Olivia's Pick--16 November 2008

Perhaps I will regret this one day, when she's 15 years-old and this particular Pick of the Week somehow surfaces from the depths of this cyber sea and rears its ugly head. But I'm too excited to keep my mouth shut about this.

This week, Olivia's favorite thing is using the "big girl potty." That's right, she has unceremoniously left her diapers behind (except for bedtime) and she is immensely proud of herself.I am beaming with pride as well, but for me, this milestone is bittersweet. My baby is becoming a little girl, and a bigger little girl by the day.

When I brought her home from the hospital, everyone said "It goes so fast, you won't believe it! Cherish every minute." But I'll admit, I had no idea just exactly how fast it goes. Now, I don't want to blink, for fear of missing something.I've read a lot and written some about being a "present parent." And while no Mama can stop herself from being distracted some of the time, I am recommitting myself to this goal.

Because it really does go by so fast, so fast, I can't believe it. And I want to cherish every minute.

Olivia's Pick--9 November 2008

This week, Olivia's feeling a bit under the weather, so she's less into stuff and more into snuggles. But between sneezing and coughing, she's been enjoying books as much as ever. This week, she's discovering the magic of The Polar Express by the talented Chris Van Allsburg. This Caldecott winner tells the story of a nighttime journey to the North Pole and an exhilarating encounter with Santa. Van Allsburg's signature mysterious illustrations turn this book into a real adventure for the imagination.

Olivia's Pick--2 November 2008

I suppose it had to happen, sooner or later. As much as I tried to put it off, I knew that one day, Olivia would discover the magical pleasure of chocolate.Yep, that's right. She went trick-or-treating on Friday, with the rest of America. And she came home with a bucket full of candy. I sifted through her stash and removed all the the jaw breakers, Starburst, and bubble gum that are too sophistacated for her little 2 year-old jaw. But after all her hard work and excitement, she deserved a taste of her earnings. And she had it, in the form of several small Hershey's bars. She jigged. She ambled. She smeared chocolate on her face, her hair, her costume. She was, I'm afraid, totally blissed out.

So, that's it. The seal has been broken. She now knows the meanings of the words "candy" and "chocolate" and there's now turning back.

I just hope she'll be kind hearted enough to share a Hershey's or two with me.

Olivia's Pick--26 October 2008

A couple of weeks ago, Olivia and I picked up a copy of "The Wind in the Willows," by Kenneth Grahame. We began making our way through it slowly and I was impressed by her focused attention, considering there were only about five illustrations in the whole book.

Last week, she received a beautifully illustrated copy in the mail. (Thanks Grandpa!) It is now officially the only book she wants to read. We're 147 pages into this gorgeous tome, illustrated by Inga Moore. I have little doubt we'll finish it this week. At which point, she'll probably look up at me and say, "Read it again, Mama."