May 17th - Pickles....YUMMY

In the camper as we ate BBQd hamburgers and hot dogs... Olivia was getting a little restless seeing us all eat and she had already had her bottle. So mom dipped her paci in pickle juice and no face was made... we were surprised. So I grabbed a pickle and held on to it and allowed her to suck it...SHE LOVED IT! She made this loud smacking noise as she sucked all the juice.... it was soo cute.

May 17 - 6 Months Old

Olivia turned 6 months old on May 17th.... I can't believe it!! We did groceries that morning and then off to the camp ground in Van Buren to visit with Nana and Papa! She loved it. We cruised on the golf cart, sat on their deck and then played inside the camper. THey have a very nice camper and it has like 3 or 4 pop outs for the kitchen and double bunks in the back... so nice. They bought it brand new last year. We will hopefully be camping a lot this year.!!

Olivia graduated to a bigger paci. I bought the MAMs 6+. I think she does like it better and it doesn't fall out as much when she sleeps. It looks so funny in her mouth... the big purple outside. She did great!

I can't believe that she is 6 months old. My little girl getting so big. I just love to snuggle with her and will be so sad when she doesn't want to do that anymore. They grow so fast in their first year and the advancements they make is amazing.

May 12th - Floor Time

Here is Olivia just rolling around and have a great time on the floor. She is getting soo good at holding her self up on her hands.... straightens her arms up and just looks around. She has yet to get up on her knees yet but I know she see's something she wants and just kicks her legs all over trying to get there... it is really cute.

She now sticks her toungue out and makes a snapping noise with it on the roof of her mouth. If you do it and then she does it she loves it.

The other day when I was feeding her supper, she was smacking her hand against the tray of her highchair... so I lightly smacked my hand too.... she stopped, looked at my hand, looked at hers and then me and did it again... so did I.... she had this puzzled look on her face... so she did it again... and so did I.... she smiled and it became a fun game we played and she giggled so much. I called Aaron's Cell Phone and left a voicemail of Olivia giggling and then called the parents at the campground so they could hear her on speaker phone and they loved it. She is really starting to

get nosey... and want to learn all she can.

May 12th, 2008 - Mother's Day

My First official Mother's Day and it was so nice. Olivia, Aaron and I had painted Olivia's feet and hands onto Flower Pots that Robin help me make, and they turned out so cute!! Nana & Grandma Rosie loved them. I think that a personalized, homemade gift shows more meaning and thought then something I can buy in a store... and with Olivia, I should be able to do a lot of home made gifts.

We lounged around at home, drank coffee and had eggs for breakfast. Lounged, watched TV and then of all things we organized our closets and took out all the stuff we would like to sell in a Garage Sale... ha ha!! But we had a great day, relaxed, BBQd for supper and just was a family!!

May 8th, 2008

I turned 27 on May 8th and Aaron and Olivia frosted me a cake... Spice my favorite!! We ended up getting good news on May 9th that I got a new job and so we shopped for my birthday, Mother's Day and my new job!! We had a great time and Olivia is the best birthday present ever!!

Quick Update

Well I've been busy with my new job, Olivia cutting 2 teeth and Aaron working days. I work 30 hours a week at the Ohio Farm Bureau office in Ottawa. I am the Office Administrator for the Hancock, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert County offices. They are keeping me super busy and this week I have put in 41 hours... I am training so I kind of expected that. I work in this lovely suite all by myself and once in a while my Organization Director will pop in and out to do things or give me work to do. I am learning Quickbooks and remembering Access one day at a time. It has been a little bit since I've worked in Access. So far I love it and look forward to many more years here allowing me to spend more time iwth my family and friends and of course... with gas prices the way they are this is awesome.... it is like 11 miles from my house and Olivia's daycare is 3 blocks over!

Olivia is cutting 2 teeth on the bottom in the front. I've been hearing tapping noises when she bites her spoon or plays with toys... and sure enough today I saw 2 teeth surfacing. She has been doing great surprisingly... and last night she slept through the night... I got up like every couple hours to check on her... I am not used to it. But I think the being back in daycare and mommy working is helping her get back into a routine. I think that is very important for Olivia as well as Mommy and Daddy!!

