3/12/10
I think we have finally managed to get him on a schedule. Eli is now waking at the same time everyday, taking 2 naps, and going to bed around the same time every night. He is a good sleeper and sleeps through the night. He is also eating around the same times everyday, so he is starting to know when his next meal is coming. The meltdowns are getting fewer and the severity isn't as bad. He is learning how to deal with uncertainty in other ways besides crying, instead he will sometimes watch very intently until he is more comfortable with what is happening. He still sinks back into his shell when he is overwhelmed or overstimulated (going out into new places, seeing new people) and when he gets back into a familiar place (our house) he usually has a meltdown. He is still figuring out his emotions and crying is what is familiar and comforting to him, so that is what he does to deal with uncertainty. We are taking it very slow because we don't want him to become fearful of the public or people in general. When he is in the house it is a different story. He is starting to play by himself without one of us sitting on the floor with him. We can leave the room for a short period of time without him fussing, 75% of the time he will crawl after us. He is now comfortable enough to know I am not going to leave if he crawls away from me. The exploring has commenced. He crawls about 6 feet at a time before turning around to make sure I am still there, but once I am out of his site he could care less until he is done playing. It is kind of like he gets so caught up in playing he forgets how he got where he is and starts to fuss. I kindly show him the way back to his toys and then he calms down. Along with all of this independence comes a word that he seems to understand very well . . . No. :) No don't lick the dog's foot . . . No don't splash in Monkeys water bowl . . . No don't bang the remote on the glass TV stand . . . you get the idea. He is such a boy. He found a small puddle on the kitchen floor from an ice cube that Monkey didn't eat (Monk loves ice cubes), so he had to smack his hand in it until his shirt was wet (from a distance I thought he was just smacking the floor . . . silly me) and then he laid down in it and started making water angels on the floor . . . Nice! This week he learned how to eat finger foods, i.e. veggie puffs, cheerios. He figured out how to get them in his mouth and that he has to chew before he swallowed . . . yes he was trying to swallow them whole. We are working on the sippy cup. He says nananana, dadadada (we are trying to associate that with Chris), and mamamamama (unfortunately that usually only comes out when he is really upset, but I am working on it). He is pulling himself up on things and letting go for a split second or trying to jump to another piece of furniture or person or Monkey. . . thankfully he has a hard head. I am still working on the Ethiopia slideshow, but it will come eventually. Here are some pics to hold you over until then.
Gimme some of that baby food or I will pull down your pants:
Who me?:
Bring on the good stuff:
