Friday, March 24, 2006
Caaa!
Sometimes Elliot reminds me of Michael Palin's character from A Fish Called Wanda. He tries so hard to say the right words but they're still coming out a little difficult to understand. Michael Palin's character had a really bad stutter, Elliot's excuse is that he is only seventeen months old.
Anyhow, this post will have some pictures of the men washing Elliot's first car when I get home and find a few free minutes.
Cheerio, my good man
Elliot is eating cheerios with milk from a real bowl with a real spoon in the mornings now. When I get home, I'll attach some pictures to this post.
End of innocence
Scenario: Elliot and Tate are playing in the living room, Mom is doing something else but keeping an eye on things. Tate starts playing with a toy that Elliot wants.
Response: Elliot falls over on purpose, sometimes metres away from Tate, and exclaims "Tate crash, Tate boom."
Expected Result: Mom will think that Tate pushed Elliot over to get the toy that he has and Elliot will get the toy back through the aid of his mother.
Actual Result: Mom is too smart and thinks it is kind of funny that her son so obviously fell over on purpose.
Response: Elliot falls over on purpose, sometimes metres away from Tate, and exclaims "Tate crash, Tate boom."
Expected Result: Mom will think that Tate pushed Elliot over to get the toy that he has and Elliot will get the toy back through the aid of his mother.
Actual Result: Mom is too smart and thinks it is kind of funny that her son so obviously fell over on purpose.
Elliotisms
Recent elliotisms:
"D'oh!" - in response to hearing it from Homer Simpson.
"Chair crash, chair boom." - reaction to falling off the arm of our green wingback chair, head first into the ground below.
"Up, up, up, up, up.... DOWN!" - What he calls a tall ladder.
"moe pease" - Following his mother's instructions for getting more food.
"e-i-e-i" - title for any animal or anything related to animals.
"D'oh!" - in response to hearing it from Homer Simpson.
"Chair crash, chair boom." - reaction to falling off the arm of our green wingback chair, head first into the ground below.
"Up, up, up, up, up.... DOWN!" - What he calls a tall ladder.
"moe pease" - Following his mother's instructions for getting more food.
"e-i-e-i" - title for any animal or anything related to animals.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Snow in March
It snowed pretty heavily the other day (by Lower Mainland standards).
Elliot was out in it wearing his boots and winter coat.
Joe Cool
Elliot has had these sunglasses for a few months now but has always been uncomfortable wearing them. He philosophized of wearing them but could never actualize wearing them. But now he is warming up to the idea (just in time for summer - hooray). 
At Grandma and Grandpa Verwoerd's
Three birthdays celebrated. Seafood Lasagna and Ice Cream Cake eaten. Elliot made the rounds and had lots of fun. 
Ha-Kee
Elliot began to recognize hockey on television a few weeks ago and now he says "ha-kee" whenever he sees it or if he's playing with his official Saskatoon Blades hockey stick or if he finds one of the pretend pucks (anything flat and round) we often use for practice. He still only uses one hand on his hockey stick and he still sometimes uses the hockey stick to terrorize the cat, but his stickhandling is getting pretty good.
I'll try to prevent it, but I assume that if we stick around the lower mainland Elliot's favourite hockey team will be those hapless Canucks.
I'll try to prevent it, but I assume that if we stick around the lower mainland Elliot's favourite hockey team will be those hapless Canucks.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Some sample conversations with Elliot:
Us: What would you like to do now, Elliot?
Him: Nana
Us: Do you want to watch a movie?
Him: Nana nana
Us: Would you like to watch a new movie?
Him(patiently enunciating so his dim parents will understand) : Naanaa
Us: Would you like to watch Nana?
Him: Nana
Us: Are you ready for dinner?
Him: Pizza
Us: We're not having pizza today Elliot, would you like some noodles?
Him: No
Us: What would you like?
Him: Pizza
Us: Would you like some grapes?
Him: No
Us: What would you like, some cantaloupe?
Him: Some
Us: Okay, first cantaloupe and then some noodles.
Him: No
Us: What would you like to do now, Elliot?
Him: Nana
Us: Do you want to watch a movie?
