Weekend Wrap-Up

Are you prepared for a picture overload?  Because you are about to get it!  This is not just one, but TWO weekends worth of pictures.

Last Sunday, we spent the morning walking through the Village of Arroyo Grande and headed into a local coffee shop for drinks.  We just had to show this little stunner off.

Coat courtesy of Poppa Peter and Grandma Irma.

They had a few Fisher-Price toys there and Olivia had a blast playing with them.  I have since become officially obsessed with their pink lemonade and plan on making my 3rd visit there tomorrow morning!

She refused to take the coat off!

Yesterday, David and I took Olivia up to SLO to run a few errands and made a pit-stop at Sunshine Donuts for {what else?} some donuts!  We even let Olivia indulge in a couple of donut holes.  Let's just say she loved them!

When we got home, we discovered a care package in the mail for Olivia.  She was starting to think Christmas was over, so this was so exciting for her.

Clearly she is very excited over her Olivia book!

Thanks, Ron and Debbie!

Flip that kaleidoscope around there, sweetheart.

I threw a little pizza party and playdate on Saturday evening for a couple of Olivia's friends and their parents.  It was a great way for the moms and dads to hang out and socialize and for the babies to have some fun.  It's a good lesson for Olivia too - she does a great job sharing toys at other people's houses, but it took her awhile to warm up to her friends using her toys.

I was hoping that the late playdate would wear Olivia out and she would sleep like a baby. It pretty much had the opposite effect.  David put her down to bed at 8:45 and she didn't fall asleep until 11:25!!  And, I'm not lying when I say that she didn't stop talking the entire time.  I'm so glad we had the video monitor because it was absolutely priceless to watch.  Around 10:20, I went in to her room foolishly thinking I could rock her to sleep.  WRONG!  All I did was give her an audience.  I kept saying over and over, Go to sleep, Olivia to which she would say back, Go to sleep, Mommy.  Go to sleep, Daddy. Go to sleep, Olivia.  I finally decided that I would just ignore her and not say anything.  After a few minutes of silence, she heard David open the sliding glass door to let Magnum out and perked up to ask, Whaaaattt wassss ittttt???  I told her it was Daddy letting Magnum go potty and she quickly said, Hi Buddy {which is what she calls Magnum sometimes}.  Well, that got me laughing and then it got her laughing too.  I finally got her calmed down, but I'm telling you she went through every single phrase that she knew.  It was like being inside the mind of a child with ADHD....Pizza party, Jacob coming, naked, naked party, Avi poop in sand {poor girl will never live that down}, Hank cookin', cook in oven, oven hot, chicky nuggets...It went on and on.  And, after I had ignored her for too long, she'd throw in a Hi Buddy hoping to get me laughing again.  I finally had to put her in her crib and about 25 minutes later, she finally zonked out.  I thought for sure she would sleep in until 8 or 9, but instead she was up at 6:15. Fortunately, getting her back to sleep was much easier this morning, but it sure made for one tired Mama.  We spent today being extremely lazy and unproductive.

The two of us did manage to get clean though, which is more than I can say for the third member of our family!

Hopefully you all had a wonderful weekend yourselves.  I just scoped out the weather forecast and it's supposed to be sunny this whole week.  I feel bad for my Hoosier friends who are experiencing temperatures in the 20s.  

Happy Sunday from the Central Coast!

I Bit the Bullet

So, the blog that I wrote in my head last night at 2am when insomnia hit was a whole lot better than this one will be.  I can pretty much guarantee that.  I am beat!  Tossing and turning and trying to get comfortable without disturbing the bundle of heat smothering my legs was pretty much impossible last night.  I finally wised up and told Magnum to Get In Your Bed, upon which he jumped over to David's side of the bed and pestered him for the next couple of hours.

