2/27/10 - Beautiful Winter Day!

Today was so nice out!! These are the best days of winter...snow all around, sun shining bright, warmer temps...just perfect! We didn't even have to have the heat on today...it was so sunny the sun kept the house nice and toasty!! After Christian got home from work, we decided it was a good time to (for the first time this winter) shovel/clean off the deck. We've been contemplating some winter grilling for a while, but that was impossible with the amount of snow we had out there. So, we figured while the weather was nice, we'd take Olivia out to play and clean it off! Olivia had so much fun, and did NOT want to go back inside. She was not happy about being cut off from out door play...but the sun started going down, and the shade was taking over, so it was getting way too cold for her to be out there. Poor thing. While we were out, we built a big snow slide and took her down it, she "helped" shovel the snow away and she just got down and dirty playing in all that white stuff. There is no doubt that this child has winter running through her veins!!

After some winter play, we just had some family time inside...watched some TV, played with all the toys...the usual! I thought Christian and I would be in for a long night of catching up on some shows...unfortunately we both passed out on the couch within about 10 minutes of Saturday Night Live. WOW, we are party animals!

Day two of no bottle is in full effect as well. So far, so good! I don't even think she notices it's gone, so YAY for that! Here are some pics from our outdoor adventures!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/26/10 - Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday...so HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! She has big casino plans tonight, so we're taking her to dinner on Sunday to celebrate!

Olivia and I just spent the day playing at home...destroying the basement in the process. Christian had to work a couple hours late, so it was a pretty long day. Our big news is...we are taking Olivia off the bottle, and we're very nervous about it! She was on three bottles a day...once she turned 1, we started weaning her off formula and the bottle at the same time. We took away her afternoon bottle, and she did just fine. Then, we took away her morning bottle and worked on getting her to take the sippy cup more...this took some time, but went fairly well. Now, she is doing great with her sippy...almost a full glass with each meal, and she hardly drinks any of her bottle at bedtime, so we think it's time! I do think she'll do just fine with it, but change is always a little scary. Our biggest reason for getting her off the bottle (other than the fact that they recommend to do it around 12 months) is that we need her to be completely over them before baby comes, so she doesn't get jealous about it. Hopefully this is soon enough to get it out of her mind. So, we'll see how it goes!!

Here is today's picture...as you can see, she always has her sippy close by!!











Until tomorrow!!!

2/25/10 - End to a Long Work Week!

Today is my Thursday/Friday, and it is very welcomed!! I need a B-R-E-A-K, and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend! Christian will be at work tomorrow, like normal, and he's also working some more overtime on Saturday, so it will just be me and the lady for the next couple of days. Sunday we're taking my mom to dinner for her birthday, and I'll hopefully make it out for my weekly Target shopping, otherwise...NO PLANS! I'm very excited about that!

Today was a pretty boring day overall...work as usual, then home for the usual dinner, play and bed! I will say, I was officially hit with my first ever craving today, and it was very overwhelming. Right around lunch time I was hit with the NEED for Chinese food...and it would not go away. I swear, I was about to cry I wanted some so bad...so I ended up ordering some take out, risking my parking spot at work, and picking some up...I just couldn't take it anymore! I felt like such a loser...but it was delicious and well worth it!!

Here are some pics of Olivia from tonight...she's really been getting into her Lego's and love having me put them together for her. She's also become obsessed with the cable boxes...she's figured out the "on/off"button, and it is NOT cool. Of course "NO" means "do it again" in her world, so nothing helps with this little phase.











Until tomorrow!!!

2/24/10 - 18 Weeks!

Well, today is 18 Weeks!! I still can't believe it! So close to half way! I'm feeling good, but I'm already starting to feel uncomfortable. Maybe it has to do with the previous c-section, maybe I'm just so tired it's making me uncomfortable, maybe it's just the added energy Olivia requires, but I am UNCOMFORTABLE! I'm now up 3 lbs (trust me, this update will stop once I'm embarrassed by my number!), which doesn't seem like much, but I have this huge belly anyway! I actually like that though :)

I've decided I'm adding a little rant to my weekly pregnancy update. Seriously, I swear, being pregnant is so stressful, in so many ways...I've decided to vent to the world about what bugs me. Sit back and enjoy the ride :)

Today's vent is weight..not actually gaining it necessarily, but other peoples' view of it.

With Olivia, I packed on the LBS, from day 1. I never had any morning sickness, I was always hungry, and I subconsciously decided I was "eating for two" and took that literally. By this point, with her, I was already up around 17lbs! On top of it, gaining weight with her happened EVERYWHERE, and my belly didn't grow out, it grew wide. I was so disgusted with myself my entire pregnancy, it actually was starting to depress me. I felt out of control, and like there wasn't anything I could do about it. I still loved being pregnant, but it was really ruining the experience for me.

