How we learned that "no" is not enough information . . .

Olivia's favorite word is "no." Not because she says it, but because it's hilarious. In fact, it makes her want to do silly jokies like put a comb in her mouth even when she knows that a comb is for combing.

Maybe this is her way of showing that "Please don't climb up the stairs" or "Please take that out of your mouth" are actually the correct ways of helping her understand what is OK to do. Or maybe she knows already that we've got no idea what we're doing.

Check it out.

Stinky!

I once heard that puppies like to chew on shoes because they have the most intense "essence," let's say, of the people that they love the best. I don't know if that's why Olivia is obsessed with shoes as well, but I'll go with that.

The other day, dear Cousin Amy came to babysit while I got caught up on some work. When Olivia went after her shoe, Amy swiftly saved the poor tiny baby from the disgusting germs that inhabit our street, where the shoes had previously been walking. Amy will make a wonderful mother.

Compare that to my reactions:
--Yell "Stinky! Stinkpoo!" over and over in an effort to make baby laugh.
--Record on digital while baby rubs contaminants all over her face.

But it shore is funny to watch.

First Friends

All summer long, Olivia and Noema, her slightly younger friend (by three months), have been enjoying two multi-hour play dates a week while each of their two mommies has been working, reading, resting, dancing . . . and now they are best friends! They share blankies! They hug heads! They practice "gentle!
(They're still working on that one though.)

Cash wraps + "HI-EEE!"

Olivia's longest focus time involves emptying coin wraps from a root beer mug. I'm sure that that activity doesn't sound at all exciting to watch (especially in two videos: Coin Wrap I and Coin Wrap, The Sequel), but there is something mystical, almost Zen, about her concentration. That is, until she notes the arrival of a new spectator, at which point her concentration breaks into her exuberant greeting. (She says "HI-EE!" to everything from cats to plants to doll babies. Today, I'm pretty sure that she said "HI-EEE, Tee-tee!" while eating rice and strawberries. Translation: "How-de-do, there, kittycat?")

Cousin Cameryn: Olivia's Idol

Olivia loves her older cousin Cameryn. They read books together past both their bedtimes, Olivia explores the inside of Cameryn's mouth and then feeds her Kix . . . and what's not to love? Cameryn does a mean Hannah Montana onstage number, complete with microphone switch-hand tricks and bending to sing to her fawning audience members. That's advanced for Olivia, but I'm sure that she's working on it in her crib at night. Pretty soon they'll BOTH be singing to crowds and posing for Vanity Fair.

Book, bee, BANZAI!

In this video Daddy is trying very hard to have a positive literary interaction with Olivia. She returns the gesture for about ten focused seconds, and then moves on to other living room pursuits. Not to be rebuffed, Daddy comes back strong in the form of a bee. No dice. Both the look back over the shoulder and the victory whoop upon snatching a cattail have become signature Olivia moves. I hope you enjoy watching this epic feature starring Olivia's two favorite redheads.

Naughty has entered the building.

Olivia is testing out Naughty. It goes like this: 1) Conceptualize the act (climb stairs, mount cat, pull everything out of the bottle drawer risking fingersmashing in the process) 2) Ensure that Mommy or Daddy is looking. Grin with anticipation. 3) Crawl at full speed toward target, chortling. 4) Invest all energy in finalizing the act, shrieking with delight as Mommy says "Olivia, noooo" and then removes Naughty Baby from target. 5) Start over again from removal landing point.

In this video, the victim is a poor miniature palm. It's been under double attack recently---from above by Bella who has confused it for a conveniently located place to relieve herself, and from below by Olivia who hopes to unroot it by yanking violently on its long, tempting leaves.

Sadly, my discipline techniques--laughing and videotaping--are not likely to win me any parenting awards. I laugh every time Olivia perpetrates something because I get such a kick out of her emergent chutzpah. My friend, Kristin, a mother of two "energetic" boys, asserted very emphatically over a wine lunch today that I really need to develop a better long-term discipline strategy, however, since giggling along with the Plant Bandit will not cultivate a respect for green life or potted things.