Crawling & eating (kinda)!!!

Well, we officially have a crawler! Eli decided it was time & while he started out pretty slow, he is getting much faster and keeping us on our toes! Since starting to crawl, toys don't hold his interest as much as things like the VCR (the door flap is fun! We should get rid of it anyway, as we don't watch video tapes anymore!!), door stop, fireplace (we have a cover but it isn't all that childproof-yikes), vents, etc. He hasn't discovered that he can crawl & actually leave the living room but once he does, we'll have to chase him around the house!! Here is some video to show his new skills. Oh, for some reason dropshots which I use for videos, stopped working on my computer so I have to use blogger video which doesn't allow me to load very large videos. These crawling videos are from earlier in the week when he was slower. I tried to load the ones with him faster and it wouldn't load :(

Second time crawling....he was mad because I took away the dust buster he crawled to the FIRST time!

More crawling adventures (and hurting himself)

Also this week, Eli decided he would expand his horizons with food. I have discovered that the key is he MUST be able to feed himself & he MUST be able to hold it in his hands. Otherwise, no go. He completely bypassed baby food and even mashed food and went straight to finger food. Oh well, at least he is starting to eat! He doesn't eat a significant amount, yet, mostly little bites & tastes, but I'm more excited about his willingness to eat. So far he has ate banana, sweet potato, potato, Zweiback toast, biter biscuits, rice cakes, graham & saltine crackers, and pears. The only down fall is this new process is VERY messy & the floor, high chair, & him are completely covered in food each meal time. Here's video/picture to show his eating skills and the mess he makes:

This week we attended our second Graceland play group. This coming week will be our last unless some of the upcoming groups are held on the weekends as I will be starting work in a week. Hopefully we will so even more G-land mommies and kids can attend (hint, hint ;)!! Mi Jean & Gael hosted last week at her mom's shop in Lee's Summit. Upstairs her mom made a big room into a play room which is really awesome. There A LOT of toys, the coolest being this big play car that has little stations all around it so at least 4 kids can play in at a time. Eli really liked it as it was at his level height wise & he could stand and play for a good 10 minutes. Here is a picture of him playing:



What I also like about the play group is there are a variety of ages from 7 weeks-2 1/2 years old. It's fun to see all the kids play together despite their age difference. Plus, Eli thinks bigger kids are funny and likes to laugh at them. Here are pics & a video of the fun day:

Mia is funny

Gael, Carrie, Zoe, Beth, Kalani & Caden

Gael enjoying his walker (although he is stationary :)

Carrie, Caden, Sue & Zoe

Lucy driving her new car

Zoe & her mama

Gael & his mama

Eli playing his maraca

This week is my last week before I start work on the 11th. Grandma Clarkson & Bidney will come over & "practice" with Eli this week. I feel pretty good about the transition going well, although the first couple of weeks will be hard. Aunt Holly will be here this coming weekend so it will be a nice weekend before starting work. Enjoy some other pics from the week!

Coffee tables are good teethers :)

Eli always has some funky hair after waking from a nap. We think he looks like Peter Boyle:

Riding his "pretty pony"

Daddy & Eli reading together....Eli is really intent on listening!

Here's a picture of Eli I couldn't pass up because Eric had the same pose taken when he was a baby around the same age:

Have a great week & stay cool!