June 2008

* Lots of swimmings * Mom & Dad ran in a 5k, then Liv "ran" in her first 1 mile fun run * Dad had a kidney stone -- TERRIBLE!! * Liv started saying “that’s DIS-GUS-TING!” (with much enthusiasm) * Liv taught Mom & Dad the Spanish for red & green (verde & rojo...as we sat a traffic light) * Pushed a “berry”/bead up her nose…went to convenient care (they couldn't get it out)....then to the ER at the children's hospital. I told her the next time she wanted a shiny red bead, please tell us & we'll go buy her a $130 "bead" (the cost of our co-pays at convenient care & then the ER!) * Vacation in Destin – played with friends from Little Rock – saw a hermit crab, jelly fish, stuck a popcorn "bone" / kernnel up her nose (she was able to blow it out), saw a snake at the swimming pool * Father’s Day – at the beach (Dad's reading "Strong Father's, Strong Daughter's"...and freaking out after every chapter) * Very much into “who’s your favorite princess”….her"s changes a lot (Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, …)

May 2008

* "Muffin’s with Mom" at daycare * We did our annual "Hand print" on Mother's Day * Visit from Ginnie * Player’s Championship (Liv was more interested in the food than the golf!) * School pics * Visit to Gran & Poppy’s * Elbow out of socket -- YIKES! This was about the 3rd time it's happened. Mommy popped it back in the last time (with instructions from the dr)...but I couldn't get it back in this time...and certainly didn't want to keep trying! A quick trip to the dr at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon and she popped it back in (hopefully Liv will not have a memory of this fun activity...she was screaming the whole time!). The "elbow out of socket" is common with toddlers...joints are soft and can pop out easily when adults swing them by their arms or when a caregiver is just holding their hand and then the child drops their weight. She'll grow out of it as her joints mature...probably by the time she's 5 or 6.

March 2008

* Mommy’s birthday * Sutton’s birthday party * Poppy’s birthday * Easter * Coloring eggs with Gran * Started saying.... *“That’s a great idea” * “You’re precious” * “Sure”

February 2008 updates

* Visit from Ginnie & Joe-Joe, Uncle Steve, Gran & Poppy * Chinese New Year – dance with the 3 year olds (we went to dance practice for weeks and Liv would shy away and not participate....but she really got her groove on when she hit the big stage!)

3 yr check up

3yr old check up. We prepped her for seeing “Dr. Kim” so she was very excited when the day finally came to go to her appt. She knew Dr. Kim would listen to her heart, lungs, look in her ears & mouth, and ask her lots of questions about colors, shapes, her favorite foods & toys. The first things we did was let the nurse weigh & measure her…33 lbs and 36 ½ inches. Then the eye exam…didn’t know she’d have to do that….wasn’t sure how she’d do since this was a totally new activity. She put on some funny plastic glasses that covered one eye at a time, stood on her mark about 10 feet from the target, and then called out the shapes when the nurse pointed to each…”circle, square, heart, octagon”…..then the nurse did a bit of a double take. “She’s 3, right??” “Is she in pre-school??” Well, it was actually a pentagon (house shape) but still impressive hearing her say “octagon”. She did great with everything…hugs for Dr. Kim & even for nurse Suzie after she gave Liv a shot in the arm…no tears! Love our little socialite charmer!

January

Started the 3 year old class on 1/7. Always wants Mommy or Daddy to lay down with her at night for a few minutes. Whispers “lay down & lets talk”…..we ask “What do you want to talk about?”….she whispers “let’s talk about Jesus”….so sweet! Sometimes she gets everything mixed up in her head….”Jesus and the Bible book and the princess and castle”…..still very sweet!

Christmas at HOME

This was the first time in 13 years of marriage that we were able to spend Christmas at home. Gran & Poppy came over and we had 4 days of fun. Daddy had a almost 2 weeks off work, so Livie had some serious “Daddy time”…..they both loved it!! •Shopping with Daddy •Surprise visit from Santa (Sunday night, 12/23) •Making cookies for Santa •Writing a note for Santa •Leaving carrots in the driveway for Rudolph •Hearing “jingle bells” outside her window •Waking up at 5:00 am to come to Mommy & Daddy’s bed….whispering “Mommy, I heard the jingle bells” as soon as she woke up. •Acting shy when she saw all the gifts •Going to the beach on Christmas day to look for shells •Opening gifts from Mommy & Daddy and Gran & Poppy later Christmas afternoon •Going to Gran & Poppy’s house with Daddy the day after Christmas (Daddy’s birthday) to spend a couple of days. (Mommy had to work)

Christmas & Birthday Celebration in TN

We went to TN for an early Christmas & a birthday celebration…12/12-19. Visited with all the family, went to MO to see Aunt Margie, Aunt Sherry, Aunt Lois & Uncle Joe. It was COLD! Had a great visit and Olivia was really good for the long car ride. (We flew from FL to TN, but then drove the 2 hours up to Missouri.) Also met friends, Jan & Granger, from Little Rock in Memphis…their kids, Emma & Carson, were so big!....Liv was a little HAM! (Picture of her in cheerleading outfit that was a gift from our friends - University of Central Arkansas.)

Celebrated Christmas on Monday, 12/17 with everyone in TN….had lots of fun opening gifts! Then got up the next day on 12/18, cleared out all the Christmas paper and started the birthday celebration…Olivia turned 3!!!! We had an Elmo cake…celebrated with the family…and again, opened LOTS of gifts. (All the while, Mommy & Daddy wondering how in the world we were going to get everything home on an airplane!) The hit of the birthday gifts was the American Girl Bitty Baby & the Ballerina outfit….she wore it all day. Her shoulders were red where the straps were scratching her, but we still had to bribe her to take it off. BIG HIT! She called it her “hula skirt” and her “badderina dress”. By the way, every skirt is called a “hula skirt” or a “hula dance skirt”…she learned to do a hula dance at school so that term has STUCK!

Potty Training Timeline

April - started pee-peeing on the potty at daycare...but would never do it at home. June -- pee-peed at home July -- poopied on the potty August -- took "big girl panties" to daycare Sept -- soooo close....but still some accidents Dec -- DONE! Never an accident and always tells us when she needs to go potty. She still sleeps in a pull-up at night....I suspect we'll keep doing that for a while...just in case!