Updates on The Kids

Our Sweet Solvi continues to charm the world with her bright eyes and beamish grins, which she bestows on any passing stranger like apostolic blessings at Easter. Truly, all with experience agree, never have they seen a baby more alert or engaging. She's also becoming quite the conversationalist, "talking" in "ahs" and even "laughing" with delight whenever you coo at her.

Above, favorite activity: looking at the dappled light in the trees.

In order to keep up this active social schedule, Solvi sleeps very little during the day, grabbing little cat naps here and there. She does enjoy her beauty rest at night though- often sleeping in until 8 or 8:30 after just one nighttime feeding.

Physically, Solvi is also making great strides. Before we came to the Cape in July she was starting to get more control of her hands and to reach out for items of interest. Now she can grab hold of most anything in front of her - a hanging toy, your shirt or even your nose! - and she loves batting at the bears on her bouncy seat. She also brings her own hands to her mouth to suck now and seems to be trying to figure out how to get that thumb in her mouth. (Since mastery of thumbing sucking was what caused Olie to finally sleep through the night, we await this discovery with baited breath.) Solvi also seems anxious to be on the move. She will role over on her side to reach her book (ah, a reader just like her big brother) or doll. Her back is getting stronger and stronger during tummy time (prerequisite for crawling) and she can put tremendous weight on her legs.

Saturday morning in bed

Big brother Olie continues to love her, insisting on holding her every morning. He's having a hard time with the change to the Cape and Dad being gone during the week, but for the most part any anger (and there is admittedly quite a bit as this is the first time his secure little world has been rocked) seems to be directed at us, not Solvi. Ok well there was the incident on the first day that Dad was gone when, thinking I'd left Olie a save distance from baby - clear across the yard, I came out from being in the garage just long enough to put the trash in a can to find that Solvi had a big pile of dirt on her face. Oops. Note to self: no multitasking until the babysitter arrives.

Another successful visit with the Patterson boys over July 4th

Helping Dad fix the chairs

First Sail! (With Dad, Sheila and Mon on Pleasant Bay. The seals were a big hit.)

Olie also continues to slay us with his imagination. The other day I went upstairs during what was supposed to be naptime to find Olie on my bed holding his dolly and putting my rings on. "I'm the Mommy," he said. "You be the Daddy, and this is baby sister. Whaaa, baby needs to feed." He holds the doll to me. "I'm the Daddy," I say, "you feed her." So he lifts his shirt and says, "feed, feed, feed."

Finally as my Mom points out Olie's vocabulary seems to improve weekly. Here's a recent exchange with Chad:

Oliver looking at the fruit bowl prompts Chad to inquire, "Olie, would you like some fruit?"

Olie: "Yes, I'm considering an apple, but perhaps I'd prefer a banana."

Dancing w/ Tilly at the Nauset Beach Band Concert

Solitary Swim (Olie is getting quite good. Might be dog paddling by the end of summer...)