Gymboree Class

Today Elliot is 7 months old. Since he's such a big boy--and because the only people he sees all day are mom, dad and Stacey--we enrolled him in Gymboree baby class. He had his first class on Friday. He was teething, tired and a little scared, so he cried a few times during some of the songs and activities. Even so, it will be good for him to get out of his routine, so we'll be going once a week and hope he will decide he likes it after a few more classes.

We had a fun weekend. We went to Whole Foods, one of Elliot's favorite places. We've been going on Saturday mornings now that it's cooler because Dad & Mom can get lattes. We also went to the Austin Fire Dept's Fire Station Festival in our neighbor- hood on Sunday.

Elliot's gotten a few new toys lately. Some make noise and talk, but he is equally entertained by rattles and blocks because he has figured out how to shake them or bang them together. He also likes board books, especially sing-song rhyming books. He has a lot of patience for them and likes Dad to read him the same stories over and over again after his tub just before bedtime.

Some have asked how many photos and videos we have taken of Elliot. We take at least one a day, but usually more. As of today we have 2,813 photos and 141 mini videos of Elliot on our dinosaur of a home computer. It is becoming overloaded and causing lots of trouble so we are looking into a new home computer in the spring. By then we will certainly have even more photos and videos. Yes, we are THOSE parents.

Halloween is coming up. Elliot is going to be a dragon, a lion or a scarecrow. He has three cute hand-me- down costumes. We might have to find reasons for him to wear each one. Halloween is Nana's birthday and she and Uncle John will be visiting us for Elliot's first trick-or- treat. We are looking forward to having a nice dose of family visits in the next few months. After my mom and John, Drew's parents will be here in early November for his birthday. Then we will be in Colorado for nearly two weeks for Christmas and the New Year. Elliot can't wait to go for a sleigh ride in the snow.

The Update on Elliot:

• He is much more vocal now and likes to yell loudly, but no babbling words like mama or dada yet
  
• Laughs out loud at puppets and stuffed animals when dad makes them talk
• Is shy and prefers mom and dad to strangers
• Creeps on his tummy toward things he wants
• Watches Moose & Zee music videos on Noggin.com while he sits on mama's lap at her desk
• Working on cutting two more teeth but nothing yet
  
• Can pull all the stars off his stacking toy
• Knows to shake his rattle up and down to make the noise
• Loves to swing at the park and look at other kids
• Laughs at Abby when she retrieves her toys during fetch
• Likes to grab and hold objects with his monkey feet
• Likes to bite and chew the sippy cup but hasn't figured out that he can drink the juice so it runs down his chest
• Flaps his arms up and down when he gets really excited, especially during tubby time