Hello World

What is 'walking' exactly?

2010-03-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

3 steps? 4? Does the walking sequence have to end with a solid landing? Or is a crash acceptable at the end of a series of steps? We aren't sure exactly how to define walking, but Elijah is working on it really hard right now. Check out the evidence:

Spring Break 2010!

2010-03-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

Wahoo! Spring break! I am on spring break and that means the whole family is home together all week long! Gardening, walks, cooking dinner, and intensive walking-training sessions with Elijah. He is SOOO close....when he isn't paying attention, he can take about 4 steps on his own. But when he overthinks it, he goes all wobbly. We've got a bet going on: I say he'll be walking by April 1st and Mike says April 7th. Now we can spend the whole week arguing about what technically constitutes "walking".

Spring Fling

2010-03-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

Spring is just about here. Let the barking begin. This little dude is almost one year old. Can you believe it?!

"No she din't!"

2010-03-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

Elijah has been gabbing a lot lately! Words come and go, but the following are in the rotation:
Hi
Daddy
Jake ("Jate")
Mama
Shoe
Tree
Light
Eye
That

I like that these are the most important things right now. He may like shoes as much as his dad.

c'mon spring!

2010-03-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

We made it through a cold fall and winter. Lije was neither here nor there on the subject of snow. Actually, I think he thought it sucked a little bit since it just meant that we would stuff him into heavy clothes and, worse, hats.

The leaves of fall and winter, however, now those he can get behind. They are satisfying to grab, crumple, swish, and eat.

But now, spring seems to be on it's way. And with it, in fact on the very first day of Spring, Elijah's first birthday!

First snowstorm

2010-01-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

Too bundled. Can't bend.

BFFs

2010-01-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

Lige and Fiona ushered in 2010 with a little play session in the morning. They were well rested after New Year's Eve: their parents were not.

sunday lovin

2010-01-21T17:52:00.000-08:00

A warm Sunday and we were just loving on this boy, this boy who sleeps through the night, this boy who slow-dances, naked, in the living room. We might love him as much as he loves blueberries.

Peek-a-boo

2009-11-29T13:31:00.000-08:00

Baby's first bruise

2009-11-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

Way more traumatic for his parents than for Elijah! A highly adventurous crawling maneuver resulted in a big knot on the noggin. It swelled up into a lump like in the cartoons and is now a tough-looking purple bruise...I tried to capture it.

The good news is that it inspired many of our friends at Thanksgiving II to tell stories of their own childhood accidents. I am partial to the one in which the child fell holding a plug: the prongs went right into his forehead, of course.

Crawl On

2009-11-20T19:28:00.000-08:00

Elijah's crawling! This is a jaunt that he made on November 19th, 2009. Pardon the shaky camerawork.

Toothface

2009-11-02T03:39:00.001-08:00

Elijah is getting his top two teeth, a painful process, but one not without cuteness. He has recently taken to grinding his bottom two teeth against his top two, resulting in tough face not unlike that of Don Corleone sitting down to a plate of veal parmesan. Despite our continual attempts to capture this face on camera, it wasn't until last night that our pal Brendan, with his trusty iPhone, succeeded.

Applesauce

2009-10-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

First bite of applesauce. 'Nuff said.

The tiniest monster

2009-10-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Elijah has started yelling like a tiny little monster. Just cuz he can. Wouldn't you? Don't you? Sometimes?

Anyway, he is babbling with the cute "baba"s and the "bop-bop"s, but now there is the new and thrilling ability to yell like Bobcat Goldthwait. He yells at the couch. He yells at his toys. He particularly yells when he jumps in his jumpy thing. Not mad, just a yell. Extremely cute.

It is starting to feel like a very cozy fall in our new house. The leaves are beginning to turn, Mike is out cutting firewood with a chainsaw (so manly!), and Elijah and I are yelling for fun. Idyllic. We've been eating pie and cassoulet, Elijah has been eating sweet potatoes and broccoli. Fall also means we get to put Elijah in all of those handmade sweaters that his Nana and great-Grandma Smith have made for him. And in hats! Meredith gave me important advice: Persist with training your child to wear hats because they look so damn cute in them. We all have to sacrifice for fashion.

