So, I've been a bad blogger lately and haven't had picture time for awhile, we'll play catch up after all pertinent business is discussed
-Jason and I signed a lease for a new house on Saturday. This place is like 100x nicer than where we currently hang our hats and I've got all appendages crossed that nothing goes wrong this time. I know I've said I was moving like a gazillion times this fall, really starting to feel like the bot who cried wolf.
-I have triumphantly begun Christmas shopping! I never start this early. Usually I like to wait til the Eve and then run around the mall in a flurry and go home for serious wrapping and tagging. But I don't have the energy for that this year, I also can't imagine dragging a baby to the mall on Christmas Eve. My stroller's so large it wouldn't leave much room for other harried shoppers in some stores.
-I'm obsessed with freerice.com, I get to practice my vocabulary and help hungry children
-FlexCar has come to Pittsburgh and I'm really excited about using those instead of purchasing a car. It's good for the environment, good for my wallet and would force me to continue to walk places when a car really isn't necessary.
-If I use FlexCar I can use my tax refund for new living room furniture! The futon we were using as a couch met it's sad end the other night and will be relegated to Jason's basement lair at the new house. His basement lair which also has a bathroom complete with shower. I may never find razor stubble in my sink again : ) Bliss.
-Eli's newest trick is to sing back when you sing to him, this work's especially well with the lalalala part on the Minnie Riperton song Loving You.

Now Pictures of the boy.
This is his Christmas diaper from his "Aunt" Jenna, so cute I couldn't wait til Christmas to put him in it.
Rocking his wool shortie diaper cover, it's like an afghan for his butt, I love it and want to buy a bunch more.
His other diaper from his Aunt Jenna sock monkeys! We love sock monkeys you know.
And his Thanksgiving dipe : ) Gobble Gobble. To celebrate Thanksgiving I think I'm going to give him his first white potatoes.
It's cold enough here now to use the bundle me on his stroller, it's so snug and warm that he generally goes right to sleep when we put him in here.

He's so good at standing up and "cruising" and his balance is improving so that now when he falls he usually lands on his butt.
I bought a mei tei carrier, which we both love. In this picture (which I took myself in the bathroom mirror obviously) we had just come back from a nice long walk during which he fell asleep. I really wish I'd had this when he was smaller and incapable of entertaining himself.
Daddy taught Eli how to take the lid off his cereal puffs! Thanks daddy.
Here he is trying to get to the av cords in the front of the TV, possibly that new living room furniture should include an entertainment center with doors.
This is Eli when he first realized that he could pull himself up to stand. Watching him learn new things is so amazing.

Random Facts

My friend Bonnie http://bonnkyee.blogspot.com/ has tagged me to blog 8 random things about myself, so here goes.

1. I once worked at Bath and Body Works for 1 night, be nice to those girls they work a lot harder than you think.

2. I love dogs feet. Seriously I love their little pink padded paws and every dog I've ever owned has gotten to experience me falling asleep holding onto one of their paws.

3. My shopping addiction is probably every bit as bad as any drug addiction you can imagine.

4. I can write my name with my toes.

5. I was a girl scout and because of that I love mountain pies and singalongs.

6. Sometimes I eat side dishes on their own for dinner : mashed potatoes and peas and nothing else.

7. One of the drawers in my desk at work holds only shoes.

8. I'm scared of the dark.

I hope that was informative for everyone. On a different note last night Eli was asleep in his bed and I was in my bed reading, he stirred, whined a bit and groped around in his bed until he found Dangles. Then clutching his stuffed monkey he went right back to sleep. The amount of love I feel for that kid cracks my heart open.

Minutia

-I was given some mascara. It is everything I've ever wanted in a tube of mascara. It makes my lashes darker and longer without weird clumps or spider effect.

-Eli is really really mobile all of a sudden. He learned how to pull up and it would seem that now there is no stopping him. I've been crash babyproofing, I had to dismantle my rotating dvd rack monday night in order to ensure that he will continue to dwell on this earth.

