A Day In Our World

When I finally started to wonder when Oliver’s nose would stop running I felt a tooth pokin’ through. So that’s why!! Welcome to the family bottom left toofer!

Oliver is pretty much crawling. He scoots so fast with his legs under him but belly flops and face dives to get closer quicker. He reaches with all of his might also…and usually it works. I’d say within the next few days he will be on-the-move!!! Maybe by Wednesday, his 7 month milestone!

Hitting the six month mark really began some fun new adventures for us. One of these includes a new sippy cup! I had no idea that they have them for as young as 4 months+ so we are just starting on a 6 months+ one and he loves it.

He loves to gnaw on the nipple and turn his face back and forth so his gums rub. He makes an absolute watery mess but gets so excited that I don’t mind. You’ll always dry buddy!

Today we arose bright and early to tackle our jam packed day. Oliver had an early morning audition and Olivia was on the softball field bright and early. Oliver and I made it back in time to see her game. Plenty of time to see her smack the ball for a double, steal third and race home to score for the team! Love it!

We then grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed straight to her schools carnival which the kids anticipate all year long. It ends up costing is parents quite a bit to attend but it’s all for the school so it’s okay. At the carnival she even went into the dunk tank and daddy dunked her! So funny!!

Fun day. Exhausting day. Warm and beautiful. We are sad to have missed cousin Jordyn’s birthday party but we hope she had a blast and enjoyed her special day

This morning my heart sunk, breathing became labored and my eyes teared up while working on the computer before school. I heard a loud thump! Before my brain could compute what it could have been I leaped and scrambled to my room to hear Oliver let out a whale. He did indeed wake up and roll off of our bed onto the floor.

He is rarely in our bed and during the mornings we are all in and out of my room and usually there is always someone there. Except this once. My heart aches today and it’s bitter sweet that this milestone has happened and is in the past. You’re a tough boy and I am so sorry you woke up on that side of the bed, face down on the floor. I love you sweet boy and I promise I won’t let it happen ever again.

Muah. xoxo

Wow! The dates for the bachelorette weekend are quickly approaching and I am giddy with excitement! Woop woop! Life is amazing how it works itself out. Our trip is full of adventure and activities that include pool parties, multiple clubs, Vegas fun and I’m sure a touch of the traditional bachelorette stuff too. This brings me to my point of working out this baby fat. It’s a lot harder to fit into my schedule of course with so much going on but I’ve lost so much already and this last little bit will soon vanish too. I’m looking forward to some fun outfits and I’m definitely skipping the pool shindig.

Mr. O is no longer consistently using the bumbo for feeding time but instead is starting to use a high chair! As crazy as this sounds I still had Olivia’s high chairs until I gave one away last year and the other is here to bring to Great Grandmas. So I also had an old wooden high chair here that we used for a photo session and I plopped him in! He is still super small for it especially since here is no seat belt. The first time I folded a towel for him to sit on and put a beach towel behind him. Looked super funny which is why there isn’t a picture, lol!!

The word bonkers brings many things to mind. One of them includes my dog. My dog is driving me completely bonkers! She will not stay off of my couch so we have these various contraptions everywhere to make her stay off.

Doesn’t help.

But that’s not all that irritates me about her. It’s what drives me bonkers. Uhhhh it’s so irritating!

Another bonker moment right now deals with big boy Oliver! This kid makes a fist and bangs it back and forth between his head and the bottle while eating. This is usually done during his evening bottle and when he is getting sleepy. It was so strange, and he did it with such force that I even looked it up on the Internet. Shoot, these days I guess I should have just asked Suri. There I found that indeed it is quite common, but random. Bonkers, this kiddo is bonkers.

And with all this whirlwind spinning around me I feel as though I’m going bonkers!

Yes Olivia, there is a big bad wolf out there. He disguises himself like a nice person and tries to get children to come with him. In fact, unfortunately there are many of these dirty people.

