Independence... it's so bittersweet isn't it? Olivia has been little miss independent lately. She wants to do everything herself, which I suppose is a totally normal phase that all kids go through.
We set up her room about 10 days ago, and she was SO excited. She picked out owls and birds for her theme (which I was ecstatic about! I didn't want a theme room that she was over in a week) and helped decorate. We talked about moving her bed in there, as she'd been sleeping really well in her own toddler bed in our room. She was totally excited about it, so in it went. And she just, slept in it. All night most nights since then.
It's amazing to see how secure she is; I feel like I've done a good job as a mama, because there has been no issues with the new sleeping arrangement. If she wakes up, she just wanders into our room and climbs into bed with me. However, I miss her! Another baby may or may not be in the cards for us, so sometimes I feel like I have to savor each moment in case she's my only.
This has been accompanied by the exclamation, "Mine do it!" about EVERYTHING, which is cute but, you know, time consuming.
Lots of my friends are sending their kids off to preschool for the first time today, and I think I'm having an absolute freak out moment... that'll be us next year. Yes it's cliche but my god, where did the time go?!
That reminded me of a funny thing Olivia's been doing... I get on Josh all the time about swearing in front of her, and luckily she hasn't picked anything up (yet). Yesterday we sat down to eat dinner and Olivia says, "Oh my gog! Jesus Christ!" As you could have guessed, she definitely got that from me. She also transposes the "d" and "g" sound, so it's hilarious! Basically impossible not to laugh. Oops.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Getting Settled In...
This has been a bit of a process. Olivia is taking one of her very rare naps at the moment, so I'll have to make this quick!
We have finally moved and are settled into our new place. It seems to have a great energy and has really brought out the best in everyone. Aside from a particularly clingy toddler, life is good! We are enjoying getting things set up and Olivia has been the best project helper :)
Pictures to come soon, I still haven't gotten into a good routine for anything yet.
We have finally moved and are settled into our new place. It seems to have a great energy and has really brought out the best in everyone. Aside from a particularly clingy toddler, life is good! We are enjoying getting things set up and Olivia has been the best project helper :)
Pictures to come soon, I still haven't gotten into a good routine for anything yet.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
We're Moving!
We have finally decided on a home, after almost 2 years of searching, waiting for the right time, etc. I am SO excited that we get to provide Olivia with a really cool house to grow up in, and a nice big yard, in a great little town. We move this weekend. Beyond thrilling!
Our house has been ready and packed for some time; we definitely did not wait until the last minute! It seems that Olivia gets what is going on, a little bit anyway. She seems a bit frustrated and upset that the house is in boxes (hello, tantrumville!) but often asks to drive by the "new house" which is pretty amazing.
Lots more updates to come, this is a very exciting time in our lives!
Our house has been ready and packed for some time; we definitely did not wait until the last minute! It seems that Olivia gets what is going on, a little bit anyway. She seems a bit frustrated and upset that the house is in boxes (hello, tantrumville!) but often asks to drive by the "new house" which is pretty amazing.
Lots more updates to come, this is a very exciting time in our lives!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Firsts and Lasts
June 22, 2011 was the last time Olivia nursed. I gave it 25 good months, and I feel really good about that. It can be a little bittersweet, but we were all ready. It was rough for a couple days, but she has quickly gotten over it. She stopped on her own for about 2 days, and I just took that as a cue to create new nighttime routines and things like that.
Since then, she's completely stopped napping, except for the occasional snooze in the car. This is a bummer.
BUT! She sleeps through the night! In her own bed! I guess having an infant who was awake every 2-3 hours, then a toddler who still woke 3-4 times per night made me think I just wouldn't sleep well until she went to college (and then, I know what goes on at college)! This has been awesome, and great for everyone. We got her her own "big girl bed" a few days ago and put it in our room (until then she'd been sleeping in crib sidecar to our bed) which has been great too. She loves her bed, and I've only had to pick her up off the floor once. And she didn't wake up.
I'm all rested. It's pretty nice.
Since then, she's completely stopped napping, except for the occasional snooze in the car. This is a bummer.
BUT! She sleeps through the night! In her own bed! I guess having an infant who was awake every 2-3 hours, then a toddler who still woke 3-4 times per night made me think I just wouldn't sleep well until she went to college (and then, I know what goes on at college)! This has been awesome, and great for everyone. We got her her own "big girl bed" a few days ago and put it in our room (until then she'd been sleeping in crib sidecar to our bed) which has been great too. She loves her bed, and I've only had to pick her up off the floor once. And she didn't wake up.
