Olivia's 3rd Birthday

My little girl is almost 3 years and 1 week old. Man. Besides Aidan catching Olivia's pink eye (from earlier in the week) and an ear infection to top it off and having to cancel a playdate, Olivia's birthday was a success!

We started the day with our tradition of breakfast as a family, meaning Daddy comes home from work to join us. Usually we do homemade waffles for our birthday breakfast, but this 3 year old LOVES bacon, eggs & toast, so that was her breakfast of choice! We just stayed home and played all morning (read: contagious pink eye), and after an entire week of not napping, Olivia slept for 2 1/2 hours! We ate dinner at The Pine Brook (Olivia's request...she had the mini corn dogs) and returned to our house for cake & presents.

Here's Olivia's princess cake:

And the birthday girl with her most prized possessions! :) She also received a kids digital camera from my dad, which she also loves. Her photography skills leave room for improvement, but it's so fun to watch her play around with it! And a suitcase from Mucka for her trip to San Diego! And a jewelry box filled with jewelry from Grammi!

She was so excited from the day (and probably riled up from the 2 1/2 hour nap) that she didn't fall asleep until 10 pm...and she slept with her princesses. :)

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Logic?: A DRAMAtic performance of a 3 year old

Olivia: Mom, can you come downstairs with me?
Me: Not yet honey, Mommy's cleaning up...the house is so messy!
Olivia: I can help!
Me: Great! You can pick up your princesses and pick up the animals on the floor.
Olivia: (Wailing...) Nooooooo, I caaaaannnn't.... I'M SCAAAARRREED!
Me: Why are you scared of that?
Olivia: Becaaauuuse!
Me: Okay, well what do you need to do when you are scared?
Olivia: (Composed now) Pray. Dear Jesus, help me to not be scared. Amen.
Me: Okay, now you can pick up your animals.
Olivia: (Wailing....) Nooooo, I'm SCAAARREDD!!!

The bad, the ugly, and the good

The bad: Olivia has taken only 2 naps in the past 10 days.

The ugly: Olivia...from 4 pm on...

The good: Both kids in bed by 7 pm every night!

Happy Birthday Olivia!

My baby girl is 3 today! Please leave her a birthday message!

The day before...

It was a regular Saturday. You know the type (or if you have kids...you REMEMBER the type): sleeping in, lazy breakfast, a little cleaning, a little reading, some good cuddle time with the hubby.

It was snowing. It was beautiful.

It was also an anniversary. Two friends had been lost 10 years previous. Best friends to Ryan (not that we knew each other), friends of mine.

I was pregnant. VERY pregnant. 9 months, 3 days before my due date, pregnant. Very much enjoying pregnancy, but ready to meet our little baby. What would it be?? A boy? A girl?

We took a nap. A blessed 2 hour nap. One of the last 2 hour naps I've taken in the past 3 years!

I awoke feeling "funny". I couldn't really put my finger on anything. Just felt different.

We went grocery shopping. I noticed I was having a lot of contractions. Got a little crabby grocery shopping...my hubby and brother in law were taking their time. Didn't they know I was having contractions?? No...I hadn't said anything yet.

We stopped by Ryan's work on the way home. "Honey?...I'm having contractions 5 min. apart...and I have been for an hour." "What!?! Are you serious? Why didn't you say anything?" "I was just waiting to see..."

Back home. Ryan makes me a sandwich and tucks me into bed...6:30 pm. He goes to snow-blow at the mini storage. Promises he'll answer his cell. I watch Oprah's special on her school in Africa...cry. Contractions are starting to hurt.

8 pm. "You better come home".

9 pm. So this is labor... call the hospital. Load the car. "Is this really happening?" It's snowing hard. "Drive careful, please miss those bumps. It hurts."

10:30 pm. Admitted and walking the halls. Call our parents.

And the journey begins.

Tomorrow is Olivia's 3rd birthday. Amazing.

Your Daily Dose of Olivia

"Mom, you're my Mom. You can join my party anytime."

"Mom, you're my stinker Mom."

Princess Potty, I mean, Party

Olivia has been working really hard on potty training for, well, it feels like forever! This last week we have seen some major strides! She has gone from flat out refusing, screaming, acting like I was asking her to eat dirt to initiating going potty on her own! She's still not consistent, and prefers to use the potty only when she's with me (or me and other she can show off to...), but hey she's doing it! Sunday she used the potty 5 times, all on her own! Yesterday she was at daycare, refused to go there, but came home and used the potty 2 times before bed! Today she went 4 times! She's leery about panties at this point; I think she's scared to pee in them, but she's all about pull-ups right now. And hey, I just want to do what's going to work!! I think I told you that she's trying to earn a Princess Party by using the potty...I ordered her plates, napkins, and cups yesterday. She'll be thrilled!

