Last Day

Today the Hawk family was supposed to fly out...so we took some last pictures together.

But I believe someone above KNEW we needed another day together...and delayed their flight enough for them to miss their connection. Therefore, they got to stay another day and are flying out tomorrow morning :) :) Erin kept apologizing about us coming back to get them...but I could not have been happier. It was meant to be and we were going to enjoy every extra second of it!

So we made some daiquiris...and filled up the baby pool.

Then went to the park...and played.

And enjoyed a quiet evening at home with our families.

I love my sister. I love her husband. I love my sweet nephew.

We had such a great time together and I'm sooo thankful to have this in my life.

Thank you for my extra day.

Fountain Fun

Today we got out of the house, did some shopping, eating and played in the fountains.
This is a great life :)

Picture Perfect

Thrilled that my sister could be in town and have some pictures taken!!! It was the HOTTEST hour in H-Town and we were definitely sweating and miserable....but we're pretty confident that there were some good shots in there!!

Today was a Good Day!!

Our day started off with a walk to walmart {sweatin' hot}

And then for some ray catching {perfect}

Off to the pool for some water fun {chill}

Followed by our neighborhood progressive dinner {hilarious}

Which also included a shower for Baby Mason {sweetness}

This was one of my favorite days ever. Love having my sister in town, love getting a little exercise in, love spending time in the water and sun, love hanging out with my friends, and love celebrating!

They Arrived!

Then & Now

Then

26 weeks pregnant with Olivia. It was September 12, 2008 the night Hurricane Ike came ashore and we were enjoying our last few hours of power. It would be another FULL two weeks before we got to experience life with electricity again.


Now

27 weeks pregnant. I am one week further along...which is why I am SOOOO much bigger. Haha...I only wish. Needless to say, if I am this much larger NOW (compared to last pregnancy)... then I can't even fathom what I'm going to look like in August.
Prepare yourself Texas.
Big Hair. Big Boobs. Big Butt. Big BELLY.

Sesame Street

This little girl knows when "her show" is coming on :)

Little People

My brother, sister and I used to spend HOURS playing with a collection of little people we called "weeble people" (although I don't believe that's their technical name). When we were at Tim's parents house this past November they pulled out their sample of "weeble people" they still had. Love those guys!

This weekend, Olivia got her own collection of Little People. She has started with the 21st century's version of the Little People Farm House and loves it.

Although, it's just not the same as ones we played with as kids. Think I might have to buy her some of the classics...

Sunday Sunday

Today we went to a furniture store, looking for a new dresser for Olivia. This was not your ordinary furniture store...there were monkeys and birds and free food and lots of fun activities to do while shopping! We went early enough that there were not many other people in the store, so we left the stroller in the car and Olivia ran around. 2.5 hours later, Olivia had a new dresser (hers will be white) and we went home.

She fell asleep in the car at 11:30am

When we got home at noon she was still really tired, so we gave her some milk and put her back to bed.

1:30pm

2:30pm

Finally, after four hours at 3:30 we decided that she still needed to sleep that night...and went to wake her up...
plus we figured she had to be getting hungry,
she had nothing to eat since breakfast at 8am!!!

Goodness Olivia Marie! You were absolutely exhausted!

Afterthought -- now, if we are transitioning to one nap a day...and it's going to be a four hour nap everyday...that won't be so difficult of a transition at all!!

Schooooool's OUT for SUMMER!

The classes are over and summer has begun! It's been a long year for me at Rice working on my MBA. Lots of late nights, time away from home and ruined Saturdays but now I am halfway through and ready for summer.

Of course I still have work to do at my job but that seems easy to bear now with so many hours freed up in my life. I may even start working out again... maybe...

Thanks to everyone for being so supportive during the past year, it definitely made the program a lot more bearable. I appreciate it!

Can't wait until this time next year when I will be done with school for GOOD!

Transitions

Oh transitions...they aren't easy or fun.

I think that Olivia might be transitioning to one nap a day. Books and websites say that it generally happens anywhere from 14-20 months...with most babies around 18. Well, Olivia was not always falling asleep for both naps and her night-time sleep was decreasing by about 30 minutes (all signs that she might be ready). However, I was holding onto two naps with both hands. I didn't want to transition :( The day was going to be extra long!

