April: A Special Olson Easter ANNOUNCEMENT!! :)

We are thrilled to announce that.... 

......we are expecting our 2nd child this Fall!!

April: 14 Months Old and Spring is here!

I don't know how we are getting so lucky after such a dramatic winter on the river, but lately it's been sunshine and 70 degrees here!  Jack and I have been taking full advantage of getting outside any day we can to play at nearby parks, go on walks, and visit the Tulip Garden!  He also had his first Easter Egg hunt at Grandma & Grandpa Thatcher's house and I'm pretty sure we had to hide them at least six more times back to back.  He is loving all the Easter activities that we've been doing that include cookie baking on the counter and reading multiple Easter books. As for our house in Happy Valley, we are signing closing papers on April 21st which means we are just a couple of short weeks away from owning our own place again! 

Age: 14 Months

Weight/Size: 23.5 pounds

Favorite Words: "Oooh!", "Baby", "Hot!", "Ewwww" or "P-U!" (referring to a poopy diaper) and signing for "More"

Favorite Activities: Hunting for Easter eggs!  We've been practicing a little here and there and reading lots of books with bunnies and eggs to get him familiar before the big Easter holiday

Signature Moves: Nodding yes or no, running the opposite way when he knows it's time for a diaper change, spinning his finger in the air for "Let's Go", and throwing his hands up when he doesn't know where something is or it's very windy, waving to strangers in the store

Likes: working the Keurig coffee machine/microwave/fake fireplace, painting anything with a paintbrush, listening to his kid CD on repeat in Mom's car, riding in his car anywhere outside, being outside in general, going on walks with Dad, and boat rides around the marina!

Dislikes: Leaving the park or any fun kid area & diaper changes when he'd rather be playing

Mommy Likes & Dislikes:  That he seems to almost completely understand English, makes my life a little easier!  We also love his dance moves to any song that comes on the TV.  Dislikes: Listening to Jack's kid CD on repeat in my car

Sleeps: 8pm-7amish, one long nap 2 hour nap in the morning with short/no nap in the afternoon

Changes in Mood/Behavior: He is now so much more independent; he'll play in the mornings by himself with his toys and I'll find him reading his books alone in his teepee

Eating: Sippy cup of milk 3x/day (7am, 12ish, 5pm), still loves MX food, and now we are loving all the fresh fruit starting to come into season which he loves to tease Hunter with

Clothes: 18-24 Month pajamas and 12-18mo regular Gap play clothes

Looking forward to:  Easter Sunday of course & moving into our new house on April 23rd!  We can't wait to be in our own place again and have a lot more room to play and spread out just in time for summer : ) 

....this past month in pictures.....

Gearing up for Easter weeks early!

Car ride around the marina with Momma

Running wild at Blue Lake park on a 75 degree day

March: 13 Months Old!

March Madness is great way to define how this month has been going!  After deciding to downgrade to a smaller house on the river that is much closer to the parking lot & the grandparents, we did a little house hunting on the eastside and made an offer on a house in Happy Valley!  Jack has surprisingly done great with all the transitions, he continues to surprise me with how well he adapts to new things when I've been worried sick with anticipation weeks prior on how he'd react.  Finally Oregon decided to give us a little break from all the rain/ice/snow and we have some really great sunny days coming up!  Only in the 60's but then again I swear it'll feel like California 70's...

Age: 13 Months

Weight/Size: 23 pounds

Favorite Words: FIRST WORD!! Banana!!  

Favorite Activities: Riding up and down the docks at the river in his push car & running in and out of his teepee to hide, carrying around his favorite "bear blanket" which is a little lovey he got as a baby and sleeps with every nap & night

Signature Moves: Waving his hands and saying "Ooh" when he sees a heater, fireplace or oven, waving Hi & Bye, putting his hands behind his head when someone yells "Touchdown!!"

Likes: Reading books in the morning after his first milk on Mom's lap, any living animal he can see in person, reading books in the car, and his new toddler car seat!  He can finally watch all the cars outside his window which makes the need for multiple toys in the backseat drop dramatically

Dislikes: The sippy cup transition from the bottle, although it didn't take long!

