Merry Christmas!

I can't believe it's almost been a month since Christmas but I need to do a photo dump of it.

Our Tree and Natvity Scene this year

We spent Christmas at my parents' house.  As always, it was nice to see everyone.

Tavin was a handful with presents.  My family opens presents one-by-one.  Meaning it's 10-15 minutes between him opening gifts, which feels like an eternity to him (and us!)  He did as well as can be expected for a 2 1/2 year old.

Livie did great.  She was content being held and watching Tavin go crazy.

We came back to our house on Sunday and opened Santa's presents.

The story behind the Buzz boots is that in getting ready for the holiday season quite a few packages got dropped off at our house and Tavin always thought there was going to be "Buzz boots" in them.  He never seemed to forget about it either.  Crazy kid!

Livie got a walker, a crawling Minnie Mouse, some security blankets, and a taggie blanket.

It was another great Christmas and we feel truly blessed with all that we were given at Christmas and throughout the year!

Dear Olivia: Month 8

Dear Olivia:

'Tis the Season!  It was a busy month for you between milestones and the holidays!

First up, you learned how to sit from being on your stomach!  Then you got your first tooth (around December 15).  You are so very close to crawling.  We know it'll only be a matter of time!

We also celebrated your first Christmas!  And your First New Year's!

Your hair has become an interesting subject.  It's starting to grow out more and in the process stands straight up!  It's rather cute!

Your personality is coming out more and more everyday.  You are so laid back and mostly quiet.  Just soaking up the world around you.

You like to babble and fake cough.  You are definitely more vocal then your brother was at this age.

I have a feeling you will be keeping us on our toes over the next couple of months as you start moving around more.

Love,
Mama

Guess Who's Rocking the Undies!?!?!

You read that right.  Tavin is 98% potty trained!!!

It first started out that he would just go at daycare. (Kudos to them for being able to get it started.) Then one weekend,  I let him run around naked for a day and bribed him with ice cream and he finally decided it was okay to go at our house.

He still has an accident every couple days but he feels bad when he does.  We also are still working on naps and night time.  But I've heard that comes with time so I'm in no rush.

I'm so proud of him!

Now, what to do with our surplus of cloth diapers???

Our Newest Addition!

Sooo we took a leap and added to our family...again....

This time another kitten!!

Our house is officially CRAZY--2 kids,  1 dog and 3 cats!!

Tavin loves the kitten, Piper.  Maybe a little too much at times.  He carries everywhere.  Sings to her, rocks her, tries to put her to bed.  She is not quite as tolerant as Daisy as she'll run when she gets the chance, but she does put up with quite a bit.

We adopted Piper from the local humane society.  The story is that she was abandoned on the side of the highway in freezing temps.  She was clinging to life.  Some nice people found her, took her in for the night and brought her to the humane society.  She was so dehydrated and malnourished that they had to give her extra fluids or she was going to die.  With some TLC from the humane society she made a full recovery!

She is now about 5 months old and weighs a little over 2 pounds!!  We have been on a constant feeding schedule to make sure she gains weight.

The first week or so we brought her home Daisy was not a fan and Minnie was indifferent.  Daisy actually hid as far away from her as possible and when they did cross paths there was lots of growling and hissing.  I was seriously contemplating if we had made the right decision.  But, finally after 3 weeks, Daisy accepted her and now they have been chasing and playing with each other.  

Welcome to the family, Piper!!

Dear Olivia: Month 7

Dear Olivia:

Time is flying and I can't keep up with it.

This past month was another blur.  We were gone to Grandma & Grandpa's for a couple weekends and stayed home a couple.

We had your 6 month pictures the beginning of November and they turned out adorable:

You have been sleeping better (thankfully).  Not sure how it happened but a switch must have flipped and you figured it out again.

It was also your first Thanksgiving.  We stayed home and made a full turkey meal for your Grandma E. and Aunt Nikki.

You have yet to start crawling.  You are still mastering getting up on all fours and figuring that out.  But man, do you get mad when you realize you can't get anywhere.  You just want to go-go-go!  

Your hair is starting to fill in a little more.  Yours is a little darker than what Tavin's was at your age.  So I'm hoping beyond all hope that it stays dark :)

We have been trying new foods as well (carrots, pears, green beans and sweet potatoes).  You gobble them all right up.

(Tavin had to sneak in and take one with you too)

Love,

Mama

Dear Olivia: Month 6

Dear Olivia,

You are now a half year old!!  ::sniff sniff:  I can't believe it.  Seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant!

This month was another uneventful, but busy month.  I guess you could say that two full-time working parents dealing with a toddler and newborn is not easy.  We struggle with getting things done and finding time to spend with you and Tavin.

This past month we started giving you some solids, banana first and then avocado.  You have been a champ with both of them.  They don't seem to phase you.

This past month was also a rough one in the sleep department.  Apparently, I bragged too much about how great a sleeper you are were.  Almost every night you get up at least twice.  I'm hoping you will grow out of it soon.  I miss my uninterrupted nights of sleep!

I took you and Tavin to Grandma & Grandpa's the weekend before Halloween.  It actually was a really nice weekend.  We were able to get out and enjoy the weather.

We also got you decked out for Halloween.  The weather, however did not want to cooperate (snow the morning of and low 30s during) so we barely spend any time trick-or-treating.

You have been this.close to crawling.  You are getting up on all fours but aren't quite strong enough to support yourself for long.  You are pushing yourself backwards when you are moving so it's only a matter of time before you figure all the motions out.

Your likes:

• eating.  Milk, bananas, squash, apples
• Tavin.  He could still do whatever he wanted to you and you really don't care

Your dislikes:

• avocados.  You make the funniest faces.
• being strapped into your carseat.  As soon as we unbuckle you, you are arching your back and kicking to get out.

Nicknames:

• Livie Lou
• Baby Yaya

I'm loving this stage of your life!  

Love,

Mama

Olivia's 6 month recap:

Tavin 6 month recap: