Distractions

Wonder what keeps Olivia from playing with her new Cozy Coupe?  All the animals in the neighborhood.  First, she gets sight of the cat, then hears the dogs, then sees the cat again, then the dogs.  It is a never ending cycle with her.

Vroom

Brooke got Olivia a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Monday during their trip to Wal-mart.  It has the option to have a floorboard (so you can just push her around) and no floorboard (so she can push herself around.)  We brought her outside with the coupe and all she wanted to do was run on the stairs, chase cats, and look at doggies.  Maybe if she plays with it inside a bit she will get good at it and we can take it back outside with her again.

It started out as a mess

But Olivia’s help with the instructions were a lifesaver

The final product

Morning Routine

Every morning the same routine.  Here is a peek into my mornings, which begin around 7:30 (well, my morning really begins much earlier, but 7:30 is when it really matters.)  I see on the monitor that Olivia is awake.  Head into room and see her immediately reaching down for her toys that she inevitably threw on the floor when she woke up.  Hand her the bunny that she usually says “no” to first, then hand her the other toy, then hand her the bunny that she is now ready for.  She drops to the mattress on her belly.  I rub her back and tickle her a bit until she is ready to stand up.  She dances and walks around for a while then throws toys out again.  When I think she is ready I reach for her to take her out and typically she throws a quick fit as she collapses back down (because she is not yet ready to exit her crib.)  Wait for her to stand up again, go to pick her up again and usually by second time she is ready.  Lay her on changing table while she cries like I am pulling her hair out.  Once diaper is changed, set her on the ground and say “Go get your cup.”  She run to living room to drink, but first must survey the area and see if anything new is there before she drinks.  If all is normal, she drinks.  Yep, every morning!!  Welcome to my world.

80’s Day

Olivia love Beverly Hills Chihuahua so much (who couldn’t) that now when she gets home from Young World she immediately runs to the DVD player, taps on it and says “doggie, doggie, doggie, pssss, psssss, pssssss!”  So I click the input over to DVD and the screen goes blue and she starts laughing, then the menu comes up and she laughs more, then the show starts and she settles in and does not move the rest of the time.  It is cute, but I may need to stop this habit early.  It can’t be that good for her, but she loves it sooooo much.

Olivia did her own little 80’s day Tuesday.  Pink tights, visible panty (diaper) line, long shirt, socks over pants, tennis shoes.  She was rockin’ it well and even had the attitude.

Dinner Time

Brooke went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with strep throat.  Since Livi has been sick for 2 weeks she went to the doctor today as well and has a double ear infection, but tested negative for strep.  She will be on antibiotics for the ears which will hopefully knock out anything else that happens to be lurking in there.  Though she has been good overall, she still hasn’t been totally herself.

Below is just a quick (well, lengthy actually) video to show Olivia eating with her fork.  I don’t know why she seems to need to twist her hand upside down to put the food into her mouth, but it is effective.  Look at the size of those broccoli bites!

Pudding

Young World is still good for little Livi.  Naps are still elusive in room 3 but at least she isn’t miserable there.  The whole family is still suffering with the remnants of the most recent cold.  This cough just won’t seem to go away!

We have started giving Olivia a plate and fork for to use for her dinners.  No more bowl and hands.  It is time to take that step.  She is doing quite well actually, and can get most food on the fork with out much trouble.  Her hotdog phase is over, hates them now, but is starting to like turkey cubes.  Still continues to love her broccoli!  Not a whole lot of new words happening, but she can sort of say broccoli, up, down, and finally Mommie!!!  She is also getting good at sort of communicating what she wants and doesn’t want with shaking or nodding her head.  She still gets frustrated if we don’t figure it out fast enough, but she will stand by her toy box and say “psssss  psssss psssss” (please) and I will lift a toy and she will shaker her head, will lift another, shake again, lift what she wants and she nods and smiles.  She also loves cooking things in her play kitchen.  She stirs stuff up in the cups and brings it to us or the dogs to taste.

Last night I had to finally install child locks on our entertainment center so I could put the DVDs back in their drawer.  I had to move them to the office because she finally discovered the cabinets and drawer.  She tried opening it today, but no such luck and I was surprised she gave up so quickly.

Olivia’s latest love is vanilla pudding.  She loves it, especially when she can serve herself.

Little Model

Olivia seems to have adjusted to Room 3 very well.  She napped one day, nothing the next, and we will see about today when Brooke picks her up.  When I got her Monday she was running around playing with the other kids.  She is still feeling sick and is a terror in the morning, but I think she calms down at Young World.

Nothing new other than that.  Here are a few pictures that Brooke took yesterday.  They look like they are from a mini modeling shoot.

The Devilish Grin

The Pretty Girl

Show Me Your Teeth

Give Me Some Shocked Face

Make Me Smile

Shhhhhhhhh…..

Ok, It Is Over….