Tuesday, October 5, 2010

we welcome fall with open arms.

The weather has cooled here and we are loving it!  I even had to dig out some socks, a sweater, and some long pants for Olivia to wear on our run yesterday morning!  Last winter's pants were more like capris than regular length, so I added a shopping trip to our to-do list!  Our girl has some long legs!

When we aren't outside playing, Olivia is standing at the windows wishing she was still outside!  I snapped this photo on my Blackberry just before bath time last night.  The cul-de-sac was full of kids still playing and running around.  Having a 7:30 bedtime isn't always fun, I suppose.  Poor poor Olivia....

Also, I haven't forgotten about y'all and my promise for a post with a fun surprise!  And, just to calm inquiring minds, I am not pregnant!  That thought never crossed my mind when I mentioned "the surprise" in that post; however, I have been asked numerous times if that was the news.  Sorry to be a let down,  haha!  We are headed off to Gymboree as soon as Olivia wakes up.  Hope each of you is having a wonderful Tuesday!


Friday, October 1, 2010

A day in the life of Baby...

Olivia makes sure that Baby has a fun-filled lifestyle!  She is already a good mommy as she is often caught giving her hugs and kisses and takes her all over with her during the day. 
Enjoy the photo tour of Olivia and Baby's adventures....

Baby gets carried around the yard...

...pushed in the car

....helped down the slide

.....situated 'just so' in her stroller

...dropped on her head in the grass

...strapped into her booster for a meal while at Grandma & Grandpa's

... and taken on a shopping trip.
What a busy busy life it is to be Olivia's favorite baby doll! 
(Thank you to the Musa family for such a wonderful birthday gift!)

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

just to get you by.

Where have I been lately?  Well, we had an eventful road trip to Andy's parents this past weekend where the three of us ended up in a tow truck, but we are all safe.  Also, I am working this week at my old job, so Andy has been staying home with Olivia and then going into work when I get home.  So, needless to say, I haven't had much time to update my blog.  However, I've got some great pictures on my memory card and perhaps a video or two!

Also, I have some fun news to share, but all in due time!  I am a busy mama this week!

For now, here is a picture of Olivia in her new Minnie slippers.  We had to take a 2 hour intermission on our drive home Sunday to let the car rest (a long story that I may or may not share...).  The mall we chose had a Disney store and Olivia latched on to these!  She loves to wear them around even though it is still in the 90's in Charleston.  
 Till next time......

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Slide, baby, slide!

Olivia has gotten very attached to her baby doll the past few days.  It has begun to go everywhere with her during the day and she has started some adorable imaginary play with her.  Enjoy the cuteness from this morning, but please disregard the saggy diaper, too big pajama bottoms, and shirtless nature of our dear daughter.  It was rather early and already hot and humid!


Slide, baby, slide! from Stephanie Allen on Vimeo.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Fourteenth month recap.


Weight: 24 lbs (75th percentile)
Height: 33 inches  (still off the charts)


Napping: Continues with a morning and afternoon nap.  Average length is about an hour and 15 minutes each.  She has an occasional nap revolt, but for the most part naps are not a battle for us. 


Night:  Bedtime is between 7 & 7:30 and she sleeps for eleven to twelve hours.  She still cries out in the night on some/most nights, but it is typically nothing more than a few minutes.
 
Food: Olivia is a good eater, although she has begun to eat less and less for breakfast.  Sometimes her intake at dinner is nearly as much as me!  Favorites include: macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, avocado, cheese, pasta dishes, blueberries, and grapes.  She cracks us up while eating from a spoon because she can't do it unless her eyes are closed, as exhibited below!

Motor Skills: nearly runs, kicks and throws balls of all sizes, is getting more independent with silverware use, jumps when has something to hold onto (e.g., in her crib), climbs up and slides down her slide independently, and climbs onto and off of couch.
Language: has begun repeating so many things we say!  She can make a lot of her simple needs known either with a sign or a word.  Current words include: Mama, Dada, hat, ball, baby, that, dahdo (for dog), Nana, Papa, nigh-nigh (for goodnight), bu-bye, hi, banana, cheese, turkey, car ride, slide, outside, A-ya (for Olivia), cat, up, and down.  Signs include: all done, please, more, bath, airplane, bathroom, milk, water, friend, car, diaper, and thank you.  Can tell us what sound a sheep, cow, and horse make.  This is a fun age for language development, but it really is just the tip of the ice burg because her language explosion is still to come (and I can't wait!). 


Fun Facts: wears size 5 shoes and 12-18 month clothes, has 6 teeth, loves to imitate me in whatever I'm doing (e.g., get a rag and pretend to dry off a bowl, put clothes into washing machine and reach up to try and push a button), loves playing with my shoes/purses/make-up brushes equally as much as she does playing with balls and in the dirt, squeals in delight every time she sees the neighbor children, seems to thrive and really be in her element the more children that are around, laughs at herself when she passes gas, likes to wear hats, keeps a bow in her hair now!, asks to go outside all day long, favorite toys include her baby, balls, her Mickey bus, and books, wants to eat anything we are eating, still cries when I leave her, loves to dance to music!, and can light up the room with her smile!
Our baby girl is quickly turning into a toddler!  Month 15 has already brought changes and we are only a week in!  However, through all of these rapid changes, one thing has remained the same - how much fuller our life has become with her sweet spirit in it.  We are truly humbled by what an incredible blessing she is. 

eating like a lady.

A fork and a plate?  Say it isn't so!

It was time to call in the big guns for the chicken tetrazzini last night, and all I have to say about this is "where did my baby go?!"

Thursday, September 16, 2010

our Picasso still wears Pampers.


Baby Girl has discovered coloring (or her mother sits her in the highchair with crayons and paper, but you know, whatever works!). 


We even have a fun way to display her masterpieces thanks to my last MOPS meeting!













Her first gallery show will be in a few months, so begin saving your cash now.  The bidding is predicted to be intense.