Belated 11Months

I'm somewhat belated posting this.  I feel like Oliver has changed so much in just these past two weeks.  The biggest change is how good he has become at walking - he is so much steadier on his feet.  When he first started walking, his hands were up above his head.  Now, barely a month later he holds his arms out below his shoulders to balance.  His balance has gotten so good he can walk holding Riccardo.  He can make it all the way from the couch to the back door - probably a 35ft stretch!  Walk, walk, walk!  That's all he wants to do lately.

We are also experiencing a very un-cute clinginess of heightened proportion (that I believe is related to this new found mobility).  "This is just a phase.... This is just a phase" I often remind myself.  My crazy travel schedule recently (which is thankfully behind me and unlikely to be repeated anytime soon), probably hasn't helped. 

POTD: Newest Toy

Oliver has a sudden fondness for walking around with and eating the handles of my hairbrushes.  It's extremely random and pretty funny - we are trying to keep them as an upstairs toy and he gets MAD if you take them away from him.  He was in heaven this morning when he had two hairbrushes.  He couldn't decide which he liked better!  Fine by me as I was able to blowdry my hair without him getting into trouble for a change.

First Haircut

We had put it off for long enough.  This weekend, we finally gave Oliver his first haircut - and it was no easy feat!  Adam attempted to keep him still, while I (dangerously) wielded the scissors.  It was nearly impossible to cute his hair since he was moving all around and I was trying not to take off too much or take out an eye in the procees.   He still needs a bit more taken off in the back, but all in all, it was a good first effort. 

Talking???

Oliver was saying "Na!" a lot this morning as I was preparing and he was eating his BanaNA breakfast.  He stopped saying it when he stopped eating the banana.  Coincidence?
Jana and I are both pretty sure he says "Up" although he doesn't know what it means just yet.

POTD: the waiting game

Oliver and I are hanging out in the phila airport cell phone waiting lot.  Jana's mom is visiting us for a couple of weeks and we dropped Jana off to greet her mom outside of baggage claim.

Mobile blogging

Am starting to get the hang of my news Droid phone and all of its functionality.  Finally downloaded an app that allows me to blog from my phone, which means I should be able to post photos easier (so in theory, more frequently).
Here's a photo from the Please Touch Museum where we took Oliver on Sunday with Jenn & cousin Remi.  Unfortunately, most of the photos we took on the "real" camera didn't come out all that great.  Oliver was still a bit young to enjoy everything that PTM had to offer, but it will be a great place to take him in the months to come.

Daddy's Away... Mommy & Bubbie will Play

This is the third week that Adam is off on a one-night business trip.  The first time was local, a presentation & dinner in the burbs, and my mom came down to pitch in.  These last two have been in CT/Boston - its a bit of a role reversal.  Adam is experiencing what a true pain in the neck business travel can be (packing, MIA shuttles, baggage issues) and I'm getting to see what its like to come home after a long day and be on Bubba duty solo. 

After I put Oliver to bed tonight, I sent the following email to Adam:

Daddy,
I was a bit of a handful for mommy & Jana around dinnertime, but I was a good boy later.  I had fun in the tub and fell right asleep after my bottle.
Smooches!
Oli

This is the photo I sent last week.  (I'm not looking my cutest!)

Cousin Fun

Oliver & I spent the day at my aunt's a few weeks ago, playing with the cousins...  Oliver was being a bt clingy - can't tell if there was just too much hubbub or what.  We thought the boys would have a blast together in the tub, but Oliver completely freaked out and you can't blame Bentley for crying after seeing a hystetical Oliver.  I look forward to the kiddies being able play together, instead of next to one another, so the Mommies & grandmas can talk over glasses of wine nearby. 

Conductor Devon!



Omi Lovin'

A bit overdue to post photos... here are some cute ones from the last time I was in Jersey at my mom's.  Complete coincidence that the grandsons are both in grey & brown stripes.  Not the prettiest colors, but Nicole & I were both out of (clean) outfit choices for the boys by the time Sunday morning rolled around.

Want to guess where Nicole was standing to get the boys' attention?

Oliver loved my mom's old puppets

Family Adventure

Adam & I decided we wanted to get out of the house today and do something with Oliver. Now that he is a bit older and can move around & play, we can really start taking advantage of everything the city has to offer.  Since gymoboree wasn't open (we were going to milk the free pass) and it was a bit cold for the zoo, we opted to visit Smith Playground - the outdoor playground is closed until April, but there is an inside play area.  Its close by and free, so we felt like it was a great first outing. 

Oliver was a bit clingy, but seemed to enjoy himself once he got used to his surroundings  We are looking forward to going back to play with all the cool outdoor play equipment once it gets warmer.

Missing my lil' guy

It's been a rough couple of days abroad - full days of meetings, then flights to another country, and then "real" work.  Tonight was the first night I checked in before 10pm.  I'm sick of all the hotel-hopping and shuttle flights.  I'm not looking forward to Santa Fe next week, but at least I will be in the same place for the duration of the trip and won't have to keep packing up my suitcase everymorning. 

I'm so bummed that my work computer isn't Skype-friendly, so I couldn't stay in touch as much as I would like.  Jana has really brightened my days sending me photos of Oliver.   

Always Getting Into Mischief

As I was doing dishes in the kitchen yesterday morning, I heard an unfamilar noise...  turns out that noise was toilet paper being unrolled.  Better than the noise of him playing in the toilet bowl!