A few Olivia photo's by Tonee

Taken by the amazing Tonee Lawrence. If anyone needs a photographer shes amazing.

www.toneelawrence.com/blog

she did these for free... my lucky day!!

We have a bunch more that i am excited to see and share soon.

Trunk-Or-Treat

We actually forgot the camera at the Ward party so these pictures will have to suffice. 

We  had the best time at our Trunk-Or-Treat. I just cant say enough good things about this amazing Ward we're in. Everyone is so much fun and so friendly. The kids and both Dave and I are meeting some great friends... its been so nice.

Our recently released Bishop is actually a DJ on the side and was wonderful. The kids loved dancing around with all their friends. And then.... the real fun. There were probably 100 people there so you can imagine how much practice, and candy, the kids got.

The 3 kids

Our Cheshire Cat

Spiderman getting his kiss from the damsel he rescued

My favorite. This was not orchestrated by me at all.

reminders

"She is only 2. She's 2. She's only 2."

This is what I force myself to repeat day in and day out this last month. 

Its a constant reminder that is much needed as I deal with her stubbornness, messiness, defiance, moodiness, whining, her exhausting demands, and what can only be described as the inability to listen. 

Its hard for me to chalk it up to her age. In so many ways she has always seemed so much older. Ella had a slew of words by the time she was 1 and was talking in full blown sentences by the time she was 2. It use to be cute, now its exhausting. 

But she's about as sweet as they come. She's got compassion and whit way beyond her years. Which is lucky for her because she may otherwise be living in her bedroom.

I hear that 2 1/2 is when the terrible 2's really start. So she's in the thick of it. And she better be over this in 2 months because she'll be 3.

Im taking Olivia to the ENT again today. I think I may bring Ella and have them check her ears!

The girls

I just realized how much they look alike. My dream for kids who resemble one another has come true!!! Im so happy. That means she will end up being just as cute as Ella, and that makes me happy too.

liv

Ella

I had to add this little Ella story on here that just happened.

I was putting her to bed and she asked, "Mom, do wishes really come true?"

"Yes" I replied. Thinking what a grown up question it was.

"well then... I wish I could go back downstairs with you."

Olivia is one month old!

I had to take a few pictures to celebrate her one month milestone.... well in 2 days. Olivia was not very cooperative but I got a few cute shots before she crashed for 3 hours. I wish she would have closed her eyes for the shoot but each time I put her down she woke up and let me have it.

Olivia is such a sweetie. We are having so much fun with her. She sleeps great at night but pretty crummy during the day. This one just wants to be held, unrealistic for a third child. She is a major snuggler so she fits right into our Family.

This has been a busy and exciting month. Full of visitors, kisses, hugs, worries, successes, snuggles, growing and most of all love.

her first shoes

the look says, "I just want my binky and my bed... stop already or else......"

"you asked for it"

I just told her what happens on Halloween. She thinks it unfair that she gets no candy

right before she peed

cute little feet

A triumphant trip down memory lane

Today was a big day for me. Its like a day that I remember quite vividly, only this day I'm reminiscing about happened almost 3 years ago a few states East.

Today I went to Cherry Creek Mall with the 3 kids, all by myself.

Sounds trivial and obscure, no? Well its not for me.

You see 3 years ago this January Ella was about 5 weeks old. And on that cold day years ago I decided to make my first venture to the outside world. With my 2 kids. All by myself. I knew it may be hard but I could handle it. Luke needed to get out and I would do it for him. And it was terrible. I dont think I will ever forget that day.

Ella cried constantly. Luke screamed until I let him out of the stroller, then, my 22 month old proceeded to run away from me. Its not easy to run around the mall with a newborn in tow, chasing after a toddler who won't listen if his life depended on it. All the while trying to appear as though everything was under control and that I wasn't on the verge of tears. I felt like everyone was watching me wondering why on earth I had these 2 small children whom I had zero control over. I finally caught Luke and held him down with one arm while buckling the seatbelt with the other, we all know this move, right? He screamed and screamed. I knew it was past time to leave. I  sadly re-visited the voice in my head telling me I should leave this excursion for another day. The one I pushed aside earlier when I loaded the kids into the car.

