Communication

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. We got so many new gadgets and toys for Christmas, my computer has taken a backseat. I've been trying to upload some Christmas pictures, but turns out with a one year old, I didn't take many! I tried, but it's much more fun to help her open presents then watch her play with the plastic wrapper something came in. The break from work was so wonderful for all three of us, and it was almost weird to go back to work Monday. Olivia almost seemed ready to get away from US when she ran toward her friends at daycare and they all squealed when they saw her. It is hilarious to see all the babies interact with each other. They have their own language. They all walk up to whoever has just arrived, greet them, give each other toys and babble in different tones and inflections just like there is a secret code that those silly adults will never understand.

Olivia is really picking up more and more sign language right now including: please, more, help, eat, drink, milk, all done, thank you, sorry and love you. If she doesn't do a sign yet, I'll do it to her and she will answer with either shaking her head no, or clapping and laughing for yes. I love baby sign language! As far as any talking, she is still as stubborn as ever. She will say "dada", "bubble", "uh-oh", "this" (or "dis"), "mama" and just recently "papa" (my dad). Now, the funny thing is that she absolutely refuses to say "mama" over all these words unless she is upset. We ask her, "where's Olivia?" and she'll pat her belly, "where's dada?" and she'll look or point at Neil. Then comes Mama. "Olivia, where's Mama?" She will do everything but look at me or point to me. She only smiles real big, as if she's thinking, you wish! I guess it's a sign that she's smart because she knows it irritates me...little booger. She has also been increasingly easily frustrated in the past few weeks, which leads me to believe she's on the breakthrough of a new development such as talking. She went through a week or so frustrating period before crawling, standing and walking. Then she'll be super happy once she does whatever she's been attempting to do all along.

Oh!!! And TOOTH ALERT! All she wanted for Christmas was her two front teeth, and there is one coming in! It's still just broken the skin (which for her means it will be another month before it's completely in), but it's a front tooth!