Elliott - Week 42 (June 6 - June 12, 2004)

Elliott - Week 42 (June 6 - June 12, 2004)

Click here to view all large images at once.

a lincoln log tower built for the purpose of being knocked down
and typhoon Jamie does the job well!
Sir Goofus

Ohm.... (basketball meditation)
Weee! Elliott is in heaven in Memere and Pepere's back yard
Puddle of water and slimy rocks on a pedestal? Not bad!

Hahaha!! We NEED one of these, Mom!
Mmm. Memere shares a chocolate popsicle with Elliott
Oh, yummy!

After seeing Mya on the swing, Elliott needed to have a turn
Wee!
Oh, a toy!

Enough with the photos, mom!
Mm, bread and peanut butter
Hmm, I think I'll save some on my chin for later!

Silly mama!
All dressed up (sorry for the frowny face)
Back home, Elliott enjoys his new loot from Aunt Ellen

Hello Mama!
Dad and Elliott play a duet
getting into the groove..
Welcome to the illogic of English
Elliott's starting to notice more and more of our language. He's fond of repeating idioms and expressions that can't be interpreted literally. The only one I can think of now is "wait a minute", which he sing-songs randomly after we say it, sometimes. Words like "either" are interesting to him - "does Elliott like burned noodles?" "no!" "mama doesn't like them either" "either?" and he'll keep asking "either?" until I try to explain what it means. Well, that's a toughie. Sigh! He also gets confused when I say things like "cut up" or "wind up" - he'll stare at me and say, "up??". Words like "parking lot" and "driveway" are also very interesting right now. His parroting hasn't slowed down one bit.. It's a good thing he can't pronounce the "sh" sound yet, since we've stubbed our toes and had a few not-so-proud-parent moments lately.
The many forms of "no"
"No" is being expanded on. Now, he will often say "No mama!" - sometimes in a silly "that's ridiculous" voice, and sometimes in an indignant voice. I'm a little sick of hearing it, actually... "time for bed, lights out" ... "NO Mama, jump on bed!" is a typical exchange.
Language isn't all bad news though. He sometimes will say "new diaper" if he needs a new diaper. He can pee anytime we ask him to, on the potty. He's pretty excited about it. I sit him on the potty and then read a book with him, and he will usually go pee. We're in no huge rush, but at least it's a positive experience for him right now, and we can skip a few diapers here and there.
On being civilized
This week, Elliott said I love you (yuvyoo) for the first time, to Dada. It was very sweet. He says thank you constantly, especially if he's trying to give you (or another animal) something. He's very nice and good at sharing, so this happens a hundred times a day. If you don't take it, or don't notice, he'll say it louder and louder until it's more of a demand. He's said you're welcome a few times, and we're still working on please. He'll typically demand something, and we'll say, "can you ask nicely?" or "what do you say when you want mama to give you something?" - then he'll follow with a sticky sweet smile and a high-pitched "eeeeezzz?".. then we'll say, "can you ask in a normal voice?" and he'll say "eeeezzz" again in a low, husky voice. That's the best we can do for now. He hasn't combined the demand with the please on his own yet (like "have it - water - please").
