Motivation

I'm lacking any motivation to accomplish anything around the house this week. It's getting bad. I'd appreciate any motivating comments. :)

Signs & Symptoms

Here are some signs of ear infections:
1. Fever
2. Fussiness
3. Pulling on ear
4. Pain sucking
5. Uncomfortable lying down, or lying on the side of the infected ear
6. Runny nose/cold symptoms

Does Olivia have any of those symptoms? No! Does she have an ear infection? Yes!

So I took Olivia in for her 9 month, well baby check-up today and Dr. Berry looked in her ear and said, "She has a horrible ear infection!". I said, "No, you're joking!" He wasn't joking. She has been totally fine the last couple of days, and I had no idea. So of course I felt bad right away that I hadn't noticed, but I'm over that now. Now I am just concerned for future ear infections that I won't notice they are there and they will get terrible.

Anyhow, Dr. Berry also said she looks like she's doing great!
Stats:
27 1/4" long
weighed 16 lbs. 3 oz.

She's only in the 10th percentile for weight; but he's not concerned about her. He was impressed at her crawling skills and that she's cruising already. Yeah Olivia!

First Word!

Olivia has said her first word! She is "discriminately" saying "Ma Ma"!!!!!
Yeah Olivia!

Florida or Bust

So, the wireless in the hotel didn't work. That part was a bust! The rest of the trip was a blast. It was a wonderful getaway! Thanks to Grammy for inviting us to her Literacy conference for blind & visually impaired people! Here's a brief synopsis:

Thursday: Travel to Florida; Olivia did great! We sat next to a great guy on the plane named B.J. who works for Nascar. He was so friendly and he talked with my mom and I and played with Olivia during the full 3 hour flight. It was so nice to sit by someone who wasn't critical of having a babe on the plane! It was a 75 degree difference from MN to FL that day! :) Got to the resort, had lunch/supper...Olivia was exhausted. I put her to bed at 7:15 and she passed out. However, she woke up again at 8:15...and then was up until 11. I tried everything! It was hard being in the room and me not being able to go anywhere. Poor little girl was just beat!

Friday: O woke up EARLY...just overtired still! She was in a pretty good mood though. We went and at breakfast in the hotel restaurant...by that time it was naptime again! She took 4 naps on Friday! After nap #3 we hit the pool...finally! Olivia LOVED it! She had a blast swimming in the little kiddie pool and in the big pool with Mom.

Saturday: A more normal day for O's schedule. :) More pool time!! Went to my mom's presentation--although we didn't get to listen to much of it! Busy little O... Had a BBQ buffet that night at the conference--good food! O went to bed early; I was able to finish the book I had brought with so that was nice!

Sunday: Had breakfast with Mom, packed up, nap time, POOL TIME! Checkout and lunch...more POOL TIME! :) Headed to the airport. They had a great play area for kids that Olivia just loved! O was a bit demanding on the flight home, needed to be entertained constantly...she was so tired. We got home late last night. It was crazy to see the snow!! 80 in FL, 11 in MN when we got home. Brrrr!

I can't wait for Ry to come home from work this afternoon so he can spend some time with her! We missed Daddy! :) Here's a couple of pics; my mom has more on her camera so I'll post more when I get them!

Grammi & O on the plane
Sunset on the beach
Look Mom, Sand!
Hangin' at the pool

Florida

Olivia and I are headed to Florida tomorrow with Grammi. We'll be back Sunday.

BUT DON'T WORRY! I am bringing my computer with and will be blogging on the trip! :) I knew my readers would miss me too much otherwise. Besides, who wouldn't want to see the cutest baby in the world in a bikini on the beach?

More from Florida tomorrow...But click here for a sneak peak at where we are staying.

Speedy Gonzales

Today O was playing in the basement while I was on the computer (basement as well)...the phone rang and I ran upstairs to grab it. I was seriously up there for maybe 30 sec. when I turned to go back downstairs. Who did I find at the top of the stairs to meet me? I'm sure you can guess.

Little stinker.

Never fear, we are still here!

We just got done with the busiest 4 days of our lives. Maybe not really, but it sure felt like it! We of course had Thanksgiving, where we hit 3 places (Olivia was exhausted!!). Then Friday-Sunday we had company staying at our house. Jenelle (Ryan's sister), Thane, Morgan, Raegan, and Maren all stayed at our house. It was so much fun to have them, but we are beat! The girls are so busy, and they are always so excited to see Olivia that their busy-ness multiplies by about 100!

Sunday, Olivia was dedicated at church (I'll post pics later because my sister in law has them!) which was so much fun! She was absolutely adorable when we were up front. Despite being napless in the morning, she was talking and kicking her legs. She was charming the whole audience. Pastor Alan got quite a kick out of her. She even let him carry her around the church to show her off. After church we had the whole clan over to our house for Sunday dinner to celebrate Olivia. I decided to make fajitas for lunch, which turned out to be a great hit. Everyone loved them, and they were an easy thing to make for a LOT of people.

It was a great weekend, but very, very busy. Olivia was konked out before 7 tonight. Sleepy girl!

Olivia's latest feats...

She never ceases to amaze us! Here is a list of some of the things she has been doing lately:

1. Crawling everywhere.
2. Crawling UP THE STAIRS.
3. Attempting to go down the stairs, but stopped before we have crisis.
4. Pulling herself up.
5. Just beginning to walk along furniture.
6. Her favorite thing to do is play with her toys "standing up" (bent over, with feet on the floor, legs straight); yesterday she went from that position to standing all on her own! (YIKES.)
7. Imitating noises: "ba-ba-ba", "da-da-da", "ma-ma-ma", raspberry noises
8. Eating finger foods like crazy.
9. Playing in her tunnel.
10. Being the cutest baby EVER!!!

Could those thighs be any cuter? I just want to eat them up!!

My best friend, Julia

Yesterday my best friend was on Oprah! What you say, you have a friend who was on Oprah?? Sadly I was not in attendance at the show. I'm not sure why Julia never sends me tickets when she is on. Yes, my best friend is Julia Roberts. I know you are all shocked, amazed, and probably a little jealous. I know I would be. :)
Okay, not really. But I do love Julia Roberts! And she was on Oprah yesterday! Seeing my best friend brought me down memory lane to when I got to meet her in New York. My mom, aunt, 2 cousins, and I took a trip to New York in June '06 and we went to see Julia's play on Broadway. It sucked, by the way. But we got to meet Julia after the show! It was so much fun!
Doesn't she look happy to meet me??

Sick of Mommy?

So, my sweet little Olivia was a little BEAR all morning yesterday. She was up at 6 napped for a half hour at 9--AND DID NOT NAP THE REST OF THE DAY...Seriously Olivia! About 12:45 Ryan got home fromm work and was going to run some errands so he kindly took Ms. O with so I could a) have a break and b) clean the house. It was so nice of him. I had the house to myself for over 2 hours; it was much needed. So, here's the stumper!

Olivia was a joy for him yesterday. And a joy for Grammi yesterday evening when she watched her so Ry and I could have a much needed date. What's the deal O? Are you sick of Mommy? Alright, so probably not--but really! I don't understand why sometimes the thing that comforts them the best also brings out the crabbies! I suppose the same theory applies to why we can be mean & nasty to our family sometimes and we would never be that way to strangers.

Well, whatever it is, she slept somewhat better last night--only waking 4 times; and she already took an hour and a half nap. I wish that little toofer (tooth for those of you who don't speak baby language) would just finish poppling through! This morning it seems to have retreated back to the safety of the gums...only to rear its ugly head later and cause more pain and suffering. :)