One Morning in Maine

2009-09-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

We took Elijah on the annual ferry trip to Peak's Island where we typically ride bikes around the island, swim, bike some more, swim, freeze in the 64 degree water, bike a bit more, look at the rock sculptures, take another dip, eat an italian sandwich, and ferry home. Elijah wasn't sitting up yet so we couldn't take him on any of the various child bike seats. Instead we walked. And walked. And swam. And walked much more. All the while, Elijah rode like a pasha in his regal backpack carrier, watching the ocean and feeling the island breeze. Next year, he'll be big enough for the bike seat and maybe a dip too.

Fathers Day

2009-06-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Mike didn't get to sleep in and Elijah got him a Mojo magazine he already had (boy better get with it), but it was a nice Fathers Day anyway. Mike is an excellent dad and does all the good dad stuff - he tickles with his mustache, he plays the scary snarling noise game, he shows Elijah youtube videos of zebras and laughing babies, and he sneaks Elijah tastes of ice cream and tomato. Here are some pics of Mike looking amazingly like his own dad in the '70s.

Lija Minelli

2009-06-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

When Elijah is being particularly dramatic, this is the perfect new nickname: Lija Minelli. And he is bringing the drama lately! He has discovered his vocal chords and is exploring their full range. He has discovered that, with the right pitch and volume, he can make things happen...specifically, he can make 2 full grown adults cater to his every whim. Here are some of his more expressive faces in his slideshow debut, with costume changes, made on the occassion of his Taylor grandparents' retirement.

Bath Time, Etc

2009-06-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

One of the most visceral times of the day is bathtime. As we lower Elijah into the bath and his butt touches water, his face conveys a whole range of emotions: total betrayal, shock and disbelief, dismay, and, finally, acceptance. Kind of like the way I imagine Julius Caesar looked at Brutus that one time. He seems to be asking: How could you do this to me, the one who brought you so much joy and happiness?

We captured- to the best of our abilities- these heart wrenching faces. Then a moment later he was all cool with it.

Hanging out in his little easy chair.

June Baby

2009-06-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

A few snaps of the little man from the past few weeks, including a few of a playdate he had with his friend Fiona, who is about three weeks older than he is. The lovely Fiona belongs to our pals Tom and Sarah Dawson.

Nobody can say we're not feeding this boy enough. Currently working on chin number three.

fun and games

2009-05-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Crazy 'uncle' Ben sent this mobile to Elijah ages ago and it has recently become one of his most loved, albeit trippiest, entertainments. It features the highest scoring cribbage hand (4 5's and a Jack). Hopefully he will remember this in a cinematic flash-back during a critical cribbage game someday. It also features notable figures in North Carolina history such as Blackbeard and Henry Berry Lowry, the 'Robin Hood of North Carolina'. I guess one might be considered good and the other, evil, but most important is that both have excellently sculptured facial hair so perhaps Elijah will remember that at another critical time in his life. Not your standard mobile, but it is blowing Elijah's mind daily. Thanks, Ben!

Excitable Boy

2009-05-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

It may seem as though we've been laying down on the job, but it's just been such a busy, stylish time for boy Elijah and his minders that there's been scant time for blogging. But to quickly recap the last month or so: We went to Kure Beach in NC with Eric, Meredith, Joaquin, and Lucy, and then had our friends Scott, Emily, and Linda visit from NYC. In between those happenings, Lije grew heavier and taller (a backbreaking 11 pounds, 10 ounces, and 24 inches long!) and tried on many new outfits. He's also chattering like a tiny monkey and smiling like a happy drunk. I think he may be just about too heavy for this sling though.

Recent Styles

Back To The Beach
Elijah's first dip in the ocean

Scott, Emily, and Linda Visit
The whole crew. From left: Scott, Mike, Elijah, Abby, Emily, Brendan, Linda, Jeff.

Grandpa // Tank Top

2009-05-14T06:51:00.001-07:00

2009-05-06T12:06:00.001-07:00

What can we say, our baby's got good taste in music. All David Allan Coe, all the time.

*Mike is 100% responsible for this post.

More Cuter

2009-05-03T10:25:00.001-07:00

We're having a pretty good morning here on the farm. The garden is in and Lije is becoming a sentient being with an impeccable sense of fashion. Miles of styles. These are some looks he was working Sunday, May 3rd, at about 6:45 AM.

