So after spending the afternoon outdoors today and sweating, I feel like these photos are ancient but they are only about a month old!


We haven't been able to go to church much since the beginning of the year because Olivia hasn't been well enough for the nursery and is too active/distracting to take into the service. So one Sunday morning when the runny nose wasn't quite gone, we loaded her up in the wagon and took a walk around the neighborhood. When I was pregnant, we used to take the dogs to a Boy Scout park/training site in our neighborhood that has nice paths in it.


C has talked about taking Olivia's picture sitting on this tree since before she was born. He actually tried to get her up there last year before she could really sit up, which didn't work for obvious reasons.


Of course, O thought this was all great fun, especially since she was watching Rocky and Lulu run loose like madmen. They had such a good time sniffing and investigating.


And I'm including this last photo so you can all see why I'm usually the one taking the pictures -- could I be making a more ridiculous face in this photo? Digital cameras serve no purpose in our family, I guess, because I was told that this was a "great shot."

Momma's Little Helper

Often when I am in the kitchen cooking, I forget to close the pantry door completely. When this happens, Olivia swoops in to help me rearrange the shelves.

I usually wind up with all contents she can reach strewn across the kitchen and living room floors. I don't mind though, because it keeps her busy while I cook at an hour of the day that tends to be a bit cranky.

How Much Is That Doggie...

in the window...

Did You Say Bath??

I don't think I've mentioned that since Christmas, my sister, Becca, and her son, Aden, have been living here in town with my parents. It's just temporary, unfortunately, while Philip finishes up working in Orlando and gets everything ready to move their family to the next location. To say that I have enjoyed having them here in an understatement.

One night I had made a huge pot of gumbo and invited my folks and sister to come over for dinner. Honey had a great time feeding the kids.


Since I go to my parent's house normally on Tuesday nights with Olivia while C works late, it's not unusual for us to stay through dinner and maybe even bath time. If you say the word "bath" around Aden, though, you had better be prepared to deliver.


These two made a beeline for the tub after we finished eating and (as you can see) thoroughly enjoyed splish splashing in the bath.



Then it was time to dry off and put on lotion and diapers and jammies. The only way to keep Olivia still long enough to get this diaper on her was to have Aden sit there and talk to her.

Time for bed!

Redheaded Step Fur-Child

As you all know, it's been a cold winter here in the Deep South. Way colder than what we are used to -- I mean, here it is March and we're still wearing long sleeves! It's probably El Nino or global warming.

Anyway, with all the cold weather, the pups have been back indoors a time or two this winter. They have the basement, which is climate controlled, but then Rocky starts making sweet eyes at me and shivering at the back door, and I cry from all the guilt and let them sleep inside. Then of course I cuss all the dog hair everywhere, get fed up and send them out again.

Rocky and Lulu have never really known what to make of Olivia. Lulu has always wanted to love on her, but when she was brand new, Rocky sniffed her and when she cried and didn't scratch his rear end, he decided she was useless and never paid attention to her again. So when he came indoors for several days in January, he was a little nervous about Olivia.



Can you see that his ears are pinned back? She kept scooting over there to see what Rocky was doing (eating his breakfast) and trying to pull off his collar while he ate. So I called her to distract her, and this was Rocky peeking around the corner to make sure she was gone so he could eat in peace.


Eventually he gave up. Right after this he sat at my feet with his ears pinned back and made the most pitiful face. I could practically hear him asking me why I don't love him anymore.

New Year 2010

We sat down to a nice big breakfast on New Year's Day, which is something we try to do most weekends when Daddy is home. O was really having a good time with her breakfast of biscuits and jelly, so Daddy got out the camera. She's been drinking out of a straw since she was about 7 months old, so we've never really done sippy cups.



There is a video that goes with this post, but I keep getting an error message when I try to upload it, so I'll have to try again later.

Help! I've Fallen, and I Can't Get UP!

I may have hinted in previous posts that, sometime in December, Olivia developed an independent streak and thinks she is a Big Girl now. Which is good, of course, because it makes her want to develop new skills like walking and whatnot. The downside is that she sometimes bites off more than she can chew, so to speak, and tends to need frequent rescuing. (Yes, I know, I can't imagine where she gets this stuff from.)

Anyway, here is Olivia playing with her new activity table in the living room. She happily bangs on it by herself and I can sometimes slip into the laundry room or kitchen and get something done while she is playing. I am usually called back by a frantic cry, however, and here is what happens:



Until she recently moved up to 12 month outfits, the footie pajamas (and shoes, for that matter) were all slick-bottomed and eventually Olivia's feet would come out from underneath her. And since she doesn't like being on her belly, she would just hang on for dear life until the Rescue Squad stood her up again.

More Christmas

So I swear to you that I already uploaded these photos to the blog once before. I suppose I was distracted before I published them, however, and they never saw the light of day. Until now.

As you can see, Gran and Pappa gave Olivia a red wagon for Christmas...it's awesome. I don't know if any of you have seen one since the last time you actually rode in one yourself, but they have seatbelts and cupholders now. Seriously, cupholders. Anyway, with the winter being one of the coldest around these parts in about 20 years, we have only been able to use it a handful of times so far, but O absolutely loves it.