We went to the Knoxville Boo at the Zoo with Bryce, Gam Gam, Kyra, and Aunt Lisa!
The pattern I used for Elliot’s spock hat is from here, although I used the ears from here. He is now a highly logical baby.
“I have been and always shall be your friend.”
Logan did not have court this week and Gingy was off on Fall Break so we decided to go to the beach! Grandpa, Uncle Art, and I took off a week from work for a fun trip to Gulf Shores, AL, a beach that Art, Tom, and I went to when we were kids. Logan, Elliot, and I left from Knoxville on Friday after work and headed to Tullahoma. We met Gingy, Grandpa, and Marm for dinner at Cracker Barrel in Manchester. We showed Elliot around the store and looked at the toys. When we got to my parent’s house, Gingy had a present for Elliot. It was a backpack with his name embroidered on the front and “Gingy loves me” on the inside. There were also some overalls that said “Grandpa’s Little Helper.” Too cute!
Saturday, my friend Sarah and her daughter Claudie came over to do a 6 month photo shoot of Elliot. We put him in his sweater vest that makes him look older and his skeleton pjs from Gam Gam. He was a little tight lipped this time with the smiles but we got a few good shots out of him.
That evening we went to Craig and Suzanne’s lake house for dinner of elk stew. Elliot surprisingly liked the stew. He also liked the graham crackers from the s’mores.
Sunday, we loaded up and got on the road to Art’s place in Birmingham. Elliot did pretty well on the ride there. I worked on part of his Halloween costume on the ride. When we got there we met Art, looked around his apartment complex, and went to Jim and Nicks for BBQ. Logan really liked their T-shirt that said “If pigs had wings, I’d eat those too.”
Monday morning we loaded up for the beach!
The four hour trip was the longest car ride Elliot had ever been on. Thankfully, Logan loaded several Baby Einstein videos on to his tablet for Elliot to watch. When we got there, Logan grabbed Elliot, slung him over his shoulder, and raced towards the beach! I dashed after them with Elliot giggling at me, and once we made our way through several gates we were running through the sand on the gulf. First to take him to the beach! Then we went back to help unload.
We got our suits on and headed back to the beach. Gingy took video footage while we helped Elliot experience the beach. Logan sat him on the sandy shore and after a wave washed over his legs he started crying! It was a bit cold and loud. I carried him and we walked into the water and sat on the shore together to try to get acclimated to the water. Then grandpa and I went for a walk to show Elliot some kids that were having fun in the water. Uncle Art, Logan, and I took him to the pool and swam around some more.
We went to Lulu’s for dinner, which was not a buffet but was owed by Jimmy Buffett’s sister Lucy. Elliot was a “pistol” at the restaurant. He was climbing all over the table and getting into things. The waitress brought us sample disposable cups of the honey ale microbrew and Elliot got some empty cups to play with. He managed to drink a small sip of water from one. We each took turns walking him round and showing him things, from the Halloween lights to the musician playing songs about being retired and the AARP.
The next day, Logan and I took Elliot on an early morning walk towards a pier. We didn’t get close. Turns out, the pier was 2 miles away. My parents made a similar attempt later that morning without success.
We went to the Original Oyster House for lunch. Logan got the oysters and I got the fried green tomatoes topped with shrimp. Elliot enjoyed pickled okras until they fell on the floor.
We explored the nearby shops and Elliot rode an Alligator. Also, if the price had been a little better, Elliot would have left with Beatles and Ramones onesies.
We got back to the condo and Elliot went down for a nap. My parents kindly offered to sit with him while Logan and I went to the beach. We actually got to sit for a little while on the sun and read! It was fantastic!
Then Elliot awoke and we took him swimming again. We also flew a kite and Logan and Art threw a football.
When Elliot wasn’t swimming or going out on adventure, he was practicing standing and watching Yo Gabba Gabba!
That night Logan heated up a pork butt that he had smoked before the trip. It was delicious!
Wednesday we took a drive to Mobile in the morning. We drove up around the bay. I was hoping the car ride would knock Elliot out since we were having trouble getting him to nap that morning, but he thwarted my plans. We got to Mobile and ate at Wintzell’s. I got the po boy with shrimp, which was yummy. We walked around Bienville Square with a fountain. We bought some roasted nuts and fed them to the squirrels. The museum for the Senior Bowl was on the square, so we stopped in to take a look. I played Minesweeper on one of their touchscreen computers.
