In 12 Months I've Learned. . . .

Yummm - Raspberry Cupcake!

....that in a blink of an eye a little toddler is all over your house, when it wasn't long ago a little newborn baby cried in your arms.

....how quickly a house with no toys (literally not one toy when she was born - Grandma had to go out to buy her a couple things when she visited newborn Olivia) becomes a house cluttered with toys & boxes & books & oatmeal containers - whatever baby likes. ;)

....to borrow baby things when you can - if it's unused at a friend's house it might as well be used in yours!
        ....that some items we should have just bought instead of borrowed since this is the first baby, but it does feel nice that these 'big' things don't have to stay or be stored here long term & can be returned.

...how necessary a cup or two of coffee is every morning.

...how quickly a baby can get into something, drop something, or pull something down.

...that time goes even more quickly once you have kids. 

...to stay on top of the baby book - take time every now & then to fill in as much as you can remember, because it's really hard to fill in even when it's fresh on your mind & recent.

...that the older Olivia gets the more fun she is - the more we can do together & fun activities too.

...the sayings 'don't touch' & 'no' really get old repeating them a hundred times every day.

...how sweet giggles & occasional hugs are the best parts of the day.

...that even though this is over a month late, it's still counts. ;)

Unwrapping presents makes me tired!

 Happy 1st Birthday Olivia!

We had a nice relaxed day at Aunt Heather & Uncle Ryan's house in D.C. - visiting your new baby cousin Landon, opening presents, and spending time together.  You also had presents waiting for you at home from the rest of the family that weren't around when we celebrated.  You've had so much fun with your new toys & books since then!! 

Pears & Raspberries are your favorite things to eat - string cheese too.  You love to share toys & bones with Cabrinha.  You're active & playing all the time - rarely taking time to sit still to read a book or cuddle.  Stuffed animals make you coo & smile as you pat them & give them a hug.  You sleep through the night 6:30ish to 7:30 on average!!  You love trying to walk & also going through the kitchen & bathroom drawers pulling everything out (but Daddy just recently installed some baby locks on a few of them) :)

1 year old!  Hard to get these pics. ;)

In 11 months I've learned. . .

I'm how old?!

. . . that some things get easier.
. . . and some things get harder!
. . . how much can happen in just one month.
. . . that sometimes you forget to even show baby things like waving and clapping & once you hit those milestones it's exciting to see what else they do & to practice what they've learned.
. . . that the shy head-on-the-shoulder move is super sweet.
. . . that even though baby cries at nursery and they come find you to get her (taking you away from the service), it's sweet that she's immediately quiet & calmer & loving on you as soon as you're there for her.  (sweet for now but not if it lasts for half a year or more) :)
. . . you need to go to story times & play dates if nothing else but for a change of scenery & new things to play with.
. . . that 11 months goes by so quickly.... I can barely remember all the little things about Olivia since she was born & looking over photos it's such a sweet memory.
. . . that you can never get enough pictures.  For as many pictures as I feel I do take, there are hundreds I wish I had - especially videos too!
. . . that love grows stronger & deeper as time passes.

This pumpkin has a creepy face on it...do y'all see that?  I've got my eye on you!

Mr. Giraffe - You are the one thing that does not belong with the others!

 

Gettin' into Everything!

Hi! I'm little O & I love checking out every nook and cranny of my house.  Come explore with me.

We can climb onto things.  Mommy moved this onto the carpet so it was a teeny bit safer.

We can climb on and off of our pack and play for a lot of fun!

What's in here? Any baby toys or other exciting things I can get into?

Obstacle Course!!  Climb over all of these & around the chairs.

I'm definitely a rockstar at this!

Weeee! Did you know this stuff just rolls off - What a good time!

Whatchu lookin' at Mom? :)

And sometimes, every once in awhile, at say 9:30p.m. when we've been out and about all day on vaca do I get so tuckered out that I'll finally take a little snooze.  :)

"In 11 months...." coming soon!

10 Months Old

In 10 Months I've learned. . . .

