11 Months Already?!

    Olivia turned 11 months this past Saturday on the 21st! Mommy was out of town for a girl's getaway weekend but was pretty impressed to come home to find that Grandma and Daddy took care of the monthly picture! She is 19lbs 15 oz now... growing like a weed. We also found out this month that Olivia probably has allergies... just like her daddy. She had been coughing for several weeks and I finally took her to the pediatrician who told us to start her on Zyrtec daily.... that has helped tremendously!

 New this month:

• attempting to run with her push toy
• took 4 steps by herself!!!!!
• babbling mamamamamaama and dadadadada
• squishing up her nose when she laughs
• feeding the dogs most of her food... which she finds hilarious
• pointing at everything
• putting both arms in the air when music is on
• started to brush her teeth... she actually likes it

  I am starting to plan her first birthday party which is fun.... but also sad... I'm sure I will tear up on her birthday... I can not believe she is almost one!! Who knew that finding birthday invitations would be so hard.... mostly because I am indecisive. We are doing a You are My Sunshine theme and I am finding allll kinds of stuff that I want to buy for it.... but like Ben keeps reminding me.... she is not going to know the difference so save up for parties in the future:) I can totally understand how people spend tons of money on parties.... so very easy to do!! I'm going to try to reign it in though.

All Smiles at the window

Giggles.. and stealing the remote!



Olivia's First Christmas 2011

     Christmas has come and gone and I must say it was wonderful! This was the first Christmas that Ben and I spent together (one of us has always had to work) and we were so blessed to have our bundle of joy with us too! Olivia did not know quite what to do yet with the presents but she has enjoyed playing with all the toys since. Jax actually opened most of her presents.... he was showing Livvi the ropes. We spent Christmas Eve with Ben's dad, Bill, and Jan at the Christmas Eve service at Hope, such a wonderful service! On Christmas morning my mom, and Ben's mom, Lee and Aunt Beth came over for breakfast and mimosas and we opened presents. We really enjoyed spending the morning relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Although I really enjoyed the morning... I started feeling sick mid morning.... pretty sure I had the flu!! Seriously?? But yes, I felt so bad because I was useless. Ben, being the wonderful husband that he is, made the food to take to my mom's house. We spent the afternoon at mom's where my sister and her crew came. Of course there was alot of action there and they all kept Olivia busy! Finally, we went back home and dad and Deb came over and brought MORE presents. After it was all said and done we all crashed in bed! I'm sooo thankful that we were able to spend time with everyone we love.

Christmas Eve at Hope!

Yes, that is tissue paper on Jax... and Yes, that is Jax's toy in Olivia's hand

and yes, after alllll the new toys.... she still has Jax's new toy in her hand

celebrating Christmas is exhausting! especially since this was her first nap (at 6pm in the car)