Teething and Climbing and the iPhone, oh my!

First things first, my little update. Olivia is saying all kinds of stuff now! She'll be 18 months on the 1st (born on the 31st, but there isn't one in November) so I'd say that's right on track. The one I'm most excited about? "Please!"

We did some measuring last night too, Olivia is about 22lbs 5oz and 32inches. She is running and climbing on EVERYTHING. ALL THE TIME. It's exhausting... she gets up on things that you wouldn't think she could. The TV stand, the bar stools, the dining room table... she has no fear. Of course, in her full-on toddler glory, she absolutely hates being taken down from something, regardless of how fear-inducing it is. So there's that.

Teeth are nearly all in. I think there is one more molar and three more canines to go! I'm hopeful for life after teething, I really am.

I'm curious about how kids in Olivia's generation will grow up. She is fully capable of operating my iPhone. She unlocks it, flips through the pages to where her apps are, chooses an app, presses play, and then happily plays. Seems rather complex to me for 18 months. She has a sign language app which she is actually learning signs from, so I'm totally for embracing technology.

So we've had a busy month. Thanksgiving was nice, it's been cold AND hunting season, so we haven't spent much time outside. Despite being a veteran, I am still not a fan of hearing gunshots in my backyard. Especially since I assume most hunters are average or below with regard to aim and ability to properly use a gun... I just don't like it. We have been trying to make it to playgroup as much as possible, though!

We're preparing for Christmas, I've gotten so much shopping done already and it's not even December! I'm so organized this year! After the first of the year, we have a lot of tentative plans. A more structured bedtime (I know, I know... I'm sure I'll be blogging about that...), continue with some gentle mama & baby led weaning (she's already doing this on her own a bit), and I am going to start a little work at home business. I've got the logistics worked out, but will wait until January to set up shop. We've got some other things potentially going on, but I'm not going to post yet until after the new year!

Hope everyone is enjoying the season! I just love the holidays!!

Playgroup!

We have one! So much fun. We've only been twice, because Olivia got sick... but this has been an incredible relief for me. I have friends in Maine with kids, but for the most part they live over an hour away (except one who moved back recently and is about 25 minutes away). This may not seem like a big deal if you do not have a child who HATED the car for the first 11 months of life. Now at 17 months, she does okay for the most part.

But that's neither here nor there, since this group tends to meet within a half hour radius of us. In fact, when we move we will be even closer. No longer will I feel stuck because we are limited by a car-hating baby! (Dramatic? Maybe a bit. Still, I'm happy)

Olivia had lots of fun today and then totally zonked out on the couch when we got home. Awesome.

17 Months

It's funny, it seems like Olivia has hit developmental stuff at an exact age. I won't say milestones; what I mean is that she seems to show a big difference month to month in the things she does, and I always notice in the first couple days of the month. Since she was born on the 31st, it just always seems like it goes along with her age.

She recently turned 17 months, and the change has been words! She seemed to just wake up one day and begin repeating everything we say. She's probably doubled her word count in the past week. I am always so amazed watching her develop. She still definitely has some issues with being frustrated at her inability to communicate, but it also seems like she understands so much more. We've been struggling to get her to stay in her high chair for a meal, and the past couple days I've been able to reason with her so that she stays in long enough for us to eat.

Either that, or the sleep deprivation just makes it SEEM as though I'm reasoning with her!

So all four molars have poked through, and now I see some little craters where the canines will come in next. I'll probably sleep when Olivia goes to college. This morning, Josh made it sound like getting 4 hours of sleep in a row was a luxury that I am able to partake in often (it's not, and last night was no exception) and that because he works nights, he gets less sleep. Umm... let's just let that one go, shall we? He was clearly overtired and had no idea what he was saying.

All else is going well. We're house-hunting! Yay! More updates to come!

Wordless... Thursday

Okay so molars can still suck it. I don't have time to post much and am exhausted, but here are some pics of the cutest pirate ever!