Saturday, February 16, 2013

VALENTINE'S DAY...

Our Valentine's celebrations actually started the Sunday before when my mom (Grammy) came for dinner and brought treats for the kids. They were excited to open their surprises (heart shaped bowls and stuffed bears for Charlotte and Jacob and a stuffed dog for Oliver) and officially kick off Valentine's 2013! 

On Wednesday the kids went to their friend Mia's house for a Valentine's play date with Wesley, Ethan, Ali, Ben and their nannies. They came home with big mylar Valentine's balloons (thanks Mia) and lots of fun stories. 

By the time February 14 rolled around Charlotte and Jacob were old pros at celebrating Valentine's Day! We started the day with presents for the kids in our bed a Peter Pan DVD / new bib for Jacob, an Elmo DVD / new bib for Charlotte and a Baby's First Valentine's Day card for Oliver. When Claire arrived she continued the celebrations with treats for the kids as well. A pink frog for Charlotte, a green frog for Jacob, a stuffed dog for Oliver and a heart shaped cookie decorating package! The day continued with more treats from Grams and Grandpa - watermelons! The kids were very excited about the watermelons so much so that was pretty much all they ate for dinner! By the time we put them to bed they were exhausted after all their celebrations!

Opening Grammy's treats
Grammy, Jacob and Charlotte
Grammy and Oliver
Valentine's from Mommy and Daddy 
Oliver and his Baby's 1st Valentine's Day card
Jacob and Claire decorating his heart shaped cookie 
Jacob's green frog from Claire 
Charlotte's pink frog from Claire 
Charlotte decorating her heart shaped cookie from Claire

Watermelons from Grams and Grandpa
Grams and Grandpa's cards crack me up! 





Tuesday, February 12, 2013

OLIVER'S SOLID MILESTONE...

Rice cereal face
Yesterday we received the go ahead from our pediatrician to start Oliver on solid food. As exciting as this news was to hear I do feel like it is bittersweet moment. It is yet another indication that Oliver is growing up. You may laugh when you read that sentence since he's only four months old, but to me each milestone that Oliver passes represents the last time we'll experience that moment in our house. Oliver will always be the youngest in our family - there will be no more babies - and because of that I'm trying to savour each moment I spend with him. Not that I didn't savour the moments with Charlotte and Jacob but now it's more important to me than ever since I have trouble remembering those "moments" when I look at Charlotte and Jacob given their size and "independence" now. 

Oliver seemed to enjoy his first taste of rice cereal. I gave him a tablespoon of cereal mixed with four tablespoons of water. It was more like soup than cereal but runny is best when it's the first taste! He wasn't quite sure what was being put in his mouth when I inserted the first spoonful but he quickly adapted to the feel of the spoon and cereal on his tonge. Although he started to fuss before all of his cereal in the bowl was finished he did quite well for his first time. Jacob and Charlotte were also very excited to share this moment with Oliver too. Jacob stood right beside him as I fed him and kept saying "good job Opiter"! 

Oliver waiting patiently for his cereal in
the booster seat (he looks so tiny!)
 
Not quite sure what to do with a
bowl and spoon  just yet.
Fingers normally taste good but
fingers with rice cereal are deelish :) 



Saturday, February 9, 2013

HAPPY FOUR MONTH "BIRTHDAY" OLIVER...


Today marks four months since Oliver joined our family and what an amazing four months it has been. Once again I'm in awe of just how fast time has gone by. In some respects it feels like just yesterday that we were holding our tiny new born but in many respects it feels like he's been here a lot longer than four months and I mean that in a very good way. 

Oliver is such a delight. He is calm, content and very laid back. He just rolls with what's thrown his way and takes our crazy household in stride! One of the many things I love most about him is his great smile (which I'm still trying to capture on camera) it literally lights up his entire face. 

