Conversations with Eli

To cool oatmeal

After putting a bowl of hot oatmeal in front of Eli, Eli asks Mama to help him blow on it to cool it off.

Eli: "Blow on the oatmeal as hard as water flows from the Columbia River to the ocean."

Jokes

Eli is just beginning to learn about jokes. He knows they are supposed to be funny. He knows people are supposed to laugh at jokes. He gets some jokes in movies (his favorite joke is from a Stuart Little movie: a skunk says, "Talk to the butt!" before spraying another animal). But that's about the extent of his joke abilities. Listen in:

Eli, during a car ride home from Portland: "Let's tell jokes! I'll go first."

Eli: "How does a cow dig a hole?"

Daddy: "How?"

Eli: "With his teeth!"

We all laugh. (And no, we don't get that joke!)

Daddy: "OK, my turn. An elephant and a rhinoceros have a baby. Guess what the baby is called."

Eli: "That's pretty funny, Daddy. OK, my turn."

Daddy: "But wait. What is the baby called?"

Eli: "It's my turn Daddy. You can tell a joke when I am done!"

Eli: "What happens with 7 rhinoceros' with horns?

Mama and Daddy: "What?"

Eli, laughing wildly: "6 grunts!"

Daddy: "OK, my turn. Why did the chicken cross the road?"

Pause.

Eli: "Daddy, jokes are supposed to be funny. That's not funny. It's just irritating."

Trouble with sleep...

Eli is again showing us how fast he is turning into a little boy. Today he had a rough time going down for his afternoon nap and when I went in to check on him, he was on his knees and holding onto the crib railing. He was peering over the edge and checking out his room. I'm pretty sure the next step is pulling himself up so that he is standing in his crib!

He is also so much more aware of me and Michael. When I go into his room after a nap, he gives me the hugest grin and a little giggle. Tonight he wouldn't go to sleep and Michael went in to sing to him and Eli let out the sweetest high-pitch squeal ever.

It also seems like he "gets" some jokes. Today when we were having trouble with naptime, I opened the door to his room and put a doll in the doorway. I moved the doll and had her say "Why won't you go to sleep Eli?" and he just laughed and laughed.

Oh, and around 9:30 p.m., when Eli was still awake, Michael went in and found Eli sitting up in his crib crying. Eli wanted to go to sleep but couldn't figure out how to lie down. :)