May

Always time to smell the flowers!

This post is a little picture heavy, but I'm sorting through the camera cards & just saved a bunch!

A few pics from our trip to Austin last month - It was a fun time!  We went to see the bats (although the big nightly escape never happened), visited the Austin zoo (small-ish rescue zoo but has all the big and little animals) and ate at a bunch of the places we try to hit up whenever we get to a real town.

Grandpa & Grandma Sortman called a couple weeks ago to see if they could come for a visit after their trip in FL so instead of heading North they headed West and drove over last minute to Texas to visit for a week!!  Liv's had a great time with all the extra attention & it was even more fun than a planned visit since it was basically a random surprise! 

Visiting with Grandpa & Grandma

Grandma made this quilt for Olivia!!  A precious keepsake!

Some other fun things from recently:

Sandfest in Port A.

Playing in the sand while Daddy kiteboards in the background

Swimming in the Hot Tub - one of Livi's favorite things!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day today - a great day with lots of the nice little things :)   Dave & Liv both gave me two sweet cards, we had breakfast at the German Bakery (my choice - love the waffles-yum!) and to church this morning.   Took a long scenic drive on Ocean Drive & checked out downtown & visited a fun playground on the way home.  After dinner we took a walk around the neighborhood before Liv's went to bed.   Simple, nice, perfect day! 

Oh - Bonus! Today, David & I both definitely felt the baby kick.  The last week has been that time of "Did I just feel something? I think so, but not sure, so maybe not...." Today though we both felt the push so that was fun!

Last but not least, took this pic when I was 14.5 weeks - I finally remembered to take the first pregnancy pic! (I'm 16 weeks now)

April

A few weeks ago we met Joan & Charlotte at the beach one morning for a few hours.  The girls had a blast...loved eating tons of crackers & snacks (which the seagulls loved even more when we wandered down to the water) and playing in the waves! 

  

We had a nice Easter weekend.  The day before we went to the local park's Easter Egg Hunt & called Dostal's last minute to see if they wanted to meet us there too.  The girls got to pick up a few eggs filled with stickers & goodies & visit the Easter Bunny too!



Sunday morning we went to our church for service & had Dostal's over for dinner along with our neighbor Greg.  It was fun making a meal for so many people, but I was definitely worn out afterwards.  I went to bed early that night!  We had a big ham dinner with all the sides & Joan brought a yummy cake for dessert too.

Family Pictures on the front porch with Daddy's new chairs!

Last weekend we spent up in Austin which was a lot of fun!  I'll try to post some more pics of that later! 

March

This month Daddy came back from the 3 week DET in NM which wasn't fun except that 2 of those weeks we had G&G here visiting.  He got home about 2:30 am so Livy was shy with David in the morning after she woke up for all of 5 minutes & then she just wanted Daddy all day long!!  It was so sweet.

I keep trying to upload  a video of what we're up to these days - Lots of talking & figuring out words!! (I think it's too big though, so I'm going to try to figure something else out one of these days)

Dave's been working in the garage a lot again on a new set of Adirondack chairs.  Livy loves playing outside - it's one of her favorite things to do all day.  Some days I try to have an 'activity' for her & these have proven to be much fun.  And, thankfully, keep her happy & busy for an average of 45 minutes!!!  Wow.. for a girl with a 1 minute attention span this is definitely a wonderful blessing.  (even if I do have to sit & supervise that she isn't putting anything in her mouth)

Here is our water activity - One tub with ice cold water, one with water beads, and another with warm water - FUN!

Another sensory activity with Rice & Beans.... This was in the beginning before they were everywhere. :)

Whoops - Did you leave me unattended Mom?  Guess I'll just get into your makeup & put lipstick ALL over me except my for my pretty lips.  It's so sticky & colorful & fun.  Uh oh - are you not happy about me ruining it all?  Sorry!

 

My first time really coloring - My parents pretty much think it's beautiful!!

Playing at the park - Dad is so fun!

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!