...that the active stage just keeps getting busier!
...that a sweet, head on the shoulder cuddle is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world!
...that little ones can get more cuddly as time goes on, even if it's mostly when she's tired & about to nap or go to sleep for the night. so so sweet.
...that cruising along the furniture must not get boring since that's what we do all day. every day.
...that food/eating can take up a large portion of the day when you combine all the meals and feedings.  much different than long stretches on the couch.
...that babies can outgrow diaper sizes quicker than you may think.
       ...or just that the time goes by faster than you imagine.
...that there is always a time you'll start to feel like you're getting the hang of it, and then something changes - a vacation, a growth spurt, a new schedule, or just time for things to change again!
...that babies will eat the darndest things - tissue boxes, books (of course!), granola bar wrappers, cardboard boxes, any random part or thing on the ground.... oh my.
...it's good to get out of the house once in awhile - even if just for a 15 minute story time at the library.
...that the most active little girl will sit still for those 15 minutes and be almost shy as she listens and sits in Mommy's lap.
...that having coffee ready to go the night before can make a morning start off nice!
...that I may not be a perfect parent, that I can always be better... but also that I'm OK!

We match!  Had to get a pic with a pair of my favorite PJ's.

Cheers!
-L-

Garage Sale & Adirondack's

Thinking about life!

Friday & Saturday we had a Garage Sale - Friday turned out to be the day to do it!! We sold about $250 worth of stuff and were busy by 7:45 am (early birds!) but Saturday there was barely anyone compared to Fri & despite opening an hour earlier we only sold about $70.  What a difference! 

On top of that we sold Dave's Adirondack Chairs - bittersweet.  It's great because it's extra $ to buy more tools, a real compliment to Dave's work, & exciting.  However, now we don't have our fun chairs out front to read with every night & it means it's another long process of building new ones. 

Pucker up for a kiss!  Just had roasted bananas and blueberries - yum!

D powerwashed the house outside & I was just plain exhausted & didn't do much. Was even in bed by 9:30 on Saturday which is just crazy for me.

Today's a light day at 'work' since D just has his yearly med checkup which they do the month of your Birthday & he doesn't have to fly afterwards. Not sure what exciting things we'll do this afternoon.

Playing the Recorder ;)

Laughing

Yesterday when Liv & I walked into the family room - she was smiling down at Dave reading some homework.  He said "Why are you looking at me so funny?" and she just CRACKED UP!  A complete belly LAUGH not just a giggle over and over.... I grabbed the camera & we tried it a few more times... this is the 3rd or 4th time of us 're-walking in' & replaying it. :) ha!   The first time was THE BEST! :)  ...and this is a good memory from that.

WI & MI Vacation

It's been a long time since an update.  We have been busy and, as you know, were just on a wonderful 2 week vacation up north.  Visiting with family & friends, green grass & thunderstorms, Lake Michigan & swimming in the pool - it was great!  Here's a quick recap & lots of pics:

Having fun with G&G 'Cini but I'm eyeing a big fun toy they brought for me! :)

Was very nervous about taking Liv in the plane as she is very squirmy, doesn't like being held for too long & is just an active little girl! The rides (3 plane rides each way - long trip!) turned out pretty good - nothing crazy as far as fussing or fits - and sleeping a bit too. Definitely a lot different from her first plane ride when she was less than 2 months old - she slept almost the entire time then & was a lot less stress & energy than now. Dave made sure I took a pic of her sleeping in his arms because she just never does that! It was really sweet.

  


Grandpa 'Cini picked us up from the airport along with Aunt Heather & Uncle Ryan who came in 20 minutes after us!  We had an hour drive to the house & spent the week in various Family Reunion activities.   Went down to 'town' for breakfast every day & Sunday D&I even went to the tiny little church for their service.

Mom & her 2 girls

Heather, Ryan, & "RJ"

Livi looooved her Auntie Heather & she was a *wonderful* helper in playing with Livi & even 'babysitting' when we went to breakfast sometimes too. I was excited to rub Heather's belly & see "RJ" for the first time as she's 7 months pregnant.





Dave's parents came a few days later, on Friday, in their motor home and finally were able to see about this little town on Lake Superior we've mentioned for so many years. Monday around noon we left with them and drove through the U.P. - camping one night - until we reached Kzoo Tuesday evening.

Livi with 2 of her older cousins - Saige & Orly

Spent a couple days in Grand Haven with everyone too - the cousins just loved Olivia & always wanted to hold her! We had fun going to the beach, swimming in the pool, & stopping by a craft fair during Coast Guard Fest.
 

We had several dinner with both sets of our parents which is always nice so everyone can see us (and now mostly just Olivia.) :) I made a big dinner one night for all the rents, Bill & Lindsay, & Grandma R. too!!


Time for bed after dinner!



