Monday

I snapped this picture of Oliver today as we were leaving the Children's Museum at Seattle Center.

Milk Party

Today we attended a milk party hosted by the family who I donated breast milk to for nine months. Their son is two months younger than Oliver and his mother was never able to produce milk. She had a goal of breastfeeding him to at least 12 months and sought out milk donors to get there. Now, 47 donors later, they will make it to 14 months! These 47 donors provided 15,000 ounces of milk for her son. I was one of the top three donors, providing about 1,600 ounces. The party was a way to thank the donors and their families. Most of the women had toddlers and Oliver had fun playing with the other kids and eating chicken skewers. It was also fun to finally meet the little guy (actually, he's a big guy - weighing at least 5lbs more than Oliver) who has been drinking my milk. His mother often came during his nap time to pick up milk so I didn't have the chance to meet him sooner.

Fruit Fast

The yoga program Nick is doing right now includes a three day fruit fast. Today is day two! I'm joining him in a slightly modified version (I'm eating protein since I'm still breastfeeding). Our kitchen counter is covered with a wide variety of fruit: apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, peppers, avocado, cucumber and melons. The hardest part is when we feed Oliver because all of the other food looks so good!

Multitasking

Safe and sound

Nick is safe and back on the ground today after the first flight for airplane 9, which is his test plane. Phew!

Another painting

To create this masterpiece, Oliver used the paint brush to paint his hands, apron, and pants, and then smeared the paint on the paper. This was also done at the Children's Museum, definitely NOT in our house :)

A Birthday

Yesterday was Jim's birthday and we celebrated with a wonderful party that Cynthia put together at their house. Oliver was in a great mood all evening, even though he didn't go to bed until nearly 10pm! He even did a little naked dance for everyone as we were trying to get his pajamas on. He spent a lot of time chewing on a lamb bone and trying to get a sip from everyone's wine glasses.

Oliver and the birthday boy!

Feeding Jim Baer the lamb bone he's been chewing on.

Mmmm!

He's definitely not a vegetarian! He chewed on this bone for a good part of the evening.

Video - Month 15

Here are a few clips of Oliver from last month.

15 Months!

Oliver is 15 months and a few days now. He's working on his first molar, and it looks like it may break the skin any day now. Not a whole lot has changed since most of you saw him at Christmas. He has over 40 signs now! He's talking a little bit more too, but he still primarily uses sign language. Last week I taught him the sign for bear while reading a book to him and the next morning, when I asked him if he wanted to see Jim Baer at family coffee, he walked toward the door signing "bear". So now, whenever you say Jim Baer, he signs "bear." Jim also taught Oliver his game of Nice ____, Nice _____, (petting the person gently while saying their name), Niiiiiiicce ____ (petting roughly). Oliver now walks around the house saying "Ni" to Penny and petting her. It's so cute! Luckily he doesn't do the last part very often.

He has also learned how to blow his nose, which is helpful :) We still have to hold the tissue for him though.  Elimination Communication is going really well, and we pretty much don't have accidents anymore, even if we're out and about. He has become very proficient in moving his stool around the house to get to things he wants. His favorite place for it is below a window in our kitchen which overlooks our side yard where Nick was working recently. He also uses it to help him get onto the couch and to reach the knobs on the stove.

Here are a few more pictures from last month. Thank you for all the Christmas presents! As you can see, he's been having fun with them!

A chair that's just the right size for Oliver

He can climb up to, and go down the slide all by himself now.

And he loves them! They are often the first thing he goes to at the park.

Oliver loves his new play tent!

We actually can't tell who likes it more, Penny or Oliver. It came with a tunnel, and Penny, with her agility training, was able to show Oliver how to go through :)

On his new trike!

Which he loves!

He rides to the park every day when Daddy gets home.

Cover Girl

Penny was part of a photo shoot yesterday for the cover of the March issue of Seattle Magazine.We won't know for a few more weeks if she's actually going to be in the cover picture since that's up to the publisher. But everyone loved her at the shoot and said they would definitely use her in the future if she's not on the cover this time. Now she can pay for her own food :)

Christmas 2010

Yoga!

On Sunday Nick started 40 Days to a Personal Revolution at Shatki Yoga. This was my Christmas present to him. He has to practice at the studio six days a week, for 40 days and meditate twice a day, I'm jealous! And so far he is really enjoying it! You can read more about the program here.