-It's really cold. It snowed yesterday and hailed today. I know I was complaining about the weather, but now I'm cold. Bah.

-I found a new favorite place for online shopping, everyone can expect magnificent X-Mas gifts.

-I hate the word X-Mas and an really ashamed of myself for using it.

-I've become resigned to the fact that I live where I live and that for at least the remainder of this year I will continue to live there. It sucks, a lot, but that's how it is. I am zen in regards to my housing situation.
-It's finally started to get cold, Pittsburgh feels like Pittsburgh again.
-Eli had his first Halloween.


This is my friend Suz and I at Jen's party last weekend, we are Ike and Tina Turner. Being Ike Turner is something I've been preparing for for years with repeated viewings of What's Love Got to Do With It.

I was absolutely determined to get Eli to the pumpkin patch, even though I knew he'd have no idea what was going on, I'm a photo-op nut since he was born. So here's Jason and I with the little one on his first hayride on Sunday. See how I'm wearing a short sleeve shirt? I was freezing. My lips turned blue. You can generally count on me to be improperly dressed for most occasions.

Halloween day my sister-in-law and I brought the kiddies into the office in their costumes. Eli's a monkey and Providence is a duck. Cute little guys huh?
Eli after trick or treat, we went to about 6 houses, got a bunch of candy he's not allowed to have (what will I do with it?), and spent the night at Grandma's.

-Last night Jason talked to his mother and she told him they're coming up for Thanksgiving. In fact they're driving up and towing their trailer, which they will be parking and staying in. So, I'm pretty excited that they're not staying with me, but also left with the distinct impression that they're planning on staying for awhile. Pittsburgh is my safe place, I don't want disturbances and unwanted parenting advice in my safe place.

-I'm tired. Stayed up way to late last night to read Empire Falls, which was really really good and ended up someplace I never thought it would at the beginning, but now I'm craving a nap and knowing it's not going to happen. I'll settle for a quiet evening and an early bedtime.

On not moving

I'm really behind on pictures, because blogger was refusing to let me upload. And I'm behind on news because things change so quickly. We did not move after all. When I went to sign the lease for the new place the landlord started writing in new rules on the lease, literally writing them on in pen. The one that I took the most offense with was that my dog couldn't go to the bathroom in the backyard, ever, or we'd be evicted. So, we're still in the apt I hate, but I'm dealing with it very gracefully. Here are a bunch of pics.

Here's Eli taking a nap on the futon, he sleeps face down like that now. I used to worry that he'd suffocate but I've since learned that if he's happily sleeping moving him is a dumb idea.

Being cute, he sits up so well now! he hardly ever tumbles over and I know he'll be walking in no time. Definitely time to invest in some baby gates.

Here he is playing with his little tool bench from Auntie Rhonda. He loves this thing! He will crawl across the living room to get to it and then pull on it til it topples over on him. Don't worry it's really lightweight and he thinks it's hilarious.

Here I am at Dee's with Suzanne on Friday night, after I realized I'd still be living in my current apartment. I needed a drink.
Jen at the Woman of the Year festivities earlier that evening, she's a winner! That's her major award that she's holding. The best part of the evening was Dr. Kim the keynote speaker. I advise you to go to Dr.Kimspeaks.com. You won't be disappointed.

Eli sleeping in his stroller last week after a very long walk around the park on the first nice crisp fall day. This is my favorite time of the year and I'm delighted that summer is finally over! Anyone who doesn't believe in global warming is an idiot after the weather we had the past two months.

Eli before said walk, wearing shoes for the first time ( he wasn't impressed, but aren't they cute?) and about to be licked by Adelaide. He loves his doggy.

Laughing at mommy, the funniest person in the world thank you very much. He's such a delightful little guy. Charming and funny and curious. Every age is my favorite age so far.

Fall, almost

This has to be the warmest fall ever, and that's counting the years I spent in Vegas. I've been looking forward to sweaters and crisp walks, instead I'm stuck with tank tops and sweaty heads. If this keeps up we're going to have to cut the sleeves off Eli's monkey costume. Sleeveless monkey, so Miami. I'm really hating global warming.

