Robin & Cody: October 2012

Cody and I haven't slept in our own bed in over a month. And for that matter, our little Livy hasn't slept in her crib. And that last part is the saddest to me.

About a month ago we went on a weekend trip to the Colorado River and came home to a flooded condo. Part of our living room ceiling was sitting on the floor, and water had drenched the downstairs. This past month has been spent in my parents home and now in a Candlewood Suites. And our condo, well it's been slow progress.

The insulation and drywall has been removed from the downstairs and portions of the upstairs. Unfortunately, because our condo was built in the 1960's, the drywall and insulation had asbestos, and because that required special testing and removal procedures, the framing was still wet as of early last week and had grown mold. So Servepro has baked our condo with heaters and humidifiers this week and mold removal have been done. Sealing the wood is almost complete as well, I think.

And after a whole month, our condo looks way worse than that night we discovered it, covered in a layer of water.

It's depressing to see our home so very raw. It's depressing to be separated from our possessions. I need my fall wardrobe after all, and I really, really wanted my glue gun and "stuff" to assemble a Halloween costume for Alivia.

But most of all, it is sad to tell Alivia, "you want to go home?," and know that what she thinks of and envisions in her mind is our hotel suite instead of her former cozy condo with her toys and crib and room.

Thank goodness for insurance. Thank goodness for family. Thank goodness I'm having a good perspective (most of the time) on what is really important - I have my family. We are happy and healthy and safe. And we still have a roof over our heads and full stomachs. And in an unknown future date, we will return to our condo - and our beds - and this will all seem like a foggy memory.

And that's what the Orvin's have been up to as of late.

Livy is growing into such a fun little girl. Here are some of her updates.

Motor Skills: She is a pro at walking. She hasn't had any falls, bumps, scraps, or bruises (knock on wood). She was taking about 4 steps on her first birthday - so we thought she'd be walking by the end of her birthday week. But crawling was just more quick and efficient. It wasn't until late mid July that she really started walking consistently, and there was no specific "she's walking" date because the process from crawling to walking was so gradual. And if I do say so, she is the cutest darn walker I have ever seen.

Language Skills: She doesn't talk. Not at all people. No Mama. No Dada. No nothing. She babbles and makes sounds. She comprehends a lot of what is said to her. But she hasn't ventured into the realm of spoken language. She has, however, developed an impressively large non-verbal communication skill base. She points at what she wants or what she wants us to notice (like a dog or the moon or an airplane). She signs "more" or "all done." She nods her head yes or no to my questions. She furrows her brow when she doesn't like something. And she smiles and laughs when she does. And of course, she cries. Genuine cries for when she's physically hurt or her feelings are hurt (like when we say she can't play with something, etc.), and fake cries for attention or the like.

Growth: Livy's hair is growing in a bit more. She's had Cody's hairline for quite some time, but she is now looking less and less like she has a male's reseeding hairline. Her hair is also curly and unruly which makes her look unkept most of the time. She is 20% for weight at 20 pounds 6 oz. and 70% for height at 31.25 inches. She is wearing mostly 12 month clothing.

Feeding: She is very hesitant with food which makes me so frustrated. She'll love cantaloupe one day and hate it the next. She has a limited diet and still eats baby food to get in her veggies. She eats most dairy (yogurt, cottage cheese, other cheeses, milk, ice cream). She likes most fruit (watermelon, apples, pears, strawberries, grapes, etc.), but by way of example, she will only eat freeze dried bananas or pureed bananas. For every time she'll take a bite of a fresh peeled banana, she'll fight a bite the other 95% of the time. She is a fickle consumer. I feel victorious that I got her to like dinosaur breaded chicken, which is pathetic I know. But she only ate luncheon meat before then and I was so happy to broaden her meat intake. Now if I could just get her to eat BBQ or baked chicken. Someday soon. She likes olives. She likes pinto beans. She likes carbs...unless it's considered a meal item. We're working on rice and pasta and oatmeal. What kid doesn't like mac-n-cheese? or Mashed potatoes? Well...mine. Crackers and cereal she loves. Baked goods of all varieties are loved. And she has eaten green beans from a soup I made. Score! I have to focus on the small victories. She really only drinks water and milk, but has had some watered down apple juice.

Likes: WATER (the ocean, the hose, the pool), SUGAR (duh), the park, people (one of the most social babies I know), running away from her parents, her bunny and blanket, sleep (because she gets her pacifier for naps still (but not at night)), dogs, cats, horses, and hugging other kids. On that last point, let me just say that she will be playing along side a kid and randomly hug them. I'd say she likes smiling, blowing kisses, and waving to adults and older kids way more than playing with younger kids, but she reserves her hugs and for real kisses, unrequested, for little kids and babies. It is one of the cutest things, and saddest things when the baby or kid doesn't want the offered hug. And, she is obsessed with books, but rarely finishes a book. Half way through one, she gets up and grabs another from her stash and backs herself up so that she sits in my lap with some new reading material.

Dislikes: Well, most food, her doctor (the shot administrator), when Cody and I wrestle (today Cody was teasing me and going at me to tickle me and I was protesting telling him no and Alivia screamed so that she was louder than us, we stopped, looked, and saw the saddest face and tears starting to formulate...she really hates raised voices or confrontation - fake or real, and she really is lucky that she lives in our house, because we don't yell or scream or hit or hate). She often gestures "shhh" by padding her index finger on her nose. Another dislike of our little one is having to get in her car seat after an errand.

Shortly after her birthday in early July (12 months).

Livy at 12.5 months wearing her "1" shirt and channeling Minnie Mouse.

Alivia loving her friend Caroline and Caroline not wanting all the love. We often have to break up the hugs as Cody is starting to do in this picture. And just added a photo to show her walking at 13 months (August in Boston, 13 months)