Tonight we were reminded to reinforce and remind our safety rules with Olivia. There have been a few incidents reported near her school and the district and city are on high alert. I am fully confident in our schools procedures and safety standards but there are many places where something bad could happen.

This is my second biggest fear. The thought of being in so much pain with absolutely nothing I could physically do. I love my family down to my core and I would lose it. Mentally and physically.

Dirty people.

p.s.
For the record my first fear is dying in a car accident. I am physically uncomfortable when riding in cars that I am not driving. Blah blah blah. Live every day to its fullest and kiss your loves ones multiple times daily.

I’ll start off by telling you all that Olivia hates softball. HATES. But…daddys rule is that when you start something you need to finish it. Especially if it’s a team sport. We are at odds on this but she is working to be the best and if she does then she will be starting art, theater and gymnastics when it finishes. Well, today she hit a double (she somehow forgot how to), them stole third and ran home for a score!!!

She came home über excited and I congratulated her with kisses. I wish I had been there to see it but no worries. She will have a billion more sporting events to attend!

My heart melted when Clif shared this story with me so of course I had to add it!

Before coming home from practice they stopped at one of her favorite dinner spots, Subway, to grab dinner and bring home. As usual she chose her chips and this was part of her dinner. Olivia has been intreagued by the people at offramps with various signs. Tonight she saw a man on the side of the road where we stop on our offramp. He had a small cardboard sign that read:

“Hungry. Please help.”

She immediately told Clif that she wanted to give him her bag of chips. He said he wouldn’t, but she could. Then she thought for a second while being nervous and took too long. All of this happened as the light turned and there simply wasn’t time. When she got home she placed the bag aside and told Clif not to let me eat them. That she is saving them to give him tomorrow if we see him again.

This is the first time Olivia has done something like this or thought about others in this way. I love that she did it all in her own and I loved hearing the story.

This years spring real was awesome! Not awesome like most people would say. Most would say that because they took a vacation. We, had a stay-cation. This is the first year that both of Clif’s schools had the same week off AND Olivia’s was the same week also! It was wonderful!

We had a whole bucket list of items to complete around the house and also at the studio. Most of these items did not get done because I still had a lot of day to day work to keep up on. Such a bummer but hey, summer is only 2 months away and I am starting the countdown! Needless to say that we did complete one major item- cleaning out the garage. What. a. chore! Blah. Clif did the majority while I worked and tended to the baby. It looks great! I have tons and tons for sale so after that’s gone it will be super spacious. Not park-you-car-inside spacious but I can easily access me holiday bins to decorate for each season! Because of this major accomplishment our spring break was a success.

Olivia will explain why hers was a success too. The week started with her taking home her center work. Of course I took it and stacked it in some stack that needed to be filed upstairs. Where? Who knows! This was fine until her teacher emailed asking for me to be sure it comes back. Yeah, about that. I think I found it all but we shall see. Then she had multiple sleepovers and play dates. Then a glow-in-the-dark indoor soccer party rounded out the week followed by an early night to bed to get back into the school routine.

With another spring break under our belts starts the countdown to our planned summer activities. I can’t wait! It felt so nice to have everyone home all week that I’m not even sure words can describe how much I needed that. Messing up Oliver’s wonderful routine is definitely worth it.

Welcome Monday.

Olivia was invited to a glow-in-the-dark indoor soccer party for today and she’s been looking forward to it for a few weeks. Our schedules worked out so that Olivia would get dropped off by Clif. He said that she was the only girl that RSVP’d. Then he told me he thought it was so cute…when they arrived the boys had already started I pick teams and when they saw Olivia both teams started shouting that they wanted Olivia! One boy said “she’s on my team, she’s super fast!” Super cute.

