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My little boy…. isn’t so little.  I feel it in my body – My right shoulder/upper back is telling me so as I type this.   You may be able to see it more obviously in these pics….

Oh come on... a high chair is so last month

And I can use utensils...

Oh mom, did you forget to bring your water bottle? Here, use mine... er, yours but its really mine, right?

In addition to eating (reference the 3 pics above), one of Elliott’s other fav activities is accessorizing with all Nat’s things.

Where's your flare today?

Does that bright yellow floral necklace go great with those slightly-too-big cherry red Tom’s??

WordPress isn’t allowing me to upload photos from my phone, which means I’m on the blog way less.  A couple things I just want to remember for myself….

Elliott’s favorite books are Good Night Dinosaur and From Head to Toe (he loves to thump on his chest like a gorilla).

Elliott is so eager to have Natalie wake up.  The other morning (circa 6am), he went over to knock on the door.  How dare she still be sleeping!  When we do let him in, he frequently greets her with full body cuddles.  This can be as calm as burying his head in her lap, but can be as much as laying completely on top of her.  With Elliott at 27 lbs and Nat around 35 lbs, that would be like a 100-lb kid squishing me.  Um, not comfortable.

I’m outta juice so gotta run…..

…. with extraordinary style!!!

What do you think our guests would like at the Coronation, Olaf?

I have to escape to North Mountain!

Woo hoo! Thanks for sharing your ride, Elsa! Love, Olaf

(Btw, Natalie’s pout is because she is pretending to be Elsa, of course, and she is sad that she might hurt her fav peeps – me as Anna, Elliott as Olaf and Jordan as Kristoff.)

Let's celebrate a great day with a trip to DQ! (Thanks Kate for the awesome suggestion!)

A couple weeks ago, I took Elliott downtown on a bike trip to get a hat, while Natalie was napping.  She woke up before we got back and was very jealous that she didn’t get to go on a bike trip downtown.  So, we went today!  It was fab.  So much easier with Natalie than Elliott.  No need to worry about her walking away as I judiciously chain up my bike and the kids’ seat. (My awesome bike was stolen a month ago – boo.)

We also convinced Dad to meet us for a little, err… big, delicious super special treat – a 3-scoop sundae from Ghiradelli’s.  Boy, we’re going to do this again!

Mom.. enough with the pics. I gotta dig in!

OMG. Delicious. Why don't we do this everyday???

Then, Natalie and I went to the American Girls store to browse. (Her choice over Disney store).  She played with more than a dozen dolls.  Near the end, she started realizing….

Natalie:  Mama, can I take one of these girls home?

Me: No, Natalie.  We’re just here to look.

Natalie: But please Mama.  I really need one.

Me: Maybe you can ask for one for your birthday or Christmas.  For a very special present.

Natalie: But why do other girls get to take home dolls now?

Me: Maybe its their birthday

We then had a convo about how not everyone even gets a Bitty Baby (Natalie: Why not, Mama?)  I stuck to my guns.  No $120 dolls today.  Or tomorrow (as she pleaded 25 times).  In a world where she gets so much of what she wants, I do feel its good that she has to learn that she doesn’t get everything she wants, right when she wants it.  And, when we got home, she played with Elsa, Baby Natalie, Baby Ellie, her loveys and countless other things she does have.

Sorry. Gotta get it out. 5:30 wake ups are just too early. I long for the days when my kids slept Til 6:45

We’ve had a fun 4th of July weekend.  Yesterday, we went to the 4th of July parade in Hinsdale for the 3rd year running (though missed our good friend Molly who moved to Pittsburgh and had always gone!) and a BBQ at our friend Edmund’s house.  Today, we went to the beach with JAC (Jira, Alex, Clayton).  In reality, the babes all had their moments of whiney-ness – but there was a lot of cuteness too.

Anyone bring some PB&J???

Elliott: Seriously, Clayton, you wouldn’t believe it… the water is like 50 degrees.  You should try it
Clayton: Yeah right couz….

I was trying to explain 4th of July to Natalie.  The convo went something like this:

Me: The 4th of July is to celebrate the United States – that’s the country we live in – independence from England.  England wasn’t the boss of the United States any more and people had more freedoms.  Do you know what freedom is?

Natalie: No

Me: For example, we have the freedom to go to church or not go to church.  The freedom to go to a religious school or a non-religious school.

Natalie: Or a high school

Me: Yes, or a high school.  We also have the freedom to go work or not work.

Natalie: Or to work in California.  Or just go to work work.  (She proceeded to talk about people and freedoms in other countries.  I couldn’t exactly follow everything.)

I’d say, good first steps for understanding a complicated – but essential – concept like independence and freedom.