His sentences or strings of words are getting longer and more sensical, like "dada hug a bunny". He also makes lists of things.. in the car, he often chants "Dada, Mama, Elliott". If I say something like "Dada loves to eat dates", he'll say "Elliott?" (yes, Elliott likes dates too) then "Mama?" - sometimes he'll go on to Memere and Pepere, and other family members. This whole talking thing makes car rides much easier. A half hour drive into Burlington used to be really harrowing, but now it's usually no problem. We just play music, and/or talk to each other, and I hand back toys now and then.
The Trip
We drove down to Mass. this week for my dad's father's funeral, unfortunately. Elliott had a really hard time in the car. He played for the first hour, then slept for an hour, and then got progressively less patient and more annoyed, but we did finally make it down. It was hot as heck, topping 100 F outside as we drove. Ugh! Elliott had a blast once we got there. Memere (Nana to the rest of us) and Pepere's back yard was full of all kinds of fun things, like a sandbox, a bird bath, rocks, a ladder and slide, a big pile of compost, sticks, etc. Elliott was too excited to eat any real food (and had snacked on crackers and raisins in the car anyway), but he magically found lots of room when Memere offered him a chocolate covered ice cream popsicle, which he devoured.
Elliott really enjoyed playing with "Baby Mya", who we talk about frequently, since we hand toys down to her. She's at a very fun and interesting age, since she can sit up, crawl a bit, and grab onto toys. Elliott offered his yellow race car to her, which is a sign of true love. :-)
Elliott was pretty good at the funeral, but he would not stop talking during the service (flowers! see! have it! down! flowers - yellow, orange, white!" etc), and Mike had to take him out of the room. He really enjoyed his cousins (who he'd never met) and had a good time at the reception following. He discovered butterfly-shaped crackers, which were a huge hit. Then we went downstairs and found the motherload of cool legos, including treasure chests full of practically microscopic toy money, which he thought was the coolest thing. In spite of the sad occasion, it was nice to be able to see everyone, and I'm glad we went.
We headed back to Memere and Pepere's house for a nap and supper before driving back up. Elliott actually sacked out in the car, which was unheard of, and I carried him upstairs where he passed out quickly. Unfortunately, the monitor I used was horrible, and he woke up, but I didn't hear him, and by the time I got up there, he was hysterically crying "mama mama" while running from front room to back room. I felt horrible. He was REALLY upset, and really wasn't himself for the next week or so. The drive back up was also rotten. He didn't fall asleep in the car until the Richmond exit (15 minutes from home). We spent the whole time trying to entertain him, passing toys back, playing with some new toys from Ellen (including a cool projecting viewmaster which was great until Elliott pulled out the circle cartridge and tried to crumple it up - sigh!). He chanted "mama nummy, down, all done, down, out, out out!" the whole way home. It was very tiring for everyone. I'll never go on such a short trip again - next time we'll try to stay for a week, or at least a long weekend.

