Daddy's girl...

This is Daddy........

....and Baby Girl LOVES him!!

She lights up anytime he walks into the room.

She laughs and squeals with delight at any face or noise that he makes.

She strains her neck to follow his every move. 

The feelings are mutual though.  I can see his face light up each time he looks at her or she smiles at him.

It is incredibly endearing.   Perhaps the most endearing thing I have ever witnessed. 

Like most little girls, my first love was my dad (and he still ranks pretty high on my list), so it has warmed my heart to watch this same relationship take shape around our house.   

In fact, it is so special to me that I got Baby Girl a snazzy new shirt to explain her new love affair (and then proceeded to take a myriad of photographs when she wore it!).

the right place at the right time...

Yesterday I attended my first MOPS group with a girlfriend.  I have been seeking out new ways to add some fellowship and 'me' time into my life ever since my usual Bible study group stopped meeting, and this was the perfect solution!  All of the women have young children and childcare is provided so we can have time to really focus on God's message and support one another in the challenges of mommyhood. 

The amazing part to me is not that I joined the group and met new friends (I am typically up for any new social adventure), but that the message yesterday seemed designed specifcally for me.  I know that God has ways of speaking to our hearts when we most need it, but it continues to amaze me every single time it happens!  Was it irony that this speaker happened to be rescheduled to speak on my first day there?  Was it simply luck that she said all the things I have been needing to hear?  I think not.  It was most definately God reminding me that He is is control and that I need to rely on His guidance to help me get through the tough times.  That fact alone helped take some of the 'mommy-weight" off my shoulders.....what a freeing feeling!

Christmas revisited...

Not sure why I am such a slacker when it comes to reporting on our Christmas adventures this year. I did this after our trip to Indiana and now I have done it after our celebration with Andy's parents, too.  Geesh!  Get with the program, Stephanie!  We celebrated Allen Christmas several weeks ago when Andy's parents came to visit.  It is great having them so close because they can come to us and we don't have to cart all of Baby Girl's 'One Sock Wonder's' gear.  It makes life much simpler!

Enjoy the visual recap of our fun together....

Playing with Grandpa.

Quick disclaimer on the IU ball you see in the two pictures above.....my sister sent it to me because someone (probably Melvin H.) gave it to her kids and it is the most appropriate at our house since I went to graduate school there.  However, an IU item is really never appropriate in any Jordan household, but we take exception to this one ball because Olivia likes to play with it!   Okay, now on with the pictures =)

Time to open presents!!!

Let's all be honest here...Olivia was the real gift this Christmas (as demonstrated by her bow wearing cuteness)!

Look at the great sweater Grandma knitted for me!

Yum, yum, I want to EAT you, Mr. Duck!!

Okay, so I think that catches me up on family Christmas postings.  Thank goodness because we are nearly in February! 

one sock wonder....

....that's Baby Girl's new name.

She cannot keep both socks on for any length of time.  Even if the world depended on it.  It has become quite a joke around here because EVERY time she gets brought back downstairs after a nap, she only has ONE sock on! 

 

It has been this way for at least a week now.  She typically takes three naps a day, so that is approximately 21 naps straight that she has emerged from her nursery oasis with only ONE sock!

This must be some sort of world record.....

playdate and the aquarium

Thursday Olivia had a playdate with cutie-pie Sarah who lives across the street from us (with her parents and brother and sister, too!)  Olivia and Sarah are about a month and a half apart and it is fun to watch them develop together.  Their nursery's are directly across from one another and we often joke when they have bad nights that they must be communicating through the windows!  I think they will be best of buddies as they grow and discover the world together.

 Olivia was intrigued and kept reaching out to touch Sarah.  I tried to get them to hold hands, but that proved to be too difficult!  The green cup that you see in the pictures became quite the hot item.  They kept "passing" it back in forth from one another (i.e., taking it from one another).  However, both were eager to share and never got upset when it was taken away!

Friday we went to the Aquarium and had a great day out with Grant, Grace, Gillian, and Auntie Christina. 

Olivia loved watching the big kids run around and was very content the entire time, despite completely missing her morning nap.  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow in order to be social ;)

All smiles as she cruises around in her stroller playing with her toys.

Grant touched the snake.....we kept our distance!!

I tried to get her to color a shark for Daddy, but she wanted to eat the crayons instead.  I guess I should have known better!

baby bathtubs...

.....those are soooo 2009!

Because in 2010, when you can sit up all on your own, the BIG bathtub is the thing to do!

Our little fish loves the freedom of the big bathtub.  She splashes, laughs and squeals with delight!!

perspective

This weekend I could have gone on one of these....  (well, not that airline, but I don't have the patience to find a different picture)

and had a fun weekend with the girls in Texas.  In my former life this would have been a no-brainer.  I would have found out the dates, checked the calendar, and then booked my ticket!   However, my new life is a little different. 

Ever since I quit my job, we have to be a little smarter with our disposable income.  We still diligently contribute to our 'vacation fund' each month to save up for a nice vacation, but the little trips in between have to be monitored.  No more impromptu weekends with friends. No more quick trips to Vegas for Andy.  When you cut your income in half, priorities must be made.  And perspective must be kept.

So rather than have a weekend of drinking too much wine, laughing till we couldn't talk, and reminiscing about the "good ol' days", I stayed home. 

And I got to see this look....

and this look...

and this smile....

and this new skill...

and have this be my morning wake-up call...

Perspective.  Yep, I've got it all right!