “boom!” as the thunder struck so he would think we were making the funny noises. I took Elliot to Gingy briefly, “We just wanted to make sure you weren’t scared!

The next day, I brought Gingy Elliot again as I was leaving and Logan took the opportunity to go run for the first time in about a month. It sounded like it went well.

Wednesday, Elliot played with his toy dog that Kyra gave him. I need to get the video from Gingy, but it was pretty funny. He would wrap his arms and legs around the dog and suck on it’s nose! Logan smoked some salmon and ribs for dinner and we had Logan’s family over for food and entertainment. Afterwards, we went to Cardin’s Drive-through for milkshakes. Logan got the PB and J milkshake, which is probably their strangest flavor. I got that milkshake the week of my due date but it didn’t put me into labor unfortunately…

Thursday morning I had to give pulmonary conference. I was there early setting up the cases when the pathology resident who was giving the pathology part of the conference walked in. I asked him how his new baby (5 weeks old) was doing and he grumbled, “She’s not sleeping through the night…” I asked him how much she was waking up and he told me anywhere from every 2 hrs to every 20 minutes! I asked if she had GERD and he said that she did! They were trying the Zantac currently. I recommended the Prevacid and told him that he could come cry on my shoulder if he needed to. A cardiothoracic surgeon and his NP were listening in, and the NP said, “I’m glad we’re old!” I’m just glad to be past that misery!

Gingy left on Friday. We were glad she could stay with us so long. Everything runs a little smoother when she is here. She told me that she already misses Elliot (and me).

Today I got out Elliot’s doctor costume, since it is a 3-6 month outfit. I don’t think it will make it to Halloween!

Dr. Baby to the OR, stat!

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Happy 3 Month Birthday, Elliot!

Another month has gone by. This has been an interesting month in that I went back to work, changed shifts, worked a weekend, and then went back on normal hours. It was hard for baby Elliot, but we got through it. We have been co-sleeping, which seems to help squeeze a little more quality time and straight-from-the-breast feedings out of our limited time together. We usually start him out in his bed, but after his first waking he pretty much stays with us the rest of the night. Logan has been learning how to put him to sleep during the day and is becoming quite the expert at his patterns. He has discovered that he can entertain and even put baby E to sleep with some Rock Band serenading.

Thursday night we had a bad storm and the power went off. I came home and Aunt Linzy was here watching him (and FernGully). Brigitte stopped by on her way to class and we all played with him in the dim light of the bonus room until he got sleepy. Logan eventually came home from weed-eating at his office and took a shower in the dark. That night we changed a diaper by flashlight. Shortly after, the power came back on.

Friday we had a coworker of mine, Austin, and his 4 month pregnant wife, Emily, over for dinner and board games. They brought us some really cute Hippo books. Logan made Pad Thai and Elliot sat on my knee while we ate. We played Trivial Pursuit afterwards and Austin was trying to decide between “Atlanta” and “Memphis” for and answer. Elliot garbled some two syllable thing at him and so he picked “Mem-phis” and was right! Nice work Elliot except it was for the wrong team!

The next day we headed out to do a little shopping and then to Cindy and Jeff’s for a late Fourth of July Celebration! Gingy and Grandpa were there and excited to see him!

Big Kahuna!


Elliot was not sure what to think about the dog just yet…


Big plastic ball!


Note: He’s not actually naked.

We played a fun game with the large plastic ball.
http://youtu.be/J0FrLIrmmM8

He also finally rolled over for the camera!

We had to leave before the fireworks again since Elliot was sleepy, but I heard they were good!

Today is Elliot’s 3 month birthday! In celebration, here are 3 of our favorite videos!

Elliot’s first footage at home (4/12/12)
http://youtu.be/XELe7DeWSuw

Sliding on the Love Sac (5/25/12)
http://youtu.be/kj3OKplNsus

First Swim (5/27/12)
http://youtu.be/GiKkSiZSw2I

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Happy Fourth of July!

It is my first day off in 9 so Elliot and I had a great day together. Logan has been trying a new technique where he puts him down for a nap after he’s been up for about an hour and a half to two hours, which has made Elliot more pleasant. He also has taught Elliot to associate his Harrison Horse with relaxing. Thus, we have ordered a “Spare-ison.” Gam Gam also sent over her housekeeper since Logan helped her out with some projects. That was nice!

We went to Logan’s Granny’s for the evening to celebrate. Elliot got held by lots of relatives! He also showed off some of his amazing baby tricks!

Elliot and Gam Gam, Aunt Lisa, and Granny

Elliot and Uncle Roger

Elliot and Cousins Kyra and Bryce – “Eww, it’s covered in baby saliva!”

Elliot and Aunt Lisa

Logan and Gam Gam thought that Elliot would not do well with the fireworks, but Slappy and I thought he would enjoy them. Unfortunately we did not get to stay long enough to find out since the sun was still up but Elliot was already asleep. Oh well.


You idiot! I said “posse”!

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Why did you think we were called mammals?!?!

Generally, work has been supportive with regards to my breast pumping. I was given a quiet, private, convenient place to pump and no one has complained about me leaving work for about 15 minutes every four hours to go pump. But, there have been a few “gentleman” coworkers (not bosses) who have been a little, shall we say, over dramatic about the situation. Some comments have been funny, for example, the guy who told me, “Thanks for bringing that excellent coffee creamer!” referring to my stored milk in the refrigerator. But there are a few who act like my pumping and breast milk is totally disgusting. And, quite frankly, it’s not!

I am of the opinion that my commitment to breastfeeding my son is rather remarkable. It is not easy lugging that 10 lb. pump back a forth to work and being on call every 2-4 hours at night for feedings (more like 2 now with the teething…) So why do it? It is healthier for Elliot, saves a lot of money, and, more personally, it helps me to make sure he doesn’t forget about me during the day. I am gone for 8-12 hours for most of the days in the week and it’s nice to be able to walk in the door at home and have Elliot waiting for me to kick off my shoes, sit in a comfy chair, and breastfeed him.

I’m not waving it in people’s faces that I am pumping, but I’m not going to hide my breast shields every time I walk to the bathroom after pumping to clean them. In fact, when I am asking to be excused to go pump I usually say something crazy discrete like, “I need to go take care of something regarding feeding my child.” And I do understand that it is kind of weird to feed someone your bodily fluids, natural though it may be.

So here’s the deal. Razz me if you must. I understand that it is probably all in jest. I won’t make any big stink (although my husband likes to throw around the phrase “hostile work environment”). But if you are going to be juvenile about the situation then I WILL be juvenile back. So if you’d rather not hear me talk about details about pumping or show off my collected milk then keep your disgust to yourself. Alright, we cool?

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