Little Monkey

Oliver is never content at the development stage he's at; he always wants more. Rolling, crawling, pulling up, walking, running, jumping (well, he tries!) and now climbing. Every time I turn around he's on top of something, whether it's the kids table, the sofa, the window ledge or the bench. His feet are rarely on the floor anymore. He always has some scratch, bruise or bump on his head, but it doesn't phase him. He just smiles and gets right up to do it again.

Passport Time!

Pippa and William both had passports before they were 6 months old. Oliver is now 13 months and without one. We have no trips abroad or domestic planned, however if we decided to take a spontaneous trip to Canada or some other equally exotic place, we want to be prepared. So, I think it's time to get him one.

Because I like to save money I take the head shots with my little point and shoot camera, then get them into PhotoShop and fit 6 on one 13 cent 4x6 print!

Pippa and William were my test subjects before I got the fidgety one in place. They are a little disheveled, but still quite adorable.

Dress Up Days

I like to put some toys away where kids can't get to them easily. I've realized that the less there is around 1) the less potential mess there is to clear up at the end of the day and 2) it's less overwhelming to the kids, so they actually play with the toys that are out. Then, when I get out a toy that's been out-of-sight for a couple of weeks, it gets played with! I do this with the dress-up box. We got this out after a rather long hiatus and it has been a hit! Pippa has been a ballerina, princesses, Dora, a bumble bee and a cowgirl. William has been Thomas the Tank Engine. He's Really Useful.

Yesterday 'we' made a hobby horse, inspired by the one we saw in the toy store. Pippa chose the fabric and hair. Now she can be a real cowgirl! Because the one thing that was stopping her was the fact she didn't have a horse...

William is becoming sweet again. He has been doing what I tell him and he chats away to me. He's also begun to ask how things are spelt; something Pippa always does.

Chatterbox William!

William is a rascal, but a very sweet loving one. He is daring and adventurous, which translates to many bumps and bruises. On Easter Day he hit his head on a rock and cut it open. It finally healed in the last week or 2, but there was still a red mark. Yesterday, he ran into the bathroom, slipped and knocked his head into the tub. He hit the exact same spot from Easter day and he has an even bigger bruise and cut on his head now. Apparently that part of the skull is very strong, and it doesn't seem like it has affected him in any way.

Those of you who haven't seen William in a couple of months may notice a few changes with him next time you see him. Most notably, how much he's talking! He can tell me anything now. I sometimes don't know whether it's Pippa or William talking. He especially likes to tell me when he's crying "I'm crying", and why "because I'm sad" or "I banged my head". But he also tells me random things like "the ice cream fell off" (play food falling apart). Then his favorite is at dinner, pushing his plate away "I don't want it". Then yesterday he asked how to spell a word. Yeah, he's talking!

Seattle

Last week we took a mini-vacation up to Seattle, mostly prompted by an invitation to our good friend Laura Totten's (of Blissed Photography) wedding. We rented a small 2-bedroom apartment for 4 nights, which worked out great and so much less stressful than a hotel room! We visited the Woodland Park Zoo, the Pacific Science Center, and went for a ride on the monorail and the carousel downtown. On Saturday we had the wedding and that was fabulous, and in a beautiful setting at Golden Gardens Park by the water. Many congratulations to Laura and Dave!

At Woodland Park Zoo

Pippa and Oliver trying to get in the Ostrich enclosure

William and Pippa on the carousel

The kids on the monorail. William was in train heaven!

Butterflies at the Pacific Science Center

If I push this button, I can make the water spray! Lets do it again, and again...

Golden Gardens Park

Wedding time!

My Baby Oliver Turns 1!

This year has flown by! I can't believe Oliver is one already. He's a toddler, copying William and Pippa, running around everywhere, having mini tantrums, trying to jump on the bed, barking when he sees a dog, pointing out water bottles and saying 'water'. He's going to be starting Kindergarten before we know it! I love these kids.

Oliver's birthday was fun. I made him the biggest chocolate cake I've ever made and all the kids loved it. He also had his one year check up and is looking great! He's a big boy at 26 lb; certainly not a little baby anymore.

My Baby Pippa Turns 4!

Pippa had a wonderful birthday! All she expected was presents and a cake, and she got both. She also got balloons, ice cream and doughnuts. She wanted a pink cake with her name written in white, so she got a red velvet cake. Stupid amounts of food coloring were involved. This last week she also had her annual check up, and is looking healthy and happy at 43lbs! She had 3 shots and barely flinched. The nurse turned to me and said something along the lines of "OMG, she was so good. Kids never react like that!" That's my Pippa! Good news is (with the exception of annual flu shots), she's up-to-date with shots until her 10th birthday!