Visit from Gran & Poppy

Livie's Gran & Poppy came from Missouri for a visit...and to celebrate Poppy's birthday. Livie had a birthday card for him and they bought Liv her first set of golf clubs. Her Daddy thinks she's a natural!

Fun pics....

March Play Date

Beautiful Day!!! Fun at the park with my friends from China... (Livie is cutting a molar and is drooling like a faucet....she's giving a shout out to her Gran & Ginnie with that bib.)

Falling, falling, falling - take 2

Still not totally steady on her feet. We got another boo-boo today....but it didn't slow her down!

Lovin' Bath Time!!

Eating & Sleeping

Eating & Sleeping....literally.....

Falling, Falling, Falling

I got another call today from the daycare. It was a little after 4:00. Olivia had just fallen and hit/scraped her nose….right between her eyes…but she was okay and really didn’t even cry much. It was puffy when I got there to pick her up…it looks like it might bruise…hope she doesn’t have a black eye. I can tell she really likes the new class. She’s playing more, walking more, taking 2 hour naps every day so I know she’s wearing herself out.

Toddler Room

First full day in the Toddler room…she fell and bumped her head but she’s fine. She was drinking Kool Aid when we picker her up….and she was a total spaz! She’s never had Kool Aid and I think she freaked with all the sugar. She was so funny…giggling at everything and flapping her arms….she’s was a little ball of energy. But the sugar didn’t keep her awake…she still went to sleep at 7:30…no problem. Pics: dressed up for the 1st day in the Toddler Room...ready for school; wired & happy at the end of the day!!

Bye-Bye, Infant Room!

When I went to sign her in at daycare this morning, there was a note for me that said “Congratulations”…Olivia was graduating from the infant room to the toddler room. So I arrive to pick her up at the end of the day and they tell me she didn’t transition today….and that I need to see someone at the front desk. Hmmmm. Well, there was an “incident” today. Our precious angel bit another baby today. Yes! She BIT someone!!! She’s NEVER been aggressive so I was shocked…then I just started laughing. I ask the director what I was supposed to do….I mean, she’s only 14 months old! The director smiled too and just said there was nothing we could do….she’s a baby and sometimes babies bite. She also said it looked like Olivia was leaning in to kiss the other baby, but accidentally bit down. Yes, this makes much more sense! She’s very much in her “kissing” mode right now….she comes at you with her mouth open….so cute!

Valentine's Day

Livie’s first Valentine’s Day. She got cards & gifts from Ginny & Poppa Joe, Gran & Poppy and Uncle Steve. Her Daddy bought her a big Minnie Mouse...it's as big as she is!!!

February Play Date

Year of the Dog

Olivia’s Ginny (my Mom) flew in from TN to attend the Chinese New Year celebration. It’s a big deal here…there were over 100 families there and everybody dressed up….the girls in their traditional Chinese dresses. I wore a dress that I had made in China and Livie wore a red dress I found at a local Chinese store (I had an outfit made for her in China…the same fabric as my dress….but it totally swallows her…I think she’ll be 4 years old before she can wear it). We all had a great time…so fun to have her with us this year! Notes about the pictures.... Livie's doll joined us at the party; clapping during the entertainment; practicing her walking; wearing a bracelet her Ginny bought her for the occasion; yes, that's Livie's little white bow in Daddy's hair; hanging out with our China travel buddies -- Rina & Annalisa.

New Pictures...

Kisses from Daddy & Putter Livie discovers ice... Busted!... The "lip-smacking" face...

First day back to work

Today was Livie's 4th day at daycare (the first truly full day) and Mom's first day back to work. It went really well. It was great to be back at work and back in the swing of things. And Livie had a great report card today...she was happy all day and played a lot...totally different baby than Monday. The teachers said she has adjusted really fast. The downside...we got home at 6:00, pulled something together for dinner in about 20 minutes, gave her a bath and only had a few minutes to play before she crashed. She was fighting to stay away until 7:00. I LOVE my job and I absolutely believe that daycare will be so great for her socially & developmentally....but this will definitely be an adjustment. We'll now live for the weekend!

Daycare -- First day

UGH!!! The short version... Livie cried & cried & cried…her face was blood red and hair was wet with sweat. I slipped out of the room and watched on the monitors in the lobby….she finally calmed down and put her head on the teacher’s shoulder….I think she was just exhausted. We called to check on her a couple of hours later and she had made a new friend and they were playing with blocks. Steve came home from work early and took me to the beach for lunch...the first time we've had lunch without Livie. It was a beautiful day and nice distraction to help pass the hours. We picked her up at 3:00... she was fine and we all survived.

Daycare orientation and 12-month checkup

Big Day! Steve & I went to Livie's daycare today for orientation...she starts on Monday. We went through an orientation last summer wehn we first reserved a spot for her but needed a fresher not that she's ready to start. We're excited for her to start...it'll definitely be tough but I really think it will be so great for her. Olivia also had her 12-month check up today (yes, she's actually 13 months old now). Everything went well and she did great. Dr. Kim seemed to be impressed with Livie's progress and how quickly she's adjusted & bonded with us. She's totally off formula/bottle....she eats some babyfood but mostly table food and she drinks from a sippy cup. This baby LOVES TO EAT! We've found nothing she doesn't like...and she never says she's had enough. We just have to stop her from eating when we know she's had enough. Since her first appt on 11/28, she's gained 6 oz and grown 1 inch. We really thought she'd gained a bit more than that since she eats so well...but she's obviously burning it off. She's a healthy baby...but she's tiny! She's in the 5th percentile for weight and the 50th percentile for length. The doctor has no concerns about her weight...she's just little. The worst part of the day...Olivia got 4 shots today. Yes, she screamed...but she was over it almost as soon as the nurse left the room. She had a Bugs Bunny bandaid on each arm and each leg...attached are a couple of pics...

Olivia's first play date

Today we attended our first official play date with 3 other China dolls who have come home in the last year....Annalisa (our travel buddy), Casey & Kimberly (Jade was planning to be there but both Mommy & baby were a bit under the weather. It was so great to see all the girls together. We new parents all went through the "waiting" together and dreamed of the day.... We had dinner with Jade (and her parents, Alan & Lisa!) last weekend...so I've attached a few of those pics also. Side note about these pics...yes, Livie is wearing pajamas. We were at Lisa & Alan's house, and in the middle of dinner our precious angel had a major BLOWOUT! We had to strip her down and give her a bath. Thankfully we had the wisdom to put a change of clothes in the diaper bag!

Florida in January!

Picnics, sunshine & trips to the beach!!....