November In A Nutshell

So we made the move to my in-laws for what was supposed to be a total stay of 4 weeks. Things do not always go as planned. Just today we found out that we will be here through at LEAST the beginning of January. Good thing we've made ourselves comfy here. We've hit a little speed bump (OK, a big one) with our loan and hope that after we request an extension from the sellers, we can get it figured out and end up in the house that we feel is meant to be ours.

We've had lots of fun at Grandma and Grandpa's house so far. Eliot's been a little camera shy, but here's just one example of the fun I'm talking about:


He turned Beatrice's highchair into a 'utility truck'. He buckled himself in, and made sure to store, dust pan, broom, and big broom in back.

Then it was time to get the branches down.


Have I mentioned how much I love his imagination?

A few days ago, we met Katie, Kevin & Russell for a photo session. Ted & Eliot came along with me because we were going up to New Hampshire right after to help my grandparents set up for Christmas. Aside from helping to make Russell look at the camera and smile (Ted and Eliot did some funny things both in back of me and TO me), Eliot's imagination was once again, in play. He found a large tree branch and called it his tractor. He dragged that branch back and forth throughout the whole area and explained that he was spreading manure.


Since we've been having a rather mild November, and today was particularly nice out, I asked my other grandparents if they'd like to meet us at the zoo for a stroll and I was so happy that they agreed. My grandparents usually walk the mall for exercise and they mentioned how much more fun this was than the mall and how it has been years and years since they'd been to the zoo. I am so glad they came!



In other news, Eliot was hospitalized again last week for his asthma. We spent two full days there this time. It was the worst (and scariest) that it's ever been. He bounced back quickly though, and just today he told me he doesn't mind if he gets sick again because "that hospital is fun." Oy...

Our Thanksgiving was nice (minus a tantrum or two) (and we were all exhausted by the end of the day). We split the day between my in-law's house and my grandmother's house.

Speaking of tantrums, we've been having a bit of a struggle with Eliot lately. With all the changes to his every day life paired with the fact that he was sick and on lots of medications (steroids), he has been acting out, testing limits, and trying to be very independent. Ted & I get frustrated at times, but we try to remember what he's been through lately and how hard it must be to be three years old. That said, I hope this passes quickly!

I'll leave this post on a very happy and cute note. Eliot (and Milo) were stellar models for me as I tried to get some shots for our 2011 Christmas Card (to be mailed sometime in December-- everything is behind this year!)

Moving On Up; Part I

This past week has been nothing short of crazy. We had to be out of our condo by 9:00AM on Friday, October 4th. Ted thought it would be best if I took Eliot and went to my Nana's house for a couple of days, leaving him extra time (without distraction) to pack up our things.

I recruited my awesome sister to come with us to Nana's and we had a nice stay. Because of Eliot's egg allergy, he's not accustomed to having pancakes, although we did find out the last time we stayed over Nana's house that you can substitute bananas for eggs and they turn out just as fluffy and delicious. Remembering this, Eliot asked Nana to make him pancakes at least SIX (if not seven) times in the 48 hours that we were there. He had pancakes for almost every meal... and sometimes he had them just because, or as a second breakfast. Poor Nana was pancaked out by the time we left on Thursday night!

Reading his catalog; "I do love catalogs," he says.

When we got back on Thursday night, most of our things were gone (obviously), but a lot still remained to be done. I was nervous about meeting deadlines. Still, I went to bed exhausted, and trusted that Ted would turn into Super-Ted after I was asleep (as he often does). When we woke up Friday morning, I was still a little weary of how the rest was going to get done before 9am. Good thing I woke up at 5:45! It was an even BETTER thing that BOTH of my inlaws came over at 7:30 to help. They were cleaning, scrubbing, sweeping and wrangling Eliot while Ted & I packed up all four of our cars! We literally made it by the skin of our teeth. As I was walking out with the last box, our realtor and buyer were walking in. BUT, we made it! Thanks to some very awesome people (Ted, Janice, Uncle John, Ryan, My Mom & Dad who helped in different way.. and of course my Ted).

