Big Girl

Here is a little catch up of Miss Olivia Claire

At her 1 year appt. she weighed 23lbs 6oz and was 31 inches long. That is almost 90% for both height and weight. No more long and lanky Liv. She jumped right up that growth chart. She is learning new things everyday. She can say many words, "mama" "dada" "dog" "LuLu" or something that sounds like LuLu. It's a little different everytime. "book" "ball" "baby" "hot" "no" "pig" "kitty" "shoe" "hoho" for Santa "cheese" and some others I can't think of right now. She can play peek-a-boo and patty cake. She can point to several different body parts. She can make the baby and mommy noises when I sing "The wheels on the Bus". She LOVES to read books. Most of the day you can find her sitting on the floor or in her rocking chair just flipping through the pages. She is such an easy girl to take care of. We have been truly blessed.

1st Trip to the Beach

At the beginning of Novemeber Olivia and I went to Sarasota, FL with my mom, grandma and sister-in-law Vanessa. My grandma has a time share condo down there and she so graciously let us come along. Olivia was such a wonderful traveler and it was a great trip. She was great on the plane ride down even though she did pee through her clothes due to me letting her drink 16oz of milk on the 30 minute plane ride from Evansville to Cinci. So Miss O spent most of the trip from Cinci to Tampa in just her diaper. She really enjoyed sitting on grandma's lap and looking out the window. She was a perfect little girl the whole week we were down there. She loved the sand and the pool. This week was when she started strictly walking. No more crawling for this girl. She also learned to say "boo" for peek-a-boo and "book". She also can tell you where her ears, eyes, nose, and toes are. Olivia found herself a British boyfriend while we were down there. His name was Charlie and they were about the same age. They would share snacks on the beach in the afternoon. It was really cute. The weather wasn't the best due to a freak Nov. hurricane but we still had a great time.

Liv trying to redress herself before landing in Tampa

Olivia and Grandma looking out the window

Charlie and Olivia compare "costumes" as Charlie's mom called them.

Olivia's 1st Birthday Party

The Herr Family Flower Garden

We had Olivia's first birthday party on Halloween. It was a costume party at the Campbell Township Conservation Club. It was really wonderful to have all our family and friends get together to celebrate our baby. Lots of people dressed up and that was fun to see. Olivia was blessed with many fun presents so now our living room is full of all kinds of toys. She REALLY enjoyed her cake. Hadley, my goddaughter, made it for her. It was a little jack-o-lantern. It turned out really cute.
The Birthday Girl, Olivia, the Bee

I can't believe how fast this past year has gone. It's amazing that my baby isn't a baby anymore!

Update

I have been horrible at keeping this updated and since I am sick in bed and can't sleep I thought I would tackle the project. Olivia has acquired so many new skills! She learns something new everday. She is really starting to walk more and is able to say some words! "Uh Oh" "dog" "Baby" and "kitty". It doesn't sound like kitty more like a REALLY hard K sound but that's what she is meaning. She's also gotten really good at blowing kisses which is super cute. I can't believe her big birthday is only a few weeks away! Oh how the year has flown!!

She really loves to read books.

In other news, we went to Nashville and saw Emily this past weekend. The "mother ship" as we call it is really pretty and she seemed really happy. All of the other nuns were so friendly and welcoming. I think it is all going really well for her. It was neat to see a glimpse of what her daily life is like. We visit again in December. I can't wait.

Hello Monday

I stole this from my friend Nicole's blog. I thought it was fun and easy and since I haven't posted in forever this will have to do for now

{hello monday.}
Outside my office door… I don't have an office door but outside my front door is sunshine and blooming roses

I am thinking…that I’m really excited about the Panera that my grandma is bring me for lunch

I am thankful for…a fabulous weekend at the river camp with Norm, Nicole and Norm's parents Rodney and Cheryl.

From the kitchen…tonight, Taco Casserole, yummy.

