Friday, July 30, 2010

First Tea Set

For her first birthday, Brianna gave us the cutest tea set.  I think it's one of those things every little girl should get to play with, so I was very excited!  Vivi really enjoys playing with it, but I'm not sure she really GETS it.

An example of a tea party with Vivi...

"What's going on here?  Hm.  Okaaay..."

"Oh, I see.  We're drinking out of big girl cups.  Excellent."

"There is not a damn thing in here."

"Oh well, at least she brought dessert."

"Hard, tasteless CRAP dessert.  Must complain about the service.."

"Perhaps another flavor?  No, this one doesn't do it for me either.  Not sure why mom likes this thing so much...the signing teapot is way cooler."

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Grandma Love!

This past week, our daycare has been closed.  Ellen is taking a (well deserved) family vacation.  So Vivi's Grandma Otto rolled into town to spend a little quality time with home-girl!

Things Vivi will do for Grandma Sue:
1) Wave to her (especially while eating!)
2) Walk across the room or porch holding hands.
3) Attempt to blow kisses.
4) Allow her diaper to be changed without screaming as though we had decided to light Jack Dog on fire.

Things Vivi will not do for Grandma Sue:
SLEEP.

We have been blaming this weird phenomenon on teeth (valid--they are coming in a major way).  The whole time Grandma Sue was here, the longest nap she took was an hour (!).  However, yesterday, among many tears and hugs (from all of us!), Grandma Sue drove back to Iowa.
Today, Vivi slept until 8:40.  Was up until 11, then took a two hour nap.  Went back down at three and slept for another hour.  Went to bed promptly this evening.  We are now convinced she just did not want to miss out on anything!


So here is a picture of Vivi with her Grandmas...whom we love very much!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

FINALLY!!!!

So, many months ago, Vivi's beloved cousin Eva sent her a bag of hairbows.  Eva herself being possessed of gorgeous, curly hair, was wearing hairbows shortly after emerging from the womb. 

Not sure why she sent them our way, actually.

Viv has been a baldy since day one.  A little sprinklng of hair that hinted at the possibility of more to come, but made no promises.  UNTIL TODAY.


VIVI CAN WEAR A BOW IN HER HAIR!!!

Actually, she found the bag of bows and was totally infatuated.  Dear reader, I kid you not--she played with those bows for a good 45 minutes.  Hoarding them to her like a miser with her loot, then moving them into random piles that were clearly VERY IMPORTANT, for no discernable reason.


Every so often, she would pick one up, look at it, and go "Huh.  No..no..no," and then move it into a completely different pile.


Her mother's coordinating skills beginning to show?  Perhaps.   Her mother's anal-retentive traits showing through?  Yeah.  Every time I tried to "help" organize her bows, Vivi would pick up the one I had just moved, shake it at me, and go "Nomenomenomenome!!"  Which I'm pretty sure is the twelve-month version of "BACK OFF, LADY, I'VE GOT THIS."

Oh dear. Nomenomenome indeed.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Layin' Off the Bottle

Well, this weekend has brought a momentous change to the Otto house.  Vivi is off the bottle.  For good.  Ditto formula...whole milk it is, from here on out!  

We did it.  Cold turkey.  No weaning, no half and half...the bottles are gone.  Well, actually they're in the kitchen cupboard, but the only individuals in the house who are aware of that fact and have opposable thumbs aren't likely to spill the beans.

But as we did a little tap dance on the way to the checkout, a gallon of milk clutched in our hands (formula is expensive, yo!), I cannot help but be a little sad.  We've spent a lot of nights in the rocking chair in Vivi's room, coaxing an extra ounce at first when she was so tiny, and then just enjoying the going to bed process as she settled down in our arms with her bottle.  It's been a really nice way to spend the last minutes of her day.

Here is photograph of Vivi's LAST BOTTLE EVER.

Poor little soul.  Not yet aware...actually, she's been awesome.  She hasn't fought it at all.  So really, it's only been a big deal for my emotional sensibilities.


In other news, we are very into clapping.  At the end of songs, at the end of lunch, any time she thinks she's done something cool (such as climbing into her rocking chair by herself!)...and, at the end of "Yankee Doodle," apparently.


Big stuff!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Good Day, Sunshine!

Really, is there anything you can say other than "Awwwww...."

Yes, I know.  It looks like she's saying "Gag me.  Stop being so sentimental, mom!"
Can't help it.  She's too cute.  Observe...


See?  A baby and her sunbeam.  Um..and her feather boa. Awwww...?

A diva in the making!  C'est la vie!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

The Rody

So, as amazing as the cake carnage was, several inquiring minds have asked me to clarify just what in the hell the two orange blobs in my previous post actually were.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you....the Rody.


Now, if you have never seen a Rody before (sacrilege, dahling!), let me tell you, he is quite amazing. Part ride-on, part fall over, totally awesome.  

And so tasty.  (I like to tell myself she is kissing him, but dear reader, you know the truth)

It was love at first bite!

"Thank you, mother and father...I shall continue to receive my gifts from the back of my noble steed..."

I think Rody will be with us for many, many years.  Bienvenidos, Rody!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Birthday

Vivi is one today.  

This is crazy to me.  While home-girl went about her business today, I stared at her with one eyebrow raised at a mildly psychotic angle, realizing that I am no longer the mother of someone whose age can only be measured in months; I am the mother of a child whose age can be measured in years.  It does not seem possible.

Vivi isn't feeling the greatest today; she has a bit of a cold.  But as Russ and I fed her dinner, took her on a walk, gave her a bath, and got her ready for bed, I couldn't help but think back to 365 days prior, when my life had not yet been enriched by this beautiful, amazing, wonderful little person who lights up our lives like our own personal sun, day in and day out.

As I gave her a bottle and laid her in bed, she grinned up at me before cuddling up to Jack-dog and rolling over to go to sleep.  I looked down at her for a bit before leaving her room quietly, with the firm conviction that while one day can change your life, it can also make your life so very complete.  I am married to an amazing man, and we created one amazing little lady.

Right.  Lest you think me madulain on this day of days, let me tell you how we celebrated the big 0-1.  We had a giant, donkey-themed back yard BBQ.  You know.  Like you do to celebrate your first birthday.

Oh.  And there was cake.

A glorious, donkey-themed cake.  And what did Vivi think of it?

At first, trepidation.  "You mean, I won't get in trouble for shoving this whole thing in my mouth?  What IS it, by the way?"


"Never mind the trouble.  I will just eat this, thanks."


Full-on cake carnage!  Happy Birthday, Vivi Jo.  You are most loved!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Refridgerator Raider

So THIS is what has been happening to all of our Empyrean Ales.  Crap.

Look, Vivi, I don't know who you have been talking to, but you are about to turn ONE, not TWENTY ONE.  Those are Mommy/Daddy bottles.

Yes, Mommy is serious.  Get out of there right now.

Speaking of the BIG 0-1, what will Miss Vivi be receiving?  Not telling. But here is a teaser...

Six days to go!