Anyway - I know it's only been about a week and a half since I posted about some of the things that Olivia is up to now, but I swear she is just changing like crazy and every day it is something new and funny that keeps me on my toes.  I hope I can remember all the things I want to share with you.  If not, expect another post in about 5 hours when what I forgot wakes me up.

And, instead of a witty blog, you're going to get the bullet points!  {And a few random pictures off of my cell phone.}

• Most days, I am walking around here in yoga pants or let's be honest here pajama pants.  And, I kind of feel like Olivia wants to be comfortable too.  So, when I get her dressed, I'll say, Hey, you want to put on your comfy pants?  And, by comfy pants, I basically mean any pants that aren't jeans - the more elastic around the waist the better!  So, a few days ago, Olivia was in the bathroom with me after we had gotten back from one of our classes and I pulled off my jeans and threw on a pair of pajama pants.  Olivia quickly commented, Mommy's comfy pants.  Ahhh, a girl after my own heart.  

• I'm assuming Olivia is learning the concept of being hurt or at least understanding the correlation of bumping into something and the possibility of it causing pain.  Anytime she brushes up against something, she'll tell me which specific body part hurts.  So, a lot of times during the day, I'm hearing hurt your finger, hurt your toes, hurt your hair.  Last week, she was running around naked after getting out of the bathtub and she ran into her little pushcart and said {she is going to kill me for this one day} hurt your 'gina.  Oh, I can't even tell you how hard it was to keep a straight face.

• I think I have mentioned before how much Olivia loves her Fancy Nancy doll and also the two Fancy Nancy books that we have.  She loves them so much that we read them multiple times a day.  I had a few books to return to the library today and a lightbulb switched on that we could check out some different Fancy Nancy books.  When she woke up from her nap I told her that we were going to the library to get some Fancy Nancy books.  I probably told her one more time on the way to the car.  While we were driving, I asked Olivia where we were going and she immediately responded with, the library.  When I asked her what we were going to get, she replied, Fancy Nancy books.  I am constantly amazed at how smart she is.

{This is Olivia's excited face - she's imitating a picture of a boy in one of my Parents magazines who is excited about going to Disney World.}

• Speaking of smarts, she is starting to retell some of the events of her day.  For example, we went to Boo Boo Records on Wednesday where she saw some of her friends.  When we got back home we were discussing our morning and she mentioned Jacob and a cracker.  It took me a minute to think about it, but Jacob was eating crackers during Music Time.

• Olivia has switched from counting and has moved on to working on the alphabet.  She loves one of the ABC songs I have and now knows about half of the alphabet.  She says, A, B, C, D, H, I, J, K, Q, R, S, T, U, V and then with a little prompting she'll move to, W, X, Y and Z.

I'm sure I am forgetting some things, but it is getting late and I am ready to crawl into bed sans Magnum!  

Happy Friday from the Central Coast!

Va Va Va Video

We have been super busy around here and even though I have a few different things to post about, I am EX-HAUS-TED!  So, I am parking my rear on the couch with my husband, my dog and a little Hawaii 5-0.

I did put up some new Olivia videos today after unloading a bunch of pictures and videos off of my cell phone today.  Feel like watching Olivia dance to the Wheels on the Bus?  Click here.  In the mood to learn a little French?  Click here.  Needin' a little Olivia lovin'?  Click here.  Want to get your groove on to a little Dave Matthews Band?  Click here.

Any guess as to where we went today?

Happy Tuesday from the Central Coast!

Dress for Success

Olivia LOVES playing dress up.  Last week, I stumbled across a ballerina outfit for Olivia and she hasn't stopped talking about her tutu dress since we brought it home.  I found a pair of tights in Olivia's drawer that had little Mary Jane outlines on the feet and her beautiful bow completed the outfit.

Miracle of miracles, I was able to clean the house while Olivia danced the morning away in her tutu.  She took a little dancing break to look through one of my magazines.

She loves looking at all the babies.