I got to the car. It was a cold and windy day in Chicago. I got the 2 crying kids in and went to put the stroller in the back. I was on the verge of loosing it. The the last straw. I could not figure out how to fold my stroller. The kids were yelling, a car had now arrived and had turned on its annoying yellow blinker. Nothing had ever made me feel so rushed and so helpless as that light did on that afternoon. I tried to rush and looked like a fool clumsily manipulating every button and lever I could on my new double Maclaren stroller. Nothing. I wanted to leave it. Just throw the stroller, jump in the car and leave it behind. Just like I wanted to to with the entire experience. It hit me. "Lift the entire thing into the car, it will fit." So I did. And it fit.

I climbed into the white Pacifica, drove away and started to cry. I felt like a failure. People had 2 kids all of the time, why couldn't I do it? What was wrong with me? What were the next few months going to be like?

I called my very wise Sister who comforted me marvelously. She said I was still adjusting. She told me I was crazy to try to push myself with these 2 small kids. To slow down and to be ok with waiting to go out with a newborn in tow. That my kids would be no worse off if they played at home until I felt ready to go. That I needed to do things for me right now, to listen to my intuition.She made me feel better and I am still grateful she was there for me on that depressing day when I sobbed through the entire call.

Today was a clear visit to that memory. I got into the silver Honda and drove my 3 kids to the mall. There was little crying, Olivia was a bit grumpy until she fell asleep in her pouch after 5 minutes. There was not a bit of running away. There were fun conversations. There was laughter and silliness. There was even time, and energy, for smoothies and chicken. To be eaten at the mall, not in the car so that I could rush them back into their restraints. I was enjoying this afternoon and I was in no hurry to escape it.

I felt empowered today. I felt I could do anything. I even folded the stroller in a record breaking 1.45 seconds and happily floated to my seat before I, gratefully, drove away with not one tear.

Olivia's first Sunday at Church

Since the last post was pretty exclusionary to Liv this one's all about her.

This was the first of many Sunday afternoon's at Church.

Olivia was a great girl for the occasion. She loved looking at all of the lights, listening to the music and sleeping. She enjoyed all of the attention as well. Thanks Aunt Kim for the darling dress, its the only one that even remotely fits her. I forget how small she still is until I get her dressed in her 0-3 month clothes... she swims in them for now.

We are sure enjoying this sweet bundle we've been sent.

she reminds me of my little sister in this picture, those big eyes.

i know this one's a bit blurry but i had to include it... she's just so cute!

Halloween with Horses

We enjoyed our first outing as a family of 5 today. We attended the super fun and charming "Halloween with Horses" in good old Parker, we love living here!!

They had horse rides, Trick-Or-Treating, a Pumpkin Patch, Petting Zoo's, contests and food of all sorts... it was a blast. There was so much to do we felt like we barely scratched the surface in 2 hours.

Some hi-lights were when Luke saw someone dressed up in a Spiderman costume. Luke walked over and said, "Im going to be Spiderman too!"

The little boy looked like he could care less and gave Luke a simple smile.

"But my boob's are bigger!!"

Luke's costume has built-in muscles all over it and this boy's did not. We laughed so hard.

Remember when a sucker made you this happy?

Walking through the park with Daddy on a warm Fall day

She was grumpy because I wanted to take her picture and all she wanted to do was start getting candy!!!

Luke was a much better sport about it.

Wondering what to eat first

I love these kids

on the much anticipated horse ride.

He looked so big on this little pony

Ella was born to ride horses. She had a huge smile on her face the entire time.

She told me this was her favorite part... even more so than the candy.

....and this is how Olivia spent her time enjoying the festivities. She was sound asleep in 15 minutes, she seriously loves this stroller.

Olivia's 3 week photo shoot

We spent the afternoon getting some beautiful shots of our big 3 week old for her announcement. which do you suggest we use?

What's better than one sweet Liv? 2, obviously.

we make our girls with little heads

Her nose is seeming to get smaller each day

Everyone has one bigger eye, her's is just a bit more obvious.

"pucker up boys".... yeah right Olivia, not till you're 18.

Something I found

luke and great grandma on his blessing day. easter 2005

my wedding day.

I found this on an old blog that I no longer use. Its from when my Grandma Harvey passed away ,2 years ago, but I wanted to post it. Mostly due to the fact that I wanted to have it somewhere that I could keep it close... where else but the Family Blog?