PS Jordan is responsible for uploading the few 4th of July pics we have.

In other breaking news from the Linville household, Elliott’s newest word is Croc – as in Crocs, the blue shoes Natalie wears all the time.  I think that “Croc” has become the “kleenex” of “shoes” for him.

Last week, we celebrated Elliott’s 15-month birthday!  Today, we had his doc’s appt.  His stats:

Weight: 26 lbs, 6 oz (90th percentile)
Height: 32.5 inches (90th percentile)
Head Circumference: 19.75 inches (98th+ percentile)

On a positive note, his ears that have had fluid for the last few months and one of his ears was clear, so we don’t need to go to an ENT.  On a less positive note, the doc heard a heart murmur so we have a precautionary cardiologist appt in a couple weeks.  My friend needed to take her little girl a couple months ago – nothing too concerning, just watching – and I’ve heard that you need to keep your kid still for 45 min.  How is that possible!?!?

I’ll hopefully post soon about his developmental milestones soon!

“We need to make sure we bless Dad first because he is really far away in Indianapolis.”

“Mom, can you make sure that I don’t sleep to long.  I don’t really like sleeping a long time.  I’m really smart.  I know that I’m missing out on fun things when I’m sleeping.”

“No, Mom, our brains are thinking…. hmmm, I want to stay up and play but our BODIES are saying, I’m so tired. I need to rest”

7:40 pm

Natalie: Can I just have one more story tonight?  For a really special treat?  Please, please.  Just one more story.

Me: No Natalie.  It’s past your bedtime.  (After 4 more times of asking…) you seem to ask for a lot of special treats.

<Prayers and singing ensue>

7:46 pm

Natalie: Mom, I’m really hungry.  I really need some more food.

Me: No, Natalie.  We talked about this a bunch of times at dinner.  Dinner was your chance to eat.  You’re not getting any more food tonight.

(Repeat this convo 5 times).

Me: Good night, Natalie.

Natalie: Just one more hug!

Me: Good night.  I love you.

Natalie: I love my whole family.

7:50pm

Natalie: Mom, I need a new bandaid.  This bandaid has been on for 57 days.  Its been on a long time. (Insert whine and increasingly persistence.)

Me: Okay, but I get to do all the parts of taking the bandaid out of the wrapper.

<Bring her back to bed and tuck her in>

7:53am – Convo has moved outside of the bedroom

Natalie: Mom! You forgot to brush my teeth.  Why?  I don’t want my teeth to fall out.

Me: Okay, let’s brush.  I guess I was just so eager to start stories that I forgot.

Natalie: Why did you forget?

<Bring her back to bedroom and tuck her in>

7:57pm – once again outside of bedroom

Natalie: Do you see this other boo boo?

Me: Yes, I do.  It looks like its doing fine.

Natalie: No, it hurts when I turn my hand upside down like this (and press it on the wall).  I really need a bandaid

Me: I think you’re fine

Natalie: No, I need one.  I really really do.  (Insert crying)

<Add bandaid.  Walk back to bedroom.>

Me: Natalie, you need to stay in your bedroom for now one.  No more getting up.  If you get up again, I’m not going to tuck you in and I’m going to take away your night light.

Natalie: But if I’m throwing up, then its an emergency.  (She had to repeat b/c I missed what she was saying.)

Me: Yes, if its an emergency, then you can get up.

Natalie: But then you still need to tuck me in!

Me: Yes, if you throw up and its an emergency, I’ll still tuck you in.  But a bandaid isn’t an emergency.

Natalie: But it kinda is because it hurts.

Me: Good night Natalie.  I love you.

Natalie: I love my whole family.

8:02 pm Depart bedroom

8:18 pm Still in bedroom – Success!

ADDENDUM

8:23 pm

Natalie: I woke up because Elliott cried!  Why did he cry?  Maybe he lost his Roro and Leopard.  You should go in there to check on him.

P.S. Open to suggestions by parents who have children popcorning out of bed too!

Just after Jordan’s birthday, Grandma and Grandpa came in for a visit!  Woo hoo!  Jordan and I got a date night out of the deal.  The kids got outings to the zoo, park, Chipotle and a couple new outfits/books.  (I told Grandma that Natalie is really into Elsa from Frozen – note her new t-shirt above!)  Grandma got 6 am wake-up calls and a free carousel ride.  Grandpa also got surprise wake-up calls and to tease N&E.  Win-win-win-win!

Wee!  Higher!

I’m holding on tight, Grandpa!

We all feel very lucky that G&G are a 3.5-hr (well timed) drive away.  Just about as far as you can be for visits every 6 weeks or so!