As I mentioned above, I've so far gained 3 lbs, which doesn't seem like much to me, but I definitely LOOK pregnant. But, everything feels different. I had really bad morning sickness for the first 14/15 weeks, so I actually lost weight, and since, have been slowly putting it on. Some days I'm starving, some days I force myself to eat. BUT, the biggest difference this time, I actually feel OK with myself...I feel like my belly is growing out, much cuter, and I'm not gaining weight everywhere else (at least not yet). I actually have a healthy view of myself.

Now, here's my rant...why do people think it's OK to comment on somebody's weight just because that somebody is pregnant? I've had so many people already tell me how "big" I am "already", and ask "are you sure you aren't having twins". Even Christian, my wonderful husband, looked at me like I had two heads when I told him I've only gained 3lbs...following it up with "how can that be, look at your big tummy"...nice. I'm 18 weeks, already getting these comments...what is it going to be like 10, 15, 20 weeks from now? The worst part about it is that every time somebody says something, it just chips away at my confidence, and I don't want to end up in the place I was in last pregnancy...depressed and upset and overly emotional about it. But what can I do? I know logically people aren't saying things to hurt my feelings or be mean, but it's hurtful. You wouldn't walk up to Jane walking down the street and comment on her sudden weight gain, so why do you think it's OK to comment on it to me just because there is a person growing inside of me?

So, in conclusion, NOTE TO EVERYONE: It is never, I repeat in capital letters, NEVER OK to comment on somebody's weight, body shape or anything of that nature, pregnancy or not!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/23/10 - Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

Well, today is my Grandpa Hartfiel's 79th Birthday!!! YAY. After work, we met up with my parents, my grandparents and some other family members for dinner. Olivia had a blast being the center of attention, as always. I hadn't seen my dad for quite a while, so it was nice catching up and it's always so funny to watch him with Olivia. My dad is a big guy...6'6", deep voice, mustache, SCARY to most kids. Olivia just seems to love him, which makes me so happy!

Once we got home, it was time for American Idol. Tonight was the first live performance shows...the top 12 girls. It was so diappointing. There was only one girl I liked, I think her name was Katelyn or something like that. Tomorrow is the boys, and I sure hope it goes better, otherwise I think I'm in for a LONG season!

Other than that, it was just a normal Tuesday!! Olivia's and my boots happened to be next to each other, and we thought it was too cute, so we snapped a picture! I think I'm determined to turn her into a mini-me!!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/22/10 - Flashback

Well, I have nothing interesting to share today...it was a regular Monday! We were both off to work like normal, Christian is still on baby driving duty, so I'm still on my break from that. After work I was off to Target to do my weekly shopping. Target drove me nuts though...it was SO crowded, but the worst was...I was checking out and there were a bunch of employees and managerial looking people standing around chatting about something/someone being "out of control", when all of a sudden a little girl, maybe 4 or 5, can running by. One of the manager's stopped her and told her she had to stay by mommy and stop running away. Well, Mommy was printing pictures over at the kiosk, paying absolutely NO attention to her little girl. I couldn't believe it, who does that? How could you do that? I get worried when Olivia is out of my sight too long at HOME let along at a store. I was just in awe as it appeared the mother didn't even notice the manager continuing to "return" her child to her over and over again. WOW.

So, nothing really interesting happened today, so I'm doing a little flashback. It was perfect since we just happened to take a great side by side photo tonight...sleeping photos :) Colored photo from tonight, black and white from a year ago! My sleeping beauty!











Until tomorrow!!!

2/21/10 - A Day at the Museum

Today was a fun day! We were up and at em' early today, getting ready for our first trip to the Children's Museum. After checking in, we were off to explore the first floor. Olivia got to play with some Chinese musical instruments, then a sudden dance party broke out in the lobby, that she just HAD to join in. The Madrid's showed up shortly after, and we went on exploring. Next up was some water fun, and the girls definitely enjoyed that. Other rooms included some animals and a dinosaur room. At the end, they had a room for "tot" to just run around, climb and explore...and I know Olivia had a blast there. She loves being "free" and just running around exploring everything, we definitely need to find more things like that to do. There is a community center over in Eagan that has a special toddler area set up...I'm thinking we'll need to check that out!

After a few hours at the museum, Olivia was exhausted...she passed out in the car and didn't wake up for quite a while. So, I started on laundry and cleaning up. Hopefully a long busy day will equal a sleep induced coma all night long! Here are some pics of our adventures!

Until tomorrow!!!