My friend Chrissy has a daughter about a month older than Oliver and often acts as my adviser on parenting a 14 month old (at the moment). With a toddler also in her family, she laughed to learn I still spoon fed Ollie yogurt and the like and encouraged me to just give him a spoon and let him try, so I did! Superstar did quite well.
This video also shows him using his first and favorite word, "No!" and his second word, "banana nana nana"
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Perfectionism in Parenting
My desire to be perfect rares it's ugly head in odd situations. In general I consider myself a good mommy, but far far from perfect, and in all honesty, I think Oliver does better having an honest, but not perfect Mom.
Tonight I dragged my post- vacation lazy booty to the gym to attempt to break the running rut I've stumbled across and Oliver when to the Kid Center, which he loves. When I picked him up they had to tell me that I couldn't ever bring a peanut butter and jelly sandwich again, due to allergies. I felt like such an idiot, though it's clearly a new situation for us (solids in general, meals to day care, allergies). They were friendly about it, but it still made me feel like a dopey checked out Mom who didn't know the protocol of parenting.
All is well, now I know that lesson, moving on.
Tonight I dragged my post- vacation lazy booty to the gym to attempt to break the running rut I've stumbled across and Oliver when to the Kid Center, which he loves. When I picked him up they had to tell me that I couldn't ever bring a peanut butter and jelly sandwich again, due to allergies. I felt like such an idiot, though it's clearly a new situation for us (solids in general, meals to day care, allergies). They were friendly about it, but it still made me feel like a dopey checked out Mom who didn't know the protocol of parenting.
All is well, now I know that lesson, moving on.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Ollie Hustle
Oliver began walking last week. We spent the weekend in Milwaukee for a wedding and discovered very clearly why it was such a delight to have 14 months of a baby that stays in your arms reach. The wedding and whole weekend were really great, lots of friends and catching up. The wedding was at an aquatic center and the reception was at the Urban Ecology Center, an amazing place, both venues that provided oodles of square footage for walking walking exploring walking and more walking. Fortunately, Oliver was adored by all the people he encountered on his adventures, making friends as he went, but I quickly discovered that parenting gets harder here as do adult conversations, since Chris or I had to constantly be excusing ourselves to go toddle after our toddler. Chris, super dad that he is, really took charge and let me spend time reconnecting with friends, and I can see how the importance of parenting in partnership will amplify as we go forward.
A particularly awesome moment was the wedding reception cocktail hour, as Oliver reached up and grabbed bridesmaid booty several times in a row, to the squealing laughs of the crowd, and of course Oliver. Several little girls adored him too and we sampled letting him be carried around by the herd of young children who want to be in charge of the babies.
Walking delights Oliver. I can see the joy in his eyes and expressions as he walks across a room and can so easily access the things he sees. He explores with vigor. Fortunately, he also slept really well all weekend too, so perhaps the walking will help keep some schedule in our lives.
A particularly awesome moment was the wedding reception cocktail hour, as Oliver reached up and grabbed bridesmaid booty several times in a row, to the squealing laughs of the crowd, and of course Oliver. Several little girls adored him too and we sampled letting him be carried around by the herd of young children who want to be in charge of the babies.
Walking delights Oliver. I can see the joy in his eyes and expressions as he walks across a room and can so easily access the things he sees. He explores with vigor. Fortunately, he also slept really well all weekend too, so perhaps the walking will help keep some schedule in our lives.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Joy of Family
We just spent 11 days in California with my family (minus Eric). We had the immense privilege of borrowing a family friends amazing home right on the beach in Cayucos, a wonderfully sleepy beach town with very little to do. Because of the babies and never matching nap schedules, we did a whole lot of nothing, reading, lounging, cooking, eating, talking and watching Oliver and baby cousin Louisa interact.
