Babies First Sushi

It would appear that my child is unnaturally attached to silverware. And this evening i knew he'd want chopsticks because i was using them.
He's not very good with them yet, but he likes trying to stab the food with them.

I didn't anticipate him freaking out over eating hotdogs and veggies while i munched on maki. So, I gave him a California roll. There's nothing raw so it was safe.

He liked it OK. Except for the seaweed which is probably an acquired taste.

There needs to be a special place in the baby book for this.

Run, Eli, Run!

Eli wants to show you how good he is at running.

Work Luncheons

Do not aid in weight loss. I feel bloated and kind of disgusting but I know I'll eat the same way next time. Because that's what I do. Anyone want to give me a lecture on self control?

Don't Worry About A Thing...

I've kind of become obsessed with Eli's talking. Or the lack thereof. I fear I may be annoying people with my constant musing as to whether or not Eli's normal verbally, so I'm going to blog about it and then shut my trap. The kid doesn't say much. And the few words he does say: dad, what's this, kittie, dog, Jesus he's been saying for quite some time. No new words here people. I'm kind of desperate to hear what he has to say. I looked up developmental milestones for Eli's age online:

Most toddlers should be able to . . .
Feed self with spoon and fork --check!
Run well --check!
Brush teeth with help --(i should try this)
String more words together to make phrases or puts together pairs of words --nope!

Some toddlers will probably be able to . . .
Know when something is wrong --check!
Say 20 to 50 words--hahahahahaha!
Form recognizable sentences (two or three words)--hilarious!
Take off clothes --check!

Some toddlers could possibly be able to . . .
May show signs of bladder control --nope (not caring too much about that though)
Brush teeth and washes hands without help --(maybe if he could reach the sink)
Draw better circles and straighter lines --uh-uh
Name several part of his or her body --he can point to his nose, mouth, and bum but he's not saying a word.

He's certainly ahead of the game in coordination, he kicks, throws, and swings like a champ. He's great at climbing stairs and is getting better at going down them, in fact he's really great at climbing anything. But the verbal stuff irks me. I'm scared to make his 18 month check up-which is overdue-for fear that the doctor will tell me something is wrong with him. And if something is wrong with him it's probably my fault. Being a mom is worrisome. Anyone contemplating signing up for it should be aware.

In reassuring news Eli is still leaps and bounds ahead of other children in general adorableness.

See that spoon? That's Eli's security spoon, he carries it around and cries when it's taken away. However I don't let him sleep with it because that seems patently unsafe.
Finally submitting to a nap on Saturday afternoon, he sleeps like a man.
A-Dorable right?

On Sunday we went to Highland Park Reservoir with Aunt Suz. This is where part of the city's drinking water is housed. So I'm hoping people take that sign seriously.
We took Eli to the playground, which he found a little overwhelming at first.
The park is all wood and I found it very cool.
In the mouth of the gator! And seemingly unafraid.

Walking the plank.
The bridge was a bit treacherous and he needed some mommy assistance the first go round.
But once he got the hang of it he was quick to leave me.
Afterwards he showed us all what a neat eater he is.
Using his fork. Using it well I'd say.

He's getting very tall, if I'd make his doctor's appointment I'd be able to say just how tall. Also look at his cute new diaper cover. Eli is an excellent model.
With his favorite non-toy toy. He likes to turn the volume up to about 90 when I'm in the kitchen then come running at me with the remote so I'll turn it down.
His another new diaper. I'm in love with this fabric and would like to redo his bedroom in it if I could sew.
Why so worried?
How much do I love his face? More than I love chocolate cake, Grey's Anatomy, clean cotton sheets, grass under my feet, sushi, the smell of books, Target, cloth diapers, Counting Crows, puppies, Dirty Dancing and Mr. Witcher put together.

Back To Normal

My stress level according to the all mighty stress ruler is normal again. We have a doggie psychologist coming over to analyze Addie's behavior in the home tonight and hopefully we'll get some good feedback. Like "When you touch her behind her right ear with your pinkie finger 3 times she will turn into a calm normal dog". That's the kind of advice I'm looking for. I've also made up fliers with a bio of Adelaide where I tried to strike the fine balance of telling the truth about all of her issues and letting people know what a lovable dog she is. Not sure where I'll post these yet, I'm tending to be particular about where she ends up.