Know what else? She's in a nap refusing phase...and I haven't even freaked out! :) I may have gotten a bit frustrated in the moment..but I haven't freaked out. I'm growing up into such a big Mommy!

Speaking of growing up... I think I've told you about Olivia's phrase "Should we talk a little talk?" Here's one of our conversations from last week:
Olivia @ breakfast: Mom, should we talk a little talk?
Me: Sure, what should we talk about? (This is standard in these conversations.)
Olivia: Beds.
Me: Okay, what about beds?
Olivia: I sleep in a big girl bed!
Me: Yes! You do, do you like your big girl bed?
Olivia: Yes! Hey Booga, when you get bigger you can sleep in my big girl bed with me? (Puts on her best "Mommy talking to baby voice") Would you like that Booga baby?? We could cuddle! And Mommy, when you get littler, then you can sleep in my big girl bed with us too!
Me: Oh okay, but I'm not sure I'm getting any littler... What about Daddy?
Olivia: No, he sleeps in your bed.

:)

I passed!

FINALLY! My journey to becoming a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist is done! I took my final exam this morning and passed! And what an exam it was... Let me tell you about the journey!

Grad school from 2003-2006
Took 1st licensure exam in Feb. 2007 (9 months pregnant) :) & passed
Next 3 years: worked part-time collecting client contact & supervision hours, in between maternity leaves!
Apply for & am accepted to state exam to be taken today!

Yesterday morning I had a meeting in the cities, then I took the day just for me! My first stop was to Rosedale to do a little shopping. I desperately needed a new outfit for my exam today...I didn't even bring a backup with me so it was a good thing I found something! I also found Olivia's birthday present, which I am SO excited about! (I'll tell you later...) Grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed to.... A HOTEL! I needed some serious R & R before this exam and some time to worry ONLY about me, so Ryan and I decided it would be a great idea for me to get a hotel room all to myself for the night. I spent the afternoon studying, studying, working out in their facilities reading flashcards, and studied some more. My Dad had a client down in Roseville so he came and took me out to eat for a break. Thanks Dad! After dinner I studied a bit more and watched cable! (always a treat for me!) Slept great and headed to my exam this morning.

The exam.... A 20 min. oral exam in front of 2 board members. You answer 20 questions, step out of the room, they deliberate, and you come back in to find out if you pass or fail. Talk about intense! I am so thankful that I passed and that I can close a door on this chapter...it has been such a long time coming!!

Yay! Now hopefully I'll be back blogging a bit more!! And taking some pictures of my kids...I think I'll go find those camera batteries!

Sick Boy

Aidan has been plagued with ear infections this winter. He currently is on antibiotics for ear infection number 4...in 8 weeks. He's basically on a cycle of finishing antibiotics and a few days later we're back in for the next round. The infections are switching ears, so it's not necessarily a recurrent one, although sometimes it is... This time around he's been miserable! High fever, not sleeping, sad little boy. I am tired of it. He is tired of it. I'm TIRED (read: lack of sleep).

Any suggestions from you Mom's who have had kids with lots of ear infections? Tubes? Chiropractor? Wait it out?


In other news...
My camera has been out of batteries for a good 3 weeks. I bought batteries...haven't put them in the camera so no pics. That is my goal for this coming weekend.

I'm behind in laundry and other assorted house cleaning things.

I'm still studying...and getting super sick of it. And still anxious for my test.

Olivia had a double ear infection last week...doing better now, but just getting a cough again (probably thanks to her brother). BRING ON SPRING.

Olivia has also had some excellent "Oliviaisms" this week, but I don't have time to remember them right now. Except for that she calls San Diego, "Bingo".

By the way, Olivia and I are going to San Diego! My mom will be there for a conference in March and my good friend, Delinda, will be able to come down to visit too, plus my cousin Natalie lives there! We are so excited!!!

Ryan is still working crazy hours at work, but we're thankful for the work and even the overtime!

My mom and grandma were both in the hospital last week, but are both home now and doing well.

Can you see why I haven't updated lately??

Blah.

Lots on my mind.
Lots to do.
Little motivation on this Saturday morning.

Had a busy, but enjoyable week. Lots of playtime with the kids, a couple of great playdates, and even got to play Nintendo with my B/F/F/O/I/K/Y/A, Bridgit...just like when we were 8. :)

Ryan's crazy busy at work...80 hour weeks. I have a lot of studying to do. Trying to squeeze it in between playtime and SLEEP.

Olivia fell at Bridgit's yesterday and has a serious shiner by her eye. I was amazed she didn't split it open when she hit it...hoping she doesn't get a black eye!

Aidan is so happy this week after getting some MORE meds for ANOTHER ear infection. He had his second night last night of NOT eating AT ALL! Hoorah Aidan! He still woke up a couple of times, but was easily comforted.

Planning Olivia's upcoming birthday party!!