A lot of things keep me busy around here but the photography holds the biggest chunk of time as would normally anyone’s job. You’re usually there longer throughout the day than you are at home. Well, the same for me except I work while my family is around me on our off time too. I’m constantly thinking of locations, sets, money, bills, equipment, policies, new ideas and above all I’m always trying to think “what are my customers thinking?” or “what would they like?”. And at the end of the day I make a final decision and move on to ponder something else. Well, the business has grown and grown long with my family and responsibilities. When I was on maternity leave and sick a few months ago I realized that this was no longer a one person show. I sat to think of many different variables, costs and options. I’m working out the final kinks and paperwork but I’ve got some great new announcements coming in May that include business changes and offerings too!

I’m giddy with excitement and anxious. It’s unbelievably hard for me to keep my mouth shut. But…unroll the changes are all complete my lips are sealed. Kinda.

Happy, happy 6 months milestone to Mr. Man. Oliver, with this thing we call “life” it seems to have consumed us over these last few months and it all became a whirlwind and flew by. Just last night I was talking with daddy about how blessed we were to have you. I still pinch myself every so often and wonder if I’m dreaming. And then I yelp. I’m definitely not sleeping. And most definitely not sleeping at 2:30am and 5:30am when your tummy grumbles and you awake for some milk. Oh, wait. That’s usually daddy who helps then, lol. In fact, daddy said he was taking with some other moms and when they found out that he wakes up with you at night they were all super impressed. And this told daddy that I am SUPER lucky to have an amazing man and you are SUPER lucky to have an amazing daddy.

This month you’ve made a lot of changes and experienced quite a bit. You’ve started to scoot/roll across the floor and have become pretty efficient and fast. In fact daddy told me that he thinks we are going to be in trouble because you like to grab everything! Your able to sit really well for a long time but still have not completely mastered it. If you want to reach too far for something you don realize that you’ll topple over. You’ve spent quite a bot of time with your Great Grandma Dorothy and you two have a great system worked out. I can only hope this continues once you crawl. You also met your Great Uncle Terri and his wife whom it’s been years since I’ve seen. We visited Olivia’s softball games a few times, most of which you slept. Olivia, you and I also took an early morning trip to the farmers market and our big adventure was your first trip to Disneyland!! You loved the people watching. You played with new baby ducklings and really didt care for them at all. Your first Easter was just yesterday as well and it was a lot of fun. Read the post from yesterday to hear more about it.

You’ve grown so much that we also have moved you out of your cradle and into a big boy crib in our room. You look adorable in it and I’m sure I’ve overwhelmed everyone with crib pictures because everyday you look so cute sleeping. Your sister never slept in hers once. Okay once, for a picture. You love your crib. When you get sleepy you rub the heck out of your eyes, and if I’m holding you you’ll arch your back which means you want to lay down in your crib. When I walk you to the crib you’ll reach out to it and lean to get in. So cute. You started just going to sleep after a tiny bit but lately you’ve started rolling back and forth restlessly and all around fighting your sleep. Silly boy.

Yeah, you and I, we have a special language. I can ask you if you want milk (which isn’t hard because you eat, ON THE DOT, every 3 hours) but if you’d like milk you smile and whine together in a special way. You have started eating a lot of different fruits and vegetables as well. You have a wonderful pallet and haven’t disliked anything. I’ve worked really hard with teaching you to keep your hands down and away while eating and you’re doing great! You aren’t messy at all unless you decide to turn your head around at turbo speed and smear it across your face .

You are getting quite chunky kiddo. Our pediatrician appointment for your 6 mos check up is Friday so we’ll have more deets then. I believe you are close to 21 pounds. You are wearing a size 2 shoes and you are starting to wear 6-12 months or 9 month clothing. Size 3 diapers as well. Your hair is starting to get ringlets on the top and in the back. It’s making you look quite crazy actually. You have become quite the tongue monster too and always have it sticking out of your mouth, lol!! I think this is one trait you’ve taken from your daddy. I still think you look a lot like Olivia but in your own way. Everyone else in the world says that you are my twin. Not sure if it’s the skin color throwing people off or if we really do but you’re super cute so I’ll take it as a compliment.

