All in a day's work

Things Oliver did today:

• Got poop on his pillowcase, which necessitated the washing of all bed linens
• Moved his alphabet puzzle to the bathroom while I showered, but then abandoned it to "rock rock" in the rocking chair
• Selected a donut from the extensive variety at Fox's Donut Den
• Drank two sippy cups of milk before 9am
• Helped brush Lucy's teeth and gave her two dental treats
• Read Lucy (now pronounced "Woosy") his Ten Rubber Duckies book
• Tried to ride Lucy's back while she chewed on her bone and tried, unsuccessfully, to play rope with Lucy
• Spun around in circle while singing the snippets of ring-around-the-rosie until he got dizzy
• Had a time-out, or several

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 37-53

Things I did:
1. Started crawling -- like a normal baby. I can pull to standing, cruise around using the furniture, go up AND down the stairs. I haven't really tried to let go and stand on my own or even take a few steps, but I'm moving around really well.
2. Moved to Nashville. Love the stairs, love the claw foot tub, love the porch swing, love the swings in the park. Not sure about the backyard (the bugs bite me every time we go out!).
3. Started eating lots of different table food: lots of veggies and fruits, Cheerios and crackers, bits of turkey and chicken, pasta and red sauce. Still getting about 30% baby food to keep the food varied, but those eight teeth are really coming in handy (and maybe getting some more).
4. Started daycare and got sick. First a cold. Then a virus. Then a double-ear infection. I had to miss daycare for five days, which gave mom her first "working-schooling-mom" headache as she figured out childcare for me while I was out. And I had to go to the doctor for the first time in Nashville and for the first time ever for being sick. The new doctor was nice, though. She let me touch the stethoscope and look at the light from the otoscope on my hand. She even gave me tongue depressors to hold while she looked in my ear. I didn't like being pinned down to have my ears cleaned out, but I didn't mind the amoxicillin at all! All better now.
5. Turned one. Not a big hoopla, but I did get a cupcake and some fun presents (and mom says there's more coming in the mail). My favorite difference in being one is getting to sit in the big-boy car seat turned forward in the car.

Right now: Playing in my crib, waiting for mom to come get me up from my nap. Grandma Martha just left :(

Ollie's Journal, Week 30-36

Things I did:

1. Started CRAWLING. Hello. My favorite thing to do now. I like to go see Lucy on her bed and play with her toys, bang the baby gate keeping me off the balcony, rip the cover off the computer, chew on the straps that dangle down from the high chair, check to see if mom and dad left the front bathroom door open so I can play in Lucy's bowls, bang on the washing machine -- and, oh yeah, occasionally play with some of my toys. (Notice the words repeated here: Lucy and bang).
2. Got two bottom teeth and am thinking about two on top (the white bumps are visible, but I won't let mom or dad get a good look). I can now eat some special crackers and chew them up. Mom promises I can have Cheerios and Goldfish when I have four teeth in.
3. Discovered wheels. I like to push the stroller back and forth in the hallway (and chew on the stroller wheels when mom's not looking, as pictured here) and spin the wheels on my dump truck. Such a stereotypical boy.
4. Felt grass for the first time. Yes, it's finally warmer here in Chicago, and everything is green and beautiful. Mom and Katie have both taken me to the park, and I got to try the swing (not a big reaction, so we're going to go back when I'm better rested) and lay in some grass. It pokes me on my cheek!
5. Got on something of a schedule. I usually get up between 6:30 and 7am (no matter what day it is), nap from 9-11, again from 2-4, then go to bed around 8pm. Mom doesn't understand how I sleep more now than when I was littler, but she says she's not complaining. I'm also doing better at night. I just get up once now, and it's usually only for 10-15 minutes. I'm going to try really hard to sleep all night soon!
6. Gave mom her first Mother's Day present -- a pink hydrangea and a funny card (dad helped me write a nice little sentiment, and then Lucy made us per her name on it, too).

Right now: It's 3:17pm, so I'm in the middle of my nap, of course.

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 23-29

Things I did (must've been a lot since I haven't journaled in a while):

1. Started eating solids. Oh, I love em, I love em, I love em. So much so that I quickly moved from Stage 1 to Stage 2. Garden Vegetables, Mixed Vetetables, Apples and Prunes, Turkey and Rice Dinner. New for tonight: Mangos! I cut back on my milk a little for a while but am just starting to catch back up.
2. Cut some teeth, which are slowly inching in. Mom checks on their progress every morning. This morning she could feel little pricks where the tops are through the gums. Sometimes it hurt a lot, but mostly it didn't bother me.
3. Traveled -- a wedding two weeks ago, Nashville this week. I've taken three airplane rides in 6 months and now that we have a car (a great place to nap, I should mention), I'll be getting out even more!
4. Fell in love with the dog. We are so BFFs. Every time I see her I get a big grin on my face and start to laugh and giggle. I really like Jack, my friend who comes with his mom to take care of me when mom and dad are at work, and Jack likes Lucy, too.
5. Got to moving. I won't stay on my back -- I'd rather just roll over and see where I can get to. It's a good thing mom and dad are moving soon, cause I'm going to need more space to explore soon.

Right now: Making funny noises as I wake up from a 2 1/2-hour nap in my crib.

