Has it been 9 months already?!

A whole 9 months has passed since Oliver was born but sometime it seems like just yesterday that we were bringing home our 5 lb 3 oz baby from the hospital. We don't have the official 9 month stats for him from the doctor yet so we'll post that when we have it but trust us...he's huge! Well, at least we think so but there have been some independent assessments that corroborate with us.

The truly amazing thing about having kids is watching them absorb everything around them, and the other amazing thing is seeing what excites them and captures their attention. For all the wonderful toys out there we have found that a simple paper towel role or tub kneeler or Mama's glasses or Mama's watch or Mama's ring can keep a baby amused just as well or even better. Of course with these types of toys Moms have to keep a very watchful eye on the baby and can't just go to the bathroom like she can when he's in a jumper but they are good for those moments when you just don't know whatelse to do.

Here are just a few milestones Oliver has hit in his 9 months of life:

Holding himself up in a standing position on the coffee table. (this sometimes results in a death defying fall backwards which most often will culminate in an egg on his head, but who am I to deny such joy to my child?)


Oliver has also learned to use a highlighter and calculator. Perhaps he has some accounting profession in his future. I'm sure Angie will have lots to show him.
Oliver is also on his way to mastering crawling with the help of the pugs.
What better way to celebrate being 9 months than to celebrate the birth of another future friend. Our good friends Karen and Trish gave birth to a healthy, beautiful boy on Friday June 26th. Oliver welcomes Carey Patrick Voorhees to the world!
The happy and proud Moms.
A smile already...looks like they are going to have their hands full with a happy baby...we should all be so lucky!

While we were visiting Carey at Beth Israel hospital we thought it would be nice to see some of the NICU nurses that took such good care of son when he was born.

This is Grace. She was always so clam and really helped us through some emotionally difficult times in the NICU.
This is Beth. She kept our spirits up and made us feel like everything was going to be OK.
On Saturday night we went to the epicenter of fun...Auntie Q's house! Auntie Stacey was also there and had a little face-to-face time with Oliver.
The happy boy in his carrier.
Oliver the rock star! Notice the faux-hawk hair.
The woman at the source of all this fun...Auntie Q.

Who says we can't celebrate Father's day?

Even though Oliver doesn't technically have a Dad he's got lots of men in his life who are Dads and one of them is his Grandpa. So, this weekend we headed down to Connecticut to celebrate Father's day with Daddy Novoa (a.k.a. Oliver's biggest fan). Even though the weather was less than desirable it was still a very fun weekend.

Oliver attempted to wrap his Grandpa's Father's Day gift...amazingly he didn't cut himself with the scissors or get tape in his hair or eat the wrapping paper. We consider that a success in the Novoa house.


While we were in Connecticut, Oliver got to practice his piano technique on a grand piano. I think he might have a future with the ivories.


Oliver also got to play with a few "antique" toys which used to be his Mom's toys. 31 years and they are still ticking...although I'm not sure Oliver will even know what a rotary phone is when he grows up. All the toys were still functioning which goes to show...they just don't make them like they used to (am I speaking like an old person....I think I am...ahhhh!)


On Sunday we had a Father's Day brunch where Oliver presented his well wrapped gift to Grandpa....a self-portrait. Do you think it's a little self-indulgent to give a picture of oneself to someone? I say, not until you are at least 18 (isn't that cut off for most things?)
Here are a few more pictures from the weekend.

The happy family! (You will have to take our word for it that Oliver was actually happy and smiling a second before I took this picture)
A good shot of Burt and Ernie and one of his new friends, Grover.
Oliver LOVES his bath time!

Oliver's Big Day at Gay Pride 2009

This past Saturday was Oliver's first Gay Pride Boston! We had so much fun. Thinking that we had the departure plan from our house down pat, we confidently left for the train station. When we arrived at the station we realized how novice we still are at this whole process because forgot the baby carrier. So, we were faced with holding our 22 lb baby for most of the parade (and by we I mean Jennifer). We sucked it up and proceeded on. Oliver got to see his first choo choo train and boy did it make a loud impression. We arrived to Government Center around 12:00 pm and waited patiently for the parade to make its way to us. Oliver had a great view of the parade atop Marina's shoulders, although I'm sure the view would have been better on someone a bit taller but he'll have to make due with his short Mom.