Back to Year 2, Week 41
Up to Index
Go on to Year 2, Week 43

a lincoln log tower built for the purpose of being knocked down	and typhoon Jamie does the job well!	Sir Goofus
Ohm.... (basketball meditation)	Weee! Elliott is in heaven in Memere and Pepere's back yard	Puddle of water and slimy rocks on a pedestal? Not bad!
Hahaha!! We NEED one of these, Mom!	Mmm. Memere shares a chocolate popsicle with Elliott	Oh, yummy!
After seeing Mya on the swing, Elliott needed to have a turn	Wee!	Oh, a toy!
Enough with the photos, mom!	Mm, bread and peanut butter	Hmm, I think I'll save some on my chin for later!
Silly mama!	All dressed up (sorry for the frowny face)	Back home, Elliott enjoys his new loot from Aunt Ellen
Hello Mama!	Dad and Elliott play a duet	getting into the groove..
Welcome to the illogic of English Elliott's starting to notice more and more of our language. He's fond of repeating idioms and expressions that can't be interpreted literally. The only one I can think of now is "wait a minute", which he sing-songs randomly after we say it, sometimes. Words like "either" are interesting to him - "does Elliott like burned noodles?" "no!" "mama doesn't like them either" "either?" and he'll keep asking "either?" until I try to explain what it means. Well, that's a toughie. Sigh! He also gets confused when I say things like "cut up" or "wind up" - he'll stare at me and say, "up??". Words like "parking lot" and "driveway" are also very interesting right now. His parroting hasn't slowed down one bit.. It's a good thing he can't pronounce the "sh" sound yet, since we've stubbed our toes and had a few not-so-proud-parent moments lately. The many forms of "no" "No" is being expanded on. Now, he will often say "No mama!" - sometimes in a silly "that's ridiculous" voice, and sometimes in an indignant voice. I'm a little sick of hearing it, actually... "time for bed, lights out" ... "NO Mama, jump on bed!" is a typical exchange. Language isn't all bad news though. He sometimes will say "new diaper" if he needs a new diaper. He can pee anytime we ask him to, on the potty. He's pretty excited about it. I sit him on the potty and then read a book with him, and he will usually go pee. We're in no huge rush, but at least it's a positive experience for him right now, and we can skip a few diapers here and there. On being civilized This week, Elliott said I love you (yuvyoo) for the first time, to Dada. It was very sweet. He says thank you constantly, especially if he's trying to give you (or another animal) something. He's very nice and good at sharing, so this happens a hundred times a day. If you don't take it, or don't notice, he'll say it louder and louder until it's more of a demand. He's said you're welcome a few times, and we're still working on please. He'll typically demand something, and we'll say, "can you ask nicely?" or "what do you say when you want mama to give you something?" - then he'll follow with a sticky sweet smile and a high-pitched "eeeeezzz?".. then we'll say, "can you ask in a normal voice?" and he'll say "eeeezzz" again in a low, husky voice. That's the best we can do for now. He hasn't combined the demand with the please on his own yet (like "have it - water - please"). His sentences or strings of words are getting longer and more sensical, like "dada hug a bunny". He also makes lists of things.. in the car, he often chants "Dada, Mama, Elliott". If I say something like "Dada loves to eat dates", he'll say "Elliott?" (yes, Elliott likes dates too) then "Mama?" - sometimes he'll go on to Memere and Pepere, and other family members. This whole talking thing makes car rides much easier. A half hour drive into Burlington used to be really harrowing, but now it's usually no problem. We just play music, and/or talk to each other, and I hand back toys now and then. The Trip We drove down to Mass. this week for my dad's father's funeral, unfortunately. Elliott had a really hard time in the car. He played for the first hour, then slept for an hour, and then got progressively less patient and more annoyed, but we did finally make it down. It was hot as heck, topping 100 F outside as we drove. Ugh! Elliott had a blast once we got there. Memere (Nana to the rest of us) and Pepere's back yard was full of all kinds of fun things, like a sandbox, a bird bath, rocks, a ladder and slide, a big pile of compost, sticks, etc. Elliott was too excited to eat any real food (and had snacked on crackers and raisins in the car anyway), but he magically found lots of room when Memere offered him a chocolate covered ice cream popsicle, which he devoured. Elliott really enjoyed playing with "Baby Mya", who we talk about frequently, since we hand toys down to her. She's at a very fun and interesting age, since she can sit up, crawl a bit, and grab onto toys. Elliott offered his yellow race car to her, which is a sign of true love. :-) Elliott was pretty good at the funeral, but he would not stop talking during the service (flowers! see! have it! down! flowers - yellow, orange, white!" etc), and Mike had to take him out of the room. He really enjoyed his cousins (who he'd never met) and had a good time at the reception following. He discovered butterfly-shaped crackers, which were a huge hit. Then we went downstairs and found the motherload of cool legos, including treasure chests full of practically microscopic toy money, which he thought was the coolest thing. In spite of the sad occasion, it was nice to be able to see everyone, and I'm glad we went. We headed back to Memere and Pepere's house for a nap and supper before driving back up. Elliott actually sacked out in the car, which was unheard of, and I carried him upstairs where he passed out quickly. Unfortunately, the monitor I used was horrible, and he woke up, but I didn't hear him, and by the time I got up there, he was hysterically crying "mama mama" while running from front room to back room. I felt horrible. He was REALLY upset, and really wasn't himself for the next week or so. The drive back up was also rotten. He didn't fall asleep in the car until the Richmond exit (15 minutes from home). We spent the whole time trying to entertain him, passing toys back, playing with some new toys from Ellen (including a cool projecting viewmaster which was great until Elliott pulled out the circle cartridge and tried to crumple it up - sigh!). He chanted "mama nummy, down, all done, down, out, out out!" the whole way home. It was very tiring for everyone. I'll never go on such a short trip again - next time we'll try to stay for a week, or at least a long weekend.