Monday, December 8, 2008

Halloween



Sorry, It took me so long, I'm kind of a slacker... Olivia loved her first Halloween. We couldn't have asked for better night to go trick or treating. This was the first Halloween in Omaha where is wasn't absolutely freezing. Yeah for us!!! It was so much fun to watch Olivia trick or treat. She really got into it, . . . walking to the doors (with our help) and picking out her own treats. Her favorite piece of candy was an orange lollipop that she carried around with her for the whole night. Too bad she couldn't eat any of her treats, maybe next year.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

October



Olivia at the pumpkin patch

Monday, November 3, 2008

NYC



Who said you can't travel with small children? I have debunked that myth. Last month our little family joined up with my Dad, Mom, and sister Jenny for a trip to New York City. It was a blast from start to finish (even if that meant we were merely riding the metro because we got lost)!

One of the first things that we did upon arrival was buy a week long metro pass for the NYC mass transit system. Let me tell you, we got our monies worth out of those passes. Whether it was riding to Time Square for a play (almost a daily occurrence. . . thanks Jenny), hitting Central Park for a run (Brad and Dad), or somehow landing in China Town for the many wares (the whole family is responsible for that one), we could always count on the metro to get us where we were going. That did NOT mean that we got there right away, or even in a organized fashion, . . . but eventually, with metro maps, Brad's Blackberry Maps, and our innate sense of direction, we did get where we wanted to go. In fact, sometimes, we got there by accident!

I have come to realize that the reason family vacations are so great is not so much the location, the amenities, or the activities (although they don't hurt), it really is spending time with the ones you love and making lasting memories. This trip included many moments that our family will treasure. Some funny (losing Mom on the metro the very first day [don't worry Mom, it's only funny in hindsight]), and some not so funny (like trying every single Cheesecake shop to find good cheesecake, . . . a failed mission). But the most important part is that we were together, making memories with one another.

All the while we had beautiful lil Olivia in our arms, the stroller, or Baby Bjorn to the Statue of Liberty, Central Park (for family pictures), Park Ave., Manhattan Temple, Brooklyn Bridge on a doubledecker bus, and even her first Broadway play (it was Mary Poppins, . . . too bad she spent the latter half of the play in the foyer crying,. . . not so cheery I guess).

While we were there we all got to share as a family some great news that Brad received, and even celebrated by going out to a fancy dinner.

Thank goodness for digital cameras, without them I would feel like I missed so many good opportunities for pictures, or Brad would have to buy some stock in Kodak, . . . lots of stock!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Who does She Look Like



So today while I was taking a few pictures of Olivia, I noticed that her face was beginning to change. For the first time, since she was born, she is starting to look more like me. I always hear that she looks just like my mom or sister, except for my dad, who thinks that Olivia looks just like Brad's side of the family. Here are a few picture . . . let me know what you think. Thanks.



No matter who she looks like, I think she is beautiful and I am so happy that she is mine forever.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Olivia's First Summer



As Olivia's first summer comes to a close I was trying to remember all the fun things that she was able to do, and she was a very busy girl.

Too bad they don't give frequent flyer miles to babies, . . . Olivia traveled to Arizona, California, Nevada and Kansas City this summer. I guess she would be pretty close to enough miles for a free ticket with all her travels.In California, she saw her little friends Avie, Jordan, Logan, Emmy and Nate. She even got to meet her friends Benjamin and Austin from the bay area. Olivia celebrated several "1st's" this summer, namely: she went to her first wedding (she was adorable in her cute little dress) and got to go swimming for the first time in Grandma and Grandpa Lee's pool.

On our trip to Arizona Brad spent a lot of his time taking the Arizona State Bar while Olivia and I were able to party with friends and family all week! Olivia loved to play with all her cousins and Grandma and Grandpa Sellers. She especially loves the baby that Grandma Sellers bought for her.

She then got to visit her great grandparents in Las Vegas and see Grandma and Grandpa Lee again. While busy traveling she also learned to army crawl, expand her love of solid foods, go to the ER (again), and loved tanning while trying all the new water slides that we found on our many trips.

I hope that she had a blast . . .because it was fun for me to watch her experience all the fun this summer. I can't wait until next summer so she can have have a whole new set of "1st's" (i.e. ice cream and walk on the beach....)

Friday, July 25, 2008

Time Goes By Fast



Six months has gone by so fast, it feels like it was just yesterday that we were bringing Olivia home from the hospital on a -5 degree day and she was barely able to fit in her car seat. Now I can barely carry her from the door to the car without my back hurting. I am sad to see her growing up so fast but I am super thankful that she is progressing so well. Our once 3 lbs 9 oz baby is now 12 lbs 5 oz and growing. One of her favorite things to do (and brad's) is to go back to sleep with us in the morning for her morning nap. I know it is a very bad habit and dangerous but we just can't help it. Brad has loved to snuggle with her since the day we brought her home, and would do it all time if that was an option. I just can't believe how big she has gotten when I see her laying next to him.

It has to match



So one of the reasons (just one) that I was totally excited for Olivia to be a girl was to be able to dress her super cute and for her to match me at church. I know that is so lame but it is so much fun. I also love to match her blanket and toys to her clothes as well. One might call me too matchy matchy, as you can tell by her outfit that she wore to church, the dress is compliments of Grandma Lee and the blanket Grandma Sellers. I just loved it.

Marvin the Monkey



Today, Olivia and I met Kristin and the girls at the zoo. We had lots of fun walking in the humid weather. Before we move everyone has to come visit us and go to the zoo. It is so much fun there and it is super close. On the way out to the car, I walked through the gift shop and saw this cute stuffed animals and made noises. As soon as Olivia saw the monkey she got all excited, so I bought it for her to take on her trip to Grandma's house. Brad names all of her stuffed animals and this one is Marvin the monkey. She loves this little monkey that is just her size. It is so much fun to she her interact with toys now. We'll see how long it takes before Brad and I want to throw the little monkey away, but until then it is really cute.

Monday, July 14, 2008

kisses


So, whenever Brad needs a study break he likes to play with Olivia. He has been trying really hard to teach her to give kisses. She has the "umm" smooch sound down, but we are still working on teaching her to close her lips. We have been licked one too many times. Mostly she just wants you to kiss her and she'll make sure that both of her checks are getting some love.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

A day at the pool

 
Later that night we had a bbq with some of our friends at the Heiner's house. There was lots of yummy food there and good company. Brad was able to join us too. We then went to watch fireworks up at a little park on bancroft. From there we were able to see fireworks in all directions. It was the best firework show ever and one of the best parts of living in Omaha. Because there were so many bugs out Olivia had to stay in her carseat with her bug net over her so she didn't last that long. We can't wait to show her the fireworks next year.

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Olivia's first 4th of July!!!

For Olivia's first 4th of July, I took her to the pool with our friends the Heiners and Larsens. She loved playing in the niice cool water and with her friends. She especially loves her friend Whitney. Whitney is always wanting to play with Olivia and Olivia loves to have her attention. We had lots of fun that day with her. Olivia was even brave enough to go down both water slides. We wish that Brad could have come but he was busy studying for the Bar. Thanks Heiners for the ride...

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Sunday, July 6, 2008

Our Family

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Yummy!!!

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Summer Baby

What cute girl!!!

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