Conference

Latter-day Saint General Conference was last weekend and I just love it! I love being able to hear words from modern-day prophets and apostles. There is always something I need to hear that applies to my life and the concerns/worries/thoughts, etc that I have had of recent. Fortunately, I caught a few pearls of wisdom (I loved Elder Oaks' talk on desires... see/hear/read it at http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/04?lang=eng). Unfortunately, Otto is a bit busier and constantly distracting. I'm not gonna lie... there were a few talks I wished I heard more of. In spite of his busy behavior, when a speaker or prayer would finish Otto would say "Amen!" and then continue whatever he was doing.

During the Saturday afternoon session, Otto randomly said, "All done" when he felt like it was time to turn off the TV and stop watching conference. So, I decided it was time for Otto's afternoon snack (he's usually more focused when food is involved). I sat him in his high chair and gave him his snack. He then looked up when a member of the 70 was speaking and immediately folded his arms and bowed his head. He waited a few seconds, said "Amen!" and looked up to see that the general authority was still at the pulpit. He immediately refolded his arms, bowed his head, waited a few seconds then said, "Amen!" Heedless of my comment between prayers that the general authority wasn't praying, Otto repeated this about 5 times until he kind of just gave up on it. It was adorable. We love him so much and in spite of his busy, energetic spirit, are so happy to see that he catches onto things that we try to teach him.

Otto & Friends

Anyone who knows Otto, knows that he's a social bug. He LOVES being around other people. He loves learning from others, watching them (so close he's in their faces sometimes!), being the center of attention, etc, etc. So, here's a little feature of a few of the wonderful buddies he has the pleasure to be around often enough for me to snap an occasional photo (which I need to be better at!).

Playing with towels from our bottom kitchen drawer...

"Oushide!"

I love how all three of these guys are looking in different directions, discovering their own little worlds!
Not a glamor photo of Otto... just getting up after joining his friend on the floor.
"Social time" at the gymnasium of our church building on a cold day...

So, here's to all of the little kids who make it possible for Otto to be thankful for his friends (and possible for him to list them one by one in prayers or wake up saying their names or walk around the house begging to play with one, or all, of them...). Thanks to those not pictured, too! Thanks for being so fun!

Spring Fever

"I've got the madness... I've got cabin fever!!! I've got it toooooooooo!" Name that movie and you get a prize... :)

This warm weather has been a nice break from the bitter cold we had a bit ago. Unfortunately, I don't think it'll last much longer - the news reported snow beginning this evening. I guess we'll have to start bundling up to go "shouside" when Otto requests it. *sigh*

Fun with talking

Otto is beginning to get better at talking and is getting a larger vocabulary quickly. So, before it gets better and I begin to forget, I just wanted to share some of the fun things he says/used to say;
- "ga!" which means, "grandpa" or "grandma" (which is now "ga ka!"or "ball"... not sure how the two are connected
- "die!!!" (with a wave) which means, "Bye!"... I keep worrying our friends with English as a second language will think, "why does he keep yelling that to us as we leave?!"
- Eric taught him that when a truck goes in reverse it goes "beep, beep, beep" and then when it stops it goes, "cshhhhh" (the air brakes stopping). So now he does it when he's walking in reverse as well as when he's playing with his trucks. SOOO cute!
- "gurt" for yogurt
- names (Aub-ah for Aubrey, Syce for Bryce, Ash for Charlotte, Ad-uh for Aida, Gee-yun for Jillian... and more)

Dance & animation collaboration Story

Dance and animation collaboration produces stirring viral video. Here's the BYU story on the animation and dance collaboration, if you're interested.

Thought of You - by Ryan Woodward

Check out this video from You Tube...

Love it! So beautiful... but then again, I love to dance. They did a great job combining animation and the emotion of the dance.

Favorite Things, part Otto

In light of Thanksgiving just passing and the upcoming Christmas holiday, here are a few of Otto's favorite things;

1) Playing hide and seek with daddy - I close the door and daddy hides in the kitchen or living room. I'm super excited to search him out and giggle for joy when I find him!
2) Grandpas and Grandmas - Thanksgiving was the best! I also enjoy Aunts & Uncles and all other family, of course. I love following my grandpas around, pointing and saying "Ga!" or "Ga ka!"
3) All things Sesame Street, especially Cookie Monster and Elmo.
4) All things transportation - Trucks, cars, trains, airplanes, helicopters, bicycles/tricycles
5) Playing with other kids! Sometimes I get a little overbearing because I just love them so much!
6) Giving hi-fives and "rock me"s or "pounds" (or "bone me"s as some call them) to everyone.
7) Being tossed. Onto a bed, love sac, couch, etc, etc.
8) Music! Anything with a beat and I'm swingin' my hips, movin' my shoulders, waving my arms, bobbin' my head, stompin' my feet. Mom's favorite movement is Otto's hip movements - he bends in half and twists at the same time!
9) Dr. Suess - "Sox in Fox" and "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" are current favorites.
10) Giving kisses, especially to mom.
11) Helping - with anything!
12) Playing outside, even in the snow.
13) Animals, especially pretending to be a frog.
14) My blanket
15) Watching people and exploring new spaces.
16) Yogurt ("gurt!"), cottage cheese, cheese, milk. Mommy trained me well to love these!

The list could go on and on... that's one of the greatest things about me! I love so much about life!