The Smith Family Adventures

Elias and I are reading Bible stories together each day for his Lenten discipline. I had actually started doing that as soon as we got home from the hospital, but it got difficult to read longer stories to him when he could wiggle and move around himself. The first month or so he would just lay there in my arms and listen to me read. Then it got too frustrating to try reading him anything but very short board books that he could also chew on. He just doesn’t have the attention span yet. I thought that lent would be a good time to get back in the habit of reading Bible stories with him.

Today we read a few stories about Jesus’ early life. It was interesting how Elias’ bible kind of glossed over King Herod’s evil deeds. It just said he was very angry when the wise men did not come back to see him and that he wanted to be the only King of the Jews. Then it said that an angel warned Joseph to take his family into hiding and there is a picture of some pyramids. Nathan and I wonder….when is it appropriate for a child to know the whole story? We will presumably be reading from this Bible for at least a few years, and he will hopefully learn the stories by heart. It will break my heart to teach him about the evilness of man.

I think this weekend was one of the happiest Elias has ever had. We had no plans…nowhere we had to be….we wanted it that way since we’ll be traveling next weekend on Elias’ first plane trip and that will be somewhat stressful. Elias laughed and squealed a ton and just seemed genuinely happy. Nathan being home on the weekends makes him very happy as well.

Nathan, Elias, and two of the lions

Today Nathan and I decided we wanted to go to the Rose Garden. Unfortunately, neither of us thought of the fact that it is basically still winter and nothing is in bloom. When we got there and saw our mistake, we salvaged the outing by going to the zoo instead. We are now actually zoo members. Nathan said that he feels like a true Portland citizen now as a zoo patron. All he needs now is an OPB membership. :)We’ll be able to go to the zoo as often as we want now.

Elias looking at the ceiling fan. Mommy looking at the giraffe.

With a baby, you have to do things in short spurts of time. We headed straight for Africa and planned to leave when we finished there so Elias wouldn’t get too worn out. We got to see some really cool animals, and we even got to see the lions rough-housing with each other and a zebra running around. Lots of the animals were out and awake, but we did not get to see the hippos or rhinos. Oh well…maybe next time.

The funniest part of the whole trip was when we were at the giraffe exhibit. It was actually one of the first ones we saw and we had just taken Elias out of his stroller so he could really see the animals. They were in the indoor part so we got as close as possible and Elias was riveted by…..the ceiling fan. He eventually did look at the giraffe but then he quickly went back to staring at the ceiling fan. It was quite amusing.

Nathan and Elias. Proud zoo members.

Kim: “What’s the story on your thermos? It’s been here for over a month!”

Nathan: “I have male pattern blindness. I literally can’t see chores I don’t want to do.”

Earlier tonight I was talking to a friend who mentioned baby books; which reminded me that I had gotten a little behind on the one I am making for Elias. After Elias went to bed for the night, I pulled it out to work on his 5 month page, and update a few other things. When I finished, Nathan and I were reading what I had already done for months one, two, etc. It is amazing how much we had already forgotten. It has only been five months! We will be so happy to have this book some day to help us remember all the precious moments. Hopefully I’ll keep up on it until it is finished!

Elias has quite a few toys to play with. He has rattles, stuffed animals…toys to chew…toys that make sound. And lots of books! Don’t get me wrong. He thoroughly enjoys them all.  But there is a special joy in his little eye when he gets to play with the kleenex box. I have to push all the tissues inside because he tries to eat those if he can get his hands on them and it makes a sticky papery mess. He holds it and turns it and stares at it and tastes it. You’d think that kleenex box was the only one of its kind. We should all be so content with the simple things in life.

Now Elias is trying to type for me too so I’d better stop.

Elias trying to sit up

Elias is five months old today! Actually, we weren’t sure when to say he is five months because he was born on the 30th of September and there is no 30th this month. We decided the last day of February would do. It is amazing to look back at our photos of Elias and see how much he has changed in the last five months. Right now he is working on sitting up unassisted. He is still very wobbly, and mostly leans forward or to the side as you can see from the pictures.

Trying to sit, but falling foward

Today was the first day that I took Elias to the baby story time at the Cedar Mill library. It was very fun! Elias loves singing (or at least being sung to….) and he smiled lots. It was the first time he had seen so many babies in one place. Lots of the babies were a little older and could crawl around. It will be even more fun to go to story hour when he can participate a little more. For now, I’m just enjoying being able to do things like that with him. When we got home, Elias had major hat hair so I snapped another picture.

Hat hair

Elias has now rolled over in both directions! Last night was the first time that he rolled over from back to front. Then he did it again this morning! Another milestone to check off the list. The time is flying too fast.