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.

Trick or Treat Oliver Style

We were so excited for Halloween to come around this year because Oliver could finally dress up in something other than a t-shirt (he was only 1 month old last Halloween). This year, Oliver brought out his alter personality; Oliverasaurous Rex! I think we meant him a few months early.

We joined Oliver's daycare for a Halloween parade on Friday. Ollie got to see all his friends in their very cute outfits.

This is Oliver and his best friend Kaden the Skeleton.
The Oliverasourus Rex going after his pray.
After all this fun at daycare Oliver was pooped!
We also went down to Connecticut to celebrate Grandpa's birthday. As a gift, Oliver gave his Grandpa a trip to the Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, CT. Ollie loved his time there with his Grandpa and can't wait for all the trips to the many museums.


Here are a few other Oliver updates.

Recently, Oliver asked for a baby doll with which to share his affection. Who were we to deny him his request.

Oliver also has been honing his Dunkin Donuts skills by putting away a turkey sausage egg white breakfast sandwich on Saturdays.
Ollie has also learned how to express his love through kisses. Here he is giving Jennifer a well deserved smooch.

Oliver has also been practicing his piano skills. He asks to play first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Just look at that finger form! I think Sara Keene, my childhood piano teacher, would be as proud as we are.