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 17-22

Things I did:
1. Started eating baby cereal and some Stage 1 foods. Big, big fan of that.
2. Became better friends with the dog, partly because mom lets me share the monkey mat with her, and partly because of #1.
3. Went to be babysat at Jack's house (our sitter's son). He has carpet in his room, lots of toys, and no doggie to lick us on the face.
4. Rolled over for real -- once from front to back, once from back to front. Mom missed it most times and keeps trying to get me to do it again.
5. Survived my first illness, plus more vaccinations and the beginning (we think) of teething.
6. Got the hang of picking things up and holding them. Favorites include parents' sleeves and pant legs, the rattle, and my blanket from Uncle Ben and Aunt Margaret.
7. Laughed what dad called a "definitive, reproducible" laugh.

Right now:
Chewing on my hands and a teething ring while playing in the Exersaucer.

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 13-16

Things I did:

1. Learned to grab things and hold on. I like to grab mom's sweatshirt when I nurse, her sleeve when she's changing me, the burp cloth when I'm getting burped.
2. Started watching the dog...and she's started licking me on the nose. Ewww.
3. Met in person all that family I've been seeing on the webcam and listening to mom talk to on the phone. They were really nice and seemed to like me, too.
4. Switched from two fingers to my thumb. I'm not sure where to put the rest of the fingers, but the thumb doesn't gag me like those longer fingers.
5. Moved up in diaper size. Now mom has to put them on the second set of snaps. The nice part is that now they don't bunch up so much.

Highlights coming soon: Rolling over (I'm so close!), laughing (I love it when mom bounces me up and down on her belly, and I'm just on the verge of a real, grown-up laugh), and picking things up (trouble!).

Right now:
Asleep in my crib since I didn't take a real nap all day. Oh, no, wait -- waking up from a nap in my crib...

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 9-12

Things I did (so much!):
1. Took my first big trip. I was so good on the plane and didn't fuss at all.
2. Had my first babysitter (and my second, the lady who is keeping me when mom and dad are both at work.)
3. Visited with Grandma N. while mom returned to work. She was sad to be away but happy for the adult conversation -- at work and with Grandma. (Evidently my increasing cooing, while adorable, is not enough to sufficiently engage her brain each day.)
4. Went to some work functions for mom and dad. Mom found that holding me during parent-teacher conferences really cut some of the tension out of the equation!
5. Fought the sniffles. If only I knew how to blow my nose already.

Right now:
Sleeping in the stroller after a brief outing with the dog. I don't nap real great, so mom just lets me sleep whenever she can get me down!

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 7 and 8

Things I did:

1. Video chatted over dinner (theirs, not mine) with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandparents.
2. Did my civic duty. I voted (well, I waited patiently for two hours so mom and dad could vote) and watched the election returns with a bunch of their friends.
3. Met one of the doctors who helped deliver me, a resident friend of mom and dad's.
4. Got ready for my first trip on an airplane. How exciting!
5. Started pushing up on my legs. They're getting really strong.

Right now:
A little tied up (see the next post :)

Ollie's Journal, Weeks 4-6

Things I did:

1. Settled into something like a schedule.
2. Visited with Grandma Kay, who brought me presents and carried me around whenever I fussed. Yay for grandmas!
3. Grew and grew -- my 0-3 onesies don't fit anymore, although the pants are still long. Evidently I got mom's body proportions but dad's long arms (per the sales lady at Macy's, who sold Wes his sport coat, "monkey arms").
4. Started blowing spit and milk bubbles. Gross, yet surprisingly cute.
5. Showed some interest in toys that make noise. Fun!

Right now:
Thinking about dinner.

Ollie's Journal, Week 3

Things I did:

1. Went to the pediatrician's office twice, the second time to have my newborn screening tests redone. My poor heel!
2. Shopped with mom for some warmer weather outfits that fit me. It's definitely fall in Chicago.
3. Visited with some of mom's colleagues who came over to see me and talk with her about work. Unfortunately, I was in a bad mood and pretty much sat with Grandma the whole time.
4. Made faces at Grandma. She thinks they're funny.
5. Took my first El ride to the zoo.

Right now: Snuggling with daddy in the wrap. I'm a bit out of sorts.

Ollie's Journal, Week 2, or I eat; therefore, I am

Things I did:

1. Slept and ate. Ate and slept.
2. Went to Jewel with mom. She got sushi!
3. Rode the bus (#3 King Drive) to mom's workplace and met lots of her colleagues. They really liked me.
4. Visited with Grandma N. on the computer. Everyone should have a webcam!
5. Went for a walk with mom and dad and Lucy. They got ice cream after. I napped.

Right now: Sleeping on daddy's belly while he watches the presidential debate.

Ollie's Journal, Days 4, 5, and 6

Things I did:

1. Went for a walk to the promonotory around Museum Campus. Dad insisted on taking me out of my stroller and holding me up in the air for a picture. He seems to like to do that.
2. Tried tummy time. Liked it for about 60 seconds.
3. Pooed on the changing table while my diaper was off. Dad didn't think it was as funny as I did.
4. Got in the baby carrier. Mom thinks I'm still a little small for it. Tomorrow, we'll try and swing.
5. Slept through mom vacuuming. A skill I think I will often call upon.

Right now: Taking a well-deserved nap after being awake for the last two hours. Dad's napping, too.

Ollie's Journal, Day 3

Things I did today:

1. Kept either mom or dad up most of the night, as I wanted to be held or walked or rocked. Dad says we'll need to work on this.
2. Got my diaper changed several times. I don't enjoy it.
3. Met the dog, who doesn't seem real interested in me. But I think she's coming around. She sniffed me a few times.
4. Had a bath. I didn't like getting naked, but I kind of liked the washing part. Sitting in the sink at the end to get hosed off was the wierdest part.
5. Went to Target. I mostly slept in the stroller while mom and dad bought me hats and stuff.

Right now: Chillin' in the Pack 'n Play.