Shoe Fettish

For the last several months, Olivia has developed a love for shoes. She always points to her shoes if they are not on her feet. She will come over to us and take our slippers off if she can get to them. When we are getting ready to leave the house, she will pick up our shoes from the front door and bring them to us where ever we are in the house.

Every day I wear my flip flops into work (and change into heels when I get to my office), and every morning when it is time to leave Olivia gets my flip flops for me and brings them to me to put on. One morning last week, I decided I was going to wear my boots instead because it was raining. I put on my boots, and Olivia still brought me my flip flops. I told her I didn't need them, and put them off to the side. She gave them to me two more times before I finally kicked them to the side and carried her out of the house. Then the next morning came and I needed the flip flops, but Olivia didn't bring them to me. She must have thought, "mommy didn't want them yesterday, I am not bringing them to her today!".

This past weekend, the love for shoes went one step further. Now she likes to put our shoes on! She started with my crocs this weekend. I found her trying to figure out how to get her feet in them. Ben helped her a little bit, and then she was trying to figure out how to walk in them!

Then she got Ben's flip flops and put those on, and tried to figure out how to walk in them.


And then tonight, we found her trying to figure out how to put her shoes on by herself! It was so cute! She couldn't figure out how to reach her foot with her hands. She kept trying to contort her leg in all different directions, but didn't realize she could just bend her leg. She got very frustrated when she couldn't figure it out. I tried to get a video but she turned to face the other way.

Gotta Start Somewhere!

A couple of weekends ago, Ben started feeding the kids yogurt for their snack. However, every time the spoon came to their mouth they would grab on to it, and were not very happy to give it back to Ben.

I suggested that we let them try to use the spoon themselves. I think Ben thought I was crazy, but I figured they have to learn eventually and they have to start somewhere. We split the yogurt into two separate bowls and gave them each a spoon. The result wasn't pretty. In fact, for two people who don't enjoy getting dirty, it was down right painful to watch!


Olivia seem to get the concept down, but wasn't too good with it. Alex, on the other hand, held the spoon, and tried to eat the yogurt with his hand rather than the spoon. But some how, Olivia was much more messy. Perhaps it was because she was getting more to her mouth by using the spoon rather than Alex's method of picking up yogurt with his fingers!

Summer is Here!!!

A few weeks ago, Ben and I went out to buy the kids some toys that they could play with outside. We want to get them outside as much as possible when the weather is nice. We got them a sandbox with some toys for the sandbox, and we got them a little toy they could ride on. The "ride on" toy could be used inside but we figured we have enough inside so outside it would stay.

Last weekend the weather was really nice so we went for a walk in the wagon. Then we brought out the new ride on toy for them both to play with (perhaps we need 2?!). Alex got on it first, and played a little bit, mainly moving it backwards. Then Olivia got on it, and Alex got behind her and pushed her up and down the drive way! It was so cute, and they both had so much fun!!!



Also a couple of weeks ago we started taking the kids to swimming lessons on Saturday mornings at our local YMCA. There is about 10 kids in the class with the parents, ranging in age from 6 months to 3 years old. They do lots of singing and games to help the kids get comfortable being in the water.

Olivia took to the water right away. As Ben puts it, she doesn't have the patience to hold onto noodles or kick boards...she would prefer if she could just swim on her own! Alex was completely the opposite. He didn't like it the first time. He cried a lot, but eventually as long as he was clutching me, he was okay. This made laying him on his belly and back difficult. Yesterday was the second class, and Alex did much better. He is still not 100% comfortable but he barely cried, and even tolerated being on his back and his belly!

Here's Olivia ready to go swimming.....

Now we just need Ben to finish with school, and then it is vacation time!

Day care was all that was needed!

Last weekend Alex started taking a lot of steps, but wasn't comfortable in all the rooms of the house. Then he went to day care on Monday and when he came home he was walking every where!!


He was walking all over the house, and there were so many things new to him that he didn't know where to go with his new found skill. He was literally walking in circles! He would start walking toward something and just as he approached whatever he was walking to, he would turn in a completely different directions!

Now he loves to chase Dudley and Olivia. It is quite entertaining, and there is never a dull moment at our house.

Trouble is Brewing

After watching Olivia for the last 4 months, Alex has finally joined the ranks of fellow walkers! He took a few steps on his own about a month ago but the steps were really hit and miss. He didn't do it daily and we were lucky if he took a handful in a week.

Last night he took a ton of steps and since then he has not stopped trying to walk! He is so excited to do it and he is so proud of himself every time he does it!



Now that he is taking steps, he wants to do it all the time! You can tell that he really doesn't want to crawl anywhere any more, but he can't stand up with out holding on to something. So when he is not near anything to help pull himself up, he gets up on his knees and tries to walk on his knees instead of crawling. It is so cute!

His walking is much different from when Olivia started walking. Olivia would only walk straight, Alex knows how to turn. Olivia didn't realize her knees could bend, and Alex bends his knees. I think he will be running in no time! We are in trouble!

Baby Steps

Alex has been working on his walking. A few weeks ago he took 8 steps at day care. Since then he has taken a few steps on his own, here and there. But he loves walking...whether it be with his grocery cart that we have for him at home, or while holding one of our hands around the house. When he walks with us, he literally only holds on to one of our fingers and I am not sure it really provides that much support, but it gives him the confidence!

Olivia's Favorite Things

It seems the thousands of toys we have aren't really used that much anymore. The kids are so much more interested in the other things we have around the house....here are some of Olivia's favorites.....


mommy's sunglasses....I think that make her feel like nobody can see her because she gets a lot more giggly and outgoing with them on!
potholders.......
Dudley's bed......(Dudley is not such a fan!)
Any box......after a trip from Costco, Olivia always has fun with the empty boxes!
Mommy's blackberry has been a hit.....although she can't have it anymore since she chucked it (with force) on the floor!

And phones....any kind of phone. (Alex especially loves the phone!)And then there is always the Oxo Good Grips kitchen utensils....those are a big hit, especially with two teething toddlers. The rubber handles must feel great on the gums!