Picasso

When we go to Ollie's Dr. appointments they give us a several sheets describing the shots and 1 about his development. On the sheet this time was a blurb about babies his age being able to scribble lines. Up to this point Ollie had never attempted to scribble. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised about that piece of information. When we got home, he was given a piece of chalk and put beside his chalkboard table. He held it pretty well and scribbled away. He drew a bunch of lines all over the table. He eventually got tired and took off with the chalk, then he decided to draw on the tile and the kitties. Unlike markers chalk just wipes away. While drawing this morning Ollie apparently was hungry and had a bite of the chalk. A rather dry meal. Everything in the mouth!

Shots

Ollie got 3 more shot yesterday during his 1 year appt. He is 31 inches long, 23 lbs. 85% in height, 70% in weight. He's definitely got the long lean look going for him. He is a happy healthy baby boy, no problems. He is short 1 shot because there is a shortage. So maybe at his 15 month check-up they'll have enough. He screamed for about 10 minutes after his shots, but was fine afterward. He enjoyed waiting though. He kept running around the doctor's waiting room smiling and screaming. He didn't want to sit down!



I can't wait until Ollie is a little older and can understand everything we say. Last night we went for a walk with Ollie in his wagon. He loves the thing, but he has figured out he can stand in it. Of course he got in trouble every time he stood. Yet he kept standing. Our walk was cut short due to this. Until he understands that he has to sit down in his wagon, he'll have to go on walks in his stroller. At least he can't stand in it!

Cake

Click on the seal picture from Ollie's trip to the zoo to see his birthday cake video. It's in Real Video format and about 2 minutes long. The sound is horrid, so ignore it. I'll probably leave this up only for a little while since it is so big, but I can send you the video if you email me.

That Sound You Heard

Next time you are outside, take your hand and smack it against the sidewalk. The sound you hear when you do this is the sound of Ollie's head hitting the concrete!

We were helping a friend move over the weekend. Ollie was in his stroller being pushed down the sidewalk, not strapped in. He leaned over a bit too far to look at something and out he went. Right on his head! He's got a good couple of bruises and and a small egg on his head. He cried for awhile, but was ok. He was back to his normal self in about 1/2 an hour. He went right on dancing.



No, the picture isn't after the accident, that is being developed. Don't know what he's doing with his face in the picture though. Yes, that is the ceramic Kitty he plays with all the time.

Leaps and Bounds

In the recent weeks Ollie has learned things in leaps and bounds. He's added 'hot' to his vocabulary. He doesn't know what it means yet, he just repeats it a lot around the stove. He crosses his legs at the ankles when he sits. He claps when we say 'yeah' and cheer him. Last night 2 new things emerged. He has a toy with balls that go down ramps when they are hit with a hammer. We taught him to use the hammer to smash the balls through the holes. He got a bit wild with the hammer and both of us almost received goose eggs for our trouble. He also has a toy phone, last night he started playing with it like it was a real phone. He put it up to his head and was talking into it. It wasn't quite right, but he has the idea. He did again this morning on the way to the sitter's in the car.

Ollie was treated as a kitty last night. We have the air on and the sliding door closed to the screened in porch. We let the cats on the porch and Ollie has been going on the porch by himself when the door is open. Last night Tresa let the cats out and Ollie with them. She shut the sliding door and pretty much locked him out since he can't move the door! Now all he needs is to grow fur and start drinking out of the water bowl. He already eats cat food when we aren't looking, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Kitty

'Kitty' is Ollie's first repeatable/recognizable word. It is not surprising considering we have 6 cats - 5 real 1 ceramic. It doesn't sound quite like Kitty though, it's a bit more like Diddy. It's close, but we know he isn't talking about Puff Daddy.

We are constantly telling him to 'be nice to the kitty', 'pet the kitty nice', 'don't hit the kitty' and 'give kitty a kiss'. He gets a bit excited when he tries to pet them. He ends up smacking them. He's gotten bitten and growled at a few times. No damage though, just scared. One of the cats will get in a fight with him with her front claws. She eventually gives up and leaves. Too bad they all aren't that smart.

Every time he sees a cat, he calls out 'kitty' and tries to reach the cat. The cat skulks backward from him or gets on top of furniture out of his reach. Eventually, they won't be able to get away from him. They will be in trouble then.

Less Duck More Boy

The waddle is on the wane. Ollie is beginning to walk more like an person and less like a duck. He doesn't have running down by any means, but he can go faster. Especially when his momma is chasing him and 'scaring' him. He turns, looks, laughs and takes off. Usually he gets a few fast steps in before he loses his balance and falls. Then he crawls off to a 'hiding place' and it starts over. Of course, when his dad tries the game and growls at him, he comes up and gives me a hug. Yea, I'm really scary!

