11 months, a year is just around the corner!

Little Livi is Eleven Months Old! 

This has been one of the greatest and most difficult months with my little girl. Greatest because of all the amazing fun we've had (details to follow), but most difficult because Aaron is living in SoCal while we're still in Livermore. We are so grateful for all of the overtime hours he is getting (southern Cali is ridiculously expensive), and I am grateful not to have to move twice (into Corporate Housing and then into our apartment), so the pros outweigh the cons, BUT with each passing day, it's harder and harder for me to be apart from him. Olivia LOVES Skype time with Daddy, she just lights up and points at the screen saying "Dada!" as she waits for his face to appear. 

Now on to the good stuff! What has Livi been up to this month?! Where to begin??? (Just as a random note, today is Lisa's year mark on the mission!)

My beautiful baby.

In no particular order....

• STAIRMASTER. No, not the exercise equipment...Olivia is seriously THE master of the stairs. I will turn just to stir the tortellini and she'll already be up ALL 18 STAIRS! Don't fret, we do have the stairs blocked 99% of the time, but it's when we've left them unguarded that she seems to hone in on the opportunity. When she and I go upstairs together, she races up (it's really a race, she turns and makes sure I'm eating her dust)...but try as I might to encourage her, she hasn't learned how to go down the stairs. She waits at the top and whines until I offer her my hand and we "walk" down.
• SQUINTS. I think of the classic boy from the Sandlot when I write that. Lol. Who knows where she learned it from, but Livi plays the Squints Game. She'll blink her eyes simultaneously (haha, yes that would be the definition of squinting) with the biggest, cheesiest grin and then wait for you to mimic her. She's even done it on Skype with Aaron.

This was taken right after the squint.

• BACKWARD WALKER. I guess walking forward is just too old hat now. Olivia had to spice things up by walking backwards. It is darling. She knows when and how to use it most effectively too --- to get away from her mama with that sweet coy grin that tells me she knows exactly what she's doing (most often getting into "trouble"). 
• DURD. You read that right. Durd, not turd. This would be Liv's word for "bird". She used it consistently for the entire weekend we were in Santa Monica...but since then it's been hit and miss.
• FEARLESS...and then FEARFUL! She has been the most courageous and daring little girl I've ever met. Stairs, no problem. Bathtime, no problem. Swimming pool, no problem. Going under the water, no problem. Chasing birds, no problem. Large dogs, no problem. Food, bring it on. And she has been fearless up until about 2 weeks ago when she was startled by her swing she turned on (she hit on the mother's womb noise button too) and by 2 Tonka Trucks that she plays with (you rev them up and they go on their own). Once she heard the noises, she came running to me and stood with her head in my nook just watching the swing and trucks. I guess it's the small things. 

She ran right into the ocean. :)
Below is the video with Gpa and the Tonka Trucks. She pushes him to go get them!

• SELF IDENTIFICATION. I'll ask, "Where's Livi?" and she points to her little head. SO CUTE. She also recognizes herself in the mirror.
• EYES, EARS, MOUTH and NOSE. Liv loves to point. She points out everything. I have been teaching her about her eyes, ears, mouth, nose and other body parts since she was little. I think it's finally making sense. :) I'll ask, "Where are your ears?" She grabs both ears with her little chubby hands. "Where's your nose?" She'll point to her ear, move her finger to her cheek and then smile. Once I move her finger to her nose, she cracks up. As far as eyes and mouth go....it's a work in progress. She loves counting her toes with Grandpa each morning - just to make sure she didn't lose any in the night. She is also acutely aware of her little fingers.

• TEETHING. I hate teething. Olivia manages it so well - fever, a little crankiness - but talk about CLINGY! When those teeth are bugging her there is nothing to separate her from me or the lucky person holding her (she is particularly fond of Grandpa Gary right now).  She has all 4 of her central incisors now...and her left side incisors...and working on the right ones. Looking like she'll have close to 8 teeth by her first birthday.
• SLEEPER. I am SO blessed. Olivia has always been a great sleeper...but seriously...she's amazing. She sleeps from 8pm-7:30/8am!!! That's almost 12 hours EVERY night. Of course there are those tough teething nights where she needs some extra TLC, but those are few and far between. She still takes 2 naps during the day, about 90 minutes each. Blessed. 
• CHATTERBOX. Livi has so much to say! Too bad we don't understand a word of it! :) Not entirely true, but we have to laugh as everything is "baba" and "mama" it seems. She babbles on all day long, and it's darling to listen to. She's nailed intonation down --- it's almost as though she's singing opera at times. If we ask her or sign to her the following things, she points or looks at them: light, bird, tree, bath, bottle, blankie, bear, binky, drink, food, and book. Obviously babies understand far more than they can communicate at this age. She knows who we each are, and understands most of my signs (food, more, again, book, bath, drink, sleep, etc.). She uses 2 signs on her own - "more" and "drink". "Drink" looks like a wave, so I didn't recognize it at first --- she kept getting frustrated with me until I put it together. Get with it, Mom! :) I'll try to post the video of her signing "more", it's darling. She points to the palm of her hand.
• BORN SHOPPER. There are certain things that are just inherent in girls - you know....things like how to nurture a baby...and how to carry a purse!!! Without any encouragement, my little one is ready to go shop, no matter the size of the purse.

• BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS. Olivia is quite the reader. You know that moment when the house goes silent and you're running to find baby - positive that they've found the toilet, the toilet paper roll, or worst of all - the toilet brush?!?! Other than a couple of toilet encounters, where do I find my quiet girl? Reading! Her books are all accessible to her, so she'll plop down on the carpet with one of her fave books. Here's her most recent book list: Good Boy Fergus (David Shannon), Dr. Suess's Book of Wonderful Sounds, The Ear Book, The Nose Book, One Little Bird (a pushing, pulling tabs book), The Mixed Up Chameleon (Eric Carle), and The Very Busy Spider (Eric Carle, she loves the animal noises). 

• OUTDOORS. Where would she prefer to be any time of day or night? Outdoors. Playing in the dirt, picking flowers, eating rocks, running on the grass, chasing ants. Yes, that's my girl.

• WATER WOMAN. After Music class, we were invited to go to a park with a water feature with Chelsea, Traci and their kids. We had to laugh when the babies had no fear of the water - showing up the 3/4 year olds who wouldn't go near it! Olivia outlasted them all, and even with 2 major faceplants, she kept going back for more. We sure miss the pool, but we're thankful for the fountain downtown Livermore and local parks. :)
• GARDENER. In addition to "weeding" and "re-potting" Gma and Gpa's plants, one of Livi's favorite things to do is help Grandpa water the flowers. She follows him around like a little shadow, helping to carry the bucket, empty the bucket, and of course play in the bucket! :) 

• IN 'n' OUT. No, not referring to my obsession with the hamburger joint - Livi has discovered the concept of in and out. She loves to put things in and out of boxes, tins, tubs, bowls, tupperwares, etc. She even managed to hide Grandma Laurie's sandal IN a decorative tin pail for 2 weeks!!! She also loved putting fishy crackers in and out of the puke bags on the plane ride to and from LA. 

On the plane with the puke bag.

The missing sandal.

• FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS. Olivia can do the hand motions to this little story! She loves to point her finger and scold the little monkeys when we say "No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed!" I really do need to video her doing it. During lunch one day she started to scold, then bounced up and down, and then waved --- that's right, she was telling me the story all on her own!
• BYU FAN. Although it's been an up and down season so far for the Cougs, Livi has remained true blue - cheering in even the darkest of times! :)

 Such a great month. I can't believe we'll be celebrating her FIRST BIRTHDAY next month. Party ideas???