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!!!

2/20/10 - Surprise Play Date!

Today was a good day!! Olivia and I spent the day together while daddy earned the "big bucks"...as he should. We had a fun day of playing around the house, making quite the mess of course. I will say, NO cleaning got done! After Christian got home from work, we all got ready and headed over to the Madrid's for a surprise play date. It seems like the girls just get better and better at interacting with each other. There is definitely some "fighting" and not-sharing that goes on, but they seem to really get into playing with each other here and there. I can't wait to watch them grow up together....now we just have to hope they don't grow up to hate each other!!! AHHHH. Well, that's about as much news I have to share today, so here are a few pics from our play date!











Until tomorrow!!!

2/19/10 - Friday Fun Day!

Friday is over!! And, we actually have some plans for this weekend, which is fun! Tonight, Christian went to purchase the new car seat. We had another coupon (I love coupons), but a gift card to Babies R Us, so we got $45.00 off today...YAY for saving! Now, Christian's truck is not quite as "cool" as it was before...poor Christian. Again, if anyone is in the market, I do highly recommend our car seat...Evenflo Symphony (so far, I've only been able to find it at Babies R Us though)...

It should be a pretty relaxing weekend for us...tomorrow Christian works some more OT (YAY for OT pay), then we'll see where the night takes us. Sunday we're off to the Children's Museum with the Madrid's...apparently admission is free every third Sunday of the month. Although I'm sure that means it will be extra crowded, free is good! I've never been, so I don't really know what to expect, but I'm sure Olivia will have a blast! Other than that, I'm in for the usual...cleaning, laundry, cleaning, dishes, cleaning! YAY :)

Until tomorrow!!!

2/18/10 - Nothing Interesting...

Well, it's Thursday again. As with most Thursday's, it was the same old thing! I'm always so amazed how long short weeks can be!!! It seems like having Monday off always makes the rest of the week drag...while at the same time, forces you to constantly be behind a day. Well, at least we're almost there. Work has been good lately, still crazy busy, but doesn't make me "long" for the weekends like they usually do!

We're slowly buying things for the new baby...we don't need a ton. For big ticket items, we really just need another crib, a bassinet for my in-law's house and a convertible car seat. Olivia's crib turns into a toddler bed, day bed and twin size bed, so she'll always have that, and her convertible car seat eventually turns into a booster up to 100lbs, so she'll always have that as well, so we need to get new baby their own! We bought the bassinet a couple weeks ago because we had a coupon! We've decided the car seat will be the next item to check off...now that Christian's on temporary driving duty, it seems ideal to just get the car seat NOW, so we can have one in each car until new baby needs it. This will make life much easier.

We are most definitely sticking with the same car seat, the Evenflo Symphony. I LOVE it, and it's actually gotten even better than when we bought Olivia's...BONUS!! With this one, baby can be rear facing until 40 lbs (rather than 35 with Olivia's), then forward facing with the 5-point harness until 65 lbs (rather than 40 with Olivia's), and still booster with a seat belt until 100lbs. I love it...safety first!!!

So, that's our exciting news :) Don't you wish the highlight of your day was researching car seat!!! Bet you do :) Now, here's today's picture...my lovely lady upon waking up...she's a total morning person, and always rocks the best bed head!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/17/10 - 17 Weeks

Well, today marks 17 weeks! I say it every week, but I can't believe it. I'm so close to the halfway mark! WOW. I'm yet again feeling even better. Just a headache here and there, otherwise doing very well. I got my quad screen results back from last week, and everything looks good...no elevated risk for birth defects. Great news! The scale has started going up...which I'm not so happy about, but so far only 2lbs, which I can live with. I'm really hoping to stay at 15lbs or less, so fingers crossed!! It would only increase my chances of a VBAC, which is really what I'm hoping for, so hopefully! 3 more weeks until my next appointment...and the wait is killing me!

In other news....last night was HORRIBLE. First, it was a bear trying to get Olivia to bed...for some reason she just didn't want to go to sleep, so I ended up rocking her for quite a while. Finally got her down, watched a little TV and went to sleep. Well...3:15 we got a wonderful wakeup call. Let me tell you...Olivia does not "cry" when she wakes up/wants something...she SCREAMS, at the top of her lungs, and it is torture. Christian tried to get her down, and failed. So, I went in, and I also failed. I went in again and after another long session of rocking, she went back down at 4:45...lucky me got to lay down for about 45 minutes for a few extra zzzz's. Please baby sleep gods, don't let tonight be a repeat!!!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/16/10 - Hi Ho, Hi Ho

After 4 long days home from work, it was back to the real world. For once, I was actually pretty happy to be heading back to work. Cabin fever I suppose. However, I knew work would be crazy as ever being off Friday and Monday, and it was. Lots and lots to do, and of course everything that crosses my desk is a "rush" in one way or another. Such is life here I suppose!