I was delighted to see Oliver interact with family and get to know his family in a new way. He climbed into their arms willingly by the middle of the week, clearly knowing their love and protection for him. We spent a day with some of my Dad's family and Oliver's only great-grandfather, G-Gpa and cousin Hadley, and a day with my Mom's family and cousin Kallie, where Oliver is the big boy! He loved all those girls, smiled in their faces and smacked them (touched them lovingly) to play.
The distance is really hard on us, but I am grateful for the moments we do get and for all the family love we receive, no matter the miles.
Grammy, Louisa, Pops and Ollie at the fried fish hut on Morro Bay.
Ollie checks out little Louisa in Aunt Laura's lap
Pops assists.
Sunsets are best when cuddled in the arms of an Auntie!
Games with G-Gpa!
Grammy's heaven is a beach with a grandson.
They like each other.
Babies!
The HEF Clan!
I was delighted to see Oliver interact with family and get to know his family in a new way. He climbed into their arms willingly by the middle of the week, clearly knowing their love and protection for him. We spent a day with some of my Dad's family and Oliver's only great-grandfather, G-Gpa and cousin Hadley, and a day with my Mom's family and cousin Kallie, where Oliver is the big boy! He loved all those girls, smiled in their faces and smacked them (touched them lovingly) to play.
The distance is really hard on us, but I am grateful for the moments we do get and for all the family love we receive, no matter the miles.
Ollie checks out little Louisa in Aunt Laura's lap
Pops assists.
Sunsets are best when cuddled in the arms of an Auntie!
Games with G-Gpa!
Grammy's heaven is a beach with a grandson.
They like each other.
Babies!
The HEF Clan!
Diverse beginnings
I took WALKING Oliver to our neighborhood park tonight and we both discovered how much more fun a park can be once you are foot-mobile! He just officially started walking last night and already he walked all over the playground, up and down stairs, ramps, and even a slide!
As soon as we arrived at the park I noticed how packed it was, but that's common in the City, especially in Albany Park. Immediately I also was happy to hear constant, "ay, el bebe, el bebe!, muy guapo, so cute, cuantos meses, ayy, los ojos, etc." I smiled, thanked everyone and did my best to make some Spanish smalltalk. As Ollie climbed a new apparatus I got a good glance around me and realized why he was such an attraction - he's white! They might as well have been saying, "a blonde boy, blue eyes, so pale!" And it was true, he was the ONLY blonde on the packed playground.
I was so pleased to see him interacting so happily with so many other kids. He walked right up to a Mom and her little girl playing a clapping game and literally climbed into her lap and started clapping as well. He was very warmly received.
Sometimes we miss our old neighborhoods, with Starbucks and restaurants around the corner, but on nights like this, I'm so grateful to be giving Ollie such a diverse start on life, even if it means we have to drive most places and can only walk to the Taqueria or falafel hut. I can only hope these memories, or at least the pictures, are creating the foundation for a life of equality and justice seeking.
My blondie
As soon as we arrived at the park I noticed how packed it was, but that's common in the City, especially in Albany Park. Immediately I also was happy to hear constant, "ay, el bebe, el bebe!, muy guapo, so cute, cuantos meses, ayy, los ojos, etc." I smiled, thanked everyone and did my best to make some Spanish smalltalk. As Ollie climbed a new apparatus I got a good glance around me and realized why he was such an attraction - he's white! They might as well have been saying, "a blonde boy, blue eyes, so pale!" And it was true, he was the ONLY blonde on the packed playground.
I was so pleased to see him interacting so happily with so many other kids. He walked right up to a Mom and her little girl playing a clapping game and literally climbed into her lap and started clapping as well. He was very warmly received.
Sometimes we miss our old neighborhoods, with Starbucks and restaurants around the corner, but on nights like this, I'm so grateful to be giving Ollie such a diverse start on life, even if it means we have to drive most places and can only walk to the Taqueria or falafel hut. I can only hope these memories, or at least the pictures, are creating the foundation for a life of equality and justice seeking.
My blondie
Summer in the City
Monday, July 19, 2010
14 months old!
At 5:19pm yesterday, Oliver turned 14 months old!
