Blind Melon's Bumblebee?

I think this one turned out cute though despite the cheesy backdrop!

Lankster Family Photo

So I decided we needed a family photo, particularly since I have failed to have any professional photos taken of Olivia since she was 9 months old.  We are cheapskates when it comes to pictures - I admit it - especially in the current economic climate, so I didn't want to shell out any dough just yet on expensive pictures.  I decided to make an appointment with Portrait Innovations in Hamburg.  You know this kind of studio - it is the type of place where you walk in, have photos taken, and walk out with them the same day.  We actually have been very lucky in the past - their photographers (nay, this one male photographer) have done such a good job.  Not so much this time.  I mean, I didn't think my expectations were high.  I realize that I have a 17 month old daughter that won't sit still.  But I expected, rightly so, for the female photographer to spend more than 15 MINUTES taking pictures of us.  I think any moron realizes that you have to spend a little time with a 17 month old to get one decent picture.  This is especially true if your job is to take pictures of children all day long.  Needless to say that I was SO disappointed with these pictures.  The best picture taken was one with Olivia's hand in her mouth.  I could have cried.  But I bought them anyway and accepted the fact that I was getting what I paid for - cheap pictures.  After looking at the family photo for a while, I've decided that it isn't actually as bad as I originally thought it was - I think my expectations were a little higher than they should have been.  But I am breaking down and scheduling a photo session with a good photographer to get a family photo after Christmas.  Hopefully I will have a good picture to post in the near future!

Picking Out Our Pumpkin

Olivia loved the pumpkins!

The apple cider was a big hit too!

Feeding The Animals At Boyd Orchards

Checking out the turkeys...
Feeding the goats...
Looking at the sheep...  (Olivia liked the sheep until one went "baa" at her.  Countdown...three...two...one...waaa!  Jeremy and I couldn't keep a straight face!)
A little shy of the horse...

Our First Trip To Boyd Orchards

Fall Update

I finally reached my breaking point.  I decided that Olivia didn't need a pacifier anymore.  I realized that more often than not, Olivia was using her pacifier and saying very little.  So I put my foot down and prepared for battle.  I decided that because she was so attached to it that I would take it away from her except at nap and bedtime and then phase it out from nap and bedtime before she turns 2 (hey, I am not completely crazy and I must have my sleep during the holidays).  The first day was nothing short of hell.  She was NOT happy and made it known.  But each day has been a little better and now she gives us her pacifier willingly when she gets up in the morning.  She occasionally asks for it, but I show her that the drawer where I used to keep her pacifiers is empty and remind her that the pacifier is for "night-night."  She accepts it even if she doesn't like it.  

Eliminating the pacifier during the day has made a world of difference.  Olivia now jabbers morning, noon, and night (have I created a monster?).  I have also noticed that she doesn't twirl her hair as much - I guess that was a habit enforced while sucking on the pacifier.  That means less knots to cut out of her hair - yes, I said cut.  You would be AMAZED at how tight she can wrap her hair into a knot.  She almost has a reverse mullet - business in the back and party in the front!  

Without the pacifier, I have noticed the range of Olivia's vocabulary has improved as well.  Olivia can say "mama," "dada," "ball," "bear," "bath," and recently, "Cooper."  When she belted out "Cooper" this past weekend, we were all taken aback - for those of you who don't know, my nephew Cooper is due any day now.  So Olivia is clearly excited about the arrival of her new cousin!  Sometimes I think that she can say "Jake" and "Maggie" too, but really all I hear is the "k" in Jake and "g" in Maggie.  But we are working on it...  

Olivia has also become more efficient with her signs.  The sign for "more" is still her favorite (she is a glutton) but she also is able to sign to me that she wants to eat and occasionally she will sign to me that she wants a drink.  She knows the signs for "mommy" and "daddy," although she doesn't quite get them right and rarely uses them.  We have tried to encourage her to use them when "talking" to us, but she always looks at us like we are crazy, as if to say, "of course I know that you are mommy and daddy - duh!"  The one sign that Olivia did pick up from her Baby Einstein video that she LOVES to do is the sign for "baby" - it is hysterical because she is very finicky on how she lays her hands before signing.  If I can capture a video of it, I will make sure that I post it.  But she loves to point out babies and make the sign.  Olivia also recently learned "thank you," although it looks more like she is blowing a kiss and I am not certain that she truly understands what she is saying.  "Please" is another matter, but her Daddy and I are not as good about remembering to teach her that one.  We are impressed that she has even learned this much as we are not very good teachers.  But we try!

Olivia's personality is also shining through these days.  Unfortunately, she is as obsessive compulsive as me.  Not only will she grab a towel to clean up spills on the floor and pick up lint or God knows what else from the floor and bring it to me, but she is finicky in how she eats.  She has started to use a fork, fairly proficiently, but occasionally she becomes frustrated and uses her hands.  If her hands get too sticky, she immediately wants me to wash them off.  When she is finished taking a bite, if a napkin is nearby she wipes her mouth.  When she is finished eating, she wants the area around her cleaned immediately.  Do you think my cleanliness has rubbed off on her?  I am thinking perhaps I need to back off a little, although the damage may already be done!

Our Little Bumblebee

Olivia tried on her Halloween costume to be sure it fit and we happened to capture these cute pictures at the same time.  She isn't so excited about the headband, but at least she can move in the outfit.  My only hope is that it is not too cold on Halloween or I will have to put her in black tights and a black turtleneck, which could be quite funny.  Every time I see her in this outfit the song "No Rain" by Blind Melon runs through my head.  If you grew up in the 90's, you know what I am talking about!