Dogsitting.

We are dogsitting for some friends... Elliot's buddy, Leroi, is over for the weekend. Here is a sampling of how much Elliot enjoys Leroi's company (and mind you, this has been a bad weekend for the boy with whining, grumping, missed naps, etc, so this happiness is much appreciated!).

Byrne Family.

Today, we visited my school to touch base with the teacher in my room and to see everyone. Elliot gave a lovely pouty lower lip and huge tears, out of character, upon the first person holding him, but he warmed up soon. We loved seeing everyone and Elliot even gave some answers out loud in class. (Thanks for your patience, Diane Lacki!) School was in session, and the groups of kids seemed a little overwhelming to Elliot, but he did fine. He got plenty of attention!!

I always forget to expect how worn out we get, though-- I didn't even get to catch everyone I wanted to before I found myself weary and shaky after realizing too late I needed food and drink (and most of you can relate to getting out the door, then realizing you should have eaten more breakfast...). Jen Long was nice enough to insist that I eat her yogurt. By then, Elliot had been fed but needed a nap pretty bad... I felt we rushed off without proper goodbyes and missed the end of the day when most people could have really visited with me. I need to plan better for trips like this. I should know better with the energy it takes to keep him fed.

Reassurance. Edited.

The night out for the CPR class was preceded with ridiculously irrational nightmares for me. So silly. I'm sure my return to work soon is spurring some of this, too.

I was apprehensive as to what kind of a time Claire, Martin, and Diane would have with Elliot, as he only had one nap and at 4:30 gave me a battle over a second one with no success. Surely, I thought, he will go down early and it's no biggie if there's no bottle.

We had no cell phone reception for the 3-hour class, but had no missed calls... the walk up the stairs home was brisk, as we were so curious to see if we would encounter an awake, starving Elliot, or a screaming one, or if he had cooperated and was sleeping soundly. He was sleeping soundly, and so was Diane in the pack and play.

Claire and Martin had taken some photos to show us of the two kids interacting-- so cute. I will get a hold of them and post them soon. As the photos progressed, one appeared of Martin successfully giving Elliot a bottle!! I gasped, thrilled, so thankful that they even attempted it, and hammered them for details. Apparently it was a 15-minute battle but he drank the whole thing and they even attempted a second one to be sure. He did not go down early, but at least he was fed and they didn't invest a lifetime getting it done! We recently discovered that Martin has a beautiful singing voice, and that was the secret weapon, so I am afraid we all need to do some vocal training to survive this transition.

I was so relieved and reassured. Whew.

Editorial Update: Hehem, this mom attempted a bottle as well today, and it was taken with MAYBE a minute of protest... clean and fast. I think we're good to go. :)
My favorite monkeys... what a pair, eh?

We have a tooth!

Elliot's first little tooth is starting to appear on bottom. Not easily visible yet, but we can definitely feel it.

Update on the bottle front... two nights after the big initial showdown, Pat was getting to his post, etc, to keep up our efforts. After 20 minutes of hearing NO protests, I assumed they had not started, but alas, he took 3 oz fairly easily and was done. We thought we were in fine shape and we were all proud that we had "broke" him... until the next try when the monster decided to rear his little attitude again.

Yet, even for the protests the next time, it was 45 minutes to get a full bottle down instead of the HOUR and 45 minutes, so we have major improvement! As a teacher, this kid would have gotten major kudos for such a marked improvement. The big problem was that I was out for a haircut, and the first few attempts were no-gos... so his stubbornness allowed him to go 6 HOURS without eating simply because it wasn't the format he wanted (he decided to nap instead, etc).

There is going to have to be extreme diligence on our end to make this work. More than one other parent told me that their child would just eat very little with the caregiver and save up to eat like crazy when mom was home to nurse. I really hope he doesn't go this route since he's already a bit on the tiny side...

We can do this.

Getting Ready for Miss Renee and the Bottle Battle.

He's such a monkey when it comes to these foam letter blocks.

The week started off rough. I've had this loose plan in my head to give Elliot a bottle every day, to use up some outdating milk in the freezer and to get him ready for Miss Renee who will be watching him in a few weeks... well, timing was bad, or whatever, and I failed at this attempt for a while. Unconsciously, I have stopped giving him bottles and took for granted that he always took them. So, yep, you guessed it, he is refusing the bottle now.

We are at the 3 weeks 'til show time mark, so we needed to get down to business with getting him on a bottle. Monday was an all-out battle between him and me. I tried midday, thinking that he wouldn't be grumpy and this is when Renee will be giving them. After 30 minutes of absolutely the worst tantrum he has ever given me, and about half a dozen good, concerted efforts, I gave up and nursed him. Of course, he was grand after that and in great form. He got what he wanted. Peh. Elliot:1, Mom:0. I mean it was sobs and screams while he laid his head on my shoulder that went into hyperventilating. We have a stubborn one, it seems. And I realized after the fact that he was digging his heels in just as much as I was which was not a solution.

After putting out an APB to other parent contacts and receiving tons of tips, I felt the frustration fizzle and Pat and I braced ourselves for a task that had to be tackled.

Tuesday... Pat attempted a sippy cup first and then a bottle. After I sat here for 1 hour and 45 minutes listening to him scream, then Pat comforting him, then more screaming, FINALLY Pat walked back into the room with an exhausted, asleep baby on his shoulder and an empty bottle. Elliot:0, Dad:1. I was pretty impressed with Pat's efforts and determination since I had not been successful the night before. But I should have left the house instead of sitting there listening and stressing. The only thing that gave me perspective was realizing that Pat was the one in the midst of the tantrum and was the one who had to stick it out, no matter what; thus he was worse off than me who was simply listening.

The aftermath of the showdown between Pat and Elliot.

Here's hoping that the battles lessen and we are on to greener pastures. I had really not realized how attached he had become to me, so it's good that we're nipping this in the bud.

On Monday, we have a CPR class and Claire and Martin (with Diane) are watching Elliot. I realized as I started to organize what they would need to know that we have never left him for someone else to put to bed-- we've always gone out during the afternoon. That might be another adventure...

Friends.

Updating some photos of Avery and Elliot. Elliot seems more aggressive than Avery. He kept pulling at her sleeve and taking off her sock. I hope this isn't something to worry us as parents already!! And look at that flirty look. Eeep.

Playing, it's what he does.

The letter M, brought to you by Elliot.

Oh, and on another note, I saw on a friend's blog that she has trouble here and there with the videos not appearing as well... so it's a blogger issue. I've found that they sometimes reappear if you check back later. Sorry.