Lucy and Elijah

Current likes: The Sling. Bouncing around. The calypso jam in his playpen. Cooing, moaning, and squealing. Sucking a finger. Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury, The Grateful Dead's Live at the Warehouse, New Orleans, 1/31/70, Mavis Staples's Only For The Lonely.

Current dislikes: Being put down to sleep before his time. Too many layers of clothing. Any funny business or dilly-dallying from Mom or Dad. A bath that is not the proper temperature. Fake-ass, booty-ass rappers.

What It Do?

2009-04-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Wamp wamp, what it do?

Spring comes to the South in a storm of green. Much sunshine to walk Elijah through by day, many crickets and cicadas working overtime to lull him to sleep in the eve. Our tiny dude is getting bigger and more cognizant by the day. He's still hooked on the good stuff (i.e. milk), sleeping only when he has to. Otherwise, he spends his waking hours in the arms of Mom or Dad, or heading to the zone in the cushy play structure given to us by Ryan Fitzgerald (thanks Fitz!). Things are good here. Come on and visit!

Elijah enjoys a long and luxurious stretch when he wakes up in the morning. Mid-stretch, it often occurs to him that he's got a little more sleep in him. Then we get this kind of business. Check that position and cue up "The Final Countdown" or "Eye of the Tiger."

A few weeks back, we had a wonderful Easter/Passover celebration with our friends Brendan and Samantha (and many others) through the woods at Chez Womble. I went dressed as a weird forest Dad. While we told many jokes that day, Elijah is not laughing in that second picture- he's politely calling for a snifter of milk. While this blog is mainly a celebration of cuteness, I include this picture as a sobering reminder of just how powerful this small baby is.

Bathtime is getting more and more enjoyable. If my memory serves, this is bath number four.

Elijah 'Milk Face' Lee Taylor.

Elijah Lee on the yard.

Elijah delivers his "Milk and Sleep" address, April 27, 2009.

Tonguistenics.

Gotta make weight!

2009-04-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

Elijah looks so mini to me in this picture, which is from week 1 of his life. At over 3 weeks now, he looks so much bigger to me...we'll see for sure at his 1 month weigh in on Thursday. I think, like any good pugilist, Elijah is trying to make weight: he basically has been on 4 hour eating binges in the past day, punctuated by short breaks to rest his cheeks for the next round. I think that when he hears my voice or is near me, he just starts thinking of food (like the cartoon characters who look at another animal and visualize a roasted turkey). Luckily, Mike is great a distracting Elijah from pigging out with walks in the sling, two-step dancing in the living room, and extended percussion jams.

Look alive, kid!

2009-04-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Here is evidence of Elijah's first smile that was not caused by a nervous system tic or a fart! Nana pulled out the toys with bells in them and Elijah really reacted with coos and smiles. He looks at our faces now and tries to imitate what we are doing - especially when Mike does it. He is trying SO hard to stick his tongue out at his dad, but can't quite clear his lower lip. Awfully cute, we think!

Baby fashions

2009-04-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

Something about baby clothes (and the way they fit onto baby bodies) is just hilarious to us at the moment. Thus far, we identify 3 categories:

1) Aging golfer style. (Not pictured) When you pull pants up high on the pot belly over a tight, pastel onesie t-shirt, there is an unmistakable resemblance to old men on Florida's golf courses.

2) Raver style. Baby sweat pants are generally wide-legged affairs and there are lots of hoodie sweatshirts, sweaters, even towels! Pictured below...Elijah dressed for baby's first rave. Just wait till we give him a pacifier!

3) Hippie style. Now this is just something that we are cultivating for laughs. Elijah has some sweet hippie gear including some moccasins and this tie-dyed onesie direct from Mendocino, California and courtesy of Theresa & Arturo (THANKS guys!)

Elijah's first bath (April 1, 2009)

2009-04-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Elijah didn't quite know what to make of this situation, but I don't think he found it wholly unpleasant. More of these to come, more joy to be had.