I am wearing… a Tieman Chiropractic and Rehabilitation shirt with gray shorts, no shoes...

I am creating… a granny square afghan for Olivia

I am going…to work tonight

I am reading…Summer, the #2 book in a series by Karen Kingsbury

I am hoping… for Olivia to start feeling better and maybe just maybe have some teeth pop thru soon

I am hearing…Intervention on the tv. This is the first time I have really watched this show. Wow. That's all I can say

Around the house.. clean laundry that needs to be folded on the couch, dirty laundry that needs to be washed in piles on the bed room floor. LuLu laying on the couch next to me and Liv napping in her room

One of my favorite things…Spending time with my family

A few plans for the rest of the week… Working Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday night. WCWC at Nicole's Wednesday!

A picture to share…

River Rat in the Making

Mommy and Olivia before going on the boat

We finally were able to get out on the boat the last weekend in July. Miss Olivia was a wonderful boat rider and loved swimming in the river. I know many people think the Ohio is gross and are probably grossed out by the thought of me letting my daughter swim in it but it's what we do and we love it! She wasn't really into the life jacket when we first put it on her and screamed the whole walk down the dock to the boat but once we got going she loved it and was happy the rest of the time. She was kinda serious during the ride but once we got in the water she was her smiley self again. I think we have a waterbug on our hands!

Irvin telling O the secrets of the Ohio

Daddy and Olivia swimming

Emma and Olivia, the first of many times swimming in the river together

Weekend of Firsts

Memorial day weekend was a big weekend for Olivia...

It was her first trip to the river camp

Her first time to sit up on her own

Her first time to grasp little food and put it in her mouth

Her first time in a swimming pool

Her first time in a little cart behind a bicycle

She was such a good little camper. I look forward to many more weekends this summer at the river. Can't wait to see my little river rat in training (As Miss Emma Heim's shirt says) out on the boat!

Wordless Wednesday

Since I am horrible at keeping this blog up and I never know what to say I am going to copy. I have seen this "Wordless Wednesday" on a couple different blogs I read and I thought it was a good idea so here it is!

Outdoor girl

We have really been enjoying the spring weather. So far it seems like Olivia is an outside person just like her daddy. Yesterday Olivia and I took a walk to the movie store in town and afterwards we sat outside while Jacob did some yard work. She got a little fussy so Jacob decided to hang up her outdoor swing. She LOVED it!

I guess all the excitement wore her out!

Today we spent the afternoon at Matthew and Vanessa's property watching the boys saw down some dead trees. Jennifer and Hazel (Ben and Jen's new puppy) sat with us in the spectator section :) Olivia was really good playing in her stroller all afternoon. She even took a really good afternoon nap AFTER she had taken a really good morning nap! I think she liked the sound of the chainsaws :)

Olivia hanging out in her stroller wearing my first attempt at the kufi beanie!

Hazelnut Titzer

First taste of something solid! Well sorta!

March 11-

Olivia had her 4 month well baby visit with Dr. Cochran that day and of coure he said she's perfect! :) She was 12lbs 13 1/2 oz which is in the 35%. Still on her same curve she has been on. She is 25 in. long which is in the 85%. Long and skinny. Who knows who she gets that from!! We also got the ok from the dr to start some cereal! So I went to the store and got some but waited until the next day so Jacob would be home to take pictures! She actually did a lot better than I thought she would. She has gotten better and better at eating it every day! She opens her mouth when the spoon comes at her now and I think she is eating more than is running down her face.

Are you sure I should be eating this??

Ok, I think I'm done now. This bib tastes better!

First time traveling!

