Making Challah for Rosh Hashanah

Today we went over to the Klearmans' to help make challah for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It's been our tradition to make it together over the last few years, and this time was just as fun. Except for the end, when Eli hurt himself - but I'll get to that in a second.

Caroline and their nanny Agnes (Drew and Agnes mixed the dough earlier in the morning - I showed up when it was time to do the braiding)

Saralyn and Drew - he was very excited to help with the braiding.

Smiley Will watching the challah-making process

Here I am with Eli, before his fall. Yes, he fell from that chair that I'm leaning on in the picture (that is stool-height) and hit his forehead on the hardwood floor. I was way too trusting that he would be okay up there (he wanted to be a part of things, and it was too hard to hold him the whole time). So I take complete blame and am glad it wasn't worse...

I forgot to take a picture of the finished challah this time, but here is a picture of our beautiful challah from a few years ago. It's delicious!

Before and After of My Bruised Little Guy

Before Eli's fall today - my cute little guy in his darling jammies from my friend Jennie:

And a few pictures from tonight - check out the huge bump/bruise in the middle of his forehead! Poor little guy.

So as I explained in the post above, Eli got this shiner from falling off of a chair at stool height. He cried pretty hard initially, and I put him down for his nap about 45 minutes after the accident because he seemed fine. Then he woke up after only an hour and a half nap (short for this one-napping child) and was crying SO hard. I tried all kinds of things to console him, but he kept crying and started coughing - hard. I ran into the bathroom with him and thankfully he just threw up on the tile floor (and got some in the toilet at least), rather than on our bedroom carpet.

I have to say - smelling your son's vomit when you're pregnant is not the most pleasant experience. I was doing my best to breathe my nose as I hugged him close and tried to calm him down, this time because he was upset from throwing up. I gave him a bath and called the pediatrician, who said he should probably be checked out, in case he had a mild concussion. We ran over there after his bath, and thankfully he seems to be okay and didn't need x-rays. He even got his flu shot since our next regular appointment isn't until November, and while he cried before and after the shot, he immediately stopped when he realized the nurse gave him a Spiderman band-aid. Suddenly the tears disappeared! Amazing.

Anyway, we'll watch Eli closely for the next day or so, but he ate like normal and didn't throw up anything else since the afternoon. Tonight we made lots of progress on the third bedroom, unpacking a few last boxes and rearranging furniture. Eli kept throwing himself on the bed's comforter, laughing and laughing. I think he'll be okay, but will be sporting a nice big bruise for a little while...

Eli the Tipsy Toddler

Eli is going through a bumps and bruises stage - he toddles around everywhere, but still biffs it about one in five times. It makes for an interesting day - I watch him walk around and usually hold my breath, hoping he's not going to fall on a sharp corner or step on a block in his way. On Sunday he had a huge bump on his eyebrow from falling and hitting the side of the tub (not while taking a bath, but being in there while I was brushing my teeth). Today his teeth somehow cut his lip when he fell down at some point. I would like to get his 1-year picture taken soon, but he keeps banging up his face, so I wait another day.

Here he is early this morning, carrying the balloon around from his birthday that is still floating more than a week later:

And speaking of his birthday, here is a picture from last week when we had lunch at Walker Brother's Pancake House - pecan wafles and crispy hashbrowns are my favorite - yum yum yum! Eli loves his snack catcher as shown below - it makes him such an independent snacker, which I love.

Behind us are these old ladies who were very sweet to Eli while we were there - he was feeling social that day and walked over to say hi to them.