Monday, June 21, 2010

Olivia's Birthday

We celebrated Olivia's 4th year of life by having a birthday donut,
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a purple jaguar party on Saturday,
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And the traditional trip to the American Girl cafe on her actual birthday. Needless to say she had plenty of spoiling and a very special birthday weekend!
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Friday, June 18, 2010

Olivia at 4

I cant believe this girl...my baby girl...is going to be 4 on Monday. I LOVED 3. Had to be my favorite year with her. Although I'm sure I will love this year even more.
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Side note: I am not one of those moms who is glad that her children are growing and entering new stages of life. I am the opposite. I would keep them small forever if I could. I know it is more work but I can protect them now. (and boss them around) I know where they are and what they are doing at all times...and I love that. But enough about me. This post is about Olivia Addsion.

Olivia is the most caring and observant child I know. She truly cares about the people she loves and has the strongest empathy only to mine. She is so affirming. She notices the little things I do and praises me for them. Like the other night, I stayed up way after everyone went to bed so I can clean. The first thing she said to me when she woke me up was "Wow Mom, you cleaned your room and our playroom and there are no more dishes in the sink. It looks great mom" And when I leave and go play bunco, the next morning she always wakes me up and says "Did you have fun with your friends at bunco?" She really does truly care and I love that about her. She is magnetic. I love to watch her and be around her. She is so cool without even knowing it. She is beautiful inside and out. She tells me that I am her best friend 20+ times a day and is constantly asking Toby is she is his best friend. When he says no, she gets bummed but when he says yes, she runs over to him and gives him the biggest hug with the sweetest smile of relief of her face.

She loves her stuffed animals so much. She has to have one with her where ever she goes and 10 in her bed with her when she goes to bed. She has to have a Mommy and Baby everything. Always in pairs. During her "Livy Time" (Her room time while Toby's napping) I can hear her "animals" talking to each other. The mom is always telling her baby to "make good choices" and sometimes the mom tells her babies that she is cranky. Makes me laugh so much to hear the words I say used in her play time.

Her and Toby have become super good friends this year. She helps him do everything that he cannot, and now he finally lets her. I really cant believe that they get along so well being together for 10+ hours a day. But they do. They play all day and I love when I catch them just sitting there talking. MELTS MY HEART.

She is such a big helper for me while I am babysitting too. She is just a good helper period. She loves to do stuff for us. She always looks so proud doing it too.

I love you so much Liv...I have enjoyed everyday of the four years I have had with you. You ARE my best friend and I couldn't ask for anything more!
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Monday, June 14, 2010

New Things this week

Well...last week...im a little behind.

Toby decided he wanted to be potty trained (Finally!!!) I have been trying to potty train him for almost 6 months now. He would always go pee (when I took him) but would never poop on the pot. So last Monday he yelled at me "I'm Peeing!!!" I didn't get what he was saying till he grabbed his little package so we ran to the bathroom and he went. And that was it...the entire day...he told me every single time he had to pee and even when he had to go poop! So I was super stoked. And feeling very relieved...it has been a long and frustrating road since Olivia was potty completely trained in 3 days.

But then on Wednesday (a whopping 2 days after telling me he needs to go) I hear the toilet seat drop. Now this normally means that he is trying to get the tooth paste out of the medicine cabinet, so I yell at him to get out of the bathroom. But much to my surprise he yells back at me "Mom, Im peeing all myself" I didnt believe because he had never even pulled down his pants by himself. So I go heading twords the bathroom only to find him walking out of the bathroom, shorts all twisted around but back around his waste, with the BIGGEST and proudest smile. HE DID IT! All by himself. And has ever since.

Now part of this makes me very sad. My baby doesn't need me anymore. But then I think of his sister...who has been potty trained for a year and a half and still wants me to go into the bathroom with her while she pees and then I start to feel very thankful for his independence. I love how different my kids are. And all this is perfect timing because this same week:
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I started babysitting my cousins baby Connor. He is 4 months old and a moose. (17lbs to be exact.) Reminds me so much of Toby when he was that age. Big beautiful round face...eats and smiles all the time. I love having a baby in the house again. I forgot how tiring it is though. How much they eat, pee, and sleep. And how you feel like you are going all day but actually get very little done. But it's ok. I know I have to build my baby stamina up and then we can accomplish much more. Olivia LOVES "Baby Connor" She doesn't leave his side most of the day. When she eats, she requests that he sits in his carrier next to her in the kitchen. During her "resting time", when he is getting tired of my face,I call her back in the room and he stops fussing immediately. I think he really does like her! Its so cute, she has taken on the mommy role quite fast. Every time I leave the room I come back to her in the fridge trying to get a bottle for him. When I ask her what she's doing she tells he "He's freaking out, he wants to eat" And the first day we were watching him, literally an hour after he got here she looks and me and sighs. I said "Whats the matter?" She says to me "Babysitting is tough" She's so funny, but she really is such a big help. I'm going to miss her when she goes to school in August...I think Connor and Toby will too.
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