Finally Enjoying the Bungalow

Last weekend was the first weekend that we really got to enjoy the bungalow.  Most of the big projects have been handled (electrician coming this weekend) and the smaller projects can be tackled at a more leisurely pace.  Nicole & Devon slept over on Saturday and on Sunday my mom spent the day with us as as well.   My mom's cousin has the bungalow next door, and his 10yr old daughter also had a blast with the babies -- babysitter in training!

Nicole & I remember all too well having to get up & out of the bungalow (with younger cousins trailing behind), so we wouldn't wake up the parents.  And its no different now - we had the boys out of the house shortly after 8am, so Adam could sleep. 

"Hey Oliver!  Where are we going so early?"

easily the best slide he's ever been on

Even Devon takes a turn

I can't say enough how nice it was having extra hands to keep track of the boys! Next weekend we will try our luck at the pool. 

 

grill master

Our first real dinner in the bungalow!

bathtime in a tub

the boys are ready for bed & the long ride home

POTD - Grabby Hands

I'll take that, Mom!

Talking Boy Follow Up

I have our blog set up so that when I post something, the entry is emailed to to some of our family members, so they don't need to constantly check in on the website to see if there are new entires.  This means that some family comments don't end up getting shared on the website.... this one was too cute not to add, however.

Dear Oliver,
Ooooooo....mi,  Oooooooo...mi  Oliver, It's a combination of the sound you make for Ooooooo...pa and and sound you use for Ma.........mi.  Easy, right?  Go for it.  Ooooooooo......mi.  See you Sunday.  Can't wait to take you to the pool. 
Love, Omi

Talking Boy

Oliver has been a talking storm lately, sometimes picking up 2-3 new words in a week.  Yesterday, I got an email about the developmental stage he should be at and was pleasantly surprised to see that he is right where he is supposed to be.  I've heard multiple times now that his speech could be delayed since he was so focused on crawling/walking early, but he actually seems a bit ahead verbally as well. 

According to babycenter.com:  At his first birthday, your child will likely use one to five words meaningfully. By 14 months, that working vocabulary may grow to seven real words, though he may have up to 20 "words" (these may be more like sounds) that only he and someone close to him can understand. He'll even practice inflection, raising his tone when asking a question. He might say "Up-py?" when he asks to be carried, for example.

Oliver can (very clearly) say: Mommy, Daddy, Opa, up, shoe, doggie, baby, no, & book.  Other words that only we understand include:  down (dow), bottle (bob-ba), Jana (Jaja) banana (nana), and duck.  He can also say yucky, but doesn't really know what it means.  We're working hard on Omi, but no luck so far.  We didn't do as much sign language as I would have liked, but the signs he does know have come in very handy.  More, Eat, & All Done.  The sign for "more" is used anytime he wants something that we have.  He uses "all done" to signal not only when he's had enough to eat, but also when he doesn't like something - for example, when we start bathing him on a night he's not interested, or when we're in the basement anywhere near this elmo plane that freeks him out.  Its very clear how badly he wants to be able to communicate with us.  This weekend, my sister was holding him and walking around telling him about tress.  When I came over he pointed up and was trying to communicate to me what they were talking about. 

Oops - this got a bit long.  Here's a video - SO cute!!!

Belated injury report

Early last week, oliver smacked his head on the concrete steps out the back of our house.  He was sporting an egg-shaped bump and a skinned nose for most of the week. 

 

POTD: Another day of nakie pool fun

Oliver is in HEAVEN running around outside playing with water.  He was a nudie boy when I came home from my business trip this afternoon.

Celebrating Father's Day

We had a busy day yesterday.  We met Adams brother, our sis-in-law for raspberry/blueberry picking in the morning, then did some errands around the house and let Oliver play with water, before all enjoyed some much needed quiet time.  

hugging daddy

hayride to the blueberries

Water Fun

We bought Oliver a water play table that finally arrived.  And today, Jana got him a small pool.  The kid is suddenly in love with water all over again - what timing!  He's now at the point where he can play with something for 20-30min at a time, which is nice for Jana.  Less work to keep him out of trouble when he is entertained.