We headed back to the hotel and Elliot napped some! Gingy and grandpa offered to babysit, so Logan and I went on a date to Louisiana Lagniappe. I had the eggplant topped with crab and Logan got a big piece of yellowfin tuna. It was nice to discover that Logan and I could still have an adult conversation. When we got back, Elliot had missed us and we missed him. I started to head off to go to the bathroom, but Elliot would not let go of me until I fed him! We played and then went to bed.
On Thursday, we went to the souvenir shop with the giant shark and took some pictures and Elliot’s Grandpa got him a dolphin.
Then we drove down to Orange Beach and into Florida a bit. We stopped in some boutiques to look around and then went to King Neptune’s for lunch. We had another beach afternoon once the clouds cleared.
Elliot played around in the sand and even tasted some while mommy was detangling the kite! Can’t leave him alone for a moment!
Friday we got up early again and packed up to go. We dropped Art off in Birmingham and decided that Elliot could make the whole trip to Tullahoma. So we continued on. The last hour was rough, but we made the entire 7.5 hr trip in one day! Aunt Mary and Marm met us when we got back and Elliot was so happy to see them and be out of the car seat!
Saturday, we relaxed and got ready for the party! Elliot and I ran errands with Gingy and then we went on a walk with Logan. We saw Peggy, Kenny, Nell, and Mosley. Tom and Art came in to visit. That evening, the Vols lost to Alabama, as expected.
The next day, we got packed up and ready for Nell and Mosley’s 60th Anniversary Party! Elliot got to meet Aunt Amy and Janie and Cousins Barbara and Robbie. We saw some pictures from my grandparent’s wedding as well as of my dad and his sisters growing up. We unfortunately had to eat and run since we had not been home in a week. Now we are heading back to Knoxville with Elliot peacefully sleeping beside me.
“Pider Grump! Pider Grump!
Sometimes stands. Sometimes slumps.
Supports his head despite its size.
Can’t stay awake but always tries.
Look out! Here comes the Pider Grump!
Is he strong? Listen mon,
He’s got a radioactive mom.
Can he fall off a bed?
Look away, he just did.
Look out! Here comes the Pider Grump!”
-Art Frederick
You’re half way around the sun and you can already stand like a big boy! You scoot along the furniture and crawl like a pro. You are in size 3 shoes, twelve month clothing, and level 2 foods. You were apparently ready to start trying to nap by yourself because today you fussed less than 10 minutes each time daddy put you down to nap. Way to go! I am so proud!
I worked my first night shift on Friday night, and if there is anything that I learned it’s that we are not ready for mommy to tackle a week of night float. Logan went to Gam Gam’s with Elliot and Gam Gam volunteered to let Elliot sleep in her room and take care of him. I appreciate that but I bet she won’t volunteer to do that again! Elliot would not sleep unless she held him. Otherwise, he was up at 1:30 and 4, although he only ate at 4. Poor Brigitte. We’ve got to get this taken care of before December.
So, perhaps it is time to learn some self soothing. Unfortunately, Elliot has NEVER been easy to get to go to sleep. He generally naps with someone rocking him and he sleeps in our bed. I do actually like sleeping with him, except for the part where I don’t get very much sleep. He is cuddly! I have not been ready to let him cry it out… Attachment parenting advises against it and those that follow the philosophy feel that it is cruel. On the other hand, those that advise to let them cry it out say that it “empowers” the child to learn to soothe themselves. It basically feels like (to me) that it is a question of do you want an obedient child or one that loves you? Where is the middle ground? and why won’t little Elliot just sleep on his own? Sleep is so nice!
So we are attempting a Ferber style plan where we check on him at increasing intervals. So far with the current nap it has not worked. What is going to happen is that he is not going to get a nap and I am going to go out this afternoon on some errands and he will sleep in the car, thus defeating the purpose.
We are going to the pediatrician for his 6 month check up this Tuesday. I feel like the GERD set us back on the sleep thing in the first place. He still cries a lot when we try to put him on his back. Maybe his medication dose is too low? He is a BIG 6 month old…
When I got home from my night shift, Logan had him dressed in this. (Courtesy Teresa)
It cut me to the quick. It felt like Elliot had grown up overnight while I was working. I told Logan the same and he said to me that Elliot and he had discussed that (him growing up) on the way home from Gam Gam’s and Elliot apparently made some very interesting points… Haha… Still, he really won’t be a baby forever…
Now (an hour later) he is finally lying down, but he is making great big sob sounds. It is breaking my heart…
