Giving Thanks

Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in the things that aren't going well...
The dent that came in the new dishwasher so now we have to get a new one before it can be installed...
The paint on the carpet that holds us back from getting Olivia's room done...
The bedrest...
Olivia not staying in her crib...
ETC!

But days like yesterday remind me to just be thankful for what we have...
A dishwasher!
Generous & helpful parents
Rest!
A healthy baby
A vivacious toddler
ETC!

Thank you!

"bed rest" Day 1

At least it's only for a few days! I feel totally antsy and hate sitting around...hmmm, ordinarily it is something I crave and enjoy immensely! I guess one someone tells you that you must, it's different.

Olivia got up at 5:50 (good thing I went to bed at 8:15...) and watched a video and had breakfast. Ryan's mom came over and helped with getting her ready for the day and then took her next door to the little house to play for a while. I sat on the couch...and sat on the couch...then took a bath. And did a load of laundry. Finally was too bored and went over to the little house to visit. La Vonne and I brought Olivia back over to get her down for nap (probably the most strenuous part of my day thus far...keeping her in the crib!) and Kurt & La Vonne began painting Olivia's new room.

So I sat on the couch some more. Then I heard it, CRASH! Silence. I just sat and waited. Finally I heard, "I'll go tell her." La Vonne came downstairs and said, "Merry Christmas, go pick out some new carpet." Oops. As much as pink paint looks adorable on the walls...not so much on the carpet. :)

And I thought this bed rest thing would be boring!

L & D...not how I planned to spend my day!

It all started last night when I went to get my hair done...silly me, being so vane! :) I started having contractions and by the time I was home and on the couch resting, I'd had 10 in 2 hours! Yipes! At that point I told myself, if you have ONE more, call and go on. Of course, then they stopped. However, I woke up a few times during the night from contactions and just felt off. Contractions continued this morning, but not frequent and consisent like before. I called to go in and Susan was able to see me at 10.

She put me on the monitors for a few minutes and then sent me up to L & D to be observed for a few hours. My contractions ended up picking up a ton and she gave me some meds to stop the contractions. They worked for a good hour and a half at which point I had a few mild ones, and then just some irritation. After being observed for 4 1/2 hrs. she decided to send me home on modified bed rest (or just "take it easy" in Susan's words) and instructions to come back in if I have 2 consecutive hours of contractions again. I'll be 36 weeks next Thursday, at which point she won't try to stop anything. Maybe this baby will be here sooner rather than later!

But please pray that it isn't before next week! Let's let this little guy cook for as long as we can!

Apparent schedule change?

So I think Olivia is transitioning to naptime a little later in the day--more like noon than 11 now. Fine, but now that we are doing that, she seems to be having a harder time falling asleep at bedtime (between 7:30-8)...which wouldn't be a problem, except that she doesn't sleep any longer in the morning...(usually 6, today 5:45...after 2 weeks of improved waking time, one week averaging 7:15(!!!)...I didn't blog about it b/c I didn't want to jinx myself...now I figure I'm screwed anyway...)

Did any of you have similar transitions? Did you shorten/wake up from naps to help with the problem? (I've thought of this, but Olivia is usually a CRAB for the rest of the day if she's woke up...) What do you think?

The return...

Well after Tuesday, Olivia went down NO problem for all of her naps and bedtime all week! Hooray Olivia! I was busy all week giving myself pats on the back for my awesome consistency and patience.

Then came today...thanks for remembering that you now know how to get out Olivia. Mommy really appreciates it! :) It only took 55 min. this time though; I guess there really is a silver lining!

Talking Monkey

Olivia's language has been progressing so quickly lately. I swear that everyday she gets a billion more words and puts them together so quickly. Lately she has been saying 5-6 word sentences!! Some of my favorites have been:

No Mommy, I don't want that!
No Leah's house, I want stay Olivia's house.
Oh, look at that Mommy!
Look at that little lamb.

I hear lots of "No's!"
And her new favorite word is "Don't!"...stinker. We're working on "No, thanks Mommy!"

Messy house, Halloween, & A Tale of Cribz

Well, I took this picture one day ago...and it still looks about the same...

My little Leopard

A Tale of Cribz

My little lady learned how to climb out of her crib today. What an accomplishment! And boy was she excited! She spent exactly one hour and five minutes climbing out and being put back in again by her ever so patient Mommy until she finally fell asleep for her nap an hour and 40 min. after I put her down. I sure got my exercise today!

Amazingly, I really did keep my patience. I knew that this was a battle I was going to face sooner or later and that consistency is the key in eliminating this behavior. She thought it was such a SUPER FUN game...until she got really tired. But it worked! She stayed in her crib and is sleeping soundly...for almost an hour now. Thank goodness! Now the transition to the big girl bed... ay yi yi.

Words...and pictures tomorrow!

1. Hunting season has gone on long enough. 10 days of Ryan's hunting buddy here was enough. I have to say, as far as house guests go, he was tremendous. (And always is) He brings groceries, does dishes, and plays with Olivia. However, being pregnant and dealing with a toddler and no husband leaves me quite emotional.

2. Then for the last 5 of those 10 days our friends Sam & Laura from South Dakota came to visit. More hunting (of course) for the boys and fortunately, some scrapbooking for Laura and I! And I got quite a bit of child-free time thanks to my wonderful mother in law and mom!

3. I am 33 weeks. Do you realize that I only have 6 1/2 weeks left? Woah. I am getting super excited about the baby, but I am still concerned about Olivia's transition. Still working, but a little less, so that helps.

4. We got a dishwasher today!! My parents are generously getting one for us as our Christmas gift!! Oh, I'm so excited to get it installed. THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. Olivia got bit at daycare today. What goes around, comes around I guess! No skin breakage, but a good looking set of teeth marks and bruise!

6. Oh yes! And after our 10 days of company we went to South Dakota for 5 days for MORE hunting!

Our house is a mess, but I am just so happy to be home, without company, that I could care less! :)

Back to life...

I can't update yet--we are still busy! We had company at our house for 10 days, home by ourselves for 2, and now are going out of town for 5 days.

I have lots to update on, but no time yet! SOON! I miss you bloggies!