Him: Nana nana
Us: Would you like to watch a new movie?
Him(patiently enunciating so his dim parents will understand) : Naanaa
Us: Would you like to watch Nana?
Him: Nana
Us: Are you ready for dinner?
Him: Pizza
Us: We're not having pizza today Elliot, would you like some noodles?
Him: No
Us: What would you like?
Him: Pizza
Us: Would you like some grapes?
Him: No
Us: What would you like, some cantaloupe?
Him: Some
Us: Okay, first cantaloupe and then some noodles.
Him: No
Saturday, March 04, 2006
rosiola?
rosiola?
rozeeoola...
However it's spelled, Elliot has got it. It is contagious, or was contagious. It causes irritability, fever, runny nose and a rash. We didn't catch on to it existing until Elliot developed a rash this morning. Red bumps all over his front and back.
I might start a seperate blog on Elliot's diseases if he gets any more. This is just his first (unless you are one of those extreme pessimists who thinks that life is itself a disease).
rozeeoola...
However it's spelled, Elliot has got it. It is contagious, or was contagious. It causes irritability, fever, runny nose and a rash. We didn't catch on to it existing until Elliot developed a rash this morning. Red bumps all over his front and back.
I might start a seperate blog on Elliot's diseases if he gets any more. This is just his first (unless you are one of those extreme pessimists who thinks that life is itself a disease).
Friday, March 03, 2006
playgrounds
Elliot loves playgrounds and if he sees one he feels that he needs to visit it. We have a small playground at our townhouse complex which Elliot can climb up and slide down. He also likes to bounce on the horse and find cool rocks with his mom.
There is a playground a little further away which has more slides, and some swings and a digger with levers that you can pick up and dump gravel with.
We have a small plastic slide at home which Elliot enjoys sliding down as well. He's pretty good at sharing the slide with his friend Tate.
There is a playground a little further away which has more slides, and some swings and a digger with levers that you can pick up and dump gravel with.
We have a small plastic slide at home which Elliot enjoys sliding down as well. He's pretty good at sharing the slide with his friend Tate.
All the healthy food in the world
"chps" Elliot will say as he tries desperately to pry open the cupboard which he knows contains the sour cream and onion potato chips his parents have on hand. When nothing else is working, we sometimes give him a bowl of chips and he devours them (usually one by one - well actually one in each hand so two by two might be more accurate).
He also often asks to drink mom's chai tea or pop with a straw from the kitchen.
He also often asks to drink mom's chai tea or pop with a straw from the kitchen.
"bu-bye"
"Bu-bye" our son will say when it is time for us to remove the cold medicine from him, or to stop trying to feed him his evening snack or when someone has been staying at our home for too long or when it seems apparent that his dad is about to leave for work.
He also sometimes says "bu-bye" when it is time for bed. Once recently he turned off the tv at 9am, said "bu-bye" to everyone and everything and asked his mother to take him upstairs and to bed.
Almost always, after saying "bu-bye" he blows kisses to people. This includes when he says "bu-bye" to the construction workers working on our road outside our complex.
He also sometimes says "bu-bye" when it is time for bed. Once recently he turned off the tv at 9am, said "bu-bye" to everyone and everything and asked his mother to take him upstairs and to bed.
Almost always, after saying "bu-bye" he blows kisses to people. This includes when he says "bu-bye" to the construction workers working on our road outside our complex.
peepee
Elliot has learned to let us know when he has pooped and he has been known to ask for diaper changes from time to time.
This is good and we are proud of him but it also means we'll be going through the messy transition called "potty training" sooner than later.
This is good and we are proud of him but it also means we'll be going through the messy transition called "potty training" sooner than later.
Yes yes yes, no no no
If you watched the Flintstones every day at lunch for eighteen years you would have caught the reference in the title of this particular entry. Believe me, it was a great episode and it included the Great Gazoo (which instantly catapults the episode in question as being one of the best).
A while ago, Elliot learned to say no. He has perfected it since and has added a very impressive head shaking to go with it. No, in fact, is probably his most pronounced word. True, it is a simple word and is hard to cut corners with but the way he says it seems very mature and impressive to me.
