Dear Olivia, Month 7

Dear Olivia,

You really enjoy your walker! You love to roam all around the first floor in it. You have figured out that you can reach the letters on the fridge by "walking" up to it. As long as you have some toys on the tray and are moving, you are very content.

Unfortunately you got your first cold this past month. You were such a trooper, though! You tried so hard to act normal. Your nose ran off and on for about 2 weeks - poor thing. At least it was just a head cold. You are all better now and back to normal.  You also got 2 teeth in the middle of it, too!

You are SO close to crawling! When you're playing on the floor, you reach and reach for toys and scoot around. It is only a matter of days before you are really mobile!

You traveled to Washington for the first time over Thanksgiving. You did really well and enjoyed seeing everyone. We took you to all of the usual stops - Zipps, Taco Time, Spudnut Shop, etc. Too bad you were too young yet to enjoy your first Spudnut - next time!

Love,
Mommy

Sam & Olivia Playing

Dear Samuel, Month 34

While at Target one day, I asked you to pick out a costume for Halloween. Of course, without hesitation, you picked Elmo. As soon as we got home,  you said "I want it on" so I took it out of the package and you tried it on. Immediately after you put it on, you said, "I want it off". I was very skeptical that you would actually wear it come Halloween.We decided to take you & Olivia to the Boo at the Zoo. You told us all day that you didn't want to wear the Elmo but we took it with us anyway in hopes that you would change your mind.  Not until you arrived at the zoo and saw the other kids with their costumes on, did you agree to wear it. Ahhh, nothing like good ol' peer pressure!

You traveled to St. Louis with Olivia & I. You sat in your own seat on the plane for the first time and watched Monsters Inc. In St. Louis, Uncle Brad hooked you up the opportunity to ride in the "Black Beauty" car that was used in the new film, "The Green Hornet" which comes out in January. I didn't quite understand what all the fuss was about but evidently the movie is based on some comic book series from the 60's. Your daddy and Uncle Brad know all about that.

You are really enjoying Olivia's presence these days. You have figured out that if you do certain things, she will laugh and so you repeat things over and over. It is great to see you play with your little sister! She just adores you!

You have started pushing the envelope a bit. If I say you have 5 minutes until...you quickly say, "no 10". If I say 10 you say "no 20". Oh boy, this could get interesting!

I love the random moments you give me daily-whether it is a pat on my back or a "I luv you, mommy" for no reason.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Olivia, Month 6

Sweet Olivia,

Six months is such a fun milestone. You can almost sit up on your own now! You just struggle a bit with your balance, but once you get that down you'll have it made! Six months also means that you constantly grab anything in sight.  It doesn't matter what it is, you just go for it - my hair, remote controls, earrings, etc. Over the past month you began to droll a lot. I now know why - you are in the process of getting your first 2 teeth. I wasn't quite prepared to have you go through this at six months since Samuel didn't get his first tooth until he was almost a year old! At least it appears that you are getting more at a time than he did.  So, bring on the teeth! I'm excited that you will be able to eat more food soon.

October was a big month for you! Your daddy took great care of you while mommy was in San Francisco 6 days for work. You went to Dawn's house 4 days in a row and did just fabulous (this was the most you were away from home).  Dawn and her daughter, Hannah, loved on you a lot. Dawn said you are the sweetest and happiest baby. I happen to think so, too!

Soon after I returned from San Francisco, you traveled with Samuel & I to St. Louis. This was your first plane ride and first trip away from home. You did fantastic! You went with the flow when we ran all around town in St. Louis. Your cousin, Addy, was quite the helper. She loved every minute with you. She loves to call you "Olivia Anna".

Finally, you went to the Boo at the Zoo on Halloween and just chilled in your tiger costume while Samuel went "trick-or-treating".  

Love,
Mommy

Boo at the Zoo!

We took the kids to the Boo at the Zoo this year. This was Samuel's first experience to "trick-or-treat". I was unsure if he would actually wear the Elmo costume I bought for him. We talked about it on and off for weeks to prepare him. Yesterday he told us over and over that he didn't want to wear Elmo. We said that is fine but we were taking it with us just in case he changed his mind (we hoped so). Well, once we got to the zoo he put it right on after he saw all of the kids dressed up. The zoo had over 20 tables where the kids could trick-or-treat so after a few, he quickly got the hang of it and really enjoyed himself. We plan to go back again next year, too!

Here are the kiddos in their costumes...

 

Dear Samuel, Month 33

Dear Samuel,

You are turning into such a big boy these days! The biggest change this past month is that we started potty training! It's been almost 4 weeks now and you're doing great! You tell us when you need to go and can stay dry for quite a long time. Of course there are accidents here and there and you really haven't gone much but we know that will eventually come.  Your daddy & I are very proud of you and encouraged by how it's going so far.   

Whenever you take a bath and you had red socks on that day, you gently pick up the red fuzzies & say "Elmo's fur" and put the fuzzies on Elmo (he sits on the top of the toilet for every bath).

Lately you have started saying. "JUST A SECOND BABY!" You hear us say that when she starts to get fussy and so you are just repeating it. :) Your daddy  & I think it is pretty funny although we say Olivia's name and not baby. :)

One day I picked you up at Dawn's house and somehow you didn't have Elmo with you (he goes everywhere with you). As soon as we got to the car you were concerned and said "Oh, Elmo!". We went back inside and as soon as you saw Elmo you told him, "I'm sorry, Elmo."  It was so sweet. You were very apologetic.

You LOVE to play the Wii Sports! Your favorite games are baseball, bowling & golf.

 

You keep your daddy & I on our toes with your random sayings. We love you!

Love,

Mommy

Olivia playing

 

Olivia loves to play in her exersaucer! Whenever she plays, she likes to talk. In the beginning she is watching Samuel and in the end she gets fussy but the rest is one happy baby which makes mommy smile!