Grilled Filets on Valentine's

In the spirit of this forty-degree Chicago weather, I grilled a pair of filet mignons when Jen got home from work tonight. I love you!

Eli January 2011, by Andrew Vanover

I'd like to share my Walgreens Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Eli eats an apple

Crib Standing

I knew one of these days we would walk into Eli's room and find him standing in his crib. It happened tonight even while wearing his sleep sack! Good thing we lowered the mattress a month ago.

Grrrr

I'm not sure what made him do this, but I'm glad we got it on film.

Right Foot

Eli's been into holding his right foot while eating lately. Not sure why. Better than in his mouth!

Bigger in Wisconsin

Here's proof that they grow them big in Wisconsin - Eli was 8 months and still fit into this newborn outfit from Wisconsin.

Crib Sitting

Jen walked in and found Eli sitting up in his crib after a nap a few weeks ago.

Football Watching

Even though this is a month old, you can see the lengths Eli will go to so he can watch football.

Twenty pounds

We took Eli in to the pediatrician today and he weighs 20 pounds exactly. He is 8 mo and 1 wk.

Sitting Up Now

I lucked out to see Eli sit up for the first time today and get a few photos as he made the big push! He is crawling in fits and starts but not yet continuously. 7 months 3 weeks for those interested.

October Photos

Now in a Picasa Web Album.

First Swimming Lesson

Election Day

Eli's looking forward to being able to vote in 17.5 years!

Eli, Where Are You?

Creeping

Eli is officially creeping. He can get around in a scootch/slide/sprawl manner that propels him forward to whatever target he locks onto. Good thing we purchased and installed a gate a few days ago.

Nov. 2 Voting Made Easy

If you live near North Park University, you now have absolutely no excuse not to vote on Nov. 2. I have done the hard work of reviewing the endorsements of the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times for the contested races since I am not going to take the time to look at each race and make a decision on my own. If you can relate, read on!

To my surprise, they agreed on the majority of their endorsements. I indicated this with a thin green line on the ballot. They differed on the big ones - amendment, senator, governor, treasurer. Since the Tribune leans Republican I highlighted their endorsements in pink; the Sun-Times leans Democrat so I highlighted their endorsements in blue. There were a few smaller races where the Tribune made an endorsement and the Sun-Times had none. For those, I just highlighted pink.

This linked document is the "Specimen General Election Ballot Style 218." You can get an advance copy of the ballot you will receive here. A general list of everyone running for every position is available here (but it's not as useful).

Now you have NO excuse not to vote on Nov. 2!

Inches from Crawling

After being home with Eli today, I am going to make a guarantee that he will start crawling in November. He's up on his hands and his feet, has taken "steps" with his hands and with his knees. All he needs is a little coordination and our life as we know it with a stationary child will be history.

TwitterFeed

I just started an account with TwitterFeed that will automatically take my blog posts and push them out to Twitter and Facebook. Consider this a test of the new service.

Eli's First Night in Germany

Jen and Eli are in Germany with her mom visiting her sister and new nephew. Here's her account of the first night:

He did great on the flight and during the first day here.  Last night... solid food, bath, and to bed at like 8:30.  He slept for 2 hours, then woke up.  I fed him and he didn't go down... not even sleepy.  burped him, rocked him, fed him again.  still playful.  warned mom i was going to let him cry it out...  he screamed his head off for 1:15 and then, since that's the longest he did at home and here he's sick, in a new place and in a new time zone... i picked him up (we're sleeping in the same room).  He immediately stopped crying.  i rocked him a few min still he stopped gasping (you know, that post crying, calming down breathing) and he fell asleep in my arms.  i put him down and he didn't move.  that was that.  he slept until i woke him up at 9.