Charlotte and Jacob love having Oliver around. There are times they still act out around him with the odd scratch or push but for the most part they have adjusted quite well to having him as part of the family. They always ask where he is when he's napping or not visible. They continue to call him "Opiter" and as a result we find ourselves calling him "Ops" when we refer to him or talk to him. Funny how that was never a "short form" we discussed when we talked about the name Oliver - we figured he'd automatically get Ollie and I'm sure he still will but for the time being...."Ops" it is! 

Oliver has had another busy month in our house. From January 9 to February 9 he has:
  • Gained weight: We won't have his official four month weight until Feb 11 but he is definitely feeling heavier. 
  • Begun sleeping through the night: Two weeks ago Oliver decided that getting up in the middle of the night was no longer necessary and began sleeping through the night! Our routine since then has been to put Oliver down sometime between 6:30 / 7 p.m, dream feeding him while he's still asleep around 9:30 or 10 p.m. and letting him sleep until he wakes up around 6:30 or 7 a.m. the next day. Charlotte and Jacob could learn a thing or two from their "little brother"...
  • Had more periods of awake time during the day: Oliver has been awake much more during the day over the past few weeks. He tends to sleep for an hour around 8:30 or 9 a.m. and then another two or so hours around 1 p.m. Some days he'll take another 30 or 40 minute re-charge around 4 but that's not an every day event
  • Moved from eating 4 oz to eating 6 oz every 3 or 4 hours. 
  • Visited Niagara Falls on his first family vacation: Doyle and I took the kids to Niagara Falls for a "mini-vacation" from Jan 20-22. We stayed in the Double Tree, had a Falls view room and spent a ton of time in the pool. The kids, especially Charlotte and Jacob loved it. We can't wait to visit Niagara Falls again soon
  • Become even more smiley and vocal: Although I'm still trying to capture many of these moments on camera and video I cherish every smile, coo and giggle I get! 
  • Had his hands and feet molded by Maria from Handsies and Footsies Forever 
  • Experienced his first real snow storm: On Feb 8 Toronto received 26 cm of snow, the most we've seen in five years. 
  • Activities outside of the house: Visits with GG, Baby Time at the Northern District Library, Stars and Strollers movies (Les Miserables and Zero Dark Thirty), lots of walks around the neighbourhood, Celebrated Lilybeth's (my friend Amanda's nanny) birthday at Amanda's house and a visit with Aunt Kelley, Keiran and Quinn.  


Friday, February 8, 2013

PIZZA PARTY WITH GRANDPA....

Like most kids Charlotte and Jacob love pizza. Their favourite toppings include pepperoni, chicken, olives, cheese (lots and lots of cheese) broccoli and spinach. Last week Claire, our nanny, made pork for the kids for dinner and Jacob said as he was walking to his chair "no want pork...want pizza tonight". I mentioned this to my dad ("Grandpa") and he thought that was quite funny of Jacob to say. 

This past weekend Grandpa was in Creemore and found a great felt pizza puzzle at a toy store and couldn't resist buying it for the kids. On Wednesday he came for a visit and gave Charlotte and Jacob the felt pizza puzzle that he bought for them. They loved it! The pizza comes with multiple toppings, a round silver tray and its very own pizza box. 

Charlotte peeking over the felt pizza puzzle box
Charlotte feeding Grandpa her pizza creation 
Grandpa and Jacob building their pizza slice 
All hands on deck for pizza

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

HANDS AND FEET....

Today we had Oliver's hands and feet pressed into molds thanks to Maria from Handsies and Footsies Forever http://www.handsiesandfootsies.com/. He was great during her visit and even giggled as his foot was pressed into the mold. Charlotte and Jacob had their hands and feet molded when they were five months and we will look back fondly on these impressions as they continue to grow. What a great reminder of just how tiny their hands and feet were at almost four and five months! 

Maria pushing Oliver's foot into the molding clay

Next up...Oliver's hand
The finished product (they will be framed in 6-8 weeks)