This weekend we packed up and went to Hanover to celebrate some Christmas Fesvities. Saugeen Conservation Area was holding a christmas in the country festival. I have also posted pictures from this avent also. We roasted bannock, had apple cider from a cast iron pot. We bought fresh kettle corn. There was a horse drawn wagon ride that took us over to write a letter to santa. Then we took Oliver to the Santa igloo for a real visit with Sanata himself, Oliver was really good and not scared at all! I got the sweetest picture of him on Santas knee. The rest of the festival was all kinds of stops set up with different events and each one had a stamp and at the end you were entered into a contest. I guess we didnt win, because we were never called! It was a great day though....

My parents went on an amazing cross atlantic cruise and Oliver and I spent the week house sitting. Only it wasnt the great time away that I thought it would be poor Oliver got super sick with his first cold ever, which was a very nasty one. I had to get my friend Leon to bring me out medication for him and Noah stopped in to see how we were doing, we also got a horrible snow storm. Other then that I got alot of sewing done! and was able to relax a bit and spent time with Bowen. When the week was over my parents brought back really nice chocolates pictures and a video of their cruise, then Jordan came for the weekend. On the Sunday before we left for Waterloo we took Oliver to his first Santa Clause Parade in Orillia, it was really cold, but we had him bundled up really well and he was givin quite a few candy cane treats and was quite happy watching the parade once it started.

Last night we took Oliver to Hanover for Halloween trick or treeting with his Grandparents. The previous weekend we had also taken Oliver to the Halloween Mall Crawl at the Cambridge Mall. I custom made his costume again this year, he was a scare crow, there are pictures posted in the photo area. The mall crawl was great all indoors, with all the stores handing out goodies. Oliver even got a goodie bag from the sponsers with a neat wooden musical toy inside. So for Hallween day we drove to Hanover and helped Jordans mom and dad decorate the house for Halloween. Then after supper got Oliver all dressed up again and took him around 12th ave where the Grandparents live, then drove to a few special stops to see some family members and get some extra special treats, including baby food and a halloween toy! Oliver had a great time as he is totally walking now on his own, and went right up to everyones door, then continued to walk right into their houses. Everyone of course thought he was just the sweetest thing! Jordan and I also dressed up a bit with a mask and crazy make up, it was over all a great night.

Well today was a very big day for Oliver, his 1st real birthday party. Everyone important to him was there! Mom and Dad, Both sets of Grandparents. His great grand parents. Uncle Noan and a friend, Aunty Cat, Great Uncle Neil and Great Aunt Lydia, Great Great Aunt Maryanne and Gisela and Jerry, also family friends Lisa, Chris and little Nicholas, Amber Steve and their kids Austin and Autumn.

Oliver revieved awesome gifts, a special wooden toy chest hand made by my dad, tons of cool toys and clothes.

I made Oliver a special birthday cake out of pumpkins with marzipan stems and leaves with vines etc. The food was awesome and everything went as planned, even though I rushed around putting up decorations and was a little late!!! Other then that it was a blast.

Well today is my babies 1st birthday, a big step for Oliver and a somewhat sad day for me. Today marks the end of the real baby stage and the begining of toddlerhood.

Oliver is now walking completely on his own. He is still the most happy baby I know!

Today for his birthday we had Oliver open his presents after his breakfast.He had the most fun with his goft bags and tissue paper!!. Presents from mom and dad  included: Personal sized fish tank, baby laptop, ring stack toy, Stuffed animals, books, shoes, and pjs and clothes! We then took Oliver downtown Kitchener and had a special cupcake decorated for his birthday. Rasberry Lemon cream with butter cream icing and little decorations on top of a lego piece, and a character from the backyardagins.

Tonight we took Oliver over for dinner at his little friend Nicholas's house, whos birthday was also today. It was Nicholas's party. They had a great time with the toys, while us parents enjoyed lasagna, salad, and garlic toast. Then home to bed, Oliver's big Birthday party is this weekend!!! I cant wait.

In the past month Olivers ability to walk has improved greatly. Each day he tries harder to take more steps and be more independent.  He is still eating well and sleeping all night. This past month Oliver has sprouted 4 more teeth, for a total of 8. He is finally eating lumpy foods without gagging.

He loves to play with Rudy, and really enjoys all his toys. His vocabulary is building he says dadda bubba dodo gogo guh guh and mumumum snf bababa . He also understands many words. He knows who mommy and daddy and rudy are, and what his blanky and bottle are. He knows "bath" and "juice" and "kitty" and "Steps" also my favorite, hugS and kisses.

Olivers first birthday is approaching fast, and plans are in the making. Its going to be a wonderful day with lots of family and friends.

Oliver is also getting good at helping to brush his teeth, and learning to drink from a real cup. He loves to feed himself with the spoon and try new real foods that mommy and daddy eat.

Oliver 10 months Old Today

This week we spent in Hanover, with Jordans parents. Grandpa Glen was able to get Oliver to take 3-4 steps by himself, into my ams, a few days before he turned 10 months old. He Also broke through his 5th tooth!!! Oliver still struggles with textured foods, but now loves to eat his homemade purees.

Our week in Hanover, he had alot of visitors. We visited with Grandma's old co workers from the bank, as well aa his great aunt and uncle thackeray, and some close family friends. next week is Daddies Holidays and we are taking Oliver to storey book gardens with his new best buddy Nicholas. Then that weekend hes going to another friends first birthday party and a teddy bear picnic train ride with mommy and grandma caren.

Oliver has learned to climb stairs this past month, as well as learning to blow whistles and horns!!! he loves music very much.

Also this month Olivers Daddy took a week off work for Vacation. We took Oliver to storey book Gardens and to the childrens museum. After Daddy went back to work we took another visit to Orillia with his other grandparents.

Oliver now has 6 teeth , 5,6 are still working on growing!! It will be no time at all before the next top ones are there also.

Oliver is still struggling with eating small bits of food and textures. But he loves to gnaw at toast, cantelope, and baby cookes and crackers and other soft fuits and veggies, but mostly spits out the pieces!!

He also has a new sound, he says guh or guk, I have been trying to teach him to say truck. He said dad very well. Not sure if he puts the name to the face. He knows Rudy the cat by name though and mommy. He is a very chatty boy, and is always giving hugs and kisses non stop.

Oliver has also enjoyed playing with his new friend Nicholas who shares the same birthday! They are great friends.

Well Oliver learned how to pull himself up to all the furniture within the last few weeks and at 8 months and 3 weeks his 2 top teeth broke through and are still in the process of growing all the way in!!!

I have almost completely stopped breastfeeding. Finding it very painful with 4 teeth!!!!

Oliver and I are heading for his first real summer vacation this week in wasaga beach with my mom. We plan on visiting the Elmvale Zoo, A historical site to see a 1812 re enactment of war times. And long walks on the beach at sunset! and of course shopping. Oliver is all ready for the beach with is water car floating device and his sandpail and shovel!!! I cant wait to see his reaction to the waves. Then at the end of our stay at wasaga we are headed to another vacation at fishermans cove with Grandma and Grandpa Thackery!! and Daddy.

This past month Oliver has also met a new friend who is just his size!! Austin and his sister Autumn. We have visited with them a few times and Oliver and Austin get along great!!! Oliver also really enjoyed his first encounter last month with his soon to be girlfriend Rachel who lives in London.

Oliver is also starting to walk with his walker and really enjoys walking with you when you hold his hands, in no time im sure he will be doing that on his own.

Tomorrow grandma Caren is coming to pick us up for the vacation and before we head out we are going to take Olivers traditional 9 month photo shoot!! I cant wait..