1 more month till we are counting years!

Oh my goodness!! I can't believe we are actually at the 11 month mark.  It has truly been a remarkable journey so far.  Ollie continues to cruise around on furniture and toys, he can open and close doors like a champ, he is starting to try stacking toys on his own and he also is refining his scream.  In addition to all of that amazing-ness, Ollie is now an expert stair climber.  He can go up and down and throws temper tantrums when mommy closes the gate to the stairs.

Here are some of our 11 month pictures!

We love Cheerios!!!

Seriously. Love them!!

And we enjoy using Piccadilly as our climbing gym.

Our two babies!

Piccadilly also loves Cheerios!
And Ollie shares.

Extended Family Time!

Ollie, Piccadilly and I spent the month of July in Alabama with my parents and my grandmother.  It was wonderful to get some family time in and to have the extra hands around to help with the kids.

We did some traveling at the beginning of our trip. Our first stop was St. Louis to pick up Grandma (GG as we have started calling her!).  We picked GG up at my Uncle Dennis's home, which meant Ollie had the chance to meet more family!  My cousins Maria and Angie came over to join us for dinner at my Uncles house.  It was great to get to catch up with them and see them play with Ollie!

Playing ball with the professional!
Ollie enjoyed his first basketball lesson from Maria.

Angie feeding Ollie,
a way to a babies' heart is through his bottle!

So wonderful to see everyone!!

Ollie and his ladies.

Ollie thought Uncle Dennis was a pretty funny guy!

After our St. Louis trip we were very excited to have GG come to AL with us.  She was with us the whole time we were there.  It was wonderful to get to see Ollie with one of his Great Grandmothers!

Bottle time with GG

GG loved to give Ollie food, and Ollie gladly accepted it!  

Hanging out with GG.

Playing at the Depot!

We loved the trains and even got to ride on a trolley!

Laughing with GG and Grandpa!

And I have already posted about our fun in the sun with Brian and Kristen, so won't go into that again! I'll have a couple more post to cover some of the fabulous pictures I took while in AL, because there was some growing up that happened while we were there!

Sun, Sand and Family

In early July we made a trip down to Panama City, FL with a gaggle of Oliver's.  Brian and Kristen were in the midst of their whirlwind US tour, Great Grandma O finally arrived in AL to start her visit with us all and Grandpa was on vacation (for a few of the days anyways)! So the whole gang headed down to the beach.  Once again being very lucky to have the opportunity to use Uncle Joe and Aunt Cathy's beach home. Not only did we get to spend some time at the beach, Uncle Doug took us all out on a boat ride!  It was Ollie's first leisure boat ride and he loved it!

 It was a great getaway, complete with peanut butter balls, a puzzle, beachtime and a boat ride!

All of us for a picture outside of Mike's!
Aunt Cathy and Uncle Joe drove down to join us for dinner here.

Reading with Uncle Brian.

The seafood platter GG and I killed.
We had to help Grandpa with his.

Ollie with Aunt Cathy and Grandma

Grandma showing Kristen and me how it's done.

Ollie with Mommy and Uncle Brian in the ocean!

Floating at Crab Island.
Where we went on our first boat ride!

Brian, Kristen and me at Crab Island

Ollie on the boat!

10 months old!

And Ollie is on the move!  He has become a super crawler and has begun to climb.  He will climb up your legs (after trying to chew on your toes) and over the couch, over the dog, up a table, on his wagon.  Anything he thinks is remotely climb-able he gives it a go. He is also continuing to work on standing with out assistance. 

Ollie loves to play ball.  He is getting very good at throwing the ball.  Which makes my parents dog, Darby, very happy.  Ollie will often engage in a game of fetch with Darby.  Although Darby doesn't quite understand why his throws only go a few inches. Ollie also loves it when the ball bounces off of his face.  He thinks it's hysterical, go figure. 

We are also continuing to give him a taste of pretty much everything and he eats it all! (Well, except for the pickle. He wasn't sure of that one.) He loves watermelon and goes crazy for hummus! Ollie is also very alert to what I am eating and has decided if mommy has it, he should too. (No, Ollie you can't have wine!)

Another fun development over the past couple of months is that Ollie actually pays attention to you when you read to him.  He is focused on the pages and will ask (in his own baby sign language) for you to read it again.  One of his favorites right now is 'Chugga Chugga Choo-Choo' a gift from some dear friends of ours!