However, we did it...and I didn't like it. Not one bit. Olivia was a walking mess. She would walk around the house just crying or begging to be picked up. It was pathetic. Looking back though...I might have been some of the problem. I didn't know what to do with her either. We were spending all this extra time together and I didn't know what to do (staying in the playroom for 5+ hours a day was not going to work). Soooo, I've found us some new activities and we try to make sure we get out of the house at least once a day. But, I was still noticing a very grumpy Olivia...and we've got this new hitting issue...could she just be completely exhausted????

After reading a couple more books/websites I realized that she really might be transitioning to only one nap...but is not ready to do it cold turkey. Which brings us to where we are today. She is now taking two naps every other day - and it's better!! It's better for Olivia and it's better for me.

On the days she is taking two naps - I get lots done around the house and have some extra "me" time. The days that she is taking one nap - we get out of the house and find "fun" activities to do together. She is sleeping better at night and her naps are much more productive. She is not spending as much time awake in her crib...so for now, I believe we have a solution.

I'm happier and Olivia is happier.

I do recognize that the only one nap phase is quickly approaching...but at least we will build on it slowly and it will be less of a shock for both of us :)

Our Fish!

Oh Olivia...what a day we had. It was glorious. It was one I will always remember.

We went to the community pool today. As we were getting out of the car you said, "nite-nite". No baby...we are going swimming! You were sleepy because we skipped your morning nap.

Into the baby pool we go and you were the cutest fish alive! First, you had ZERO concept of putting your feet down and standing. In the bath tub you have to sit and you haven't really tried to stand much in your small pool at home. So in this big pool, you are just giggling and laughing and moving all around in the pool....but not putting your legs down so you could stand. It was so weird to try and get you to put your legs down and you resisting. About 20 minutes into our new adventure, you discovered your legs.

BIG GIRL!

Now is a new problem. You have ZERO fear. NONE AT ALL. You were walking and falling and exhibiting no caution to being under the water. One second you would be standing, the next under water and waiting for a rescue. I couldn't help but laugh. Daddy has done such a great job at putting you under the water and playing with water on your head...so it's absolutely nothing for you to be completely under. Most times you hold your breath...sometimes you drink it...other times you accidentally breathe under water and consequently start choking. There was a small slide and you went down it, all by yourself. You dove for Aubrey's diving stick and you played in the fountains that were spraying water everywhere. You were incredible. I'm SOOOO proud of you and will treasure today's memory forever.

At the end of our 2 hour pool visit, I put you in the car and you fell asleep on the 10 minute drive home (you very rarely fall asleep in the car...and if you do, it's usually after you've been in the car for at least 30+ minutes).

Later that day we went back to the pool with Daddy to show off all your fun new skills. We noticed that you were pointing to your toes a lot...and for good reason. On every single toe on both feet...you have tiny red sore spots. One toe actually has a blister. Poor baby hasn't walked barefoot that much and you were probably really gripping the bottom of the pool with your toes. Guess we need to give your toes a little break from all the fun.

I'm thrilled about spending the rest of the summer in the pool with you. I love your fearlessness and your excitement is contagious.

xoxo

Hitting

Ugh...such ugliness! We have no idea where Olivia has picked up this behavior...but it's not okay with us. We have not hit her nor has she been exposed to many other children who have been hitting.

She hits herself, objects, and us. She takes two objects and bangs them together in ways that are not nice. At first, we were okay with her hitting herself or other objects...but now, we're not. We don't want her to be exhibiting such aggression.

Thoughts?

We are using time-out on a daily basis....some days it's 6 or 7 times, others it's only once. It's sad for Olivia and it's sad for us. This topic will be addressed at her 18 month appointment. Help!!!!

DQ

99 days left!!!

As of today, I have less than 100 days left of this pregnancy :)

Or at least I hope there isn't anymore than 99 days left. I really don't want to be overdue... especially with our hot August sun!

1st time on Phone

A Desktop with Terabytes

I have a problem...and I've mentioned it before (here and here). I take a lot of pictures. A LOT! And I have a very very hard time erasing photos. So, we are out of space on the laptops...and somehow in the 21st century they don't make laptops with bigger hard drive space than the ones we currently have.

Therefore, we needed something else. Tim spent many hours researching the very best option for us. We considered a server, external hard drive, online storage, and other avenues...but the one that appears to be best for our family and our needs was a desktop....with terabytes of hard drive space.

Hopefully by the time I fill up this hard drive...technology will have a new plan for us.

GUESS WHO IS COMING!?!?!?

My adorable nephew.


My brother-in-law.