First week at home

2009-04-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

On our way home

2009-04-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

Day One

2009-04-02T11:17:00.001-07:00

The Day You Were Born: A Retrospective

2009-04-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

We went to the hospital on Thursday, March 19th for a post-date checkup. At this point, Elijah was a week late (his original due date was the 12th of March), and an ultrasound revealed that there wasn't a ton of amniotic fluid left in the womb. Although he wasn't in distress, the doc advised us to start the induction that evening, as opposed to waiting until Monday the 23rd (which we had on the calendar), and asked us to go home, pack our things, and return to the hospital in an hour.

This was an unexpected turn of events, and we didn't quite know what to do with ourselves once we got home. Abby called the midwife on duty, and she told us to show up at 8 PM. At the appointed time, we (over)packed the car full of birth gear, and drove back to the hospital. The good folks on the fourth floor had us wait for a while while they cleaned our room, and we moved in around 11 PM. Abby changed into a gown, and the midwife inserted a Foley bulb (too much information?) in order to start the dilation process, followed by a sleeping pill to help her get some rest. I took up my position on the full-out couch like a redheaded stepchild, and commenced a fitful night of sleep.

The nurse on duty started the administering Pitocin via IV at about 6:30 AM. We weren't sure what to expect, and spent the morning reading and talking smack; nothing seemed to be happening, we started watching Roman Holiday, starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. This is where things start to get fuzzy. As I recall, I went to the car to get the birthing ball; I don't remember why this seemed like a good time, but when I came back, Abby remarked that the contractions had definitely started.

Over the course of the day, the contractions got stronger and stronger. It's a really strange situation, watching your best friend go into this really intense zone; it's like witnessing someone go on some kind of shamanic vision quest. I don't think we exchanged more than a few sentences all day. At one point during the course of a checkup, our midwife Jane saw the scar from Abby's bellybutton ring (ah, youth) and asked, "Did you take that out to have your baby?" and Abby, in the midst of a contraction, replied, "No, I took it out to be a grown-up." Zing!

Sometime around 1:30 or so, our doula Emily arrived, and spelled me while I caught my breath. Her trickbag for coping with labor was very deep (while mine was woefully shallow), and it was a relief to have her there. Our nurse Raj, and later Debbie, were also really great and understanding.

Jumping ahead: Many contractions. Active labor. Much moaning and groaning. Some hand-wringing on my part. Pretty soon, Abby is ready to push. It's maybe 9:00 PM or so, and things seem to be going painfully, but relatively smoothly. Jane is saying that she can feel his head, and there is cheerleading and flag-waving all around. Abby is a tough champion.

But by 10:30 PM or so, things are not moving at the steady clip we were hoping for. Jane checks Abby, and explains that Elijah is, essentially, not quite clearing her pelvic bone. Abby decides to push a bit more. No real progress. Jane says that we should have a doctor come and check things out. They do, and then explain that Elijah is indeed stuck. Abby is tired and frustrated. They ask us: Vacuum or Cesarean? Not the question we were expecting, and our doula Emily wisely asks that everyone leave the room so that we can talk it over alone. Everyone splits, and we make the decision in about 30 seconds: C-section. Abby is too tired, and the vacuum option sounds too stressful to both of us.

More hand-wringing on my part as they wheel Abby into the surgery room to prep her. I put on my scrubs and am escorted in; they're just about ready to go. I remember putting my head on Abby's and telling her that everything was going to be all right. It was about 11:50. Much chatter from the doctors on the other side of the curtain. I remember one of the doctors saying to Abby, "You're going to feel a lot of pressure in just a second, like I'm sitting on your stomach." A moment later, another doctor said, "There he is. He's sunny side up."

Elijah was born at 11:55 PM. They carried him over to the table where we could see him and cleaned his eyes and ears and mouth, and Abby and I were both crying like babies; Elijah was quiet. And then they handed him to me and we all started crying. But it was good crying.

And that's how Elijah Lee got here.

Prologue

2009-04-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hi friends and family,

This is our little corner of the electrosphere dedicated to Elijah Lee Taylor. Elijah was born on March 20, 2009- the first day of spring- at 11:55 PM. He weighed 7 lbs, 5 oz, and was 21.5 inches long. He enjoys breast milk, long walks through the woods, the baby sling, naps, and vintage soul, R&B, and country music. He is a mellow dude, but if you wind up on his bad side, he'll cut you.

xo,
M