Zoo, Cake and Sleep

Ollie went to the zoo for his birthday for the first time on Saturday. He was interested in some of the animals. At least the moving ones. The seals and monkeys were fairly active. They have a petty zoo that you can feed goats and llama's through a fence. As long as the goat ate out of people's hands Ollie was fine. As soon as the goat scraped his hoof against the fence, Ollie got a little scared. Overall, he seemed to have a good time. He got to swing for a a while at the park near the zoo and seemed to enjoy it as well.

He also had a crappy sleeping pattern Saturday. He got a 2 hr. nap after we got home, but it was broken up by a giant poop that woke him up. He then took another nap and got up for an hour before going to bed for the night. He was extremely crabby after we got home. His teeth have been giving him a rough time. We can see his molars ready to come out. He's getting his fourth bottom tooth today. Sunday he was much happier and more like himself.

The cake came Sunday. He ate mostly frosting and didn't try to bury his face in it. He got plenty of frosting on himself though. Hands, face, forehead, floor and hair all got the frosting treatment. No major disasters though. Overall, he seemed to have a good time with it.

Happy Birthday

1 year ago today, Christian Oliver Erickson was born. He's gone from a 7 lb, 10 oz., 19 1/2 inch helpless infant to a 25 lb. almost 3 ft., walking, jabbering and entertaining toddler. Before he was born, we couldn't imagine what life would be like with a baby. Today, we can't imagine what it was like without him.

For his birthday, he got a wagon and a bubble blowing lawnmower. He also got to take cupcakes to his sitter's today to share. I feel pretty bad for them because he will make a mess out of them. Saturday we are taking him to the park and the zoo. He's also getting birthday cake and lunch in the park. Jungle Gyms and animals. Sounds like a great b-day to me.

Drool

Drool, drool and more drool. That is Ollie's current activity. He's got several teeth on the way in so, I'm sure it is because of all of them are trying push through at once. We have had to change his shirt that he's been sleeping in at least once a night. Since it has been so warm, he's been sleeping in a t-shirt.

Ollie has become rather 'shy' recently. He'll look at you while you are doing something. When look at him, he'll turn away and bury his chin in his chest. It is funny and cute. He seems to do this to everyone. All the girls he comes in contact with think it is the cutest thing in the world. This combined with his putting his head right up against yours makes him the biggest 1-year-old flirt we know.

Crawling Goes Bye-Bye

Ollie has pretty much stopped crawling altogether. He only does it when he is upset or is crabby. Walking has become the mode of transportation for him. He doesn't have perfect form, his walk is currently more like a duck. Waddle back and forth. He'll get excited and fall occasionally, but he gets right back up and charges on. Let the bumps and bruises begin.

Toddle, Toddle Away

Ollie's first choice now is to walk. He still crawls, but if he's standing he walks until he falls. He's still a bit wobbly, but he's got the idea. He loves walking back and forth between the upstairs living room and the screened in porch. He has also learned how to close the screen door. He hasn't figured out how to open it yet, so he cries or screams until we open it for him. He'll also play on the porch and take his toys out there with him. I have a feeling he won't be very happy when it starts to get really warm and we shut the door when we turn the AC on. I'm sure we'll hear a lot of screaming when that happens!

Another Cold

Ollie has another cold. So far this one doesn't seem to be too bad. A lot of sneezing and stuffiness. He doesn't seem like he is any crabbier than his teething self. Just a bunch more slimy stuff coming out of him. Ollie has had quite a few diseases in his first year. So far he has had

Jaundice
Gastric Reflux (gone in 9 months)
4 colds
1 nasty flu
Bronchiollitis
1 ear infection
diarrhea (I'm sure he'll be embarrassed by me putting this out here in the future)
Several eggs on his head, scratches, bumps and bruises

I know I've forgotten something, but I'm not sure what. Overall he has been and extremely healthy baby boy. We are lucky people indeed.

Crawling is For Wussies!

Ya hear what I'm saying? That four limbed shuffle is so passe. Why move with four limbs when 2 will do and you get there faster. You also have 2 additional limbs to wreak havoc. They are especially good for clapping and slamming doors. Standing up without holding onto things is the simplest thing in the world now too. All you sucker crawling babies have no chance. Now if only I was tall enough to get the keys to my parents car, I could go cruising for some baby chicks!

Growing Up Faster

Our son is a 'big boy'. Not only in size, but in his activities. He likes to do things before he is supposed to be able to do them. He is currently trying to use a spoon (more like playing with it while eating). Sitting in chairs to be fed, trying to walk up and down the stairs (with our help of course). He also is imitating us more, crossing his legs to sit, clapping when we clap. I'll be happy when he can put himself to sleep at night, it won't be too far off. He is also refusing his bottle in favor of a sippee cup or a drink out of our glass. Someday he'll be able to do it all and we'll wonder what it was like before he could do those things.


All Growed Up!