Extras

I'm probably biased, but here are some extra pictures of Olivia that I think are quite cute!

12.31.08 Who could resist this face?

1.20.09 Cuddling with Daddy

1.20.09 Dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's house with Cousin Oliver

1.21.09 Enjoying time in the exersaucer

1.21.09 Such a peaceful sleeper...I love her long eyelashes!

1.21.09 Jump, Jump, Jumper time

1.25.09 Asleep in my arms...such a sweetie!

1.26.09 Olivia with Daddy--Olivia just woke up from a nap, and Daddy just came in from shoveling the driveway.

1.31.09 Playing under the Gymini

Dining Out

Yesterday evening we went out to dinner with my parents, Roel, Emily and Oliver for chinese food. While sitting across from Oliver, he would let out a loud scream and then start to laugh with me; he even gained the attention of other diners sitting at the table behind us. It was quite funny!! Olivia enjoyed interacting with her Aunt Emily across the table. Olivia would lean forward and then open her lips as if to say something, but no sound would come out. It was a fun evening; although, Olivia did have a bad experience in the bathroom when I went to change her. It was the first time I had used a public changing table with her and I think she got frightened when I laid her down. She screamed and cried the entire time in the bathroom but was fine once I picked her up to hold her.

Oliver is big enough to sit in the restaurant's highchair!

Olivia being comforted after her bathroom ordeal.

Olivia's fortune cookie. "Comfort may be found in the arms of the one nearest you."

Playing with Oliver's soccer ball. Oliver later grabbed it back from her!

Socializing with Aunt Emily.

Reaching for the fortune cookie.

Visitors for Olivia

Tonight Abuelita paid Olivia a visit. Olivia was napping when she arrived, but once awake, Olivia enjoyed every minute with her having floor time, reading, laughing, etc. Olivia's Papa came over later. She had been a bit fussy before he arrived, but then she quickly settled down when they played the piano together. She placed her hands on top of his and even started to talk. The music calmed her and even started to put her to sleep. They stayed for dinner -- tandoori naan pizza, greek chicken salad, and strawberry cheesecake. During dinner, Olivia sat in her bouncer at the table. Towards the end of dinner, she wanted to take part in the conversation and started talking and kicking her legs. When her Daddy picked her up, she began to slap the table to get attention!

Abuelita y Olivia

Playing the piano with Papa

Abuelita feeds Olivia her rice cereal.

First words

About two weeks ago, I heard Olivia say "maa-mmm." Since then, she's made this and variations of this sound quite a lot. This video was taken one week ago. Listen closely and you can hear her sweet voice saying "mum-mum." It's adorable! Don't pay attention to the massive pile of laundry in the background...it's hard to schedule time to fold laundry in between taking pictures and videos of Olivia.

Eventful Day

Yesterday we had quite the fun-filled day! After church, Peter and I went to the Harlem Globetrotters with Roel, Emily, Craig, and Jenna. Peter won the tickets at a Griffins game when he played the Bell Tire Toss out on the ice between the second and third period. While we were out, my parents babysat Olivia at our house. It was nice to get out of the house and have some fun with Peter. It was the longest time Olivia and I have been apart (only 3 1/2 hrs). I was told she took an hour nap in her crib, jumped in her jenny jumper and exersaucer, turned on lights, had floor time, played the piano, and played with Tookie the toucan. I'm sure she was kept quite busy!

Later that evening, we went to Roel's house where Olivia played with her cousin Oliver and met Roel's friend from work, Liz. Roel grilled outside in the frigid weather and made chicken tacos with all the helpings and homemade spanish rice. It was delicious! We had a fun time. Olivia enjoyed playing with Oliver's toys, and was only a little fussy as her bedtime approached. Oliver, on the other hand, was quite happy and talkative.

Olivia's photo shoot after church. She looked adorable in her yellow dress! The last picture in the group was taken after her diaper change when she rolled herself up in the changing pad.

Harlem Globetrotters!

Three Generations

Daddy & Olivia after we got back from the game.

Olivia was a little unsteady even with the boppy support.

Oliver kept trying to touch Olivia's head!

Cereal

Tonight Olivia had her first taste of rice cereal (1 tsp.)! She even used a spoon! We think she enjoyed it, but she did make some funny faces. I think she was just not use to eating from a spoon. Her pediatrician says that eating cereal at this age is just for practice and not nutrition, so we're taking it slowly. Peter was better at feeding Olivia than I was. He would put the spoon in her mouth, and she would use her tongue to slurp the cereal. It was fun to watch!

Mommy gets to feed Olivia the first spoonful.

What is this stuff?!?

Daddy gets a turn to feed Olivia.

Olivia examines the spoon.

She's already feeding herself with the spoon!

Comparison

Here's a fun comparison of how Olivia has grown. The top picture was taken August 21st when Olivia was 2 days old; it was her first day home from the hospital. The bottom picture was taken today, her 5-month birthday.