There's not a whole lot else going on. Eli, when asked where his nose is, puts his finger right in his nostril. It's very cute and very gross like many things babies do.

A co-worker introduced me to the mystery of the Montauk Monster. I don't want to talk or think about it ever again! But if you're curious please wiki it. And then don't talk to me about it.

Stress

Normally I like to think of myself as a very relaxed person. I am not prone to getting all worked up over little things. This weekend however led to a very frazzled Emily.

First I got a haircut. To some people this might not be a big deal because it is after all ONLY HAIR and it GROWS BACK. But I love my hair, even when it doesn't look so great I love it and I like to kind of hide behind it and resist any changes to it. Once in 9th grade I got a very short cut that made me loathe to leave the house for over a week and that was my last really short cut. Until now.

And I didn't want or ask for it to be this short. Below see a picture of me right after leaving the salon and below that the picture of what I'm OK with doing to it until the shortest layer (which falls right above my ears and mushrooms out in a ring around my head) gets a little longer.

See how happy I am with my new cut?

The second problem really does make all my angst over JUST HAIR that will GROW BACK seem pretty silly.

On Sunday Adelaide bit Eli. On the face. He's OK, there's barely a mark now, but I don't feel safe keeping her around him as she's been very growly and has snapped at him before. In my opinion she's just at the end of her fragile, anxious little rope. With all of the abuse she endured before she came to us our chaotic house is just too much for her. So I'm very sad and trying to re home her. Addie's ideal home would be with a single woman. And I'm specifying NO young children. I'd never be able to live with myself if she went to a new home a hurt someone else's kid.
Poor Lady Adelaide of Bloomfield just needs a good quiet home so she can have a happy life.

In more cheerful news I am doing an excellent job of staying hydrated which I've been told is good for me in a myriad of ways. Eli is adorable (aside from his usual meltdowns) and has really started to love playing with other kids. He's not just playing near them he's actually interacting with them which is an exciting and interesting developmental milestone.

And it's my birthday week! I'll be 27! I'm going to be delighted at my age instead of thinking of it and the subsequent birthdays as an inevitable slide into middle age. At 27 I'm just where I thought I'd be, married (for over a week now! go me! it'll be easy now since the first week's the toughest) and the mother of the cutest kid in town.

Wedding Recap

I had another blogging gap again. And the result is that this post may have the most pictures of any post ever.

We got married last Friday, as planned, well kind of as planned. Friday morning I called down the JOP as I was instructed and was told that I had to call an hour before I actually wanted to come down and be married to see if it could be done that day. This was at 8 am the day of my wedding. So I freaked out for a minute and started furiously texting people (as I am wont to do in times of turmoil) and Jen came to the rescue. Since the mayor of McKeesport wants to have sex with her he agreed to marry us at two o'clock at the marina in McKeesport. I immediately felt so much better about my day knowing that my plans were concrete.

Legs were shaved, hair was washed and straightened, lots of deodorant and lotion was applied. I even put on mascara and eyeliner, gotta look fancy on your special day after all. Jen, our official wedding planner and photographer came at noon so that we could start our litany of pre-ceremony activities. First on the list was picking up our license at the City/County building; I enjoyed when the lady asked me when we were planning on getting married and I was all "today". It reminded me of being in Eat'N'Park heavily pregnant on Tuesday and having the waitress ask when I was due and getting to tell her Sunday, she looked frightened like I might go into labor right there creating a mess and tying up her station. Table turnover is very important when you live on tips. Anyway back to the wedding we then went to Mt. Washington to take pictures (none of which I have to share yet). I don't have the highest hopes for that set as Jason kept squinting into the sun and Jen was accusing him of purposely trying to look like a pirate in his wedding photos. On the way through from the city to McKeesport the bride insisted on stopping at Wendy's for a plain chicken sandwich; because you know what's not sexy? Stomach rumbling during your I Do's. Our last picture stop before the wedding was at this fantabulous rose garden that I didn't even know existed. Really hoping those pictures are good given how lovely the background was.

