Oliver Helps Unload the Dishwasher

I was off with friends for a quick cup of tea this afternoon when Adam sent me this photo.    Adam told me that earlier in the day, he had found Oliver hanging from the fusstable (where the ball return is) with one of the balls in his mouth - its insane how much more closely we need to watch Oliver lately!

Water Fun

Tonight I had a parenting epiphany:  "Why Fight It!?!".  I was trimming Oliver's fingernails in the sink and he was fighting to play with the faucet - he's become obsessed with water recently.  After finally getting his nails done I realized there was no harm in him getting a little wet, afterall it was going to be bathtime in 15min, so why was I putting up such a fight?  Let the boy play!

Less than 2min after I took this photo, Oliver realized that its not fun being soaking wet.  Of course, the lesson was short-lived - as soon as I had him stripped down, he went right back to reaching for the faucet again!

An Up & Coming Soccer Pro

This video Jana made today had me smiling (BEAMING) all afternoon!

Walking Video

He's still awfully unsteady - but I'm sure he will be running in no time! 

Things to Remember: Month 10

Oliver is 10months old.  Wow - he will be a year old in no time!  The boy is always on the move, and I thought that this photo captured what life is like in our house these days perfectly. 

A BIG Milestone!

Hard to believe, but Oliver is starting to WALK!!!  Yesterday, as he was reaching up to convinvce Adam to pick him up he took two steps.  Today, while I was taking photos of him being able to stand unsupported, he took three steps towards me.  Unbelieveable how fast this is all happening. 

Oliver has been doing some "accidental" unsupported standing since December, but it wasn't happening with any frequency.  All of the sudden this weekend, he started standing up without holding onto something pretty often.  Not only that, he stands up without holding onto something to get his balance first. 

Photo I was taking when he decided to walk

Oliver walking towards me!!!

Standing boy!

Miraculous Recovery

Baby sickness update:  That night (Monday) Oliver went down for bed without a fight, but was up again, and miserable at 9:30pm.  Finally, at midnight, we got him back to sleep.  He didn't wake up until 5am (when my alarm went off - ugh).  But after a few minutes of Mommy-snuggles, he was back asleep. 

By the time I landed in San Fran on Tuesday morning (well, West Coast time), Oliver seemed to be fine.  When I talked to Jana it didn't even seem like he needed the Children's Tylenol anymore. 
My business trip was most un-fun, having endured the worst of the cold symptoms while I was on the road.  Oliver & I have each developed a bit of a cough, but seem otherwise OK.  Jana, thankfully, never got sick. 

I'm a bit surprised by this, but I've decided I'm anti-children's cold medicine.  When the it would kick in, Oliver would start motoring around the house like he was fine - as if he had gotten some kind of adrenalin jolt - (What the heck is that stuff? - I need to do some research). Of course, it was purely the drugs and not any indication that he was recovering -- it was always short lived and then he would be extra cranky when he came down from his "high" -- I hope we don't have to give him cold medicine for a LONG time!

Sick Boy!

Oliver is a sickie-head.  He woke up with a fever this morning, without having shown any symptoms last night.  I gave Jana some sick-boy instructions and told her to call me if she needed me to come home and help out.  I hadn't been in the office last Thursday (basement water issues) or Friday (wedding), and I HAD to go into the office ahead of my business trip to San Fran tomorrow (I leave early in the AM). 

All seemed well in the morning and she reported that he was crawling around and seemed fine.  Then, she called again shortly before 1pm asking me to come home because Oliver had puked (all over her).  So, I'm home now.  Oliver has a fever of 101.5 and thankfully has not puked again.  He definitely perks up shortly after he gets a dose of Infant Tylenol, which would explain his happy-boy moments earlier this morning.  Right now he's fighting the nap that his body really needs him to take.

I'm bracing for tonight...

Affectionate Boy

All of the sudden, Oliver has become EXTREMELY affectionate.  And it is the absolute best thing in the world - I hope this isn't a phase that is over almost as soon as it starts!  When I get him in the morning, or when I come home from work, he just wanted to sit and hold me for a few minutes.  It's the sweetest thing!  My boy has become a snuggler!!! 

He has also started hugging all sorts of things.  It used to be just people and stuffed animals that would receive hugs.  Now its just about everything -- a roll of papertowels, a plastic toy, a grapefruit!  And when he hugs something, he tips forward to hug, sometimes bumping into something on the way down.