We got to see all sorts of people dressed in costumes and wonderful outfits (some more scantily clad than others).



After the parade we had lunch with our friends and Oliver got to try is very first taste of french fries. He really liked it and I fear that getting him to stop will be a challenge.


We returned home with one sleepy baby and two exhausted Moms. It was a fun day of celebrating the love and pride we have for our family and community.

Winchester Town Day

This Saturday was Town Day in Winchester so Oliver took his two Moms to have fun in the sun on the Winchester streets.

There was a baby animal petting zoo, pony rides (Jennifer really, really wanted to participate), face painting, a mini Olympics for kids and all sorts of fair food, music and booths.

We also got to see our good friends from our birthing class. They had a little baby girl, Zeynep Lale, back on October 29th. Oddly enough she and Oliver shared the same due date but ended up being exactly 5 weeks apart.

During the course of the day Oliver got in a little bit of trouble and the Winchester Police had to intervene. Fortunately, his Mom's were able to talk to the police and get Oliver exonerated from his wrongdoings.

BONUS OLIVER PICTURES!!

Rooting for the home team

Oliver ventured out in the sunshine (and eventual rain) on Sunday afternoon to root for his two Moms at their softball game. It was an exciting and close game with his Mommy (Jennifer) going 4 for 4 with an in-the-park home run! His Mama (Marina) played a half game and went 2 for 2. Oliver has such great friends who all wanted to take care of him while his Moms played. Thanks to Karen and Trish for entertaining him and to Tamar for making sure he was comfortable during the game. Also, thank you to T for getting Oliver his very own Wild jersey!

Walking with the pugs...or not

We all know how much Oliver loves his pugs but now the pugs have good reason to love Oliver. As if the food falling on the floor wasn't enough, now Oliver gives his pugs a ride in his stroller when we go for our long walks and the pugs get tired. The pugs were very thankful for the ride even though Oliver spent a lot of the time kicking them. Stella was a little more tolerant of the kicking but the break for the two of them seemed to be worth the abuse.

Oliver and Stella

Oliver and Gizmo

Some friends for Burt and Ernie

Last week Oliver started to get his second round of teeth and he wasn't that happy about it. Burt and Ernie (his bottom two teeth) give a warm welcome to: Big Bird, Snuffleupagus, The Grouch and Cookie Monster (these account for his top front two teeth and the two teeth on either side.) Right now we don't have any pictures of them since Oliver is very tight lipped about his new friends but we hope to get some shots of them soon. Perhaps we will employee the paparazzi to take some photos.

Anyway, here some things Oliver's been up two in the last few weeks.

He and Stella have taken their relationship to a new level.

Last weekend we went to the baby shower of our good friends Karen and Trish (they are having a little boy in only a matter of weeks!) There, Oliver met a lovely young girl and in the process of being mesmerized by her beauty he accidentally cut his finger on the inside of a soda can. Being the tough little trouper that he is, he hardly made a peep and was totally unphased by the incident. We did discover that he's a bleeder...meaning that the cut didn't actually completely stop bleeding for a few days (to Oliver's defense it was one of those small but deep little cuts, kind of like a really bad paper cut on a very tricky part of your finger).

We closed out the week by attending Danielle's collage graduation (congrats to Auntie D!!!). Oliver did really well even though it was over 90 degrees out. He was well protected from the sun with his super hat that Grandma and Grandpa got for him.

Oliver also discovered his rocker side this week. Give one baby a pair of sunglasses and one bass guitar and presto...you have your very own Ollie Van Halen.

Play this video

Bonus photo: Oliver and his rock band at school. (Shawn, Kayden & Oliver)