I'm all rested. It's pretty nice.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
First Horse Ride
So there is plenty I could write about, since her birthday Olivia is definitely a two year old. I think you know what I mean ;)
I'll write all of that soon, but for now I just had to share how adorable she was today for her first horse ride! We went to a great birthday party with a horse for the kids to ride. Although Olivia loves animals and likes to look at them, she was adamant about riding the horse, which surprised me. I suspected once she got up there that she'd want to get right back down, but it was quite the opposite. The entire time she was chatting away, "I ride horse, mommy, me like horse!" and has not stopped talking about it all day. The horse even neighed while she was riding, and instead of being scared she laughed and said, "horse neeiiiiighhhhh!" Hilarious.
The following photo was taken on my phone, I think some another mom at the party will be uploading some more tonight but for now this'll do. On my phone everyone looks great... just ignore the weird face I'm making ;)
I'll write all of that soon, but for now I just had to share how adorable she was today for her first horse ride! We went to a great birthday party with a horse for the kids to ride. Although Olivia loves animals and likes to look at them, she was adamant about riding the horse, which surprised me. I suspected once she got up there that she'd want to get right back down, but it was quite the opposite. The entire time she was chatting away, "I ride horse, mommy, me like horse!" and has not stopped talking about it all day. The horse even neighed while she was riding, and instead of being scared she laughed and said, "horse neeiiiiighhhhh!" Hilarious.
The following photo was taken on my phone, I think some another mom at the party will be uploading some more tonight but for now this'll do. On my phone everyone looks great... just ignore the weird face I'm making ;)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
2nd Birthday
Dearest Olivia,
How on earth did this happen? You are two. You know, they say it happens way too fast, but you don't believe that until you wake up one day and you have a real live kid. Not a baby any more. You do kid things, like ride your trike and ask for jelly beans at 7am. I feel like I should write these things down more, but you, my dear, are a busy girl. Which is awesome. I wouldn't have it any other way, especially those moments when I stop and realize, "how cool is this?"
Recently we've been able to spend lots of time outside. You LOVE this. Please don't ever lose that desire to be outside and enjoy what is around you. You run around and chase the dog and cats, look at bugs, pick flowers, and then you say, "sit with me mommy" and we sit on the top step on the porch and just hang out.
We love running together. About 7 weeks ago I started a 5K fitness program that uses an iphone app to measure your distance, running time, etc. It tells you when to warm up and cool down, and in the middle it says, "run!" so when you hear this you scream, "run mommy run! Go mommy!" My cheering section! When we run with the dog and daddy, you cheer them on too. Usually I run a few miles away from the house and then walk back, and during that time you are looking out for chipmunks and horses, identifying colors and telling me stories.
You have a streak of determination and independence. This will serve you well in the future. You are so sweet, and a little shy. That's okay, you are a lot like me. Our personalities are so similar.
I will never ever forget this time, when I was the apple of your eye. I know you will grow up and things will change, as I said you are already independent and adventurous. But I'll never forget the days you'd wake me up, "hug me mommy!" and give me hugs. I want to write all these things to you, the little mistakes I made along the way so you don't have to make the same ones. I won't though, you'll figure these things out along the way. I will say this, though: call your mother. When you go to college, or when you go on trips abroad, I'm sorry but this is not negotiable. I call my mother every day now, and those times in my life when it wasn't at the top of my priority list are the times I made the most mistakes. Adventures. Whatever, I'll tell you about it when you're older ;)
I think I've done well, so far, as a mom. I've met my goals for a natural birth, breastfeeding and sleeping, and I wouldn't change a thing. I have never, ever let you cry. For the first year of your life, you slept on me and wouldn't let me put you down. While I probably could have used more showers during that time, I cherish it so much. You should know these memories are the best days of my life. Yes, I really am that sappy.
You've gone from this sweet baby who needed me for everything to this sweet little girl. You are the brightest light in my life, I love you!
Love always,
Mommy
P.S. Thanks for finally calling me "mommy", rather than sounding like a mini-teenager ;)
How on earth did this happen? You are two. You know, they say it happens way too fast, but you don't believe that until you wake up one day and you have a real live kid. Not a baby any more. You do kid things, like ride your trike and ask for jelly beans at 7am. I feel like I should write these things down more, but you, my dear, are a busy girl. Which is awesome. I wouldn't have it any other way, especially those moments when I stop and realize, "how cool is this?"