This past weekend we traveled to Attica along with Ben and Jennifer to visit some of Jacob's college friends. One of their wives was throwing them a suprise birthday party so we thought it was a good reason to make the trip. We stayed with Norm and Nicole and had a wonderful time. While we went to the party Norm's parents were so kind to watch Olivia so we didn't have to take her to the smoky VFW. Sunday morning we all met back up at the Attica Country Club for a very yummy breakfast and then went back to Norm and Nicole's. Nicole has really gotten into taking pictures and she so graciously took some of our little peanut. Here is the link to the photos. I think she did a beautiful job. We had a really good time catching up with them. We hadn't seen them since their wedding in June of 07! That was way too long. They are hopefully going to be able to come down sometime in July for a weekend on the river.
Olivia really impressed me with a how great of a traveler she was! She pretty much slept the whole way there and back and was so good the rest of the time we were there. God has really blessed us with a wonderful baby.

Rolling over!

February 21 was a big day for our house! I started out the day dropping Olivia off at my parents so I could go meet Brooke and Gina at the St. John's Mother to Mother sale. I got so many good bargains and I am looking forward to the big sale at the Armory on March 7th! Olivia had a good time with my parents as always. When we got home I put Olivia on the floor on her belly; she was getting way up on her side like she was going to roll over so I ran to get the camera (literally 15 feet away) and by the time I got back this is what I saw! She had rolled over from her tummy to her back for the first time! What a big girl!!! :)

Here she goes!!
Ta Da!!!!!!

Jacob was out in the barn when this happened so I called him to come in and then of course she was done on her belly and wouldn't perform anymore. Ben Moore came over later and by then she was ready again so they both got to witness her newest trick! I can't believe how much she has changed and grown in her short little life. She amazes me every day!!

warmer weather is here again!

The last time the weather was nice Vanessa and I went walking a couple days in a row. This is a picture of Miss Olivia decked out in her sunglasses. This warm weather makes me so happy and makes me want to go walking again. It's much more walking when you are pushing around a cute cooing baby :) The sunglasses also get me really excited for this summer! I can't wait to take Olivia swimming and to show her the river camp. I'm sure it will end up being one of her favorite places. I know it sure is mine!

Exersaucer

I have been putting Olivia in her exersaucer about twice a day now. She is really liking to touch the toys and there is even one that she plays with! It has 3 different colored wheels and she can spin them with her little hands to make them make noise! It was so exciting the first time I heard her do it! She is a little small for the thing but I just put a blanket behind her! Her toys are starting to touch the bottom if she leans to one side.....

My toes aren't any where near the ground Mommy!

I'm a big girl playing with the toys!

My little Boilermaker!

We had a superbowl gettogether with some of our friends and since we aren't really attached to any football team I decided to dress Olivia up in her Purdue attire. We picked to cheer for the Steelers since they are black and gold as well!

Here is my little Boilermaker!! She has some super cute Purdue stuff thanks to Chris and Annie!

She even has little Purdue socks!

1-28-09

We had a big snow/ice storm the day before and that day. Most people in the area lost power but we were lucky and only lost it for 1 hour in the middle of the night. Of course I was freaking out and wanted to bring Olivia to our bed so she didn't freeze to death but Jacob talked some sense into me. I don't even think the temperature dropped 2 degrees in our house. Olivia didn't wake up and never knew anything happened! Jacob went to work that morning and get sent home so being the wonderful husband he is he went and got my mom and brought her to our house. She lost power the night before and didn't get it turned back on for 5 more days!!! So Mom and I had fun with Olivia that Wednesday. We took pictures of her first snow! Once again something she wasn't too sure about but LuLu sure does love it. She would just run and run and run in circles.

The snow was up to her knees!

There were so many neat things to take pictures of with all of the ice covering them. I am defintely not a photographer but I had fun stompin around the yard in my boots to take pictures of it all.

That day my mom and I spent about an hour trying to get Olivia to roll over. Of course she wouldn't but this is what I woke up to the next morning when she got up at 4:30 to eat. I was so excited so I woke Jacob and my mom up to come look. Olivia wasn't too happy about it and was fussing much louder than normal but I still had to take the time to take a picture!