Your temperament has stayed about the same but in the last week or two you’ve started to realize that your voice makes a lot of ruckus. You’ll talk and try new sounds all the time. I love to sit and listen. Even record it at times You’re still a pretty happy baby but cry now when something is wrong or your bored. I don’t like this. One bit. But that’s life.

And last but not least your daddy. You love your daddy. I’ll catch you staring at him and smiling. And oh, if he happens to look at you we are in trouble. You’ll fold in half with excitement and stick out that tongue!

You are simply a joy. You bring so much to our family and you are simply Olivia’s world. She is still head over heels for you and this will probably go on forever. Thank you to the baby Gods for fulfilling Clif and my wish.

Now on to baby proofing and preparing for the real “baby” months. You are officially NOT a newborn anymore. Cheers to steam cleaned floors and the endless job of dog hair control. Blah.

What a beautiful day outside today for our annual Easter gathering. The days leading up to this showed showers scheduled for Easter so the beautiful day really surprised us!

Early this morning without waking us Olivia waited patiently in her room watching cartoons and playing with her Barbies. At 8am when she heard Oliver and I up she snuck into my room and whispered, “Do you know what time the Easter bunny normally comes? Because he usually leaves jelly beans up the stairs and my basket at the top of the stairs and its still not there. I checked at 6am too.”

Awe, this simply melted my heart. Clif said he never remembered ever leaving out a basket from the Easter bunny for her but yes, we have for the last 7 years silly. So I asked her if she checked in her room and downstairs. She ran downstairs and once she found them I had a blast watching her dig through it. Delighted that she got a few pieces of candy and counting it all. My goal was to only add as much as I would let her eat the entire day so I could simply tell her she can have whatever is in it. To her, this makes me look like the coolest Mom around! I like that. Her basket was filled with a few mini snack size caramel milky way, 2 butterfinger eggs, some jelly beans for decoration along with some children’s cooking supplies (cutting board, serving spoons and a some stirring spoons), a purple scarf, a popsicle lollipop and some new zipper bracelets. She ended up eating a few jelly beans and then ditching the candy. *yay* Oliver’s basket was filled with a few pieces of candy, a bunny lollipop for decoration, some hot wheels toys (for Olivia too but Oliver can play when older), and a toy car ramp with roller cars. He’ll love that soon.

This year due to the rain that was in the forecast we decided to celebrate with a brunch and egg hunt at our house. With a simple potluck it worked out great. The BLT bar was a hit a few years ago so that was my top choice, along with different types of quiche and other great goodies. After eating we had our easter egg hunt, took some pictures and relaxed. All of the kids found their Easter eggs except for Mya. She could not find her last blue egg. LOL

It was nice to spend time with family while at the same time not making it and full days event.

Oh, and 4 days later we found the egg on the side of the house!

Oliver is officially rolling over both ways now! He’s only a little late rolling from his tummy to his back but we got it! He is also scooting across the floor by pushing super hard with his feet and rubbing his face across the ground as he pushes. Silly boy. Another milestone we aren’t far off from is sitting! He does great sitting and his balance is even good…but then he gets excited and down he goes.

We’ll see when he’s a good sitter and consider that our milestone until then…practice, practice, practice!

Olivia’s 2nd grade class left for a field trip today to dig up fossils and dinosaur bones. When she was in the combo last year half of her class (the 2nd graders) went and loved it. Since then she had been looking forward to this event. We’ve got some great weather today so they should have fun with all of the hiking!

Today Olivia is attending a birthday party for her friend Nina who just turned 8! The party started around 2:30pm and included a sleepover so Olivia was super excited. She loves when we have birthday parties to attend. We have such crazy schedules that there are usually some we aren’t able to attend but we really try.

Because this was her first time spending the night somewhere that we hadn’t been before. We were a little nervous and antsy to see how she was so we called to check in on her. Clif asked if she’d like to still spend the night and she said of course!

I’m glad she’s enjoying herself and I can’t wait to pick her up and hear all about it! Happy birthday Nina!!