The Next Olive

Dear Olive,

I'm so sorry I have not been writing, but that doesn't mean there isn't a ton going on with you! You are starting to sit up on your own and making some attempts to crawl, but you end up getting frustrated at that point. You're completely bored with any of your old toys and I've been digging around in all my reserves to keep you happy. My favorite thing is to put you in your new high chair and bring you into the kitchen with me so I can accomplish a few things. Pretty much you want whatever things are NOT toys and within your reach. Why do you gravitate so much to things you are not supposed to have?

I've been making you big batches of baby food and then pouring them into ice cube trays to freeze. I'm going to do that with a lot of your food so I can have little cubes of it ready when I need them. You're not much for milk, but you LOVE eating with a spoon! It's absolutely ridiculously messy. I think your favorite thing is avocado. It's also my favorite because it takes no work at all. Just open it up and plop it down and you go crazy.

You were being a lot fussier and I wasn't sure why, but I think a lot of it had to do with you needing different things and more interaction when you're playing. Since I have stopped doing ANYTHING productive around the house and have given you more attention, you seem happier. Shocking.

I also think you might FINALLY be going through a growth spurt and you need to eat a little more than I'm used to. You're a little pip squeak right now! You are doing really good with grabbing little pieces of food and it keeps you happy and occupied when I do need to get something done. I like to give you dried mango for you to gnaw on but it gets slippery and the other day it went all the way in your mouth and down your throat before you gagged it back out. I have to give you REALLY big pieces or else none at all. Take a look at yourself happily shoving a piece of dried mango in your mouth. Yum Yum.

Chores

 

You're a busy body that is for sure. Just thought I'd post a series of pics from you doing laundry. You love to get out of the house. You could be fussy, and the second that wind hits your hair, wohoo! Even if it's laundry. But that's just because you don't know what laundry is yet.

The Haircut from Hell

Dear Olive,

I had some time to myself tonight, and I wasn't sure exactly how to use it... I mean, I could not even narrow it down, I was too excited. Don't take it personal little OG, but we all need some ME time. Trust me you'll use that phrase someday. And maybe only new moms will understand how precious one or two hours of ME time really is.

Well unfortunately I TOTALLY BLEW IT.

I decided to stroll through the mall and maybe find something new to wear that does not feel like maternity clothes. But as I was walking I realized I would love to get my hair washed and blow dried nice and straight. A little pampering if you will. I stopped at the first salon I came to- big mistake.

The gal was just sitting there in the empty salon, looking confused when I asked how much for a wash and dry. After a long pause she asked, "25?"

Ok deal! I mean, how do you mess up a wash and a dry?????

First of all, I'm pretty sure she never even got my hair wet. It felt like she got it wet in some places, yes. But in under a minute we were up and moving back to her chair. I'm like, "Did you condition it?" Apparently she did.

Then she proceeds to rip a paddle brush through my curly sort of wet hair and sprays "leave in conditioner" spritzer while she blow dries like crazy. Then she started flat ironing and I finally look over... to my horror, my hair looks greasier and dirtier than it was before! And it smelled like dirty-wet hair.

I asked her what was going on and she blamed it on the wrong choice of shampoo. Should I just deal with it? Now it's well on it's way to being 30 minutes in and I kind of wanted to do some shopping. But I REALLY wanted my hair done. You know me, I have crazy curly intense hair that lately is just swept into a horrible bun.

I want to feel pretty for a change!

So back to the washer bowl we went. Hm... this time around I actually felt some suds and some scrubbing... just a little, but enough to know my hair was actually getting washed. I asked her why she didn't just use a round brush and blow dry it straight like most hair stylists. She replied it was a preference thing. (Most good hair stylists can get my hair straight without the use of a flat iron.)

Anyway apparently she changed her mind and decided to try round brushing now. OUCH. I couldn't stand it. I was waiting and it was just as frizzy as if she were blow drying it all wild, so I asked her to just please just dry it normal if she was going to have to use the flat iron anyway. Let's get on with it already! I didn't say that of course.

So then she proceeds to take huge chunks of my now frizzy and thick hair and runs almost half my hair at a time through her tiny flat iron. She's just going over and over and over the same thick handfuls and I thought I was going to scream.

So again, I had to say, "Do you think you could just separate it out in smaller pieces and straighten it that way?" Pretty soon I've got the owner doing one side, she's doing the other, it's been an hour and half and I've got to get home to feed you.

But here is the kicker. I came in here to destress and feel pretty. What does she say to me as she turns me around to present my new hair?

"Oh my gosh you look so different!  When you came in here I thought you were so old... but when you said you were 28 I was just shocked. You look so much older."

I think she was trying to make me feel better about her performance like, wow look what I turned you into! But it had the opposite effect. I am always a mess, I am 25 pounds overweight, I never have time to do my hair or makeup, and the last thing I need to hear is how OLD I look.

But the (second) kicker is the last thing she said as I was getting up to go. "Oh that shirt is cute, is that a maternity shirt?"