Christian is temporarily on baby driving duty...so he's dropping off Olivia and picking her up. Even though I miss that little extra time I get with her, it's is a very nice break! It was so nice to just get in the car after work, and go home...that never really happens! My mother in law sent home some dinner with Christian, so I didn't have to cook either...BONUS! Olivia was extra entertaining tonight, and tons of fun. She's finally getting the hang of using shape sorters and stuff like that...I think she's really developing her problem solving skills now, which makes me oh so proud! I swear, when she put the "c" in the "c slot" all on her own tonight...I jumped for joy! Oh, the excitements of being a parent! Here are some pics from our night of play!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/15/10 - Surprise Break!

So, today my mom came through :) I was feeling really down, really needing a rest, and wasn't afraid of sharing that opinion on facebook! Then, my mom called and offered to come pick up Olivia and take her for the day. She, she came over around 10:30, and I got the rest of the day to myself...I napped, caught up on some shows, and basically didn't leave the couch. It was such a great break, that I really needed.

I'll admit, it's REALLY hard for me to be at home without Olivia...it just doesn't feel right...it feels like something is missing when she's gone. So, although the rest was much needed, I was very happy to see my little lady bug when my mom dropped her off. Olivia didn't nap much that day (at all really) and I could tell she was exhausted when she got home...so I turned off the lights and cuddled with her on the couch...she was out like a light 5 minutes later, so we laid there together. I just live for moments like that! She is such an energizer bunny, it's so rare to get a second to cuddle with her, so I cherish it more than anything!

Here are some pictures from today...the cats too a cue from me and napped all day (they were usually surrounding me, but for a little while, cuddled together on the bed), then Olivia enjoyed her first Grilled Cheese sandwich for dinner!!












Until tomorrow!!!

2/14/10 - Happy Valentine's Day!

So, it's Valentine's Day! Not really a big day to us. We fall into the "Hallmark Holiday" category really...I think it's very overrated. However, part of me things a lot this may be me being kind of jaded. Nothing exciting or particularly special has ever happened to/for me on this day. No big surprises, no flowers sent to work, special dinner, romantic gesture...I mean, I'm still a girl, I'd still love a little something here and there. But, alas, V-Day has come and gone once again, with nothing exciting to share. I woke up to a card from Christian (who again had to work). After some playing and some breakfast, Olivia and I got ready and went to Target to do our weekly grocery/Target shopping...I picked up a card for Christian and one for Olivia. Once Christian got home from work, we gave Olivia her presents (Christian got her a little Mickey Mouse, and I got her some plastic heart bracelets...I think my present won...HA), then just hung out for the night.

I was really looking forward to tomorrow...a day ALL to myself, which NEVER happens. It's President's Day, and Christian has to work, so I was planning on sending Olivia off to the in-laws as usual. Well, come to find out, Christian's mom works tomorrow, so, that idea has completely fallen through. Oh well, guess it will be day 4 of me and Olivia!! Man, I could really use a break though!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/13/10 - Snow Day!!

Today I finally took Olivia outside for her first time playing in the snow. She didn't really know what to think about it, but seemed very interested. She sat in it, stood in it, touched it...everything, without hesitation. But, she kept giving me this looks...like "is this stuff really supposed to be here???". She was so cute. We hadn't taken her out because we didn't want to spend the money on a snow suit. Last year my mom gave me one, but it was a pretty big size. So, even though it's still pretty big on her, it got the job done. If the weather cooperates, I'd like to get her out a few more times...need to make sure that winter blood runs deep in her veins!!

Christian's work is doing some big project, so a few of them are getting to work some overtime this weekend to help out...so, he was at work today...all day!! Therefore, it was another girls day! It gets exhausting trying to keep up with her all day (she never stops talking, and NEVER stops moving), but I do cherish the time I get with her!

Here are some pictures from our outdoor adventures!!

Until tomorrow!!!