Tidbit

On our way out to get some lunch today, I turn onto the road leading to our favorite local BBQ place (as in mine and Bret's) and Elliott yells, "Wait!" from the back seat of the car. I ask him, "What's wrong?" and in his little toddler lisp, Elliott says, "Chick-Fil-A!," pointing in the other direction.

That's right. I TURNED AROUND and took my son and husband to Chick-Fil-A for lunch because it was the first time Elliott has requested any restaurant, much less so adamantly. You can go ahead and call me "SUCKER."

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day friends! As you know, I don't get political or opinionated in my blog. It is a blog dedicated to my beautiful son and how I enjoy every minute of his wide-eyed exploration of our world. However, I'm going to break the rule today and get a little didactic, because I can't think of any issue any more relevant to Elliott. Take care of our planet, because I want Elliott to be able to enjoy it for all his days too. I don't want Elliott to have to tell his kids about how the Earth used to have ice at the poles or for him to have to colonize Mars. Here's five excellent reasons to save the planet:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Do you want to tell that face that you didn't do your part?

Some things we do in hopes of a more sustainable future: recycle everything we can from bottles to junk mail to scraps of paper, grow our own vegetables in our garden, compost our food scraps (and fertilize our garden with it!), use reusable bags, use grey water (from our baby pool) to water our flowers, turn off and unplug when not in use, set a thermostat a litle warmer in the summer and a little colder in the winter, shop at the local farmer's market, Bret carpools to work... we believe we can make a difference. Will you help?

Eggstravagant Eggstravaganza - Warning: Puns galore!

Well, you can never accuse us of only celebrating halfway. For Easter, we really outdid ourselves. Last year, Elliott did not eat candy yet, so he received some crayons and a couple of eggs with Sesame Street toys. Oh, how much changes in a year! Elliott first received an Easter basket from Nana loaded with goodies (Thank you, Nana!), but the Easter Bunny apparently didn't get the memo.

Here's Elliott on Easter morning, with his stash from the Easter Bunny! He had eggs filled with chocolate eggs and Hot Wheels Cars. And a bunny hand puppet!

Elliott's obvious eggcitement over being allowed candy in the morning....

"I do it! I do it!" Still working on it...

Still working... Stupid wrapper getting in the way. "Mommy. Help."

Thought bubble: "What!?! A whole bunny made of chocolate, just for me? Eggcellent!"

And what would Easter be without jelly beans?? Elliott enjoyed his "gourmet" Jelly Beans, with the eggception of toasted marshmellow and buttered popcorn. As Elliott says, "No like it."

And, of course, we dyed Easter eggs! In a moment of genius, Mommy decided to bring Elliott's table outside and we dyed the eggs in the yard. (Not pictured: Elliott's little buddy, Hayden, who helped us dye eggs. Elliott is a very careful egg dyer, while Hayden is more the "stick your whole hand in" kind of guy.) By the end, Elliott had dyed all of his eggs a brilliant shade of purple, but his hand were miraculously clean.

And of course, there is the Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by Hayden!

Elliott's stash.

More egg hunting.

Elliott finds an egg! How eggstraordinary!

Elliott couldn't wait to find out what was inside the eggs - stickers and fruit snacks!

And our Easter picture. Doesn't get better than that! A great day, but by the end we were egghausted. (Hey, I warned you!)

Bouncing is what Elliott's do best!

Here are a couple of videos that I took of Elliott at gymnastics playgroup. The first is Elliott jumping on the Tumble Track while reciting his ABCs over and over.




This next video shows the sometimes bossy side of Elliott (and you guys thought he was an angel!)

Picture Smorgasbord

Here's a few random pictures to share.

Elliott now likes to brush his teeth at the sink like a big boy.

Elliott in his new crab sand box (I know! Too cute, right?) His favorite thing to do is put sand in the sand mill. However, Elliott is the only child under 12 that I know who can come out of a sandbox with NO sand in his shoes. He kind of freaks out a little if he gets any sand on him at all. As Elliott says, "Mess!"

Elliott on the trampoline at gymnastics playgroup with his best l'il bud!

Elliott plops down on the trampoline. The instructors have told me that this is a great skill that even much older kids have trouble with!

Elliott testing out his new tractor. Elliott especially likes to take a screwdriver to "fix" it!

Elliott and Daddy running! (in case you couldn't figure that out.)

I just love this picture.

This picture is pretty random... much like how I walked into the kitchen one day to find Elliott under the rug for no apparent reason.

Playing in the sandbox with his friend! (Thanks for the picture, Jennifer)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Here's a video I've meant to post since February... it's an oldie, but goodie. As you can see, Elliott loves to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.



As of April, Elliott's new favorite song to sing/ dance to is "Boom Boom Pow" by the Black Eyed Peas. Sniff, sniff... they grow up so fast!

Lions, Tigers, (P)and(a) Bears, OH MY!

A couple of weeks ago, we went on vacation to Washington, DC!! We had an absolute blast! We took Elliott before when he was about 7 months old, but this was his first "real" trip to the Capitol! This post is picture heavy... but I personally can never have enough pictures of Elliott, so enjoy!

We stopped at our favorite children's museum on the way there to tire Elliott out. Here's Elliott playing at his favorite exhibit, the water table. If you look to the left, you'll see the dome of water at one end of the table.... I am endlessly amazed at this myself.

Elliott milking the cow! He thought this was great fun! (this place is seriously the coolest!)

Ahhh... and then we're at the Smithsonian! Here's Bret and Elliott posing at the Air and Space Museum. Elliott thought this museum was pretty neat, for obvious reasons.

Elliott piloting his first Cessna.

Elliott on the Metro. This really cracked us up. Bret and I often stood on the Metro while Elliott sat in his stroller. He figured he better hold on just like Mommy and Daddy, so he leans over, grabs the pole, and holds on for the duration of the ride.

Ackk!!! Sloth bear eating Elliott's finger (at the National Zoo)!

Elliott's not actually in this photo. I have only included it because it is an awesome picture.

Elliott touching meerkat fur. This was the best part of the trip. Elliott and one of the meerkats bonded. The two of them ran back and forth with the glass between them playing chase with each other for over 10 minutes. Elliott was laughing hysterically and I think the meerkat had a pretty good time too.

Elliott and our friend Alice (who often reads and comments on our blog!) Btw, Alice, Elliott wants me to tell you that that other girl means nothing... you're the only girl for him.

Family photo at the zoo.

Elliott sitting on a Rodin... before we saw the sign that said, "Do not touch." Whoops.

Elliott flying his kite in the sculpture garden, while hiolding his new pet meerkat... appropriately named "Meerkat."

Mommy and Elliott under sculpture shaped like a piece of paper folded on half. Before we got yelled at by security. Whoops again. I seriously didn't see a sign.

Mommy and Elliott by the reflecting pool and Capitol building! We watched the ducks!

Elliott at the Insect Zoo in the Museum of Natural History. He thought this part of the trip was pretty cool, too.

At last but not least, DINOSAURS!