Eli's first Christmas tree ...

We had a lot of running around to do to make it happen, but, as you can see, the Green family has it's first Christmas tree. We got one in a pot that can live outdoors the rest of the year and come inside to visit for a couple of weeks each December. Jason likes to remind me of my past cynical Christmas views and how they don't quite jibe with all of a sudden wanting a tree and all ... part of having a family, I guess. We also started Eli on solid food this past Sunday. Solid, as I've come to learn, is a misnomer at first, as it's just a little ground rice in with the milk. He seems to like it and is ready for it, and has adjusted well. This weekend he'll eat his first vegetable -- dad's choice -- sweet potato. He's been very talkative, and trying out new body movements and tricks. He smiles big at both his parents and lets out big laughs at some of our simple little games. He's got presents from all the grandparents under his tree and I'm sure we'll have a fun Christmas day. It's hard to believe it's next week, it really snuck up on us this year. J and I have both been sick with the latest round from the germ factory -- every week it seems to be a slight variation on a familiar theme ... hope everyone is well and poised for a fun and relaxing holiday. Much love, ~V

Eli gets ready for christmas ...

December is upon us quick, and there's a lot we want to do to enjoy the season! Unfortunately, I have only mastered the art of working a little bit each day on a lot of projects ~ not exactly finishing any of them. Last weekend Eli and I went to get his first tree (a small blue spruce in a pot, which we'll put up this week and can live outdoors the rest of the year). This is the first year J and I have really done Christmas, and it's weird figuring out how our family will go about starting a tradition. Jason concluded elk hunting season on Saturday and helped clean the house on Sunday, while I went to a little soup and sauna gathering with some friends. Unfortunately, Eli couldn't join in, because he woke up on saturday with PINK EYE! Luckily, perhaps because I got him into the doctor right away and got some eye drops, he doesn't seem too bothered. He is just a little more mobile and self-assured in his movements, watchful and talkative every day. He is quite the charmer! We plan to start him on solid food in two weeks and I'm reading up on how best to accomplish this. To start with, we've given him some spoons to play with while we eat, and we practice feeding motions.

#1 ~ Ready for Christmas, wearing the hat Grandma Song made
#2 ~ Master of the excersaucer. You can really see how much more he's in control of those legs and arms these days.
#3 ~ As Jason says, crying round and round. Grammy Linda says I take too many pictures of Eli while he's crying, but I have to say I do like them ... I think because they're a true part of our day every day. This is a good one because it's showing off the new ability to grab and hold onto feet ...
#4 ~ Sad Eli with pink eye ...

More pictures after we get the tree up. This will be a busy week, I have to take a day flight to southern oregon on wednesday and there's lots to do to get ready for the holidays ...

Eli at play, Eli at rest

Hi everyone, J has been elk hunting and grouse hunting this weekend, and Eli and I have been catching up with friends and chores. This week Eli and I started "Itsy Bitsy Yoga", which we thought would be 50/50 yoga for each of us. It turns out that it's much more focused on yoga for baby ~ this struck me as funny, as it amounted to manipulating his limbs around while singing little songs -- I thought this was stuff we were up to anyway ... until we got home and he crashed right to sleep two hours early. The yogini had a busy day. He has turned over a couple more times and is very interested in his legs and feet. The drooling continues ... (Brack says this stage never really stops)... true?

1) Eli and Poo bear catching some rest. In Colorado, we saw a cartoon of some big grizzly bears talking to Winnie, asking him -- "Your name is Winnie the what??"
2) Kristen hanging out and making cookies with Eli and I. We bought him those flaming legwarmers earlier in the day and he's showing them off here. They're perfect for him, as he is pretty good at kicking off socks and likes toe freedom. And he looks kickass. Kristen, by the way, is three months pregnant with twins! We're all rooting for her.
3) Eli showing off his latest acrobatic trick with me and Phoebe. Who needs Yoga class?
4) Eli helping me fold the laundry :)
5) Itsy Bitsy Yoga champions