1 Year Old

What a year! It is hard to remember what life was like without you now and we wouldn't have it any other way! You are learning all the time and your personality is developing at the same rate. A confident walker you are now mastering the art of climbing! Nothing is safe. All the precious decorative pieces have been moved and you are not safe left unattended otherwise when we come back into the room we have to look for you hiding up high. At daycare they have named you their 'energizer bunny' and you are certainly that. You take life at full pace wanting to explore and learn everything there is to discover. A cheeky little somewhat toothy smile spreads across your face when you are pleased with yourself or when you find something amusing. You still don't have much hair and are still a little wee girl which surprises people even more when they see how confident and competent you are.
On May 30, 2015 we celebrated your first birthday with family and friends, old and new with a Teddy Bears Picnic theme. With spotty picnic mats on the lounge floor, paw prints leading up to the front door and dress ups to go down to the woods in disguise we were all set. You were one very lucky girl with all of your presents. Grandma and Poppa brought your table and chair set, Nana and Poppa your cool new bike. Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake brought you back a picture from their travels in India, Aunty Courtney made you a cool new dress and your first doll. You received lots of other toys from building blocks to musical instruments, clothes to puzzles from friends and family.

11 Months Old Already!

Wow 11 months and we are nearing your first birthday a crazy thought! Bumps and bruises are a common fashion accessory at the moment as you walk around. The occasional tumble or walking into furniture that wasn't there before means your forehead is taking a bit of a knock. We love you to bits and you obviously have trust in us as you will often walk as far as you need to and then lunge into our arms for a cuddle rather than taking one or two more steps. You have started at daycare two days a week on a Thursday and a Friday while I go back to work. You have embraced this new change and love all the new experiences you can explore there. But come pick up time I love having my little girl back, heading home for some quality time before a bath, dinner and bed.

10 Months Old

Peek-a-boo is a favourite! You love hiding your little face in boxes, behind furniture whatever you can find. When we ask "Where's Olivia gone?" We are greeted with a gorgeous cheeky smile. Your love for this game has continued to one of your Christmas presents from Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake. They gave you a peek-a-boo pop up book. You love this book and are now grabbing the book, turning the pages and opening the flaps chuckling at the animals or vehicles that pop out at you. The other day I read you this story and then grabbed another book a couple of pages into the second story you took it off me and picked your peek-a-boo book up again ready to roar at the dinosaur again.
Another love of yours is animals! You can't get enough of them. Whether in real life or a picture of an animal. You love them all. Another story Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake brought you for Christmas was Handa's Surprise. It is about a little girl who carries a basket of seven different fruits on her head to her friend. The trouble is the cheeky animals one by one take the tasty fruit out before the goat bucks a tangerine tree to fill the basket with tangerines. With each page you crack up laughing at the cheekiness of the animals taking the fruit with your own cheeky giggle. It is so contagious Daddy and I find it hard to carry on reading.
Going to the pet shop recently to get things for Ava you were in your element looking through the glass at the little puppies who were jumping up to say hello, the turtles and fish swimming around and the birds flapping their wings.
You have been busy pick pocketing Daddy for his wallet lately grabbing the necessary Gold Visa then crawling off down the hallway with it. Funny that you know exactly which card you need for shopping.
Standing is now second nature. As is walking along the furniture and moving carefully from one steady object to the next. You now find anything to stand behind and push to practice your walking and are using your pram to do this too. The amazing thing is you don't just hold on and push but you put one hand on the back of the pram and push/steer while the other hand turns the wheel, as if you are already aware of how turning the wheel makes the pram move along.