His mother and I have been trying over the last number of weeks (months?) to teach him the antithesis of no - which is YESfor those of you who are unfamiliar (ahem - Clayton) with the english language.
A few times at dinner, while Elliot was emphatically saying "no" but sometimes meaning "yes", his mother and I tried to teach him how to say and show "yes". We looked up and then looked down and then looked up and then looked down. It was an alien idea to Elliot and when he finally tried it, he moved his whole upper body up and down and his head turned in a bit of a circle. He's still learning the move and has pretty much figured out how to say "yes" when he means "yes".
A while ago, Elliot learned to say no. He has perfected it since and has added a very impressive head shaking to go with it. No, in fact, is probably his most pronounced word. True, it is a simple word and is hard to cut corners with but the way he says it seems very mature and impressive to me.
His mother and I have been trying over the last number of weeks (months?) to teach him the antithesis of no - which is YES
A few times at dinner, while Elliot was emphatically saying "no" but sometimes meaning "yes", his mother and I tried to teach him how to say and show "yes". We looked up and then looked down and then looked up and then looked down. It was an alien idea to Elliot and when he finally tried it, he moved his whole upper body up and down and his head turned in a bit of a circle. He's still learning the move and has pretty much figured out how to say "yes" when he means "yes".
I believe I can fly
Elliot definitely likes airplanes. Not only did he enjoy flying to Saskatoon and back again twice in his life already, but he also draws airplanes whenever he gets a chance. Okay, they are mostly squiggles to us, but to him everything he draws is an airplane.
Says us: "What are you drawing, Elliot?"
Says him: "Airplane."
Says us: "Oh, that's good Elliot, what is it...a giraffe?"
Says him: "Airplane."
We'll be eating dinner and Elliot will all of a sudden say "airplane" and it will still take me a moment to realize that there is definitely the sound of an airplane over our city somewhere.
It reminds me a little of Radar from MASH but I'm sure he's normal.
Says us: "What are you drawing, Elliot?"
Says him: "Airplane."
Says us: "Oh, that's good Elliot, what is it...a giraffe?"
Says him: "Airplane."
We'll be eating dinner and Elliot will all of a sudden say "airplane" and it will still take me a moment to realize that there is definitely the sound of an airplane over our city somewhere.
It reminds me a little of Radar from MASH but I'm sure he's normal.
Alphabet Pal
Elliot's christmas gift from his uncle Mike (famous movie light technician and future hollywood big time director - also Andrea's cousin) has been extremely popular recently.
Elliot all of a sudden started saying "pee" one evening which he sometimes does now when he has pooped or sometimes that is all that comes out when he wants to say the name of his favourite CBC personality. So Andrea and I played the game of guessing words he might be trying to say. He kept letting us know that our guesses were wrong. Then Andrea helped him find his Alphabet Pal, which is a catepillar with the letters of the alphabet on all of her feet. They turned the Alphabet Pal on and Elliot pressed the "p" foot and then repeated the letter. Then he started to press the letters following "p" and kept repeating the letters as they were being sounded out by the Alphabet Pal. "q", "r", "s" and so on.
He is also learning to recognize letters of the alphabet off of the wooden blocks he got from his Grandma and Grandpa Ashton in Saskatoon for Christmas.
He hasn't said his own name yet but has said names of friends of his, Tate, Annika, Seth, Joshua, Chloe for example.
At one of the last music classes he was attending at his friend's house, he said "Annika dance".
Elliot all of a sudden started saying "pee" one evening which he sometimes does now when he has pooped or sometimes that is all that comes out when he wants to say the name of his favourite CBC personality. So Andrea and I played the game of guessing words he might be trying to say. He kept letting us know that our guesses were wrong. Then Andrea helped him find his Alphabet Pal, which is a catepillar with the letters of the alphabet on all of her feet. They turned the Alphabet Pal on and Elliot pressed the "p" foot and then repeated the letter. Then he started to press the letters following "p" and kept repeating the letters as they were being sounded out by the Alphabet Pal. "q", "r", "s" and so on.
He is also learning to recognize letters of the alphabet off of the wooden blocks he got from his Grandma and Grandpa Ashton in Saskatoon for Christmas.