Yesterday we were shocked with the death of a friend... Justin Flores. He is the father of my Cousin Ashley's baby boy Giavonne. He died in a car accident yesterday morning on the way home from work. I am so shocked and hope that I can be there for Ashley in any way she needs me to be. Ashley lost her mother to cancer and now her son is going to have to grow up without his father. I hate it for her and hope she can stay strong for Gia. I am here for you Ashley in any way possible!!! I love you and Gia both!

I just found out that my friend Kari is having a baby girl. She is due in September and they found out Monday that htey are having a girl... Kamryn. I can't wait to see this beautiful red head baby girl. They are going to be great parents and just spoil her rotten!! CONGRATS Kari & Matt! I miss you guys!

Well off to work.. Aaron works days this weekend and I might venture to Columbus Saturday for a birthday party for Miss Ember Rain. All depending on Olivia's teeth and the weather!

New Job

It is official... I am the Office Administrator at the Ohio Farm Bureau, Hancock, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert Counties. I started Monday and will be working part-time in Ottawa (5 minutes from home) and it gives me more time with Olivia. I'll type more later... but I wanted to give everyone an update.

Pheobe Update

Sunday as I was mopping the kitchen floor I see Pheobe comes out of the spare bedroom with this green block in her mouth.... MOUSE POISON! So I instantly go running to our bedroom wake up Aaron and tell him and he gets up and sure enough there was 2 blocks in our pantry.... 1 was gone.

So I call my friend Melissa and she informs me how to make Pheobe vomit and then to bring her in the next day. I give her the stuff to throw up.... Peroxide 1 tsp, up to 3 x and 10 minutes apart. I give her the first tsp in the tub.... wait around 8 minutes. I give her the second one and then kind of scratch her belly.... shake things up and sure enough she gets sick. GREEN as green can be.... I was amazed at how much she ate.

You see I had left the door open to the pantry because I have my mop, sweeper, all cleaning supplies and I had been in and out all day and didn't think of Pheobe sneeking in there and grabbing the poison.

And then after I got her out of the tub... she threw up 4 more times and it was GREEN again. I called Melissa and she said that was good.... get it out.

At the vet with Melissa and she gives Pheobe a shot of Vitamin K and then pills to last us 21 days. She gets one once a day. And she is happy with her otherwise, a little chunky but happy. Pheobe gets in a cage, and we go to eat Mexican.... YUMMY!! It was nice to catch up... bitch about past co-workers, jobs and issues at home. And of course share lovely stories about our loves of our lives... Lillian and Olivia!

It was a nice visit... I want to BBQ sometime soon... she agreed and I got Pheobe and homeward bound we went!!

Shingles Ordered

Yesterday Aaron ordered the shingles for our new roof we will be putting on here soon. He also brought home some siding samples. We are leaning toward a khaki color siding, black shutters and have my dad paint the doors red. There is a really neat green siding that I like but Aaron thinks for re-sale value we should stay with a neutral color. Here is the back of our house. From left to right... First it is a little cut off but we have our garage. we have the upstairs room that is basically a storage room for us and then the patio doors lead into our family room. that room has steps that lead up into our Kitchen. That is the next window across. The walk in door leads into our laundry room that also has a window. the next two windows are our master bedroom. This was once two rooms that the previous owners turned into one huge room. I do wish it was still 2 rooms at time, more bedrooms... because now we have 2 bedrooms on one side and 2 on the other side. I just know that when baby #2 comes I will not like having Olivia across the house. I also think it will lead to sneaking into bed with mom and dad. When I get home I will take pictures of the front of the house and scan our before pics... There is an open house Saturday that I want to go through... I absolutely love the outside of the house. I just want to be nosey and it doesn't hurt to see what is out there!

Beautiful Day Outside

Monday was a busy day... Ottawa and Findlay and then to pick up Olivia at daycare to hopefully enjoy the nice weather. She did great at daycare and we got home and she ate her supper... and then outside we go. Aaron had started to mow the lawn and I brought her exersaucer outside and a blanket.

