August 5 - August 11, 2012

Sunday, August 5^th

So much fun in the bath tonight with her wooden spoon! (video to come)

Monday, August 6^th

I try to read to Olivia every day. Today it was especially fun because she picked out some books herself! What a big girl! I am so excited to share my favorite books with her - books that my mother & father read to me, that have become old familiar friends. It is so true that reading shapes us, and especially children, dramatically. Will she love the Bobbsey Twins? Will she be worried about Nancy Drew locked in the steamer trunk in The Clue of the Tapping Heels? Will it make her cry when Fraulein Rottenmeier is mean to Heidi? Will she wonder what it's like to travel inside a giant pink sea snail? Our adventure is only beginning...

We're a one car family right now. It requires a little more planning and a patience on everyone's parts but we're making it work. Right now the weather is very nice so Olivia & I can take lots of walks. Today we walked to troop to visit Daddy at work!

Tuesday, August 7^th

At breakfast Olivia talked to her baby doll. (video to come) She is so sweet with her...when she's not throwing her on the floor...she gives her little kisses...well, she chews on her head.

This morning Olivia & I gave a Sensory Walk tour & the Pond tour to a small group at the Botanic Gardens. There were two other small children there and they looked like they were having a baby conference. I wonder what gardening tips Olivia had to share?

Wednesday, August 8^th

Olivia is so good at sitting up! We spent a lot of time today sitting and playing on the floor. Olivia was in such a good mood today that I had to make a recording of her giggles! Everyone should listen to this laughter when they're feeling blue! (upload to come)

Thursday, August 9^th

Tonight the whole family worked the closing shift at the Fair. It was a long night for Olivia and towards the end she was not very happy. Poor baby.

Friday, August 10^th

This morning we watched a little girl named Hailee while her mother had a doctor's appointment. She is about to be a big sister and had a nice time 'taking care' of Olivia. Good practice!

In the afternoon Olivia & I went out to Chena to pick up Morgan's dog, George. We've been dogsitting her dog Cricket for a little bit but last night we found out that George (who only has three legs) had been attacked by some of the other dogs at the kennel. So George is going to come stay with us to prevent any further incidents. Poor George. 

When we got George home he leaped out of the car, knocking me over and I had to spend about 10-15 minutes chasing him - a three-legged dog! - around the neighborhood. Once that misadventure was resolved (he came back of his own accord) I was promptly and unceremoniously hit by Olivia's projectile vomit. Poor baby was upset...so naturally she rubbed it all through my hair. Lovely. It was quite an afternoon. 

But the whole day was redeemed when Olivia crawled forward to Daddy in the evening! Hooray!

Saturday, August 11^th

We had a busy Saturday today! We went to the Farmers Market where we not only found some veggies, but we met a very talented artist named Brianna Reagan. We bought three of her prints. She is an amazing young artist and a lovely person as well. Check out her work! 

We went to two toy stores and got some exciting new toys for Olivia - soft cars, boats for the bathtub, a rattle, some jingle bells & a Jacob's ladder. So many new sounds & textures to enjoy!

We also went to the Mushroom Walk at Creamer's Field. There was an enormous turnout, however, so we decided to skip the mushroom hunt and left after the mycologist gave his talk. The Sand Hill Cranes (and other fowl) are on their migration south, so the fields are full of birds. It really is very impressive. By the time the Crane Festival happens at the end of the month there will be thousands of cranes in the fields. Amazing.

I've decided to draw & laminate some of the characters that Olivia seems most interested in and hang them in her room. I've been itching to paint a mural for a while, but just don't have the energy or the heart to paint one that I'll just have to paint over in a few months. So for now, it will be piecemeal art on the walls.

Tonight Olivia fed herself with a spoon! Well, at least she grabbed the spoon out of my hands and put it in her mouth while there was still food on it! But I know she's really getting the idea of eating with a utensil...even if she doesn't quite have the dexterity yet. She is getting very good at picking up food with two fingers and at using a cup! So mastery of the spoon can't be too far off!