Stuff and more stuff

While Oliver naps I think I'll jot down a few latest noteworthy things about Oliver. First of all he is back in daycare 3 days a week and even though it's the same place he went to before, he's not adjusting as well as we thought he might. Oliver's M.O. is usually to just roll with it. But last week he cried when Anth dropped him off and he would cry when I picked up in the afternoon. And his mood would not improve during the evening either. He was just upset, there's just no better way to describe it! It'll take time and hopefully he'll soon look forward to being with all the other kids. He's got to learn how to be a bossy brat somehow.

He is also not walking yet. Can you hear the disappointment in my voice? He's about to turn 17 months in a couple of weeks and the clock is ticking before we have to have him examined. That's a joke folks, but all the books say to seek professional help if kids aren't walking by 15 months. What do they know? Yesterday he did try to stand up from a squatting position without holding on to anything. And he did it again today. The look on his face is priceless - 'I've almost go it!'. So maybe we'll be chasing him down the street after a bus before we know it. Then I"ll wish he couldn't walk again. I'm never satisfied, just ask Anth.

Oliver spends most of his time dancing, winking, singing, repeating a couple of words, giving wet kisses, playing with cars and dinosaurs, playing hiding games, eating grapes like they're gold, tearing apart paper and eating it like ITS gold, throwing books around and simply being adorable. He's the best kid around, I'm sure of it.

Back to getting things done while he sleeps......thanks for tuning in.

The many faces of Oliver

Us

Yesterday we had a brief moment of warm sunshine, it felt really good on our faces. Oliver and I played on the floor and did a photo shoot. He's pretty photogenic just like his dad. I could stare into his eyes all day long.

Oliver Xing

Sometimes people ask us where the name Oliver came from and we really don't have a good answer for that question. We just sort of came up with it. Boring as that may be, we just liked the name. My Uncle Morrie (dad's younger brother) had to remind me that one of the old tractors on Grandpa Arnold's farm in Illinois was an Oliver. I'm not kidding, there's an old tractor manufacturer called Oliver. I couldn't make this up! Check it out: http://www.olivertractors.ca/. I had completely forgotten about the infamous Oliver tractor. Infamous because it was always in need of repair, not unlike most things on Grandpa's farm. So now when some one asks us about Oliver's name we will tell them he's named after an old broken down tractor. Although not true, its a good story and a good friend once told me that the truth should never get in the way of a good story.

And we have Uncle Morrie to thank for this sign.

Snowshoeing at Mt. Spokane

Yesterday we went snowshoeing at Mt. Spokane, which is about 45 minutes from our house. It was a beautiful day and the snow is perfect up there. So instead of cursing the black snow berms around town that won't EVER melt, we actually appreciated the fluffy winter white stuff! Oliver loved it. He chatted the whole time and only complained if we stopped moving. He kept staring at our feet and the big shoes we had on. Carrying an extra 25 pounds on your back is a lot of work in the snow. Next time, he's carrying me! That is if he'll ever start walking. Hey, maybe he's on to something here.




Here's what Oliver chatter sounds like.

Entertaining guests

A great laugh

Sorry that my laugh overpowers Oliver's sometimes in this video. He just cracks me up and I can't help myself.

Say Cheese!

Oliver loves when we go out to eat. He likes to show off his skills with a spoon and the other five fingers to people besides ma and pa. Do you see the drool on his chin? That's excitement drool.

My boy

photos by Kelly O