He hasn't said his own name yet but has said names of friends of his, Tate, Annika, Seth, Joshua, Chloe for example.
At one of the last music classes he was attending at his friend's house, he said "Annika dance".
EIEIO
For certain animals, when Elliot sees them, the chorus of Old MacDonald had a Farm appears from Elliot's lips. Most of the animals which bring this chorus about are indeed farm animals but there are times when Elliot sings EIEIO when seeing Elephants or Giraffes or Zebras.
With his mother, Elliot has learned to identify many animals and their sounds. When we ask what a horse says, Elliot will say "nay". When we ask Elliot what a cow says, Elliot will say "moo". He knows that chickens say "cluck" and his favourite now is cats which say "mao" or are maoists, depending on how you interpret Elliot's language.
He identifies animals when he sees them or pictures of them and he identifies them when he hears them too.
Elliot and his mom go to the zoo when they get the chance. Elliot enjoys that a lot.
With his mother, Elliot has learned to identify many animals and their sounds. When we ask what a horse says, Elliot will say "nay". When we ask Elliot what a cow says, Elliot will say "moo". He knows that chickens say "cluck" and his favourite now is cats which say "mao" or are maoists, depending on how you interpret Elliot's language.
He identifies animals when he sees them or pictures of them and he identifies them when he hears them too.
Elliot and his mom go to the zoo when they get the chance. Elliot enjoys that a lot.
There wolf, there castle
Elliot has been working dilligently on growing his bottom two fangs. This has been hard. It has been painful. He hasn't been happy. However, with the help of a little orajel and a squirt of tylenol here and there, he is persevering. There has been a great deal of drooling and a little bit of random screaming which we are hoping are symptoms of the emergence of these two teeth because teething is temporary.
With the impending of arrival of these two teeth Elliot will have sixteen teeth. That's a lot of teeth.
With the impending of arrival of these two teeth Elliot will have sixteen teeth. That's a lot of teeth.
Elliot sees Patty Live
Elliot's first concert was a success. We arrived at the Bell Center for Performing Arts in Surrey about half an hour before the show started and spent some time hanging out in the large interactive play area before finding our seats. Then Elliot sat still and stared as Lunar Jim, Patty, Kush and Clifford ran around the stage, singing and dancing.
Perhaps you are unfamiliar with these characters. Every morning Elliot gets up with his dad and watches CBC Kids at 7am. He is so enamoured with Patty that he has been seen kissing her on the tv screen. Often times as his dad carries him down the stairs Elliot can be heard whispering somewhat incoherently, "patty......patty.....".
After the concert was over they handed out friendship bracelets to all the kids and Elliot often points to it now and says "patty".
Also, anytime he hears the theme song for CBC Kids he runs from wherever he is in the house to the tv and stares at whatever is going on.
I suppose a summary statement would go something like this:
"Elliot likes CBC Kids programming".
Perhaps you are unfamiliar with these characters. Every morning Elliot gets up with his dad and watches CBC Kids at 7am. He is so enamoured with Patty that he has been seen kissing her on the tv screen. Often times as his dad carries him down the stairs Elliot can be heard whispering somewhat incoherently, "patty......patty.....".
After the concert was over they handed out friendship bracelets to all the kids and Elliot often points to it now and says "patty".
Also, anytime he hears the theme song for CBC Kids he runs from wherever he is in the house to the tv and stares at whatever is going on.
I suppose a summary statement would go something like this:
"Elliot likes CBC Kids programming".
Election Aftermath
Elliot was visibly stunned as he watched the results pour in from CBC's election coverage. His only solice was found in our poor reception and the possibility that the numbers which seemed to be on the screen were actually quite a bit different.
Having spent countless hours on the phone banks, going door to door for his local candidate, Jim McMurtry, the final tallies locally and nationally were painful.
But Elliot has recovered well now and still believes in democracy and is ready to back the next leader of the Liberals with equal enthusiasm.
Having spent countless hours on the phone banks, going door to door for his local candidate, Jim McMurtry, the final tallies locally and nationally were painful.
But Elliot has recovered well now and still believes in democracy and is ready to back the next leader of the Liberals with equal enthusiasm.
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