Mommy Likes & Dislikes: I love that Jack is really starting to understand me, it makes communicating with him so much easier, I knew I loved this age! Dislikes: Windstorms that shake everything in the boathouse when the baby is sleeping

Sleeps: 8pm-7amish, one long nap 2 hour nap in the morning with short/no nap in the afternoon

Changes in Mood/Behavior: We are getting a ton of more teeth this month (I swear he gets like, 6 all at once) so we've been a little fussy to start the month but now we are back on track!

Eating: Sippy cup of milk 3x/day (7am, 12ish, 5pm)

Clothes: 12-18mo regular Gap play clothes, and any pants are all too short or too long

Looking forward to: Putting an offer in on the house we found!  We are way too excited to get back into our own home again : )  And of course I can't WAIT to start decorating...this is the stuff that keeps me up at night.

....this past month in pictures.....

playing in the daisy fields in Wilsonville

Cousin Reese's 4th birthday party at the Children's Museum

Reading during a diaper change & car ride with his beloved bear blanket

February 16th 2014: Jack Throws a Birthday Bash!

Our little sweet peach is officially One today!  He loved his citrus-themed/chalkboard birthday party complete with over 45 family members, pina colada & pineapple cake, and confetti balloons galore!  

Happy Birthday Jackson William!  Ever since you came into our lives exactly one year ago, we have been filled with joy and had no idea how much love our hearts could give to you.  You bring so much happiness and excitement to our family and we love you SO much and will always be here for you!!

 

February: One Year Old!!

I can't believe he's already One Year Old….....but then again it's been a long year!  Jackson is already so much bigger as a one-year-old than I thought; for some reason I thought I'd have a little baby for so much longer??  In the last month he has developed SO much faster than any other month with words, walking & communication.  In our 11 month post I mentioned he was scaling the furniture only weeks after beginning to crawl on all fours- literally just TWO weeks later this guy was officially on the move at 11.5 months!!  : ) Although I loved the little infant I could easily carry around with me anywhere, I'm so happy to embark on my favorite age!  This weekend is his big 1st birthday at the river in his favorite fruit theme: Oranges of course.  We've been running around like crazy finalizing the menu and all the details, I really hope he likes his huge confetti balloons and teepee we got for him : ) 

Age: 12 Months

Weight/Size: 22.5 pounds

Favorite Words: Momma & Dadda obviously, but now he's added "Dee-dee" (Hunter)

Favorite Activities: Pushing his walker around the house, crawling up stairs and sliding back down on his stomach

Signature Moves: Giving kisses, omg my all-time favorite. Pointing to anything and everything wanting to know what it is!

Likes: Riding his rocking horse, riding around his push car, puzzles, any toy that makes music, dancing to music videos, & his birthday party!!

Dislikes: Cold snow & rain that blows in his face....welcome to Oregon...oh and birthday cake- he just threw it all on the floor.

Mommy Likes & Dislikes: How well he's walking!!  I know everyone said to cherish the time when he's still immobile but this kid is HEAVY... Dislikes: Rain that blows in my face

Sleeps: 8pm-7amish, one long nap 10-12pm, with short/no nap in the afternoon

Changes in Mood/Behavior: I've noticed now that I'm staying home with him how sweet of a child he is when he interacts with other children

Eating: Sippy cup of milk (transition from bottle complete!) 3x/day (7am, 12ish, 5pm), and currently favors Mexican food like guac, rice, black beans

Clothes: 18-24 Month pajamas and 12-18mo regular Gap play clothes

Looking forward to: having a toddler around the house!  I've always said a one-year-old is my all-time favorite age so I'm really excited for this upcoming year in Oregon!

....this past month in pictures.....

Family winter weekend getaway to Skamania Lodge!

Riding in his car around the marina- he loves it!

Attending Aunt Heidi's baby shower for baby Harper coming this April!

 Library date with Phoebe Sage!