Funny story from today.  We stripped him down to his birthday suit, to splash around.  He peed and it was absolutely hilarious to see his face.  He was looking at the stream of pee trying to figure out where it was coming from.  Afterwards, he was looking/playing with his belly button.  Nope, not from there! 

Newest Trick

On Thursday, Oliver figured out how to make his rocking horse move all on his own.  It was great seeing the joy on his face as he was able to make it rock back & forth. 

Strawberry Picking

We had SO MUCH fun at Linvilla Orchards last Saturday picking strawberries & cherries and playing on the playground.  We went with someone Adam works with, who lives with his wife & 18mo old just a few blocks from us. 

Lots & lots of photos after the break!!!

Outdoor Fun

We are alternating weekends between the SSC (german club in NJ) and Philly.  Last weekend we were in Philly and tried to make the most of our weekend at home.  We took advantage of the fabulous weather and spent a lot of time outside.   We went strawberry picking on Saturday morning (photos to be posted later) and spent a fair amount of time out on our patio.  Oliver suddenly loves being outside in our patio and boy does he get mad when you bring him inside before he is ready!  He has gotten pretty good at scooting backwards out of the backdoor and is amazingly steady on his feet, despite the bizarre slant our patio (contractors did a crappy job laying the brick).  He used to refuse to be outside barefoot, but now he loves it.  He enjoys drawing with/eating chaulk and most of all LOVE to play with water.  We will fill up the watering can or a tupperware container and he loves splashing in it and dumping it out.  Adam showed him the lid to the hose container, and he enjoys inspecting it and showing us.  We ordered him one of those water playstations, which should arrive any day now.  With the heat we have been having, we'll put it to immediate use!

We love this expression!

On Sunday, Oliver "helped" me repot some plants.  The highlight of the day was having to fish a rock out of his mouth, while my hands were covered in dirt - fun for both of us!

Yum yum

Peanut butter is YUMMY! 

Since oliver still isn't eating meat (although yesterday he did eat a beef stick- ah, chinese takeout MSG) we have been trying to get protein in him in different ways.  Thankfully peanut butter is a hit!

POTD: New Park

Yesterday, Oliver and Jana visited a different playground than they usually visit.  Oliver was apparently swarmed by a group of six year olds that wanted to shower him with hugs and kisses.  Jana waited until they were around the corner on her way home to give him a good wipe down from all the attention! 

First lunch in the bungalow

We don't have the light replaced in the kitchen yet, and since it is rainy, the kitchen is very dark.  No running water currently either since on the same trip to Lowes Adam is replacing a piece of our hot water heater.  So, lunch was on a stepstool that Oliver really likes sitting in the bedroom.

Can't wait until the bungalow is truly livable!!!!

POTD: Never a dull moment

Today, after he woke up from his nap, while jana was on her way to get him, Oliver climbed/fell out of his crib.  This kid!!!

Like Father, Like Son

A few weeks ago we were at a Christening and Adam took Bubba outside to burn off some energy....  These two are like peas in a pod wearing Adam's "standard outfit" of a blue shirt & khaki pants....

Chicken Dance

As a joke, at my wedding, my father and I did the chicken dance before the father-daughter waltz.  only my sister, the DJ, and the photographer were in on the joke!  My mom had made a comment along the lines of "they better not play the chicken dance at your wedding!", which started the whole thing.  When they first started the music, Adam actually leaned over to his best man and made some comment about me killing the DJ.  Anyway.....

Shortly after the wedding, my dad's girlfriend bought me a semi-stuffed chicken that sings the chicken dance and flaps its arms.  When Oliver was younger, it absolutely terrified him and he would scoot as far away from it as he could if you turned it on.  My how things have changed.... he is currently OBSESSED with it!  Especially now that he can push the button himself to start/stop it (which means you hear "Want to do the chicken dance?" about twice as often as you hear the actual song). 

It's best when he dances along.  We haven't quite figured out the clapping that goes with it yet, but give him another couple of weeks and he will have it down.  I will try and take a video of him and the dancing chicken this weekend.