Recently we've been able to spend lots of time outside. You LOVE this. Please don't ever lose that desire to be outside and enjoy what is around you. You run around and chase the dog and cats, look at bugs, pick flowers, and then you say, "sit with me mommy" and we sit on the top step on the porch and just hang out.
We love running together. About 7 weeks ago I started a 5K fitness program that uses an iphone app to measure your distance, running time, etc. It tells you when to warm up and cool down, and in the middle it says, "run!" so when you hear this you scream, "run mommy run! Go mommy!" My cheering section! When we run with the dog and daddy, you cheer them on too. Usually I run a few miles away from the house and then walk back, and during that time you are looking out for chipmunks and horses, identifying colors and telling me stories.
You have a streak of determination and independence. This will serve you well in the future. You are so sweet, and a little shy. That's okay, you are a lot like me. Our personalities are so similar.
I will never ever forget this time, when I was the apple of your eye. I know you will grow up and things will change, as I said you are already independent and adventurous. But I'll never forget the days you'd wake me up, "hug me mommy!" and give me hugs. I want to write all these things to you, the little mistakes I made along the way so you don't have to make the same ones. I won't though, you'll figure these things out along the way. I will say this, though: call your mother. When you go to college, or when you go on trips abroad, I'm sorry but this is not negotiable. I call my mother every day now, and those times in my life when it wasn't at the top of my priority list are the times I made the most mistakes. Adventures. Whatever, I'll tell you about it when you're older ;)
I think I've done well, so far, as a mom. I've met my goals for a natural birth, breastfeeding and sleeping, and I wouldn't change a thing. I have never, ever let you cry. For the first year of your life, you slept on me and wouldn't let me put you down. While I probably could have used more showers during that time, I cherish it so much. You should know these memories are the best days of my life. Yes, I really am that sappy.
You've gone from this sweet baby who needed me for everything to this sweet little girl. You are the brightest light in my life, I love you!
Love always,
Mommy
P.S. Thanks for finally calling me "mommy", rather than sounding like a mini-teenager ;)
Friday, May 6, 2011
Can I Just Have...
A whole slew of 2 year olds? Seriously, I mean that. Olivia will be 2 in 25 days (I know this because today, May 6th, was my initial due date. 25 LONG ASS days later I gave birth!) and she's like, a real kid now. Toddler moments, yes we have them, but overall she is so sweet and wonderful, I just love this age.
Earlier we went out for our run, and whenever we come back Olivia likes to run around outside for an hour or so. It's nice because I can sit on the back porch and drink a cup of coffee while she happily plays. We have "our" spot, where she always tells me to come sit with her. Today we sat in the spot (the top stair of the porch) and she repeatedly came up to me, kissed me on the cheek and said, "love you too mom, bye mom!" and would go down the steps to play. After a couple minutes she'd come back up the stairs and say, "hi mom!" and sit down and hug me. Then repeat. Holy heart melt.
We then went around and picked "daddylions" which are dandelions for dad. They are mostly smashed now, but it's the thought that counts ;)
Speaking of dad, Olivia has called us "mom" and "dad" since she began talking. She's like a little teenager. Anyway, J has recently been trying to get her to call her "daddy", which she's taken to. In addition, she's started adding the "y" sound to the end of many words, just out of the blue. "Me drink wog-y" (water, which used to just be "wog") or "touch mom's leggy". So funny.
It's amazing to me that just a few months ago she was practically nonverbal, and now at 23 months she's making up songs, talking up a storm.
Earlier we went out for our run, and whenever we come back Olivia likes to run around outside for an hour or so. It's nice because I can sit on the back porch and drink a cup of coffee while she happily plays. We have "our" spot, where she always tells me to come sit with her. Today we sat in the spot (the top stair of the porch) and she repeatedly came up to me, kissed me on the cheek and said, "love you too mom, bye mom!" and would go down the steps to play. After a couple minutes she'd come back up the stairs and say, "hi mom!" and sit down and hug me. Then repeat. Holy heart melt.
We then went around and picked "daddylions" which are dandelions for dad. They are mostly smashed now, but it's the thought that counts ;)
Speaking of dad, Olivia has called us "mom" and "dad" since she began talking. She's like a little teenager. Anyway, J has recently been trying to get her to call her "daddy", which she's taken to. In addition, she's started adding the "y" sound to the end of many words, just out of the blue. "Me drink wog-y" (water, which used to just be "wog") or "touch mom's leggy". So funny.
It's amazing to me that just a few months ago she was practically nonverbal, and now at 23 months she's making up songs, talking up a storm.
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