It's Not Easy Being Green

Olivia is getting the hang of this eating solids thing but you wouldn't know it tonight. It was her third night eating avocado, which, by the way, she really seems to like, but she seemed to wear most of it today. It started with just a little smudge of green mush on her face and then her sweet little face became a canvass for her artwork. Of her green, smooshed, disgusting art. She had it in her ears. She had it from the corner of her mouth up to the apples of her cheeks. She had it in her hair. She had it in her eyebrows. She had it up her nose. And what I discovered when I promptly plopped her in the bath, she had it on her left eyeball. Despite the fact she was wearing a bib, she got it all over her shirt which is now soaking in color bleach - my new favorite cleaning product (thanks Beth).

I hope never to experience this type of "creativity" from my daughter again. Even though it was a bit on the yucky side, I have to admit, David and I couldn't stop laughing. This in turn, of course, made Olivia start giggling. That is worth the mess.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Walking to the Trop




Intently Watching the Game with Daddy


Mommy's Little Red Sox Fan

Showing Off Our Lil' Fan

The Littlest Red Sox Fan

Oh, is there a ball game going on behind me?

First Red Sox Cap

Us with our very sleepy baby fan.

Wednesday, Aug. 5, marked Olivia's five-month birthday and in celebration we took her to her first Red Sox game. Friends Colleen and Jason hooked us up with awesome lower-box-level seats along the third-base line at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg . Here, they call it a Rays game. (And this time they should, they swept the Sox in a two-game series.)

Olivia, decked out in her new pink Red Sox gear (cap courtesy of Auntie Beth, Uncle Chris and Cousin Gracie and onesie a gift from Mom and Dad) ,was a crowd-pleaser. She was very popular with the Red Sox fans and she seemed to love the attention. People stopped us walking around the Trop just to chat with one of the younger Red Sox fans. Some even took her picture. "She's the cutest Red Sox Fan EVER!" proclaimed one young women. (We couldn't agree more.) She was especially a hit in our section since she was so well-behaved. Despite the constant roar of the crowd, she didn't cry once and was excited by all the action around her. She contently sat on Mommy's and Daddy's laps the entire time, even sleeping once for about 40 minutes.

Even though the Red Sox lost the 6-4 game, we had a blast. Olivia fell fast asleep on the car ride home. Next month, she'll experience Fenway Park and share that first with Daddy who will also be a first-timer at one of the greatest ballparks ever.

Rockin' and Rollin'; Gigglin' and Droolin'

Day at the Zoo!

A Face in the Crowd

Free the Horse

Sleeping Beauty

Me and My Thing-A-Ma-Jig

Ready for Solids

Messy Business


'Lil Miss Fashion Plate

Don't get my Double Chin., Mama!

Olivia’s fourth month was a big one. She’s been a very busy baby girl. This month she mastered rolling over, started solids and began giggling regularly – which, by the way, is the best sound in the world.

At her four-month pediatric appointment she weighed in at 15 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 25 ½ inches, putting her in the 89th and 91st percentiles, respectively. She’s no teeny baby. I’m constantly amazed that a little girl like me could have such a big kid. Don’t laugh. Anyway, she’s clearly growing well and easily hitting all of her milestones.

Olivia continues to be a very happy baby and an excellent sleeper. She’s such a good sleeper that David and I have to wake her up weekday mornings to get her ready for day care. Like her folks, she much rather awake on her own. Still, after a few thrashes in her crib, a few scrunches of her face and several blinks of her eyes, she starts most days with her big, heart-warming smile at the sight of her folks.

Olivia is relying on her pacifier less and less and turning more to her hand, occasionally favoring her thumb which she discovered July 7. And just a couple of weeks ago, she found her toes and promptly shoved them into her mouth. In fact, she really digs shoving anything into her mouth right now.

Things are changing at day care, too. She’s settling in and really seems to enjoy it even though Mommy is still having a hard time with it. Olivia is constantly palling around with an older boy – he might be seven or eight months now – at day care. His name is Tanner and he’s adorable. Nearly every day on Olivia’s daily report, Miss Diane writes Olivia spent time on the play mat with Tanner. Olivia and Tanner “talked” all day and studied each other. Tanner this. Tanner that. I knew kids started young nowadays but this is ridiculous. Actually, it’s very cute to see her smiling at him.

Olivia also started using the Exersaucer at day care so after much deliberation and research, David and I purchased her a jumper, similar to an Exersaucer in that it allows her to rotate the seat 360 degrees (something she’ll be able to do when she’s older but now needs Mommy or Daddy to assist) and gives her plenty of toys to pull, push and spin. She loves the little light-up keyboard that plays several neat tunes. She’s not totally in love with her new ginormous toy but we’re certain as she grows, she’ll grow to love it. Then again, that hasn’t happened so far with her swing. Hmmm, I hope it’s not a pattern for these $100 toys.

After her visit to Dr. Sawka on July 17, we gave her rice cereal for the first time. She was very interested at first and did quite well with her first batch. We stuck with the cereal for about a week and it seemed she lost interest quickly so we tried freshly mashed bananas. We thought the sweetness would have her chowing them down but it seemed like her first fruit wasn’t her favorite. She would spit out more than she would swallow. We realize that's partly because she's getting used to new tastes and eating off a spoon. This past week, she discovered the art of the raspberry and this time I’m not talking about the fruit. In the past couple of months, her little tongue and lips made a raspberry or two but now she has mad raspberry skills, especially when eating. Admittedly, at first it was HIGHlarious but also disgusting because her cereal would go EVERYWHERE. And then she tried it while drinking her bottle. Not nearly as cute. But during cereal feedings the past couple of days we’ve switched to a shallower spoon which seems to make eating more enjoyable for Olivia – and Mommy. She tries to eat like a lady now, but, of course, it’s still messy business. Thank goodness for a good bibs and sometimes bare-chested feedings (her not me).

This past month, we’ve also been on several family outings, including the Lowry Park Zoo, a lovely community park in coastal Dunedin (after Mommy and Daddy stopped for ice cream) and to several restaurants with family and friends. She usually does great out and about.

We took advantage of the $5 admission day at the zoo in Tampa on July 19 and because of the cheap rate, it was indeed a people zoo, too. But it was a wonderful day. The crowds weren’t so crazy that you couldn’t breathe and the overcast skies staved off the blazing summer sun which was a nice reprieve. While Olivia, of course, didn’t really know what she was looking at she really enjoyed the change of scenery, all the activity and simply being outside. She’s such an outdoor girl.

Another cool thing about the past month is that she has a surplus of fashionable clothes for ages three to six months. It’s been a blast dressing her up in all the gorgeous outfits, given to her by friends, family and even a few Mommy and Daddy have bought her. She looked especially adorable in all the stylish dresses that grace her closet. If only I could have half as many.

As each month goes on, they seem to fly by faster and faster. David and I are just trying to savor each moment while falling deeper in love with our baby girl.