My mom had already made it to the marina by the time we got there, she didn't get lost at all which I consider to be my own little wedding day miracle. That and the way we kept missing the rain all day so that we got pictures and took our vows under sunny skies. Here's my wedding in pictures. These are the ones from my camera, I'll share the ones from Jen when she gets them to me.
Jason on the way to the marina, shirt untucked. It was a fight getting him to tuck it in! He wanted to bring a "Miami feel" to the wedding. I did not.
Jen and her boobs speeding along.

My guys before the vows. Jason squinting of course.
The Witchers!
Saying our vows with Mayor Brewster
He's squinty but trust me he was very happy
I was pretty happy too

Putting on his ring, which is made of steel and according to Marty looks like the Lord of the Rings ring.
Husband and wife!
Our first kiss as man and wife. I should mention that weddings make me sappy, especially this one.

Marty and I looking familial and happy.

Showing off my twenty dollar dress and my forty dollar bouquet.
Coolest ladies in Pittsburgh.
Our photographer Boobs McGee.
I was trying to cover them with my flowers but she preferred to have them hanging out.

Dencey and I. She was angelic throughout the ceremony and the dinner. I may swap Eli for her when her parents aren't looking.
The girls and me. I was pinching Michelle to make her smile but clearly it didn't work. Also I'd just stolen her sunglasses and she was mad.
Amy and Dencey being cute.
Eli was excited 1. Because mommy and daddy are no longer living in sin

2. Because of his amazing paisley shorts
Trying to cover up her cleavage again.

How I saw Jen for most of the day.
My mommy and me.
Jason and I contemplating what we'd just done.
Suzanne saves my bouquet from my over zealous throw.
Stylish ladies hanging at the marina.

Our miniature wedding cake from Paddy Cake Bakery. It was chocolate inside and delicious, they did a great job.
We were a bit tired of posing at this point. I may have an inkling of how Eli feels most days now.
He makes that face every time he eats cake.
We decided not to smoosh cake in each others faces. Because we're dignified.

Beautiful baby Eli.
Good looking cousins. They're the best of friends now. We had Eli at the end of the table with us and he cried til we moved him with his cousin. He gives her all his food and toys. Very cute.
Waiting on food and the other guests at the Church Brew Works
Doing some posing of her own.
I don't know what my camera was doing here, but it kind of makes him look like the kid from the grudge. Spooky.

After dinner we went to the hotel room that Josh and Amy booked for us in the Southside. It was an awesome room with a whirlpool tub and a KING SIZED BED, we love a big bed. Amy and Suz had snuck in before dinner and decked the room out with champagne and strawberries, flowers, candles and his and hers rubber duckies in the tub. It was the best surprise and we had a very nice time honeymooning. At least for the six hours before we went to the bar with my friends.

Everyone thought that since we were already in the Southside and only 4 blocks from Dee's that we kind of had to go to the bar. And I listened to them...

Here's drunk Jen with "the sailor" if you want to know about "the sailor" you'll have to specially request this knowledge.
Jen's all "don't tell people things jerk!"
Adrienne being undrunk.
Jason showing me what he does with his buddies after work.

We're married! And I'm drunk! And once I get back to the hotel room I'll spend the rest of the night throwing up! Wait, that last sentence didn't need an exclamation point. It needed whatever is the opposite of the exclamation point.

That's all the wedding news. In the other important news, Eli news, we now have a utensil using bubba. He insists on having a fork at every meal and is getting pretty OK at using it:

It's adorable watching him try. We've also been diligently trying to teach him body parts; he's getting it slowly but surely. He can tell you where my belly is (lifting up my shirt to show off my flub) and my nose. He know's his belly and if you ask him if his but needs changed he'll start inspecting his diaper. He had a great time at Aunt Amy and Uncle Josh's Friday night and played with his cousin non-stop. He also loves playing with the little boy across the street and following around the six year old who lives next door. I'm contemplating adopting a two year old so that he has a full time playmate.

When he doesn't have a playmate, or gets told no, or can't reach something, or just can't get across to me what he wants it looks like this:

Which while still kind of cute is zero fun.

In fun Emily news the girl across the street and I have begun a bookswap and she had a ton of celebrity bios which means that I'm now reading Mommie Dearest!