The Elfering Blog

We celebrated our first Halloween in the new house, complete with trick-or-treaters!  We had maybe twelve or so groups of kids come by, fewer than I expected, especially with the beautiful weather we had.  We didn’t take Mac out this year.  We’ve all had colds and thought better of trying it when he wouldn’t know what was going on anyway.  We also wanted to be home to welcome trick-or-treaters for the first time, which was really fun.  Jeremy did most of the candy-giving and seemed to enjoy seeing all the kids in their costumes.  Mac was napping for most of the time but did wake up in time to give out candy to one set of kids.

While Mac has slowed some on his big accomplishments over the last couple weeks, the one most newsworthy is that last week he started to let go while standing.  He doesn’t do it often, and he doesn’t last for long, but yesterday I think he stood by himself for a little over 5 seconds!  I’m afraid the next step is, well… steps!  He’s also still babbling quite a bit, and we’re trying to encourage that to turn into words, but it’s not working so well.  We are a little more concentrated now on some simple signs, especially at meal times when we’ve noticed him whine for things on our plates (!), but he really doesn’t do any mimicking like we would have expected.  He watches and seems to listen, though, so we’ll keep up with it as much as we remember to.  To be honest, he looks like he’s thinking, “Yes, Mom, I know what you want me to do, but until I am ready to say the words correctly, I will simply look at you like you are crazy and smile.  But by all means, please keep doing that - it’s very entertaining.”  Perhaps that’s just me…

We’ve taken baby-proofing to the next level as Mac has started to discover he can move from one room to another in the house by himself now.  For the most part, doors to prohibited rooms can be closed, but we do have to make sure all the outlets and cords are covered.  Cabinets need to be locked closed, not because he isn’t allowed in them but because he uses them to pull himself up.  None of those safety measures mean we can ever leave him unattended though, with the exception of his crib, and for a short time, his high chair.  We try to let him explore and discover as much as he wants, but safely.  He doesn’t know any better than to try anything and everything, including things like sitting down on a step after he gets up onto it!  We let him try but are there to catch him if (when) he falls.  Sometimes he’s too quick for us, which has caused some bumps and bruises, but we have a tough little guy, and the tears don’t last too long in the rare times they come.

Mac still does a great job going along with whatever plans we have.  Saturday I took him with me to church (he behaves very well but can be a handful as he always wants to be up, down, looking around, etc.).  Then we all went to Blessed Trinity’s Fiesta Latina, an event where our school families of Latino heritage decorate, cook and organize a great evening of food, dancing and games.  Mac had fun with our business administrator, Ann, helping sell tickets and dancing to the music!  She has given him lots of love as she anxiously hoped for, and now awaits, her own grandchild (I guess he won’t be the favorite there much longer).  He doesn’t have any stranger anxiety yet, but that could still develop.  It’s not too likely to be bad though, with as many places and people to which he has been exposed.

No top teeth yet!  I think the fussiness in Madison was actually more like what was making me uncomfortable as my cold started - probably some sinus pressure and headaches.  It could still have been his teeth, but he is off the Tylenol at night now and is sleeping much better.  We had to do that yucky snot-sucker thing last week when he was really stuffed up.  That was NOT pleasant but we know it certainly helped him quite a bit.  I think we’re all just about done with our colds now and on the mend - time to get our flu shots before it’s too late!

Hopefully the next few weeks will be a little more relaxed, and healthy, and we can get some more video of our active little dare-devil for you.  Stay tuned!

Filed under: Mac, baby development, family