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."

Olivia's Pick--19 October 2008

We've been baking some seriously delicious pumpkin bread around here lately. Olivia is in Seventh Heaven while we bake together. She holds the eggs gingerly, before I break them. And she helps to stir our batter to silky smooth perfection. She watches with glee as I pour our mixture into the pan and put it into the oven.

I think that my little gourmet has fully graduated into Little Kid-dom, because today, I caught her reaching up to the counter top to dip her tiny finger into my freshly poured brown butter glaze that was dripping over the sides of our freshly baked loaf.

Olivia's Pick--12 October 2008

This weekend, we revelled in cool, cloudless days that can only mean autumn in the northeast. Blessed with such weather, we experimented with having some "free fun." We packed our weekend with outdoor adventures that didn't cost a dime.

We took in some sun on the swings at our lovely beachside playground. We visited a nearby farm and "baa-ed" at the sheep and "moo-ed" at the cows, and even made friends with the affectionate barn cat. We invited over some friends to share dinner and were treated to a scooter stunt show, while the littler ones pushed wagons and collected leaves. Olivia assembled a beautiful bouquet of Maple and Dogwood leaves just for her Papa.I

t was a lovely weekend and Olivia had more than her share of fun. As for us parents, we were reminded of something Olivia knows intrinsically: The best fun, the richest experiences don't cost a penny. And the memories are priceless.

Olivia's Pick--5 October 2008

In a moment of respite from the rain and wind this weekend, we were blessed with a sunny afternoon. We took the opportunity to drive to a nearby farm for some good old-fashioned pumpkin picking. Olivia was in her glory! After struggling with a few "big ones" she decided the "small, tiny ones" were more easily managed. Together, we filled the wheelbarrow with our harvested treasures and went in search of further adventures.

We discovered a wonderful hayride over the picturesque grounds. We lost ourselves in an authentic corn maze. And we giggled at the cute, but decidedly "stinky," pigs. Finally, we purchased a bag of the freshest and most delicious apples we've had all year.

Olivia's joy over experiencing autumn on a real farm was infectious. And as we were piling into the car, sharing an apple, she said "Can we do it again?"