This morning after our class, we stopped by Katie's shop to discuss our lunch date tomorrow and Olivia couldn't resist grabbing the purses to carry around and trying on some stylish 80's glasses.

And, if that wasn't enough, this afternoon Olivia found her the head piece of her Halloween costume and promptly had me put it on her.  She wore it all through our shopping trip at Trader Joe's and again at her dinner.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned with a little bit of dressing up time in there somewhere!

Happy Friday from the Central Coast

Zoo Babies

Yesterday, Olivia and I met up with four other moms and their babes for a playdate at the Santa Barbara Zoo.  And, stop the world, I was even on time for it!  I even managed to pack snacks and a lunch for each of us.  Don't ask me how I did it {but I'm thinking the wreck in my kitchen got the raw end of the deal}.

The SB Zoo is such a small zoo that it was super easy to get around to see everything in only a couple of hours.  We managed to see the otters, flamingos, elephants, giraffes, penguins and gorillas up close and personal.  The girls enjoyed searching the grounds for the lion and lioness.

Of course, we couldn't get them all to sit still for a picture together.  At least, I couldn't.   

{Olivia, Avi and Macy}

{Tessa and Avi}

Searching for the lions

{Olivia, Macy and Kendall}

We stopped by the play area, let the girls play and snacked on our packed lunches.  It was such a gorgeous day outside and the girls had so much fun together.

She loved sliding down the hill on the cardboard box.

Kendall and Olivia were so beat by the time we left, they both crashed in the car on the way home!

Such little angels.

We stopped by the post office later in the afternoon and I swear she was the hit of the place.  Those ladies have doted on her since she was a little baby and now that she is older and interacts more, they absolutely love her.  Hence the lollipop...

And, now guess who wants to go to the post office every day?

Happy Thursday from the Central Coast!

A Birthday Love Note {with lots of italics and parentheses}

Dear Olivia,

At twenty-one months {and one day} old, you have probably already figured out that your {otherwise perfect} Mama is not so great with time management.  Hence, your birthday update is a day late.  Actually, a month and a day late since I didn't do one last month.  I'm sure you can forgive me as we were celebrating your twenty month birthday on the island of Kauai.

At this point, it is nearly impossible to list the words that you know {as I have done in the past}.  You have moved on to far bigger and better things -- like phrases.  You are still so inquisitive, so one of your favorite things to do is point to something and say, What is that? But, the words what + is go together so quickly, it just sounds like Whuhees that?  You are always wanting to know what we {or other people} are doing.  If you see me doing something, you'll say Mommy doin?  And, that usually leads into asking what Daddy doin?  Kendall doin?  Leslie doin? and so on.

You adore your two baby dolls and every once in a while, I'll pull down your Fancy Nancy doll {which you call Antsy Ancy} and let you play with her for a bit.  The other night, you were upset with me over something - I'm sure it was one of those once in a blue moon times I didn't let you get your way - and you cried over and over Skype with Nana!  Skype with Nana!  Skype with Nana!  As crazy as it sounds for a 21 month old to know what Skype is, it's one of your favorite things to do.

Speaking of repeating things over and over, you have a true love for music.  Your favorite songs over the last couple of weeks have been Firetruck {thankfully, that has taken a backseat the last few days because Mama was about to go CA-RAZY listening to it on repeat}, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, Baby Beluga {which comes out as Baby Bloooga and is just too cute to say no to}, Row Row Row Your Boat and Your Face.  Most of these are songs that we hear at Music Time at Boo Boo Records on Wednesday mornings and they make our your rides in the car much more enjoyable.  You know a lot of the words to the songs and it is so cute hearing you sing them and watching you do the motions.

Your face, Your face, No one has your face

By far my favorite thing you are saying was a gift to me on Christmas Eve.  For the first time ever, when I told you that I loved you, you said Love You right back.  It was quite possibly the best Christmas present I could have ever received.  You have since worked your way up to saying, I love you, Mommy and have even said I love you, and included their name, to your Daddy, your Nana, your Poppy, your Uncle Rhino and to Jacob.  {That's a lucky boy right there.}  You are usually very giving with your kisses, but when you have had your fill or feel like playing a game with me, you say, Sad?  Once I make my sad face, you give me kiss after kiss and then say, Happy!!

