Cranbrook Science Museum

Vacation has been full of visits with friends and special outings. We really enjoyed a trip to the Cranbrook Science Museum. Erin and Adin met up with us for this adventure. The adults were amazed that Oliver and Adin were thoroughly engaged and excited for a full three hours while we were there (especially in toddler time that is very long). Luckily Elliot slept happily in the baby carrier while the rest of us explored. Ollie and Elliot's "Auntie" Lisa works for Cranbrook and took time out of her busy day to show us some special areas in the museum.

In the Discovery Center

There is a poster in the museum of Ollie as a 7-month-old baby enjoying the waves of Lake Michigan with his Opa. It was pretty exciting to see it and for Oliver to recognize himself and his Opa up on the wall.

A Couple Extra Monkeys Join In

Christmastime

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Christmastime is pretty magical when toddlers are involved. Everything associated with the holiday and the season is new and exciting. Here are some of the ways we celebrated this year:

The Birmingham Christmas Market

Lebkuchen Hearts!

Playtime

Dogs in Festive Sweaters

Baking with Oma

Decorating a Gingerbread House

Oh my gosh, you guys, it tastes good! Did you know!?!?

Why we don't usually do sugar: a little too much excitement!

All Done

Presents!

Oliver's very favorite gift was a drum from cousin Henry. Ollie is a natural, of course.

Cuddle Time with Family

Painting Ornaments

Fancy Meals

Don't worry, Elliot, next year you get some too!

Cheers!

Hanging Out

More New Toys

Oliver's other favorite gift came from his cousins Chis and Alex in New Jersey. Cousin Conner from California helped show Ollie how to use his new medical kit.

Don't let the drool fool you, Dr. Klemer is very distinguished in his field.

Aunt Carolyn from California

Hurray for the Holidays!

Big Boy Ollie

Oliver loves to imitate and loves to help.

Oliver is turning into a big boy before our eyes. On a daily basis it seems as if he demonstrates that he knows, or can do about three to five new things. At this point we wonder what he doesn't know the word for as he points out nearly every object and names them off, often startling us (Where on Earth did he learn the word for that!?!?). He tries to repeat most of what we say now (dangerous!), and he spouts off full sentences:

"Daddy light candles. Oliver blow them out."
"Mister Sun hiding clouds. Come back."
"Oliver stuck. Daddy help you."
"Mommy pick up more pine cones ... for Oliver."
"Look, baby polar bear ... right there."

Although he refers to himself mostly in the third or second person and tends to gap articles, prepositions, and state-of-being verbs, his ability to express complete thoughts is increasing exponentially. However, in typical toddler-fashion most of his sentences revolve around directing those around him to do his bidding, and he can be very bossy at times. He used to throw in please and thank you into most requests... we need to get working on that again!

Dinner time has become increasingly easier as Ollie has become almost completely independent at the table. He has mastered using a fork and spoon without assistance (he can even scrape up the last spoonfuls of yogurt in the bottom of a cup). And he has the ability to drink from a normal cup, although sometimes the urge to "spill" it is too much fun (insert innocent-sounding "Oh No!" here). Needless to say, we don't trust him with a big boy cup all the time.

Also on the food front, I am overjoyed to report that Oliver is finally eating some vegetables other than sweet potatoes and peas!!! Don't get me wrong, we are lucky that he is overall a very good eater, just not when it comes to the veggies. But, he now does brussel sprouts, green beans, sweet bell peppers, and kale (in chip form) too! There is hope for him yet.

Another big milestone is that Oliver has used the potty a few times successfully, although it has mostly been good luck and timing on our part. We continue to encourage Oliver's interest in the toilet and praise him for sitting on it, but that is as far as we have gotten so far. Hopefully, he will become more interested in that big boy skill soon. Mom and Dad are ready!

Changing So Fast

We cannot believe how fast Elliot is growing and changing from the tiny little peanut that we brought home from the hospital. Here he is at 3 days old:

Our Newborn (still Baby TBD) In the Hospital:



Starting to show some personality at 3 weeks old:

Look, Mom. No Hands!

At 4-1/2 weeks I decided to take a photo of Elliot on top of the newborn outfit that he wore home from the hospital. The idea was to show how he had grown out of this outfit that had seemed so huge on him when we came home.

Then Max crashed our photo shoot, dwarfing Elliot the "big boy."

At this stage Elliot fell in love with the ceiling fan in our bedroom,

beginning to coo and smile at it:

He also started wearing these very special socks. My Oma, who passed away this August, made beautiful knit socks for everyone in the family year after year. She didn't have the opportunity to make them for our newest member of the family, Elliot, but she left behind a basket of wool and works in progress. My mom, not wanting the wool to go to waste, brought it home from Germany and gave it to her friend Maude, another talented knitter. Maude recently surprised us with these socks for Elliot made from Oma wool. (I have a pair that matches from several years back.)

At 6-1/2 weeks Elliot is displaying a wide range of emotions and expressions:

We love his SMILES!

And he is even becoming interested in toys: