The $11,000 Baby Cute

So we got the "bill" for our stay at the hospital. Just the hospital bill, not the bill for the doctor's time, was over $11,000. Thanks to our friends at MSU, all of our pregnancy, prenatal and postpartum care is covered 100%. So next time I complain about my job, smack me. Wow, huh?

Speaking of work, that's the big event for me in the last week. My current boss is retiring, so the national search for his replacement is going on while I am on leave. They have three finalists and each one is coming to campus for a day to give a seminar and have some one-on-one time with varies peeps, including my staff. So I put on my big girl clothes, pumped some mommy milk with my Medela Pump In Style Advanced and went to work for a few hours on Monday and Tuesday.

Elliott did very well with taking a bottle. Dr. Hoop said that if we introduced it early enough, it shouldn't be a problem. It's the babies who have had nothing but the boob until they are several months old that tend to have more problems. We are pretty well established now and Elliott has even been known to be pacified with the "suckie" now and again lately. It's a relief for me (and my boobs) to know that he can just be soothed by sucking on something other than me.

Halloween was a lot of fun! During the day we went to a potluck at my office. Elliott got to try his hand at eating in my office. It went well, which is great news considering we are hoping that he will be able to visit on my lunch hour to eat. Elliott wore his tiger costume from Grandpa Gary.

That was 100% polyester, so the little man got pretty hot. Fortunately, he was wearing a cute Halloween outfit underneath. Unfortunately, they don't make stylish nursing bras, so you get to see my grandma bra straps.

The day before Halloween we took an out of the house adventure. First, we hit the mall to pick up a few more nursing bras. We also couldn't pass up a onesie for Elliott that says "Little Version of Daddy." Heck, it wasn't even on sale! Very out of character for me, but it was too perfect to leave behind. :) Then we had lunch at Ruby Tuesday (mmm, salad bar). Elliott was a very good baby and slept the whole time. We went home to eat (Elliott, not us, we were full) and then Eli and I ventured out together, leaving Daddy Dave home to nap. We hit the baby store, the post office, TJ Maxx and Target. Whew! It was a lot of fun, and made me feel (semi) normal, always a good thing. Elliott wore his "Daddy's Little Pumpkin" onesie.

We took Elliott on his first road trip last weekend. It was a lot of fun, but also trying. Elliott is great in the car, but we definitely pay for it later with increased time in "Fussytown." We started in Saginaw and visited my grandmas. Elliott met my Aunt Cynthia and my Mom's staff at Guardianship Services. Elliott enjoyed visiting Grandma Joy at work. :)

Then we headed to Central Lake to visit Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Dave. Elliott went to his first football game--Central Lake High School versus Cedarville. CL won by one! Hooray! Elliott also got to meet Gavin, one of David's and my favorite little people. Gavin is exactly as old as David and I are as a couple. So it was so charming to discover that Gavin loves babies and kept telling us that Elliott was "so cute." Dave said he stopped counting the number of times Gavin kissed his head.

We ended our trip by heading to Gaylord so Elliott could meet Grandma Scott, David's paternal grandmother. She had many pictures to show us that further proved Elliott is a mini-Dave. Uncanny resemblance, people.

He does, however, seem to have my temper. Perhaps this is why I am alternately fascinated and frustrated by how quickly he turns from angel baby to tomato baby....

Elliott apparently also hates laundry like I do. What he LOVES, though, is himself. Or rather, his reflection. Screw the exciting ocean wonders bouncer with lights and sounds and vibration. He would much rather look at himself in the mirror.

David was thrilled to get last minute tickets to see the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Thanks Grandpa Joe. This also meant that I was left home alone with Elliott, so my Mom brought my Grandma Natali to visit and celebrate her 85th birthday with us. We had KFC and delicious cake. It was wonderful, and in my opinion, much better than any football game.

And finally, here are some random shots of our cutie.