Full of surprises, as always!

So, Oliver's appetite has been so low for so long, it seemed he might never eat normally again! His dad's been missing his big round baby tummy... so yesterday we were on our way back from an afternoon walk in the woods, and decided to try a restaurant Andy had noticed before, "Jamaica James' Jerk Pit." A simple place, lots of green and yellow, reggea music (which Oliver totally grooved to!), nice service. They didn't have a baby seat, but Oliver was happy to be held for a bit, and there weren't many people there so he walked around a little, too. Andy ordered their bbq pork, and I got a couple of their filled "patties," kind of like savory pastries filled with spiced meat. One was spicy pork, one curried chicken. Well, Oliver couldn't get enough of the curried chicken patty! I had to order a second one! It was so great to see him really into eating something again, and how funny that it was chicken curry! He's so full of surprises. Today I learned that he likes quiche lorraine! We're hoping that our hungry boy is back. xo!

Oh I'm a Pirate Sailing on the Sea...

I'm happy to report that Oliver is feeling a lot better now... he's definitely not 100% (maybe more like 75), but well on his way. No more fever, just a bit of a cough and runny nose, but his appetite is still low. Guess he's been tapping into his considerable reserves, these last few days. But his routines are pretty much back to normal, including lots of playing and exploring. Here he is enjoying his favorite musical songbook with his dad...

He hasn't had any new toys for a long time, so I finally got a couple for him yesterday - the Fisher Price 2-level car garage complete with elevator, gas pump, two cars with little people that come out (one makes a beeping noise and has a tow attachment), and great spiral exit ramp - the same one that Ian and I had growing up, except new-fangled. Also got him an "Aqua-doodle," which is a big pad that goes on the floor and has an aqua pen (you fill with water), and it magically writes on the pad, then the marks disappear in a few minutes. Very cool! Oliver is nominally interested now, but I'm sure he'll get more into it later.

His newest trick is that he's decided it's fun to put things on his little truck and push them around - so far he's been transporting his pink piggy, and our cordless telephone. Dad's outside with the snowblower, we have to go watch now... Oliver's fascinated with it!

Mr. Sicky Pants

So poor little O has been sick again for several days - this is the fifth day he's had a fever. Today it started to get a bit better, and he definitely felt a lot more like himself... yesterday was terrible! He was feverish again and started getting full-blown cold symptoms, and just kind of cried and whined all day, wanted to be held but wasn't too comforted by us, and barely ate or drank anything. Very frustrating! This is a photo of him after he woke up in the morning yesterday - normally a time when he's quick to play with his toys and make mischief, but yesterday all he wanted to do do was lie down with his dad. He slept a lot last night, though, which I think helped him feel better today - he actually played a bit today, and ate a little, and drank... and we went to the grocery store! He was a very brave boy. :-)

Andy left today at noon for Peru - he won't be back until Friday morning. We miss him already. He brought in a huge stack of logs so we can keep the fire going for the first part of the week and stay nice and toasty... and of course, I *could* go and get more logs as well!! Oliver and I are hosting a playdate here on Tuesday (assuming he feels well enough), so it will be nice to have a cozy fire going.

Man about town

Hello! So Olilver's doing well... I can't tell you how often we're out at a restaurant and people comment on how GOOD he is! And how cute... ! But especially that he's a good boy, which is always nice to hear. We often relay that he's been out at restaurants since he was two weeks old, and is pretty used to it, but still we're very proud of him. Not that he doesn't cause a big stink sometimes, but he is still a baby, after all! We were in Guilford this weekend for a couple of nights, and we went to some of our favorite old haunts - the Stone House (bar side), the Maritime Grille (his very first restaurant ever, where the waitresses there STILL remember us!), Lenny and Joe's Fish Shack... I have to say, we don't eat out as often here in NJ, because we haven't found a lot of local favorites yet, but we're getting there.

While we were back in CT, we also saw lots of our old friends - our great "moms" group and all the little babies he's grown up with, Heide and Josh and little Delma, Phyllis, Sharon and Johan, and even Brendan Loughlin, our favorite Guilford artist! That was the best part about going back up, seeing everyone again. Can't wait till next time! Here's the article just published on Brendan, in Yankee Magazine.

New with Oliver: he really had his first drink from a straw this weekend! He hadn't quite gotten the concept before now, so this is a new fun thing for him. He has a new cute habit that's hard to explain - when he's all pleased with himself, he grins, pulls his chin in and chortles in the cutest way, I can't stand it! He really likes peek-a-boo/where's oliver? now. And though he's got pretty much no "words" at all yet, he understands sooo much, it surprises me! Like, "Oliver, can you close that door for us?" and he does!! What a good boy.