We are still in AL with my parents.  So here are the 9 month pictures as best as we could do in a new environment!

If only you could see his teeth! 
He is working on 2 top teeth and 1 more bottom tooth.
(in addition to the already existing bottom tooth)

Playing ball!

This face was just too good to not include.
A glimpse into the future maybe?

Our favorite book!

Kisses for Piccadilly!
Or a nibble on her ear, it's all in perception.

We might not be able to see Piccadilly in the next monthly picture.

Darby looks huge but is actually the smaller pup of the bunch.
They were all a little over the picture taking by this time.

Sweet Summertime

Ollie, Piccadilly and I have headed South for the beginning of our summer. And it has been sweet so far!  It has been exciting to introduce some summertime fun to Ollie.  Starting with the all-American road trip! Of course, this is isn't his first road trip (he wouldn't be a true 'Oliver' if it was). But it is the first one with a picnic stop for lunch and an attempted and failed pull off to a dairy. 

We arrived safely at our destination of Alabama, just in time for record highs to roll in.  Now, I can't be too bitter since the record highs are hitting our hometown in VA as well.  But I am very grateful to have some extra helping hands around to manage taking a dog out in the crazy heat and leaving the baby inside where it's cool. 

And speaking of cool, some of the tastes of summer Ollie has been trying are just the thing for these hot days! Ollie has tried some watermelon and a popscicle.  He loved both!  We have even gone as far as to give him some frozen watermelon and the little man was in heaven.  Ollie has also been trying some grilled veggies and loves that as well.  There is no doubting that his appetite in in tact.

Watermelon is delicious!

He cried when it was all gone. 

In addition to some taste of summer, we have been enjoying some summer activities.  Like riding in our new red wagon!  We left the little red car behind and were concerned about what 'ride' Ollie would have.  But a quick trip to Walmart lifted our concerns and Grandma and Grandpa are now proud owners of a new Radio Flyer wagon!  Ollie helped Grandpa put it together and we enjoyed an early morning walk today. 

Wheels look like fun.

So that's how that works!

I want them down, Grandpa!

Early morning stroll and it was still HOT!
Thank goodness my wagon comes with a cup holder for my water.

And what kind of people would we be if we left out water in the summer play!  Before we left VA we had some fun with water in bowls on our deck.  We also got to play with bowls of water at our friends C and Davids place on the way down.  It's been a little too hot to even go outside with water here in AL, but I'm sure the water table will make another debut soon.  Since we haven't played with water outside, we have played with bubbles inside. 

We are really getting into splashing now.

Helping himself to a drink.

Catching bubbles in Grandmas kitchen.

Bubbles feel funny on my face!

And we have been keeping in almost daily contact with Ryan.  Ollie recognizes his voice instantly and his face lights up when he gets to see Daddy.  Here is a great picture of us talking to Daddy on the iPad.  We miss him so much and wish he was with us.  But it is a small comfort knowing he can share it all through videos, FaceTime and iMessages!  We really are lucky to be able to 'see' him so much.  Some military family's don't have that luxury. 

So happy to see Daddy!

Sandy Toes

Before Ryan left we went on a 2 week vacation to visit with family and have some fun.  The first big event was Cara's wedding and from there we headed down to Panama City, FL!  This was Ollie's first beach experience.  And he loved it (eventually)!  My Uncle Joe and Aunt Cathy have a beach house in Panama City and very generously let us stay there for a few days.  We were lucky enough to also get to spend a day with them at the beach! My parents were also there for the beach fun.

Ollie was not sure about the water at first.  And I couldn't blame him! I let out a cry when I first got in.  It was a little chilly.  But once you were in, it was just right.  So after an initial cry from Ollie he got in to the groove.  And started splashing and even began to fall asleep!

Ocean Love!

Grandpa, Grandma and 'Bubba'

Photo Bomb, thanks honey.

Hanging in the shade with Grandpa and Dad.

Outdoor shower to clean up and outdoor drying!

Swimming is exhausting! 

Look at the gorgeous water!  It was perfect!

Happy baby, happy mom!

Aunt Cathy, Cousin Anna Beth, Baby and Mom

Sandy toes!