"It would be nice if these sorts of things came to you without any struggle or strife...I guess that's just not how life works. Or maybe we are to busy engrossed in the daily grind to take a breath and ponder what really matters and where we really should place our value. My point? My grandmother died this Thursday. Its strange. I knew it was looming a round the corner, she's almost 95 for heavens sake. But for some reason you still feel that unexpected, heavy loss. My Dad, her Son, was in route on a plane from Denver when it all went down. My sister and brother and I got to the hospital as quickly as we could that morning. Not really realizing how bad it really was and how little time she had left in this world. As I sat there next to her bed, stroking her hair and holding her hand, it hit me. This is what it's all about. Family!! Here we were surrounding my grandma with as much love and support that we had to give, all pulling together. None of us thought twice about not being there. And at the end of her life we were together telling her how much we loved her and what an incredible life she had lived. Do I wish my Dad would have made it there to be with her in the same way we were? Of course. But there was something beautiful in the way that we were there, in proxy, for him. And I hope that she could feel his love and gratitude from him through us.
All this rambling and my point is really this. Life is to short, even if we are around as long as she was, to get priorities mixed up. I believe you get this one shot... one chance to do it right. Are you going to make mistakes? Sure. The point is to live life, maybe make a few mistakes but to see them, learn from them, and be a smart enough person to grow from them. Life is what you make it. No one can do it for you. Its up to you to be able to look at what you've done when the time comes to leave it all and to be proud of the things you left behind. Its about growing, love and its about family. Don't be so engrossed in your own life that you don't see how you effect others who love you.
Love, let people love you. Do those 2 things right and do them often."

I loved my grandma and miss her often. I cant believe its already been over 2 years since she left us. I grew up not really looking like any of my siblings, it was sort of sad for me. They even teased me that I was adopted. But when I looked at my Grandma, especially old pictures, I always felt like I fit... belonged. 

Sunday blues

Don't get me wrong, I actually love Sundays and look forward to much about them. But they are such hard days, other than the 3 hour block, for my kids.

I need your ideas. What do you do on Sunday to keep your kids busy, help them to feel the spirit of the day and keep them happy? I feel like my kids are so bored all day long.... I think I am failing to get the idea of Sunday being extra special through. 

Olivia's 2 weeks appointment

your child is 7 pounds 4 oz., and that is
at the 47th percentile for weight.

your child is 20.75 inches, and that is
at the 90th percentile for height.

your child has a head circumference of 13.3 inches, and that is
at the 27th percentile for head circumference.


Im still processing the fact that Olivia is 2 weeks old. I know it should feel like time is flying but in this case it really doesn't. It feels like months ago that I was in the Hospital and even longer that our Family did not have Miss Liv in it.

Her appointment was pretty routine. Prick her heel to finish some newborn screening tests, length and weight( she's grown an inch at 20 3/4 " and now weighs 7 lbs. 4 oz/) and her head circumference, she's outdoing Ella as she is in the 25th % in this... Ella is still not even on the chart with her tiny head.

And then I got to ask our Dr, whom I love, some questions. Olivia, since birth, has spit up out of her left nostril. Very strange. In the Hospital they checked the major things.... cleft pallet, no. Proper opening of airways, yes. They just didn't quite know what the deal was. Dr. Gill was equally as stumped. She ended up getting a small tube, used normally as a catheter, and proceeded to stick it all the way up Olivia's nose. This was about the saddest thing ever, she was more upset than I had ever seen her, and I had to hold her head still. I felt like a traitor. 

Well the bottom line is that the tube went up her right nostril very slowly and stopped earlier than it should have. On the left it went up with great ease. So we have an appointment with an ENT on Monday afternoon to further diagnose the problem. She has some obstruction, as the Dr. called it, and what we need to do about it will be answered on Monday.

So as its nice to have answers I also feel so sad for this tiny little girl. I hope its something that can fix itself in time or that will not cause her any big problems.

Ella and Luke start Soccer

Ella was surprisingly good

she ended up getting her first goal... she is such a cheater!!

Luke the soccer stud

Yeah baby!

she had to be right next to the Coach the entire time

the kids stopping on top.

A Woman in my Sisters Ward puts on a free Soccer clinic each Friday. She does such a great job and the kids all had a blast.