Eli after his first Steeler's loss. He's doing ok, young as he is he seems to understand that you win some you lose some, you always love your team.

Daddy took this picture while I was at work, Eli looks sullen. Probably because he missed me. Poor buddy.
And look I got that haircut and eyebrow waxing! I feel (and I think look) a whole lot better. It was really a necessity since I'm going to be one of Jen's dates to the woman of the year banquet.

And lastly I promised Suzanne that I'd blog about how much Eli adores her, believe me he does. Tuesday night when she was over for the biggest loser he chose to snuggle with her instead of me. Sigh.

Crawling

Eli has finally started crawling! I was really starting to think it wasn't going to happen then Monday evening he just wiggled his butt and went right across the livingroom floor. Now he wants to be down all the time, makes me miss my little baby who always wanted me to hold him. I know I swore I'd never say that. He turned 8 months old yesterday, just 4 months shy of a year and I'm constantly marveling at how fast it's gone. I feel like I'm going to blink and he'll be heading out the door to college. Not calling or visiting, only coming home to do laundry and grocery shop out of the kitchen cupboards.

The big news on the Dukes/Witcher home front is that we're moving in less than 2 weeks time. I know I've said we were moving before, but this time is for real. The new apartment is literally four blocks from the old one (which makes renting a truck seem like a giant, though unfortunately necessary, waste of money) has two bedrooms, a small fenced in yard, and a covered deck. Eli is really excited about finally having that nursery his parents have been promising him, and his Aunt Jenny is excited that we're going to put her shower gift to good use. Me too, Bubba's monkey business bedding is just about the cutest thing ever. It will also be nice to not have Adelaide wake him up every night when Jason comes home from work with the growling and the barking. So, that's exciting and the afore-mentioned Aunt Jenny and I are planning a grown-up scavenger hunt. Which is looking like it's going to be a lot of fun and will have fabulous prizes for the winners i.e. candy, liquor, and trophies. Also it will be kind of a housewarming party for the new place.

This is Eli at 9:30 on Sunday night, showing no inclination what-so-ever to go to bed. Lately he has had the kind of energy that I find unfathomable.

Here he is chewing daddy's wallet, which is probably unsanitary but...

Pizza crust! He was looking at the pizza so longingly that I caved and gave him a piece of crust, he gnawed it til it was pretty soggy and gross and then held it over the side of the high chair for Adelaide to munch on. They've got a good thing going on.

Eli being Eli-exuberant, charming, and adorable.
We breed our football fans. Then we in doctrine them from birth. If we do a good job Eli will be loyal to the black and gold his whole life.

I'm particularly fond of this picture and of the monster shirt that his grandma bought for him. We're sliding into Eli's first Halloween, he will be a monkey (of course). And we'll be taking him here http://www.triplebfarms.com/pumpkin.html to get his pumpkin, it's where my mom always took us. The rule was that we could have any pumpkin we could carry out and back to the car. Holidays with Eli are something I'm really looking forward to.

So many firsts

I took a few days off work to spend some time with the kiddo, he had so many first times during the few days I was off.

The first day that was chilly enough for him to premiere his fall wardrobe on Saturday morning while eating breakfast with mommy and Aunt Suzanne

His first piece of zwieback toast! which he seemed pretty fond of, and then Adelaide got to finish it which made her pretty happy. She's started to just hang out under the high chair. Smart girl.

His first green beans, another big hit, he ate 2 oz. of beans mixed with rice cereal.

His first time riding in the cart! It made shopping a lot more fun for mommy and for Eli, and he helped pick out a green hooded shirt that is mommy's new favorite. He really has excellent taste.

This is actually his second time in a high chair, but I didn't have the camera the first time (bad mommy), he's staring with adoration at his Aunt Adrienne who was being very entertaining

And he's finally sitting up on his own really well. We have to put him into position, and he screams when we do it, why I don't know, but then he sits there like a little man and plays with his toys. Eli's 8 month birthday is right around the corner and I can't believe how fast it's gone, it was just yesterday that he was my little blob. My little blob who slept 17 hours a day. Now we're lucky if we get 8 hours. I guess he's too busy learning new things to sleep.