With time, your manners have definitely improved.  While you usually have to be reminded to say please, you are very good at saying, Thanks Mommy, and I have to admit, it sometimes comes out as Thanks Mom and I feel like you are already on the verge of being a teenager.  Which reminds me...you've started saying the word no.  Fortunately, you say it in a way that makes you sound like you are asking a question, so it is at least kind of cute.  However, all manners and cuteness seem to go out the window when it is time to brush your teeth.  For someone who used to run around with toothbrushes in her mouth all the time, you have an intense hatred for them these days.

You are sharing more with your friends and are much less of a toy thief.  For your birthday yesterday, we spent the afternoon at the beach with some of your friends and even let you wear your birthday suit while you splashed in the tide pools.  Before we left for the beach, I told you that we were going to a Naked Party and now every time you get naked you say, Nakiee Party!!  Your friend Avi pooped on the beach and tonight at dinner you answered your own question of Avi doin? with Poopin in the sand. 

You are way too smart for your britches.  When we came back from Hawaii, you were counting 1 to 10 and fortunately I was able to record you doing it because anytime we would ask you to do it for us, you would change the subject.  The other night, Uncle Rhino begged you to count for him and you kind of gave a sigh and went four, six, seven, ten, as if to say, There, I did it.  Are you happy now? And, now when we ask that is all you want to say when it comes to numbers.  I'm thinking about playing those numbers in the lotto!  Tonight, you knew it was bedtime and pulled just about every trick in the book to keep me from handing you off to your dad.  We washed your hands, then we had to wash them again, then they weren't dry enough, and then you had to have some water.  It felt like you were five years old!

One of the {million} things I love about you is that you are such a girly girl.  You love your accessories -  we can't leave home without your bracelet on and even if you are just running around the house, you have to have a pair of shoes on your feet.  Your Nana sent you some Hello Kitty Silly Bands the other day and you love putting them on and taking them off and putting them back on to admire.  When you want to wear something you say, Put on it?

This morning, you helped me in the kitchen making salmon puffs for your lunch.  While they were baking, I brought some toys into the bathroom for you to play with and quickly jumped in the shower.  Even though you were freshly dressed, you insisted upon taking a shower with me.  I had one of those moments where it was like, Whatever it takes to let me get clean.  You played in the shower and when I was about ready to get out, I stripped you out of your romper and your soggy diaper.  You screamed and screamed because you wanted that diaper back on.  I squatted down to explain to you that it was wet and  that we'd get a new one once we got dry and I was lucky enough to catch a whiff of the onion you had chowed down on while we made your lunch.  The only way I could console you was to explain that we were having a Nakiee Party right there in the shower.  

Tonight at dinner, we forgot to say the blessing before we ate and about halfway through the meal you held your hands out towards us and said, Blessing Blessing.  On a whim, I asked YOU to say the blessing and I swear, you almost got it word for word.  Okay, that's a huge exaggeration, but you did say a lot of hard G sounds which is pretty good considering a lot of the time our prayer starts out, God is great, God is good.  And, then at the end, you shouted, AMEN!

Oh Olivia, you are the best little girl a mother could ever ask for.  I love you a million times over and am so blessed to have the opportunity to be your mama.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Enjoying the 70 degree weather in January and playing with some pinto beans

From Snowballs to Basketballs

So, one of our alumni basketball teams was able to pull off the W last night.  And, I'm not usually one to brag, but let me just say, it was MINE.  Go Hoosiers!  IU beat Michigan last night for their first Big Ten win of the season.

