Words!

Oliver is talking more and more these days. Most of what he says is still just babbling, but we are starting to make out more actual words. So far his vocabulary consists primarily of:

• ball (this is by far the most popular word)
  
• uh-oh
• da or dada
• ma (which can mean mama or milk)
• a panting noise (which means Sam)
• woof (which pretty much sounds the same as his monkey noise)
• hi fi (high five)
  

Kissing Bandit

Oliver has started to give kisses lately and it is so cute. When Matt and I ask for kisses he toddles over with a big smile on his face and lays a very slobbery kiss right on us. Sometimes he also tries to imitate our smooching sounds so he makes a hilarious fish face.

We also heard that he kissed Lydia (another one of the babies in his class at daycare) last week. In his classroom there is a ramp that leads up to a raised platform with plexiglass sides that the kids can climb up and apparently Oliver and Lydia met up at the top of the ramp during playtime and gave each other a little smooch. We heard a report a few months ago that they were holding hands, so apparently the relationship is progressing quickly :) Although, we probably don't need to be too concerned because Oliver's favorite kissing partner is still Sam the dog.

Oliver's First Birthday!

Yesterday was Oliver's first birthday! We had a great evening birthday party at home. Nana and Grandpapa came over for dinner and we had tater tot hotdish (an Oliver favorite that he eats it by the fistful). Then Oliver got a cupcake that seemed to be more fun to smash and squish through his fingers then it was to eat. We rounded out the evening with some gift opening, where Oliver got some fun new toys including a set of blocks from Nana and Grandpapa and a wheely bee from Mom and Dad. All in all - a pretty great first birthday. Oliver's big extravaganza is in the morning - a birthday breakfast at Edinborough Park - it should be loads of fun!

Oliver's First Haircut

Oliver got his first haircut today. He did great and is looking very handsome with his big boy hair!

The before picture as he is getting buckled into the chair (we went to Kids Hair....since most salons don't have seats with buckles....). His hair was getting a bit unruly, kind of a mullet, kind of early Beattles.

Looking serious in his red cape

Encouraging words from daddy

Checking out the handsome devil in the mirror

Looking like a Big Kid!

Mullet

Oliver got his first haircut today, so grabbed a few "before" shots to document his baby mullet before we got it all cleaned up.

Well Rested in Seattle

After two nights in a skeezy motel in Auburn, Washington, Matt and I decided to splurge on a fancy hotel in downtown Seattle. We had great time at the Hotel Monaco, watching Iron Man, eating Thai takeout and getting some good sleep.

The next morning we did a short walking tour of downtown before catching our flight home (back to over a foot of snow),

Pike Place Market

Matt placing his order on our visit to Mecca (the original Starbucks)

Oliver hanging out in the swanky hotel room

Rida Rida Ranka!

Visiting Great Grandmom and Grandad

We had a wonderful weekend in Washington with Grandmom, Grandad, aunt Karis, uncle Tony and cousins. It was great to introduce Oliver to his Washington state family. Grandmom and Grandad really enjoyed Oliver! We had a wonderful lunch at Grandmom and Grandad's home and a delicious spaghetti dinner with Karis and Tony, went to church with the whole family and had a beautiful Sunday brunch at a restaurant on Puget Sound. Thanks everyone for beings such great hosts!

Grandad is trying to see if he can keep a ping pong ball in the air by blowing on it - not as easy as Caleb made it look!

Caleb and Kevin with Lucian (Oliver's second cousin)


Oliver playing with Lucian. He thought the ball popper was pretty cool (somebody might be getting one for his first birthday...)

Matt reading to Anthony