whatsitallabout

Photos

Some recent photos of our fun in the yard after the recent snowstorm and "portraits," as well as a visit from Auntie Meg.

Also, please help: Would it be wrong to post bathtub pictures? Would G&E have just cause to forever hold a grudge?

Who are You? What are you?

The interactions between Grace and Elijah are growing week-by-week, and it is both fascinating and a hoot. Grace has been reaching out to Eli on a pretty regular basis for a couple of months now, but Elijah's still not quite sure what to make of her or who-- or what-- she is. There are times he responds to her as if she is some inanimate object (a stuffed animal, maybe?) come alarmingly to life. At other times it seems as if he considers her an extension to himself; he refers to her as "Elijah" at least half the time.

Elijah finished his snack a little earlier than Grace yesterday, but seemed to still be hungry, as he wandered over to Grace's high chair and started eying the apples and crackers on her tray. Grace obligingly offered him a piece of apple, holding it out and touching his hand. Elijah got a look of suprise and anxiety on his face: What's going on here? He backed away saying, "No no no no," and shaking his head vigorously while looking back and forth between Grace and me. I took the apple from Grace and offered it to him, and he immediately took it and popped it into his mouth.

Here they are on our front porch:

Channeling Perez Prado

Grace and Eli seem to enjoy a wide variety of music, including Perez Prado, the "King of the Mambo." One of this King's trademarks is his gutteral grunts and exclamations to punctuate the music (picture, maybe, a Latin James Brown?).  Eli and Grace now do the same, and Grace's grunts are particularly impressive.

"Six Feet High or Nail it Down"

When we were getting ready to leave Vermont, I hired a team of twin 15-year-old boys (advertised under the name of "Double Take Lawn Care") to mow our lawn a couple times. When I met them and their Mom, the mom cooed over Grace and Elijah, and told me a little about her raising her twins, offering me advice in the process. Once they reached the toddler stage, the motto was "Six Feet High or Nail it Down," as she was truly amazed at what her boys could- and would- get into.

Well, we're entering into that territory now at 39 Garfield Avenue. Crystal and I did a decent job of child-proofing our house, but Grace and Elijah are stepping up their game considerably. Lots of climbing, reaching, stretching, grabbing, pulling, etc.

Coincidentally or not, they're also starting to communicate with one another. It's always seemed that Grace was more likely to be seeking out Eli: patting his head, rubbing his back, moving to give him a hug. But today, while they were having a snack, Elijah turned to Grace and said, "Hi!" with a big smile, three or four times. Grace and I were stunned.

Aww, Shit

Elijah's talking up a storm these days, and repeating almost everything he hears. Apparently I say, "All set" on a regular basis, because Eli says it a lot now, except that, as Crystal pointed out, it sounds remarkably like "Aww, Shit."