He's such a little boy now it amazes me. He's TALL and BIG and STRONG and has developed a mind of his own. He has opinions and clear desires. He is expressive and emotional.
He is on the brink of using walking as an official mode of transportation, though as of today, still no more than about 6-7 steps at any single time. He's become a much better sleeper, and his parents are immensely grateful. He is peculiar in his appetite - some days he would eat the roof if I gave it to him, and other days he'll pass on yogurt, a regular favorite. He's loud and babbles all the time, interrupting his parents for attention. He laughs infectiously all the time and becomes more ticklish by the day, especially under the chin. His thighs are more chunky than ever but his belly and cheeks have slimmed. He has become much more gentle with Mookie and often pets him nicely for a while. He loves other toddlers and likes to be hugged by little people. He likes his parents a lot (as it should be) and especially likes to wrestle with Dad and cuddle with Mom.
He's my 14 month old baby boy!
He's such a little boy now it amazes me. He's TALL and BIG and STRONG and has developed a mind of his own. He has opinions and clear desires. He is expressive and emotional.
He is on the brink of using walking as an official mode of transportation, though as of today, still no more than about 6-7 steps at any single time. He's become a much better sleeper, and his parents are immensely grateful. He is peculiar in his appetite - some days he would eat the roof if I gave it to him, and other days he'll pass on yogurt, a regular favorite. He's loud and babbles all the time, interrupting his parents for attention. He laughs infectiously all the time and becomes more ticklish by the day, especially under the chin. His thighs are more chunky than ever but his belly and cheeks have slimmed. He has become much more gentle with Mookie and often pets him nicely for a while. He loves other toddlers and likes to be hugged by little people. He likes his parents a lot (as it should be) and especially likes to wrestle with Dad and cuddle with Mom.
He's my 14 month old baby boy!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Running and Leading
I began running in 2006. When I crossed the finish line of my first 5K race I cried because it was such an incredible accomplishment for me, having been athletically challenged all my life and never even active at all. During that first race, in the lovely neighborhood of Ravenswood, I was totally inspired by a family I saw running all together. Mom was pushing a jogger stroller and Dad was cheering on his two young daughters. One girl gasped, "Daddy, I can't do it!" and he stopped and knelt with her and said, "of course you can honey, you're amazing and I'm right here with you!" (could have cried then too!) She picked her legs back up and finished with her whole family (and me.)
It was a clear vision that someday, I wanted to be the a role model to help my own kids lead active lives, in the outdoors, playing, running, biking, hiking, swimming, or sports (I'll figure out how to support organized sports somehow, perhaps with "Idiots Guide to Football".)
This morning I ran my second ever 10K, in a Women's Festival, but Chris and Oliver got up super early and came out to cheer me on. There is almost nothing that makes me happier than these types of moments - active, positive family togetherness. Ollie has now watched me in 3 races and ran in one himself with Dad pushing the stroller. I really hope that no matter how busy we get, how many excuses can be found, I can continue to be a positive role model for healthy living.
Before the race
My cheering squad!
Cloudy and humid morning on the lakefront
I did it! (Yes, I'm THAT red and THAT sweaty)
He got to nap first! Lucky baby.
It was a clear vision that someday, I wanted to be the a role model to help my own kids lead active lives, in the outdoors, playing, running, biking, hiking, swimming, or sports (I'll figure out how to support organized sports somehow, perhaps with "Idiots Guide to Football".)
This morning I ran my second ever 10K, in a Women's Festival, but Chris and Oliver got up super early and came out to cheer me on. There is almost nothing that makes me happier than these types of moments - active, positive family togetherness. Ollie has now watched me in 3 races and ran in one himself with Dad pushing the stroller. I really hope that no matter how busy we get, how many excuses can be found, I can continue to be a positive role model for healthy living.
My cheering squad!
Cloudy and humid morning on the lakefront
I did it! (Yes, I'm THAT red and THAT sweaty)
He got to nap first! Lucky baby.
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