Arriving at my in laws was pretty much what you'd expect; a lot of running around, uloading, unpacking, etc. It didn't help that I had to work (in Boston) that afternoon either, but c'est la vie! (I actually had a wonderful session with a wonderful family so no complaining there-- seriously!).

Milo found the move a bit disturbing. At first, he wouldn't come out of his carrier. Then,he spent the next day hidden under a chair. Finally, he started to come around and come out while we were down there, but still, every time that door opens, he runs and hides. He's SO lonely too. We try to get down there (he is sequestered to the basement due to my Father-in-law's allergies), but with so much else going on, he's lacking some serious attention. Poor thing, I can just hear his loneliness in his meow.

What struck me most with the move is Eliot. I try to always be up front with him and tell him what's going on and we explained the move to him in every possible detail so he would know what to expect. His biggest concern was that the moving truck would forget to take some of his books and toys. It's funny, though, as soon as we got to Grandma's house, he started playing with the dollhouse that my Ted's step-grandfather built. He took out all the furniture and people and put them in a pile in the hallway. He just wanted to leave them there, but I suggested maybe a "storage box" would be more appropriate for the furniture. He told me the family was moving. So after two days of the furniture staying in the 'storage box,' Eliot started unpacking and putting the furniture in the 'moving truck' and he told me that the family was moving in with their Grandma. My heart melted. I am just so blessed to have the sweetest little boy alive.

Happy Halloweeeeen!

I was pretty sure that I had the best costume idea ever for Eliot this Halloween, which truly is something new because Halloween's past have been less than notable.

A little back-story.

(I think I may have mentioned this first one before, but it's worth mentioning again anyhow). A few months ago, we were going to my in-laws house in Reading from our home in Woburn. Eliot INSISTED that we go the backroads (so we could pass the farm stand on which they are doing construction). Ted & I both explained to Eliot that we didn't know the way. Eliot told us he did.

"Are you sure?"

"Mmmhmm."

I told Ted "let's try it and see." We did. Eliot pointed out every turn. Even when we were sure he was wrong, he was right. He got us there-- a way neither one of us had ever been (or would ever think to go). We were STUNNED!

The stories could go on and on and on, but I'll just post about a couple more. A couple of weeks ago, we were stuck in traffic (Eliot & I) and I was just looking for any way out of the mess. I finally came upon a street that I was familiar with and quickly turned down it. Without missing a beat, Eliot said "Mama, you're going the wrong way." I assured him that I was NOT going the wrong way. About half way (and a mile) down the street, I realized, Eliot was right; I was going the wrong way.

A few days ago, we were headed to my grandmother's house in Melrose. I continued to go the way I would only think to go. I was at a set of lights, taking a right when Eliot said "Mama, you could go that way" (Pointing to what would have been straight). I thought about it for a minute and realized that totally would have been a better way to go.

His sense of direction is STELLAR and mine, well,.... is not. I'm so proud of my little GPS soooo...

He was a Garmin Nuvi for Halloween... and let me tell you... we got SO many compliments! People gave him FIST-FULLS of candy based on how awesome his costume was. Everyone commented on the little GPS and Eliot loved being the center of attention :)

Here is a picture of my sister and Eliot while we Trick-or-Treated in downtown Melrose:


I was so sure we would have the best costume at the family Halloween get together this year, but alas, we were challenged once again. My ever-creative sister-in-law came up with some great ones:

Everyone donned cardboard this year. We had the GPS, Mac The truck from CARS, and of course, Thomas.

Not photoed are my sister in law and brother in law in their peanut butter and jelly costumes (VERY creative!)

And of course, not to be outdone by anyone, is my father in law, as a 70's dancer. We are still unsure if this was actually a costume or just some old clothing he had laying around:



(Disclaimer; bottom two photos taken with my iphone-- can you believe I forgot my camera on HALLOWEEN!?)