Swimming with Daddy in the same pool he grew up in - tons of fun! Much bigger than the hot tub I swim in back home! :)


We left the following Tuesday from G.R. but after long delays with mechanical problems they couldn't get us out the same day & make it home... so my mom picked us up & we stayed at their house for another nice night until we left Kzoo the next morning. The ride home with O. was okay but she was a bit more fussy even though we managed to get her to sleep through the entire long flight :)


A few days prior to the trip she started waking up in the middle of the night once or twice & unfortunately, it was worse throughout the entire vacation. 1 to 3 times a night - and being with so many other people I certainly wasn't going to let her cry it out, so it made for an interesting time. 



Things are a bit back to normal around here now. Lots of laundry done, getting back into a work schedule for D, and we had our friends over for steaks & dinner to thank them for watching Cab - which was such a generous offer on their part for two weeks time - which also helped me get the house back in order a bit more too!





Lake Michigan *Unsalted* tshirts - we all have one! - on the Grand Haven beach.


We took a hot walk to the beach tonight before Liv's bedtime & have enjoyed the last several nights reading out on the porch. Made a pretty tasty pot roast for dinner last night which we had again tonight but now it's back to figuring out dinners too!

All for now!

Cheers!

-L-

Sunset on Superior

4th of July Weekend

Thursday - We headed back to the specialist who wasn't sure what to do other than put Livy on formulas since we had another diaper issue in the time since we'd last been there & I'd been {mostly} dairy free.  Then he decided to just keep doing what we're doing & come back in a month.  I suggested continuing diary free for a bit & then adding it back in to see if we see any problems afterwards and he thought it was a great idea {I thought it'd be an obvious solution/idea, but apparently not}.  Other than that he wasn't really sure and wasn't convinced it was dairy since we didn't have problems since she was about 2-3 months old which is typical of that problem.  The 3 samples came back as no blood in the diaper & the other said there was a white blood cell count but on a small scale.  So.....we'll see.  At this point I guess it just isn't a major concern but something we'll keep an eye on.

Glad to have you home after work Daddy!

Friday night we went downtown to an Artwalk and ate at a new restaurant.  Interesting to see a normally blah downtown have some activity.  I got a call today that I won a massage at a new salon that we stopped into as well!  (Hoping it's legit and not something they gave to everyone who entered or something....)

Dave spent a lot of time this weekend in the garage working on Adirondack Chairs.  He's been trying to work on them for oh, say, a year now.  :)  It's exciting to see all the hard work & all the steps through it all.  Excited to replace the wicker chairs from our front porch with these!

Dostals came over for dinner on Sunday night to grill out & hang out.  No fireworks and fires like last year during 4th of July weekend when they were here!

Messy Eater?!

Yesterday we grabbed some apple fritters in the morning & stopped by the beach watching some water funnels.  Unfortunately last night I started to feel a bit achy & sore & now I'm sick. . . not fun at all with a kiddo.  Nothing planned this week other than trying to get better & unfortunately, a work weekend. 

A very little lizard we found in between our doors. 

-L-

In 8 Months I've learned....

I'm 8 months old today!

...that one day, baby realizes she can talk and starts saying mamablamablabla all of a sudden!
...that even though your childhood nickname may have been 'Snuggle Bunny' your child may be completely the opposite & wiggles & squirms constantly.
...that dog toys and water bottles, laundry baskets and flip flops are way more fun than kid toys.
...that a baby can learn that "No!" is definitely not something they want to hear! (Waaaa!)
...that you'll never be ready for the next big thing, milestone, whathaveyou - it just happens!
     ...and sometimes you don't even realize that it happened until awhile later.
...that 4 seconds of cuddles better be cherished because it might be all you get!
...that 6:30 am will continually be your wake up time, even if you're still in denial about the early hour. :)
...that you want to do better, be better & make the right choices for your little one. 
...that it doesn't get any easier to get things done the older they get.
...that one smile from a baby, directed right at you, will make you smile and feel happy to the core.

I'm not getting into trouble at all!  Not me! :)
Cheeeese!

Cheers!
-L-

I'm sleepy you guys, time for bed!

Biking & Babble

Last week we went for our first family bikeride - it was a lot of fun!  The second time was even more enjoyable sans doggie.  Olivia seemed to enjoy it ...& Daddy has to get used to the kicking & noises behind him. :) 


It's nice because we take the longer loop to the beach which is a few miles & around a different part of the neighborhood - so it's not just there & back.  We stop & get to look at the people & the water halfway through. 

She's starting to babble more & more every day. It's my favorite thing. :) 

We had an issue with one of her diapers today.... ack.  so it's back to the drawing board I think.  She has recently had some peaches & a few tastes (not a full serving) of peas.  Which were 2 foods around the problem time a few weeks ago.  I've been relatively dairy free (though not nickpicked down to every label yet unless we find out more).  Thursday we find out the results of our last lab tests.

