Book-nook, baby.

Lately, after one of those panicked moments of realizing that Oliver has been quiet for way too long, and  nervous about where and what I may find him doing...I've found him here:

He'll skillfully pull the box of board books off the third shelf on careful tippytoes...

And quietly sit, reading to himself in his booknook.  This has become his favorite place of retreat.  He's proud that he can pull himself up on the ottoman all by himself (high enough up and away from L who can't quite get up on her own) so he can have some alone time.

He'll sit here for up to 20 minutes at a time...getting lost in the illustrations and reciting animal sounds to himself.

And after he's done with each one, he tosses them on the floor.

Double Take...

  You two share everything. 

Toys...most of the time.

Food...especially when one of you doesn't like what's on your tray. 

Sippy cups..which sometimes later leads to sharing a runny nose.

Yep. Crocs, too.  (Oliver doesn't seem to mind the subtle, light pink.)

And, have I mentioned that you two share the same habits?

When one of you learns a new trick, you're eager to pass it on to the other.

Yet your little personalities are oh, so different. One of you is a bit cautious, the other  a bit adventurous.

That Daddy...

He's the kind of Daddy who scoops you up when you're inside the kitchen screaming at him through the window...

and single-handedly maneuvers heavy machinery, just so he can continue to hold you.

I'm sure in love with that Daddy...and his inability to resist that rosey-cheeked boy that just couldn't stand not being in his Daddy's arms.

Which one of these is not like the other?

These pictures are all taken of my kids at or around the age of 7 months:

Asher

McKlayne

Oliver

When Oliver was first born we thought he looked exactly like McKlayne as a baby, but the older he's gotten, the more he resembles that older brother who is head over heels for him.   He definitely takes third place in the amount of hair...but it's starting to grow in very quickly.

Introducing....

(in pictures)

Oliver Creed

born February 11, 2011

at 1:57 p.m.

Weighing in at 7 lbs 14oz and measuring 21 1/2 inches long.

Cate came in town yesterday and we had such a fun time posing my little baby doll for his first photoshoot while the rest of the kids were napping.  Thank you, Cate, for all of your help! I will forever cherish these!!

I'm working on writing Oliver's birth story...in the mean time,  I may actually finish a few posts that I had begun before he was born...I had about 8 unpublished, overdue posts. Many of you have asked, and yes, we did do a "Bradley Method" un-medicated birth.  I highly recommend it.  (More on that to come in his birthstory.)  Until then...maybe these will hold you over.

(This is how I often find my two boys...Asher just can't get enough.  I don't blame him...but Asher is constantly reminded to "give Oliver some space".)

And now...for my favorites...I had to peel the 25 cents garage sale sticker off of this baby...(the blue one...not the 3 1/2 week old) before we could use it. When I bought it months ago, I never envisioned using it for this...

I never expected to get so many good ones of all three of them...I may not try again until 2012.

I can't decide which of the next ones are my favorite...what do you think? 

(#1...above)

(#2)

(Or #3?)