Turkeys & Chickens

I love animal noises! And I love them even more now that my little bug says them on command!! I am going to try and capture them on video today so that you can enjoy them as much as I do...
Until then, just imagine how cute she must sound when she makes her turkey and chicken sounds. Gobble gobble, cluck cluck!

A date with Da-u

Tonight I am going down to the cities for a bridal shower for Ryan's cousin's fiancee at Fabulous Ferns restaurant. The shower is at 6:30 and I decided that since it was so close to Olivia's bedtime that I would leave her at home with Ryan. This will be the FIRST time that I have left her with him at night to go and do something FUN!* Usually he watches her while I am at work or running to the grocery store, something like that. When I do go and do something fun, it is usually with Ry and we leave her with Grammy & Grampy. It will be a first, a much needed first, and I am really looking forward to it!

By the way, Olivia started calling Ry "Da-u" today--pretty darn cute. She was standing by the window while he was getting ready to go, and she looked over, waved, and said "Da-u". What a little sweetie!

*New Year's Resolutions!!

Baby Livi

Today as I was checking my email, I looked over at my little girl playing all by herself (with the DVD's--hours of entertainment!), and I couldn't help but think about how fast this year is going. She is already 10 months old!! I can hardly believe that in less than 2 months, my little baby Livi will be a year old. These pictures seem like they were so long ago, and yet just yesterday at the same time. She looks so different now!

Goat cheese & Asparagus

Yes, goat cheese and asparagus. Two of the many foods that Olivia enjoys. Silly little thing. She LOVES to eat...ANYTHING. Well, almost anything. There is one food that my silly little girl won't eat.

What is it, you ask? Liver? Sardines? Anchovies? Fish? (note: those are all things I have never eaten, well except fish, and I would imagine are incredibly disgusting) I haven't actually tried any of those things, so perhaps she wouldn't eat them either. But, Olivia won't eat MAC & CHEESE. She literally gags when she gets a noodle even close to her lips.

Who's kid is she? Certainly not mine, the Queen of Mac & Cheese. Who doesn't like mac & cheese? Silly girl.

Housework update...

First, do you really care? Probably not... but I feel good about it so I'm sharing.

During nap time today I have gotten done: 3 loads of laundry (one started before nap), put away clothes, payed bills, and picked up the living room, basement, and our bedroom. Phew...

I've become a boring blogger...I promise to spice things up a bit with my next post. :)

Too much time...

No, no, no...I have not found the secret key to being a wife, mom, and working part-time so that I have too much time! Sorry to all those wishing and hoping out there (myself included!). On the contrary, I have been spending too much time wishing and worrying about getting things done. I spend time worrying and being frustrated about getting it all done and then wishing that someone would do it all for me. In fact, I spend SO much time in all this, that I don't get anything done! Fancy that.

Today Grampy is coming over to watch Ms. O for a bit so I can get caught up. Thanks Grampy! Maybe this time (I think I say this everytime I get caught up) it will last, I will become motivated to really keep things caught up. Maybe....

By the way, check out this website for some tips on how to keep up. I'm thinking about trying it!

And she's off!

This weekend Olivia started taking steps! She began going "between people" taking 3-4 steps and by yesterday she was going 11-12 steps! Holy Moly!

So I went to work this morning and said,"Olivia's almost walking!" And described what she had been doing. All my coworkers (12 or so) around the table said, "No! She IS walking?"

Really??? Is that really considered walking???

Maybe I'm just in denial.

Uncle Owen

He's home! Ryan's brother, Aaron (affectionately called Owen), flew in from Sweden last night. Aaron is currently serving a 2 year missionary stint at an International Church in Sweden (click here). He left last January, prior to Olivia being born, and has not had a trip home since. So it was so exciting last night that they finally got to meet!

Ryan went down to the airport with his parents, brother, and of course, Olivia, to meet Aaron. She loved him instantly. There was lots of "face-patting" and "nose-grabbing"...sure signs of love and affection. La Vonne (aka Ryan's Mom, aka Mucka*) took pictures which I will post when I get them.

This weekend we will be heading up to the North Country to celebrate Christmas with Ryan's family. We waited until Aaron was home to celebrate, and we are sure looking forward to it. It is wonderful to have him home--even if just for a short time.

*Mucka is what the grandbabies call La Vonne. It originated with Morgan (the eldest) who was unable to say Grandma. It stuck. And it makes for funny looks with La Vonne is out in public with the kiddos yelling "Mucka!!" :)

Resolutions??

I am not big on making New Year's Resolutions. That's not true. I do make them....every year. I just don't usually follow through on them for very long. Probably because they usually involve eating less and working out more, and who seriously does those things? Not me!

So, this year I did a lot of thinking about what I really want for this next year. I want to be a great mom.
I want to be a great wife.
I want to be more productive at home.
I want to have a LOT OF FUN!!

Thus my resolutions:
1. Be the best that I can be*.
2. Have something prepared for dinner every night and sit down as a family together to eat.
3. Do one thing fun, JUST FOR ME, every month**.

*Note that this is open ended, because sometimes I probably can't be as great as other times.
**I will hopefully be having fun all the time, but I will set aside something fun (this probably means without Olivia) at least once. For example: In Januaury I am going to a gymnastics meet with Bridgit, without Olivia! FUN!!

Wonderful.

We have had the MOST wonderful 4 days. Ryan, Olivia, and I have spent almost every mintue together and have just had a blast. It was so much fun to just relax, spend time together, and celebrate the new year. This quality time was just what I have been needing lately. It makes me so thankful that I have such a wonderful husband who loves me and Olivia so much. I can't imagine doing this without him and I am eternally grateful.

By the way--Olivia popped another tooth through sometime while we were busy paying attention to her ear infection. Perhaps another part of the no-nap culprit. She's back on the nap wagon now...hopefully it lasts!! :)