Playing with Daddy is so much fun. 

Other than that she just loves crawling around the house & getting into things. :)

-L-

We {heart} Kzoo & talking

Sitting up SO big!

Spent the whole day working the kitchen making a meal for another family with a new baby.  Dinner, fresh french bread, dessert, breakfast.....whew!  I'm exhausted!  Good news is that I have 3 dinners for ourselves out of it as well.  (and muffins to last us for a few breakfasts & dessert too)

Yesterday Olivia woke up talking.  It's as if overnight she learned a new skill. haha.  She gets a slightly worried and puzzled look on her face while saying, "Mamablablamablama".  Sooooo adorable & cute.  She just mouths it for a bit too while she gets it all figure out.  I love it!

Big Big Smile for Mommy! <3

I'd rather have the camera

Cheers!
-L-

Father's Day weekend

We didn't seem to get much done this weekend but it was still a good one.  Friday Liv & I ran errands while Dave was on watch all day.  Joan & Charlotte came over for the afternoon to hang out too! 

This is soooooo much fun!  I love standing up in my crib & eating the railings now.  Who needs naps?

Saturday morning we went out for apple fritters, garage sales, & then out in town to Target & Lowe's.
Dave & Joan & Charlotte came over for cocktails & bratwursts & later the guys enjoyed a cigar out on the front porch. 

Look who decided to pull herself up to stand today?!  Already had a few falls on the head but we're ok!

Bacon Pancakes - crazy!

This morning Liv got me up at 6:20 & then I stayed up (while she napped again) & put out two chairs for our back porch as a present for Daddy for Father's Day & made fruit salad, coffee & Bacon Pancakes for breakfast!  We went to church on the Island, ran to HEB, & then to our neighbor's house for a fish fry (with other people that go to the same church.)  Dave had some homework/tests to do & we had a great steak & fried asparagus dinner tonight.  yum!

Oh! Livy had mangos today that I made awhile back & she really liked them!! She kept opening her mouth to eat more with no faces or fussing- this is basically the first thing she's really seemed to like (other than bananas a little bit).  yum! :)

Dr. update

Peeka-cry-boo!  I can pull myself up and peek over my crib!

This afternoon we took Olivia to the Children's Hospital to see a pediatric GI specialist.  She did well seeing lots of strangers & despite some, ahem, uncomfortable checkups.



Though there were some language barriers, I think we all ended up on the same page.

To sum it up for y'all - 2+ months ago we had the same issue when she was exclusively nursing.  Since I had some milk/cereal before it happened, the pediatrician figured it was probably a milk protein allergy & told me to stop & check it again too.  A couple weeks later I did the 'test' & ate milk/cereal a couple times with no problems!

2+ weeks ago we started having the same problems (no extra milk in my diet, but she is eating some solids)  Blood tests at our pediatrician came back negative (but are known to not necessarily be accurate.)

We have to take a few stool sample tests to bring to the specialist & check for white blood cell counts.  If those are high, then there is a problem, which is probably milk proteins. 

Their solution was to give me a special prescription formula.

My question: Isn't there another option?  So I asked if I could go dairy free instead. 

Basically that's it for now.... until we get those tests in (probably Mon/Tues) & get results back from that and being dairy free for a couple weeks, we're still not sure.   And even though I never drink milk & rarely eat cereal/milk this is going to be a very big challenge for me.  One, because I normally eat whatever I want.  Two, I love cheese & eat a bunch of it all the time.  Three, cream in coffee is a must! 

Lucky for me, Dave randomly asked me to grab soymilk creamer the other day so I at least have that down for the morning. ;)

Not sure if it's going to prove fruitful since it's not a daily problem.  I'm not sure how we'll tell it actually helps.

And for now, some more pictures of us just hanging out at the beach tonight.  The impromptu trip just made the night - we all had a really enjoyable time!  The fresh air & sand under my feet helped my soul & mood.

Look at my two bottom teeth!

Howdy! Having fun with Mom at the beach.

Dave taking Cabrinha for a swim.  (Literally - he had to carry her out there)

Cabrinha is even having fun - playing with Livy.

Ooooh - This sand stuff is very interesting.  This is right before I tasted some. ha.

Then it was time to go home & everyone had a bath! Even Cabrinha! Livy & I went inside & Cabrinha had one out in the driveway. :) 
-L-