A problem solver

There have been a handful of times when we told Eli "No" and instead of throwing a tantrum, he offered a solution that was acceptable. It was quite surprising the first time, and it still throws me for a loop, but I love seeing him problem solve. Of course, I can't remember most of them, but recently, Eli wanted to carry some glass dishes from the dining room table to the kitchen sink. We told him we were worried because if he were to drop them in the sink (which he can barely reach) that they might break.

Eli thought about the dilemma for a minute and then went into the kitchen, moved his set of wooden steps to the sink and came back and told us. He carried his dishes carefully to the steps, walked up them and then gently placed his dishes in the sink.

The very first time he solved a similar dilemma, it was regarding his car seat. I would always pick him up and put him in the seat. He always wanted to climb in himself, but he couldn't maneuver up the step and into the seat himself. One time, he threw a fit when I tried to get him in. I ended up buckling him in through the tantrum but afterwards we talked about it. I told him I was sorry he was frustrated but I needed to help him in his seat. He thought about it for a second and then suggested that I boost him into the car on the other side, and he would walk across the backseat and climb into his car seat. Perfect solution!

Some things about Eli....

Yesterday I had this flash of Eli in the future -- he was the class clown, trying to get all the other students to laugh. The reason I had this flash? Because Eli and I were at the dining room table and Eli did his typical full-body excited shake. Something that I had always thought was involuntary. But when I started laughing, he did it again. And again. Probably about 7 times total, and he just keep checking in with me to make sure I was laughing. I love these little glimmers of his personality peeking through.

These days Eli is really enjoying learning new tasks. I am trying to teach him to feed the dogs. He loves it although the food often ends up on the floor instead of the dog bowls. The dogs don't seem to care :) He is learning to wash his hands, wipe off the table with a sponge and drink out of a cup by himself.

Perhaps because he wants to learn new tasks, he doesn't want me to change his diaper -- maybe that takes him away from learning new tasks for too long? Anyway, he screams his head off when I try to change his diaper. It is very tiring... He does the same thing about getting into his car seat. Ugh. I dread both of those things most days :)

Tonight, Eli helped us make chocolate-chip cookies. He stood on a step stool and helped stir the dry ingredients (read: spill the flour all over himself) and mix the wet ingredients (read: eat the butter). Oh boy does he like raw cookie dough! I thought we would never get him out of the kitchen!

1/2

Eli turned 1/2 today! We can't believe he is 6 months old. We sang him "Happy Birthday" this morning and he loved it. He kept smiling his huge open-mouth smile and making little squeals.

I totally love this age. He is very happy and excited to see new things. I sat him in the garden today in his bouncy chair while I (FINALLY!) planted some basil and tomatoes. He sniffed the sage and basil I gave him and was content to watch me doing something different. In the afternoon we played on the living room rug -- he was rolling over and I was doing yoga. He watched me intently and kept trying to catch my eye so he could smile at me.

I love that he is a 1/2 :) Tomorrow at his doctor's appointment I find out how much he weighs. If it is over 22 pounds (I really think he could be) then we have to upgrade his car seat.