Merry, Merry, Happy, Happy!!!

It's been a very exciting past few weeks. The holidays zoomed right on by but not without some fun partying and family time celebrations. We kicked off the festivities with the annual Novoa holiday party in Connecticut. Mother nature tried to stop us by throwing us a winter blizzard but that didn't stop everyone from coming. It was a smaller party than usual but uniquely intimate.

Oliver got lots of practice walking up and down grandma and grandpa's stairs.

Oliver also got to see his very favorite little man, Jordan. We couldn't keep Oliver away from him. He kept wanting to give Jordan hugs and kisses. It was simply precious.

Oliver joined in the traditional carol singing. He learned a lot while studying the score with his grandpa.
After learning the music with grandpa, Oliver felt brave enough to get up in front of everyone and sing with his grandpa.
A few days later we returned to CT to celebrate the Christmas holiday. We started our evening by taking our annual holiday pictures in front of the tree.

Oliver got lots of presents including a rocking horse and his very own fold out couch.
The greatest gift Oliver got was to spend lots of time with his grandma and grandpa. He really loves them!

Poor Gizmo only got this box of raisins for Christmas. Better luck next year pug!

First Snow

This past weekend we had our first real snow fall of the season. Technically our very first snow fall was in the beginning of October but that was just a passing shower. This, on the other hand, dropped legitimate snow that stuck to the trees and the ground. All this was just in time for Oliver to try out his brand new snow suit that his Grandma and Grandpa got for him. I'm not sure what was harder for him to navigate; walking in the snow or walking in the snow suit.


That same day Oliver's new snow suit was put to the real test when Oliver and Jennifer went to the banks of the Charles River to support me in yet another 5K road race. Were we crazy?...ummm yes! It was about 10-15 degrees colder by the water with something like 20 mile per hour winds. All this made for ideal weather for running and even greater weather for spectating...Not! Oliver's cozy surroundings were the envy of all the racers. Fortunately, running 3.1 miles made me pretty warm but I can't say as much for my poor wife.

Coming down the final stretch. Trust me when I say I tried to beat this kid but damn his 12 year old legs! That's right, 12 years old!

Giving Thanks

Our Thanksgiving holiday was great! Grandma and Grandpa came up from Connecticut as did Uncle Erik and Aunt Anna. We had a really yummy dinner and I think Oliver enjoyed it the most. He was so entranced by all the food (especially the pumpkin cheese cake) that he felt it necessary to double fist his food. One spoon was just not enough!

After dinner, Oliver and Grandpa hit the back yard for some fall weather fun.

By evening time everyone was pretty pooped out. Ollie cozied up on his Grandpa's lap and enjoyed a little snuggle time.

We have lots to be thankful for this year. We have a happy and healthy son, a warm home, and a beautiful family. In the face of all the uncertainty in the world right now we can at least hang on to the fact that we have a wonderful family to love and we are thankfully loved by a wonderful family. Thanks everyone!

In our little family of three we view support as a three way street. Marina and Oliver support Jennifer at her football game.

Jennifer and Oliver support Marina running her first 5k road race.

And Marina and Jennifer will support Oliver in whatever activity he chooses to partake in. One day we may see him take his first swing with a baseball bat, or his first football game, or his first piano recital, or his first debate match, or his first dance recital. Who knows what's in store for us but whatever it is we are sure going to enjoy every second of it.

He's a Big Boy Now

The Novoa house has been teeming with lots of developmental growth lately. Oliver is getting to be such a big boy and he's decided that eating with ones hands is for babies. Check out these two videos of Oliver taking his first "stab" at self feeding with a fork and a spoon.








Oliver has also recently showed us his very special talent....whistling! That's right, our baby whistles. Ok, well he doesn't quite have the entire technique down so I have to help him a little but tell me how many 13.5 months old babies whistle.



Oliver has also really taken to helping with the house chores. I mean, it's about time he started pulling his own weight around here. Fortunately, he seems to like it.

I couldn't leave this entry without mentioning the irony that is our lives. Oliver's first song that he has actually learned to recognize is the Itsy Bitsy Spider. He also makes the hand gesture of the spider climbing up the water spout. It's really cute! Enjoy (sorry for my bad singing)!

What Ollie Learned While Being Sick

After suffering with the flu for about a week......Oliver is finally getting over his sickness and is ready to attack, I mean re-enter, the healthy world again. Even though he was down and out for about a week his sickness didn't keep him from learning and exploring new things. Here's a recap of what Ollie has accomplished in the last week.

He learned to take his nebulizer treatment like a good boy.

He learned how to give his baby doll a bottle.

He tried to give Gizmo a bottle.

Ollie learned how to commune with Stella a little more.


Oliver learned how to share his prized binky with Gizmo.

Oliver also continued his progress with reading.

Whoodles Galore

Oliver took a little trip to Rhode Island this past weekend. We visited with his Aunt Tamar and Uncle Kris at their new home in Providence.
While he was there playing in their awesome back yard, he got to also play with their awesome Woodle, Ugali. I think Ugali really took to him because of his bear hat which made him a little more animalistic and easier for Ugali to relate to.

Oliver also loved all the beautiful fall leaves in Kris and Tamar's new back yard. I think this local is going to be site of many fun years with babies and dogs...oh and friends too!


Oliver has also been recently subjected to the likes of my new iPhone. So here are some of the most recent shots of my little boy.

Here's Oliver playing with his new toy...yes that's right it's a box. But it's an awesome box!


Oliver has also been subjected to sickness. This illness came on kind of quick and has filled Oliver's lungs with all sorts of junk. Along with a low grade fever, Oliver is milking the cold thing for all its worth. We are back with the good ole' nebulizer...yeah! It's a lot harder to make a mobile Ollie sit quietly for this treatment than it was the last time we had to give it to him.
Mr. Sick at his most convincing.
Oh and Stella has also be subject to my iPhone photo frenzy.