Since traveling to Bloomington for a basketball game is kind of out of the picture these days, we headed to the Cal Poly game with some friends instead.  Of course, we had to fill our bellies with some yummy Firestone Grill food beforehand. It's alright to eat their tri-tip sandwich two times inn three days, right?

Olivia's face was nothing short of surprised when we told her about the Hoosier win!

Before we left, I made David pull down three plastic tubs holding her old clothes in search of her pink Cal Poly onesie.  For the life of me, I couldn't remember what size it was.  Upon pulling it out, I realized it was a 6-12 month onesie, but thought I might be able to make it work.  Well, it was a stretch, but it snapped at the bottom and once it was on, she did NOT want it to come off.  

That used to be right on her tush.

Of the six adults who went, five of them attended Cal Poly for some portion of their college education.  Any guesses as to who the odd woman out was?  But, by the end of the night, I think I had attended as many basketball games at the Mott Gym as they had.  I didn't really know what to expect -- I knew it wouldn't be like an IU game or anything.  Little did I know that the gym would be about half the size of my high school gym (possibly even smaller).  I'm not kidding.  But, it was perfect because we had great seats and the kiddos had a blast...and so did we!

The Cal Poly band, cheerleaders, and dance team.

Jacob and his daddy.

By the second half of the game, the kids were getting pretty tired and a bit squirrelly - actually, Olivia was pretty much a wiggleworm the entire game - so David had a little fun lifting her into the air and swinging her close to Jacob.  These two are the biggest flirts with each other.

We had a great time last night and just feel so blessed to have met such wonderful friends for us and for Olivia.  Who would have thought that bumping into a Strolling to Fitness teacher at the Old Navy and signing up for a class that she suggested would have introduced me to so many wonderful people.  

The weather today is gorgeous.  David took Olivia on a bike ride earlier today and let me sleep in a bit (errr, a lot) and I plan on doing a little cleaning during her naptime and then heading outside to read.  My neighbor suggested two books, Half Broke Horses and The Glass Castle and I devoured the first one in less than 24 hours.  Historical fiction (although, this book is based on a true story) has become my favorite genre over the last several years.   Hopefully you all are enjoying some beautiful weather where you are as well.

Happy Sunday from the Central Coast!

Snow Balls!

Every year, the SLO Farmers' Market has a snow night for kids.  They bring snow in from a ski resort {this year it was China Peak} and set up a few areas on a side street for different age groups to have some time to play in it.   Olivia really seemed to enjoy it, but it made me really happy to know that we don't have to mess with that every winter!

Look at my little love bug in her fuzzy hat.

Building their miniature snowman.

Olivia talked about snowballs for the rest of the night!

We have a fun little weekend planned with friends and the weather is supposed to be GORGEOUS - in the 70s every day.  Hope you all have a fabulous weekend as well.

Happy Friday from the Central Coast!

You Say It's Your Birthday?!

Today is {at this point, we are pretty much at WAS} one of my most wonderful friend's birthday.  I wanted so badly to throw Olivia in the car and drive down to Santa Barbara to spend the day with her.  Unfortunately, that couldn't really happen.  See, she doesn't live in Santa Barbara anymore.  She moved back to Chicago to be closer to her family.  And, while I'm happy for her to have such a short commute back to Indiana, it makes me incredibly sad to not have her just an hour away anymore.  She was my little piece of home out here.

Michele is one of the sweetest, funniest, most uplifting people I know.  But, I also wouldn't want her on my bad side.  We met many moons ago through mutual friends, and it's funny that neither of us have kept in contact with those friends but have grown closer to each other.

Michele was my maid of honor and if you remember, she was there for our ultrasound with Olivia when we found out we were having a girl and she was also there for us, driving in the middle of the night, to be there when Olivia was born.

Since we couldn't spend the day together, I spent a good portion of Olivia's nap looking through some pictures of her.  So, it was almost like we were together.  Love you, girl.

Doing what she does best.

Happy Birthday from the Central Coast!