February

Can't believe it was a year ago that Liv was so little when D had a DET & I started this blog.  We're back to the same timing again and as much as it feels the same, so much happened in a year. 

I keep thinking Liv is 12 months until I remember her Birthday was over 3 months ago!!! She's still fitting in most of her 12 months clothes (and even the occasional 9 month onesie)  At 19.5 pounds she's in the 11% for weight. 

We had Grandpa & Grandma S. here over Thanksgiving for almost 2 weeks. 
Christmas at home with our families was lots of fun & Liv had so much fun playing with & watching all of her cousins. 

This month her Grandma & Grandpa P. are visiting for a whole month!!  She's having so much fun with them.  (but I think Grandpa might be having more fun than anyone)  The first day they visited she had a blast showing them her toys & how things roll around here.  Aunt Heather & baby Landon come to visit soon too - I bet she'll want him to play more than he can at only 4 months. 

Okay Cabrinha, One for me & One for you.

A few of the latest things:
She loves to wave to everyone & everything. 
She says Mama & Dada. 
Different 'Buh' sounds for Ball, Balloon, and Bottle (water bottles are still a fun toy.  who knew?)
Duh - dog
Growls when you ask what a bear says
Roars when you ask what a lion says
Smacks her lips when you ask what a fish says

She signs for "more"
Starting to say "wa" for water
Shakes her head yes very exaggerated & slowly.
Shakes her head quickly "no" when she's not supposed to be doing something or is told 'no.'

If she gets something she's not supposed to have (ie-the computer mouse or something from a drawer she opened) she'll come bring it to you.  (sometimes shaking her head no) ha! It's hilarious.

Playing outside is definitely a favorite & she usually cries when she has to come inside or if you go out quick & don't stay out to play. 

That's all for now for a quick update to add to the baby book later. :)
-L

Can you tell she's a determined little girl? :)

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.