Oden Adventures

I am fascinated by Vianne's language development because it reveals so much about the wackiness of the English language, and it parallels my French-learning process in so many ways (though I wish I'd done it at two and not twenty-five, it would've been much cuter and less humiliating).

Trying to wield this nonsensical language called English provides for much cuteness these days and I wanted to just note a few things before I forget them:

- When she's looking for something she can't find, she says, "I had it ago!" (I had it awhile ago.)

- When she's talking about something we haven't done or played with or watched in a long time, she says, "I haven't done/seen/etc. that a long day!"

- She said "theys" or "thems" instead of "their" for the possessive.

- For the plural, she likes to add another syllable "-ses" or "-es" to words, which is of course more logical that English's random rules for pluralization.  So, the plural of leaf is not leaves, but leafses.  And it's not mouths, it's mouth-es.

- The "mad guys" (bad guys) are now regularly incorporated into her play.

- She says "posta" for "supposed to" and gets a bit tripped up by the negative, "You're post...not...ta..."

- She likes to say, "You tricked me!" and to add "just in case" to the end of phrase (I realize now that I do this a lot) but she never uses either in a context in which they make sense.

- She's also been busting out, "It's not truth!" or "That's not truth!" or "That's not the truth and that's not the point!" this past week, rarely used in an appropriate context, which makes it very hard to keep a straight face.

- She has also been making up a lot of her own words lately, what I call speaking in tongues.  A lot of "loony lee la" and "noo nee foona" and "fawna leena" and similar sounds.

- She also likes to ask "What do we call that?" when she doesn't know a word for something.  I like her community-minded approach :-).

We hosted Thanksgiving again this year - our third in a row - and it was a really fun day!  After some shameless begging on my part, I finally got Vianne to let me use her library craft as a front door decoration...

 Then, with the Cutest Cook's Helper in the land, we set about to get the big meal ready.

 Got our aprons!  (Patrick gave me this one the night before :-D )

 Patrick did his turkey lifting/cleaning/arranging duties.  This year we got a 25 pounder!

 And while it cooked, I added a few bits of decor...

 The family arrived early to help occupy the kiddos while the food was being prepared.

 Oliver kindly took a 2 hour nap for the morning which gave Mama lots of time to get things done.  Then Granma helped keep him company.

  The kids got dressed just before our other guests arrived to attempt to preserve the outfits from all the thing they get into/spill/spit up.  And V had the extra layer of apron protection...

Our little turkey!  Oliver's first Thanksgiving!

 Our friends the Burns family joined us for the second year in a row.  The girls came in & joined the floor coloring party.

 We underestimated the time the turkey would take (sigh...last year it was done 2 hrs early!  This year, 2 hrs late.  So next year, right on time...right?)  So the girls played & played & on their own had no problem coming up with creative diversions.

 Finally the turkey was done and the carving began!

 The thankful bunch

 And many wonderful desserts to finish off a great meal!

 Granma & Grandpa brought gifts...

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, we headed up the mountain to Granma & Grandpa's house.  This was Oliver's first trip up there.  It was a lovely, cool day with fall colors that I'd missed (nearly non-existent in San Dimas).  The kids wore their nice new outfits from Granma, and looked adorable...

 We attempted a few family shots but couldn't get everyone looking normal & at the camera at once :-).

 We had lunch in town at the resort, came back and took a little walk, and then just hung out, enjoying the view & aroma & quiet of the forest...

 ...as well as some desserts!

 I love this picture!  This girlie loves her ice cream!

Somehow I can't believe I'm typing "four months" in relation to Oliver.  He got stuck in my brain at three months and now I'm in denial that he's aging past that point at all.  I still want to tell people he's three months old when they ask, and I still am trying to squeeze him into three month size clothes even though he has the gall to be fitting into six month size at present (I think the clothes are small for six months...right?).

This sweet boy commands a room with his smile.  The beginnings of his belly laughs are enough to cause warring factions to lay down their arms...or at least wash away Mama's pervasive feelings of exhaustion for a few seconds.  He has the church ladies wrapped around his little finger and always draws a crowd of admirers at greeting time.  Aside from some teething grumpiness and groaning, he's all sweetness & coos & delight & joy and such a dear gift to us.

At his four month check-up, Big O weighed in at 16 lbs 7 oz and measured 26" in length. (This is 2 lbs 4 oz and 1 1/4" bigger than V was at four months...no wonder my back hurts all the time!)  He's in great health and hitting all the developmental markers, as well as charming his nurse and doctor with his cuteness :-).

He's on the cusp of flipping from back to belly (having conquered belly to back a couple weeks ago) and he's grabbing toys with both hands and pulling them to his mouth now, and making moves towards pulling himself from angled to sitting, which all seems too grown up for a three month old.  Oh yeah.  That's 'cause he's four months old.  :::sigh:::

 Flannel for Four Months

 I'm considering getting him into modeling after this pose... ;-)

A big week for Oliver: he crossed off a baby development milestone of flipping from belly to back.  The doctor always says he need an hour of tummy time a day, which gets even harder to do when he flips after about 3 minutes.  I guess I'll just continue to lie at his check-ups :-).  We also got a few good laughs out of him this week, which is too cute for words.  He continues to be such a happy guy and even after rough nights (still not sleeping well...*yawn*), he gives me the sweetest smiles & coos in the morning that it washes away the frustration.

He loves Vianne to pieces and follow her with his eyes whenever she's bopping around the room.  He loves her snuggles and kisses; even when Mama thinks it's too much, he doesn't seem to mind at all.  I think these two are going to be two peas in a pod as they grow and it will be so much fun to watch!

New onesie from the Grovers

Seems to be teething...he enjoyed his whale teething toy from Sarah & Aunt Pat!

Really starting to make use of the playmat's features.  He grabs and pulls toys towards him and locates them with his feet to kick.

Super cute in his raccoon outfit from Great Aunt Carol.

His 17 week old day fell on Thanksgiving, photos of which will come in another post.  Last year on Thanksgiving, I woke up and took a pregnancy test first thing and found out little Oliver was in my belly.  So this year, my heart was especially full of thanksgiving, holding him in my arms!

Early one morning, I captured the joy of my kids.  I may never understand how they both wake up with such glee but I wish I were more like them.  I am currently quite the opposite.

Oliver's well into size 3-6 months now even though I keep trying to squeeze him back into his 3 month clothes.  Trying out this adorable Little Brother outfit from Rebekah.

Hanging out with Daddy

The only thing cuter than Oliver is Oliver in Overalls.

While big sister was off with the grandparents for the day, Oliver got some alone time with Mama & Daddy and had his first trip to T. Phillips.

Me & my boy

Vianne has been here.

These two!

Oliver & Sophie, celebrating 16 weeks!