Complaints

1. Jason woke me up at 1 am TO ASK ME WHERE THE REMOTE WAS. Seriously, that man needs to get his head screwed on or Emily's going to be Pittsburgh's hottest new single mom.

2. My cubemate is driving me insane. Thank God I'm taking 3 extra days off, otherwise I might murder her.

3. I'm still broke, which might be part of the reason I'm so damned irritable today. Here's a list of things I'd love to have a little extra money for :

a. new ballet flats since one of mine mysteriously disappeared
b. a haircut, it's been a year since I had one. A year.
c. eyebrow waxing. no one likes looking like Peter Gallagher (except the man himself)
d. pants in the next size down, my old ones are falling down. (mini YEA!)


There are my complaints, feel free to help me out with suggestions or cash donations.

Catching Up

Eli went to his second Pirates game this weekend with my friend Melissa, her little boy Ryan, and myself. They lost this time, but Eli didn't care.

I've been a terrible blogger lately, but anyone who knows me understands that I go through spurts where getting anything but the bare minimum done is next to impossible. I had my birthday, of course, there's no stopping time. There was sushi, and cake, and cupcakes, and cheesecake (not all at the same time). Eli is getting bigger and doing new things every day. He has learned how to wave and waves at everyone he sees, delighting in all the positive attention he gets from this action. He's also sitting up by himself a lot better, though still no crawling. My mom assures me that this doesn't mean he's developmentally slow. I think I have a competitive streak that motherhood is really bringing out. Not only do I want Eli to do everything right away, I want him to do it before everyone elses babies. My mother also assures me I will not feel this way with the second one. Contemplating a second one makes my head hurt. All people with more than one child are now officially my heroes.

Eli is growing out of his infant seat, which is pretty much ok with me since he's getting to heavy to carry around in it anyway.
Eli still makes fabulous faces, this has not changed since my last post. At seven months he is utterly charming. This is something I'll most likely need to remember when he's 17 and I'm ready to throw him out of the house.

Eli thinks that daddy is his own personal jungle gym. He likes to pull on his chest hair. Better him than me.

How Time Flies

Unbelievably enough I'm going to be 26 next Wednesday, twenty-freaking-six. Wasn't I just 16? My life plan (humor me now, I came up with it when I was 12) said that by 26 I should have

A: Graduated from college
B: Gotten married
C: Published my first book
D: Had my first baby

Well, one out of four's not bad right? And I might as well be married to Jason, we certainly act like husband and wife. Especially when we get to bickering and nagging each other. My life isn't anything like I imagined it would be. Except for the adorable baby part, and even that is different in real life. I mean there's no way of preparing for how hard motherhood is. I also was pretty sure I'd own my own home by the time the first baby rolled around and at this point it's not seeming like that will ever happen. Right now I don't even like the apartment I'm in. Oh, 26, you snuck up on me.

Eli got his 2ND tooth this week, I noticed it peeking through the skin while we were at the ballgame on Monday night. Which explains his atrocious sleeping habits lately, I was beginning to think he was reverting back to infancy. Last night though he fell asleep at 8 pm, woke at 3:30 to nurse, and went back to sleep til 7:30. Viva la sleeping through the night!

This is the face Eli makes when he is talking, he babbles and yells and waves his arms. It's pretty hilarious because he's so emphatic about it.

That thing he's holding is a mesh feeder with a piece of banana inside, he did not like it, did not want it in his mouth.

His finger is in his mouth because he had another tooth coming in! Two teeth!

Here's the family at PNC Park on Monday evening. We went to the doubleheader for my little brother's birthday. Well he's not so little anymore, it was his 22ND birthday. In my head he's still 13 and I'm still surprised to see him driving a car. It was not only Eli's first baseball game it was Jason's too. The thing he was the most impressed in were the grilled foot longs with everything. He ate two of them and fries and shrimp. Piggy.

