What's what in Elliott-ville...

  

As we round the corner on Elliott's 21'st month in the world, I'm reminded every day of the impending t-word.  T, as in T W O.  And it's like he knows how close it is- and is behaving accordingly.  This Elliott of ours... phew!  He is a force.  Here's what's what in Elliott-ville lately...

Diapers?  No.  Just... no.  He's so over those things.  Unfortunately, his body didn't get the no-diaper memo that his mind sent out.  So in the meantime, diaper changes involve wrestling, distracting, impressive speed, and at least 4 hands.

Naps?  Ditto.  If anti-nap tantrums were an olympic sport- you'd be looking at the platinum medal CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE, RIGHT HERE!  I have never seen a child so willfully determined to not be put down for a nap.  I mean, if I could hear my own thoughts over the piercing screams... I'd probably be impressed with the determination.

Food?  We're good here, thank Jesus.  He's been a voracious eater since day 1, and happily the appetite is still going strong.  Of course he'd PREFER that every meal be served with a side of ketchup, and a carrot-apple crusher, but he'll take it either way.  That I can get this child to feast on yogurt, leeks, arugula, avocados, and every meat and veggie known to man makes me a very happy mama.  10 points for Elliott!

NO.  He hears this a lot, and every single time- it's like the very first time.  The hands come up over his eyes, the knees buckle, and *SPLAT* he's face-down on the ground.  Now... cue wailing.  Aaaaand scene.  Maybe not Oscar quality, but at least Golden Globe worthy.

Baths?  Like James and Evelyn before him, Elliott is a water baby through and through.  Anything that has gone wrong in this boy's life can be cured with warm water and a few bubbles.  On a particularly difficult afternoon (*ahem* I'm looking at you, Monday) he spent a good 2.5 hours in his cupcake tub.  I'm convinced that he would have stayed in it overnight if I hadn't pulled the YOURLIPSARETOTALLYPURPLEGETOUT mom card.  

His favorite words?  "Hi" and "happy".  *mellllllllt* 

And there it is... just when I think I'm about to lose my mind, he touches my cheek, looks me right in the eyes, smiles, and says: "Hiiiii!" like he hasn't seen me in YEARS.  He bounces down to the floor, gathers his mess of Hot Wheels, Duplos, and plastic picnic food- chanting "Happy" "Happy" Happy".  And how could we not be?  

So here's me, checking in from month no. 21, dreading month no. 24, and trying hard to appreciate every moment (good and bad) along the way.  

  

Baby steps...

*PREFACE* This is a very baby-heavy post.  I know for some of you, that's not your thing...  apologies.  

If you haven't yet, check out yesterday's Camping Countdown.  ♥

Sooooo with Elliott fast approaching the one year mark (cuh-ray-zee), we're just milestoning left and right over here.  

Walking, talking, understanding...  this kid is amazing.  With all this new toddler-like behavior, I'm feeling like it's time to make a few changes.  

First item on the chopping block... nursing.  

Last week, I realized that Elliott has basically commandeered my body for more than a year and a half, aaand I'm pretty much ready to have it back.  Nursing is exhausting, and only becomes more so as he gets older and bigger, and hungrier!  James nursed so rarely that in hindsight, I'd hardly even say that he was breastfed.   Both James and Evy were very happy to take formula and "babas".  THIS one?  He wants N O T H I N G to do with a bottle- regardless of what's in it, how much we paid for it, which fancy flash site we ordered it from, or the dumb "cutting edge design"and "innovative technology" behind it.  Just... no.   James basically weaned himself by rejecting the boob completely at the 8 month mark.  Evelyn?  Ok, that's another story.  When she suddenly realized that nursing was simply no longer an option- her immediate reaction was to behave like she could ONLY survive on breastmilk, and without it I was killlllllling her.  That's such an Evelyn response, you guys.  In the end, my mother had to physically take her away for a solid week, and that was that.  Best solution ever.  Unfortunately my mother moved away, so that's not an option this time.  *super sad face*  I should say that he loves food.  He'll eat pretty much anything I put in front of him.  But anything liquid in a bottle or sippy cup- might as well be baby kryptonite.

Next... co-sleeping.

Ok, ok... go ahead and say it...  we made our own bed here, right?  YOU GUYS!!!  He was such a teensy, snuggly, TEENSY little baaaaybeee!  And after everything we went through to have him, we couldn't not co-sleep.  I literally didn't even set him down for the first week.  But this is reality, people.  My teensy, snuggly, teensy is now a wiggling, grunting, nursing all night, BED HOG!  We need to get serious about getting him into his own bed, and reclaiming our lives a bit.  Or at least, our REM. 

So, I'm up for suggestions, my friends...  Tips?  Tricks?  Advice?  Watcha got?   

For those of you who've done it, did you wean first, and then transition to sleeping alone?  Do them both at once?  What was your weaning/transitioning experience like?  Please feel free to weigh-in, peeps.  I'm all ears eyes.  ♥

{Photo via Jeff Claassen}