Nearly One, going on Three!

I can not believe how quickly Olivia is growing up. She is so determined to be just like her big sisters - wanting all their toys, trying to play all the games they play and even calling out to the television when she recognises shows they respond to. And here are some photos to prove it.....

From the top:

1. Olivia proudly walking along swinging Annabelle's handbag

2 & 3. Climbing up on everything. She loves to try and climb onto the smallest thing and to go as high as possible. I caught her today standing on the birdseed bucket (about 10Ls I think) and reaching from there to a shoe rack that we have in an attempt to crawl up onto it so that she could reach up and touch the bird cage. She has an amazing sense of balance and doesnt fall too often (touch wood!)

4. oh, this was just one of Matilda that made me giggle. The girls always read a book to themselves after I have read their stories at night, but I guess in this instance sleep got the better of her!

5. Olivia proudly sitting on the big bikes - she cant actually touch the ground to make them go, but she feels like she is part of the action if she is on the bike. This photo was taken on a day when Matilda and Annabelle werent home, and Olivia was so excited to be sitting on the bike and not being pushed off.

5. Playing on the swings with Annabelle.

She is also starting to say some things that sound like words eg bye bye and 'ta'. She has the words Mum and Dad under control and her comprehension is definitely quiet good eg when she is climbing on something if I ask her to sit down on her bottom she either does it or looks at me with a cheeky grin and then balances on one leg. Very cheeky!

Olivia is also getting much better at walking. Her favourite game at night time is to try and beat me to get into Annabelle and Matilda's bedroom. Usually they are asleep before she is and she tries to get to their room to wake them up. She goes as fast as her little legs will take her across the kitchen squealing with delight when she hears me chasing her. Only problem is that she has an all in one suit on so the second she tries to speed up she inevitably falls over - which is even funnier!

Olivia is now officially walking! She has been at this point for probably two weeks. The two weeks prior to that she was taking 1-5 steps before falling over. whilst she still crawls a lot, she will always walk away from an object, and only crawl when she falls over. So, walking at about 10 1/2 months. When I was pregnant with her she used to kick like crazy and I always thought to myself 'she will come out running'. Well, she is not far behind.

I think she thinks she is two and a half, just contained in an 11 month old body. She tries to ride the kids bikes, tries to climb on chairs. I caught her the other day climbing onto Annabelles bed (which is only a childs size bed - not too far off the ground) and so pleased with herself when she got up and managed to jump up and down holding the foot of the bed. She also gets extremely frustrated when she cant do something - eg, when she is in her pj's, her feet slip a lot so whilst she knows she can get up on the beds, the pj's makes in much harder. She stands at the bed, yelling at it in frustration. Very funny to watch from an 11 month old baby.

She also gives 'high fives' and blows some of the best raspberries. Although, cheeky little monkey, goes in for a raspberry and then bites like a trooper. Sigh, the older two have taught her well! I have no doubt she will be able to hold her own as she grows up as, if Annabelle and Matilda take something away from her, or if I take something away from her she lets me know by yelling until she gets it back. Once she has it back she smiles very smuggly and quietly goes on playing.

Close Ups

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Just some close up photos I took today. I think it always make the kids look funny when you get too close. Obviously Olivia up the top, then Annabelle. Then Matilda. Doing her 'happy face' for the camera. She has been pulling these faces all week. Sometimes its a game - if you pull the face back at her she breaks down in giggles.

August 2010

From the top:

1. Olivia being very defiant about going to bed - check out the dummies on the floor.

2. Annabelle (in the red top) and Matilda (in the white) at one of the parks in Manly. After taking this I realised I have actually taken this image previously. Have a look at the entry from
October 2008 'Annabelle feeding herself Custard'. Its a couple of photos down, but its the kids playing on the same equipment. Funny to look at how they have frown.

3. The kids absolutely love playing with Lego at the moment. I had been out for a walk and came home to find them standing proudly with the above creations. They were hanging out for me to get home so that they could destroy them! Annabelle in the purple top, Matilda in pink. If you take a close look at the photo you will see two of the most cheesy smiles ever.