An Evening with Eli

When I go home in the evening I do not, as many may think, just rest on my laurels and eat bon bons. I am in charge of caring for and shaping the mind of an infant. Hard work. Here are pics of a typical evening.


Eli is trying to learn how to crawl, he can his front end up and he can get his back end up, but not at the same time. It's still pretty cute to watch him worm around and figure out what this whole moving thing is about.

Then we eat bananas off the spoon, usually I hold him on my lap to feed him since I haven't gotten around to buying a high chair, but that's getting so messy that I decided to plunk him in his Einstein. He hijacked the spoon and got a death grip on it.

Then mommy and Eli take a bath. I have to leave the door open because Adelaide gets anxious if she can't see me. With the door open she will walk back to hall and peek her head in several times, just to check that I haven't abandoned her through some sort of trap door or dumb waiter.
After bath Eli gets a fresh diaper and a fabulous faux hawk, you can't see it very well since his hair is pretty reminiscent of duck fuzz, but I assure you it's there. Note the Underpants Gnome diaper, I have a small addiction to buying diapers. Eli has 25 meds at last count.

And finally he sleeps! Of course when he sleeps I have to do the dishes, pick up his toys, wash his diapers, feed myself, run the vacuum, etc... There is no rest for the wicked. (obviously I am the wicked)

Too much cute

This weekend Eli was for the most part in exemplary spirits, and displaying the kind of cuteness that made me want to have a baby in the first place. Then last night at my mom's he seemed to suddenly realize what separation anxiety is because he didn't want anyone but Jason or myself to hold him. Usually Eli shows no preference as long as he's being jostled, tickled, and talked too. So, this new thing is both endearing and annoying. Endearing because he's recognizing that we are, in fact, the most important people in his world. Annoying because I can no longer leave the room without hearing earsplitting cries. Here are some pics of Elijah being extraordinarily cute.


He fell asleep in his Baby Einstein exersaucer while I was at work, luckily Jason had the forethought to take a picture. I guess being a baby genius is pretty tiring.

He found both his feet!! And he was so excited about it. My little monkey.

Eli thinks that daddy's hat is the most delicious thing in the world, except for maybe bananas.

In Emily news I was just monumentally annoyed because I had to walk the whole way upstairs to get water. For anyone who isn't already aware I have a pretty cushy office job where they try to make things as pleasant as possible. This includes monthly themed luncheons (recent examples include a sundae bar and a baked potato bar), team building scavenger hunts, mock awards ceremonies for being a super social worker, and very very flexible schedules. Really if the most I have to complain about is that the downstairs water cooler is broken I must be pretty lucky.

6 months of elation and exhaustion

So, my little guy turned 6 months old yesterday. Half a year has gone by faster than i ever thought possible. I would have updated yesterday but they have me doing new, time consuming things at work as of late. This afternoon I'm pretty tired, Eli was up in the middle of the night again, and since I forgot to set my alarm (also again) I jolted up in a way that always leaves me with a headache. And Adelaide was being mighty picky about where she pooed on her morning jaunt, I would have been late if my co-worker hadn't seen my lame ass walking and picked me up. Then when I sat down at my desk I realized that the khakis I'd put on thinking they were clean had banana mush hand prints on the left thigh. The joys of motherhood. I'm discovering that being a mother tends to leave me woefully unprepared in other areas of my life. Like grooming. And being quick with a comeback. But in other areas I've grown leaps and bounds. Like doing things one handed because putting the baby down isn't an option unless you enjoy hysterical screaming. He was very adorable last night at Macy's, sitting in their extra tall stroller, flirting with all the sales ladies. I bought him a taggie book, and he was sucking on the actual tag instead of the silky decorative ones that line the soft pages. Non conformist.

Auntie Em

My older brother is now a father. That concept is amazing to me, Josh has always been abrasive, annoying, and exasperating. He has mellowed a little in the past few years, I've never seen a man so eager to get married, he cried at the wedding. But to see him holding his little girl, bursting with pride was another thing altogether. I guess we're all growing up.