MY SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yup Yup! They are coming Memorial Day Weekend.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

That's right...they will be here for 5 days!!!

Ecstatic.

Happy.
Excited.
Thrilled.

Is it the 27th yet???

17 Months!

It can't be! Miss Olivia is already 17 months old. We feel like if we blink, the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is going to be a VW bug and she's going to be honking the horn of her car as she backs down our driveway...

Where is our baby?

Follow Up - Birthday Pen

It has arrived...the Thomas Jefferson pen.

And Tim loves it! He claimed a forest green ink...and is promising lots of hand written letters :)

Tiffini and I thought that Tim should also experience other "great" pens...and gave him our favorite pens for his birthday.

What's your favorite pen?

ATOM

definition of:

1. the smallest part of an element

2. a very small amount or quantity; minute fragment

3. the initials of our family
(Andrea, Tim, Olivia, Mason)

Then & Now

SWING STYLE

THEN

March 11, 2009

April 23, 2009

July 11, 2009

November 17, 2009

February 14, 2010

NOW

Happy Mother's Day

For the second year in a row...I've had an amazing mother's day!! The Johnsons graciously offered to take us out on their boat for our first boating adventure of the season. Thank YOU!!

Of course today was the only day in the whole week that was cooler and no sun...however, we didn't let that stop us. And soooo glad! It was very relaxing and we had a great time. Olivia really enjoyed her time, giggling when the wind blew in her face and loving to stand in a rocking boat.

Time-OUT

Yes...that's time-out...like sit in the corner and you are in trouble.

Who?

Andrea? Tim? Jerry?

No...

Our Sweet Olivia!!!

She is hitting. And we don't think she is doing it on purpose to inflict pain...but she is definitely swatting her hands at us when she is frustrated or not getting her way. And so...we've started time-out. She doesn't like it. It usually involves us telling her no and having her sit...we don't make her stay there any amount of time. When she gets up and comes over to us, we ask her to apologize and explain to her that it's not okay to hit.

YIKES!

Good Boy!

A Birthday Pen

And the story goes like this...

(T) - Want to see the pen I want to get?
(A) - How much does it cost?
(T) - Do you want to see the pen?
(A) - Yes, and how much does it cost?
(T) - A lot...but at least I decided to not get the $1800 pen...
(A) - What does your pen do?
(T) - Writes with ink.
(A) - Like Thomas Jefferson??? Because if you are getting a pen like Thomas Jefferson's...and the one he used to sign the Declaration of Independence...that's cool.
(T) - That's more like a quill
(A) - A feather?
(T) - Yes...
(A) - So are you getting a feather? Because I can find a feather at the park for you.
(T) - No.
(A) - How much does your pen cost???
(T) - A lot.
(A) - Do you want a bic? I like bic pens, especially the blue bic. Those are the best.
(T) - I love you
(A) - What else do you have to buy along with the pen?
(T) - Ink and Journals
(A) - I love you too....

Happy Birthday Tim/Daddy! We love you very much and hope you enjoy your Thomas Jefferson pen :)

Day 2 of our new pool

Jerry has discovered the pool. We knew, when buying a pool, that we couldn't get one of the really cute inflatables because of Jerry (ask the Johnsons...I do believe we owe them one fun inflatable pool). So we were left with the hard plastic that will be a pain to store...HOWEVER, the whole family can enjoy :)

Oh...the next step is an inground pool. Anyone know someone who wants to do a pro bono job??? If you click on "pro bono" you will notice it comes from the Latin word meaning "for the public good". Personally, if you ask us....our inground pool would offer a lot of good for the neighbors and friends.....just saying.

Maybe someone will see this cutie and think....let's give her a REAL pool :)

Our VERY OWN Pool!

This is what we looked like Monday night when we picked up our pool from Toys R Us. A big THANK YOU to my dad (Grandpa John) for all the gift cards to purchase this very very fun summer activity.

The 4runner bought the new pool (the exact same as the Johnsons) to our home safely. I was picturing a pool party on the side of the road.

At 8:30 this morning...we were too excited about the new blue pool and decided to try it out. It was filled with water and a bathing suit was put on.

CHECK! It works and it's LOTS of fun!!

Body Parts

A Name Change?

We watched Avatar tonight. Great movie.

The scene of the movie that was the most interesting to us was the last video journal Jack did.

Notice the date. 08/24/2154

That's our due date. Tim immediately said,

"We're changing his name...Avatar Hertel".