She absolutely loved it outside. I kept her in the shade and did put some sunblock on her arms, face and neck. Her hat helped a lot but I am just so afraid that she'll burn.

Aaron came over and sat with us for a little while and she just talked and chewed and drooled... ha ha!! Fisher and Pheobe enjoyed the weather too.

We came inside, Olivia got her bath and then we fell asleep together on the couch for about an hour. When Aaron came in I made us supper and Travis came over for a hair cut. Olivia was up a lot last night... she is rolling all over her crib and since I took off the bumber pad, afraid she'll smother herself, she is getting legs, arms and what ever else stuck in the spindles.

Tomorrow is my birthday... the big 27 years old. I can't believe it! I am keeping Olivia home from daycare and we'll just hang out. I am mad that the weather is going to be crappy, but at least we'll be together on my birthday!

An Early Father's Day Gift

Friday Mom and I went to Delphos to Lyle's Mopeds ands he bought Dad a brand new Tomos moped. They get 100 miles to the gallon and really will pay for itself in a year with the way gas prices are. He absolutely loved it and the twins had to ride it with Papa too. Mom had a great idea and dad was so excited.

After Delphos we went to the Lima Mall and mom allowed me to pick out my birthday gift and I bought a few little outfits for Olivia... a 4th of July outfit and a couple seperates that could be worn with other things... makes them more versatile.

Saturday Olivia and I went to Hobby Lobby and then to the new Wal-Mart in Findlay. We used her seat for the shopping cart for the first time and she did great!! She just looked around and all the other shoppers would stop and say "Hi pretty girl".... "You shoppin' with mommy?".... and she would just smile. It is really nice because it has a pillow for her to lean up against and she had some toys she would keep beside her and when she wanted them she would grab for them.

I am making Mother's Day gifts for my mom, Rosanne and myself. Robin helped me... or basically put them togehter.... last night and they look awesome!! I have the idea and she has the talent. I'll take pictures when I give them to them. They are from Aaron, myself and most of all Olivia!

For Jason

Hunter and Ryley made pictures for Jason in Iraq. They did a great job and I had printed off a few words that they might want to use...

Jason

Thank You

USA
America

Honor

Fight

Brave

Hunter even wanted help writing out "Thank you for protecting America". Robin spelled it out and Hunter licked his lips trying so hard to make sure there was perfect spacing in between each word and all his letters were perfect. Ryley did a great job too and his letters are soo good. They are doing great for being in Kindergarten. I plan to mail out his package this week.

Peek A Boo with Olivia

Last night after Aaron left for work Olivia and I sprawled out on the floor with her safari mat and I folded laundry while she entertained herself. Well she then rolled off the mat a little and I thought I'd try something new with one of her blankets I was folding... she loved it. Maybe a new game she likes... but it didn't last for long. She was up until 4 am this morning wide awake and she would cry when ever she woudl cough. I hope her new medicine starts to work soon. I feel so terrible for her when she cries and tears actually appear... it rips my heart out. I was starting to get so tired and loosing my patience, which I HATE!! So I called Aaron and he wasn't available so I just told the guy no biggy.

Aaron calls me back and says when I call at 10 till 4 am it has to be something or I wouldn't be calling. I just needed him to re-asure me that I was doing everything I could to make her comfortable. And it was nice to hear his voice... and literally 10 minutes later she was sleeping.

When you wake up to her talking to herself in her crib, walk over to her room and get this big smile, you can't be mad... they are so worth every hour of missed sleep... every lap around the living room, every minute trying to get comfy on the couch with them and just to have them smile... makes you forget all about it. I love her so much! I just wish she would start to feel better... I hate to see her miserable. Even daycare says they have noticed that she just isn't herself.

Teething Ring

Playing after our bath...

After her bath last night I pulled her hair up again in a bow. She looks so cute. She was so determined to get her toys on her exersaucer in her mouth.... everything goes there it seems like. She found this little flip book on her saucer and was amazed that she could turn the pages.

I See You.... ha ha!!!