No, it's not. It's just big and cozy because nothing fits me, which ironically is why I was coming in to the mall in the first place!

That was hands down one of the worst ideas I've ever had. I just didn't think anyone could mess up something so simple! And I realize it was not a haircut, just a blow dry. But I was not sure how to title it at this point in the evening!

I finally got home to you and I was so happy, my little cuddle bug. I have so many blogs to write about you! Next time I get some ME time, maybe I'll use it to write about OUR time. <3

This is how I felt:

This and That

Dear Olive,

This is a post from a few weeks ago and I feel if I don't post it now, I never will!

Oh Olive, the weeks are zooming by and I have to stop and make note of the funny things you do. Lately you've been very interested in eating your own toes, don't ask me why. I've always thought toes were over rated, but you seem to love them.

You also love raspberries. You will get on a roll and just do one after another after another and it's pretty dang funny. It's another one of those little things you seem to do only for me.

Today I picked up the guitar for the first time in a LONG time. I was just strumming a little Ben Harper tune and you tried to sing along. I posted it on facebook even though at first I was totally embarrassed to let anyone hear that kind of singing. Then I thought, "Who cares!"

You're seriously scooting like a mo fo. Now I have to always use the straps on things or else you end up doing this:

You are growing so much character and I am loving you more and more and more every single day my baby girl!

Nameless Post

Dear Olive,

I am so backlogged with blog posts about you! Here is a quick one just so I don't forget a few things! I've broke you of the swaddle and maybe even the pacifier! Last night you slept all night with out the swaddle. Then tonight you were laying on the bed just unwinding and playing with a little blanket and you just drifted off on your own with no swaddle and no paci.  I was absolutely amazed!

Normally you don't really know it's bed time until I wrap you up and stick a pacifier in your mouth. That calms you instantly and you fall asleep, but this is way better! I hope you keep it up.

You are doing really well with all the solid foods. You've had banana, apple, sweet potato, avocado, and tomorrow I'm going to give you some watermelon.

We went to Disneyland on Sunday, I have lots of pics to post later...

Plane Crash Scare

Dear Olive,

You had your first plane ride last night. Unfortunately we never made it to our destination.

I've been growing gray hairs lately, and everyone says it's due to stress. So when it was time to go to Hawaii and visit Carmen and her family for Brucie's wedding, I was excited to get away and destress a bit. So much time and money preparing for this trip... but it never happened.

We boarded the plane and got all settled in and ready to take off! But right after we got all situated, they told everyone to deplane so they could finish some routine maintenance that was not done (miscommunication from the maint. dept they said.) So we gathered all of our stuff again and got off.

30 minutes later we boarded again. But the captain came back on, "Well this is just not a lucky plane today, now we have to...." blah blah blah fix another part in the engine and then be on our way. Finally it was ready and we took off. This kind of thing has happened to me many times before, and it's never been a problem.

I'm not sure how far over the ocean we were, but I had taken a little nap and the flight attendants were coming down the aisles with drinks. I was in the middle of fiddling with my earphones thinking about what I wanted to drink, when all the oxygen masks dropped down from the ceiling.

Everyone looked around like, "Is this a malfunction?" But then someone came over the speaker and told us to put on the masks. That's when the adrenaline hit. You were sleeping in granmakin's arms and I just remember saying, "Give her to me!!!" I know you are supposed to put your mask on first and then help others, I knew I'd be no help to you if I was passed out. But I was so worried about your little lungs. It was so sad, you were peacefully sleeping. I yanked the pacifier out of your mouth and tried to put the mask up to your face. I was trying to hold mine to my face because I couldn't find the straps (they are tucked away fyi, and you have to pull them out) and once I got it out it was so huge and it kept slipping off my head anyway. They really are not easy in a panic.

The plane was going downward and you were just freaking out, turning your head and resisting the mask, while I tried to make sure you were breathing ok. Granmakin told me to open the window so we could see what was happening, and she looked at me with real fear in her eyes and said, "I think we're going to go down in the ocean."

I realized if we went down it would be really hard to keep you safe, so I tried to put the carrier on while we were descending. Honestly, we didn't know how much time we had, and if we were going down, I needed to get you attached to me. We were trying to get the straps on and then get you in, and the flight attendant came running over, freaking out to put the mask back on you. That made me even more scared to see her so serious and frantic. Part of me knew I needed to put your mask on, and part of me was afraid we only had seconds before we might plunge into the ocean and I'd lose hold of you.


Finally granmakin helped me get the straps tighter on my mask and I realized part of your mask was tucked under and I think oxygen was escaping. Those damn things are like floppy thin rubber and are very hard to handle on a moving baby. I got it more secure and held it fast, even as you thrashed. Your poor little arms were sticking out from the carrier because there was no time to try and and adjust you. And our oxygen bags looked so different than yours, I was so afraid you could not breath. I was so afraid you were going to go limp or pass out. I have never felt such adrenaline that was this long lasting, wondering if this was it for us. It was horrible.

Yet I was pretty composed until granmakin mentioned she had been having a bad feeling about coming and she had not told me because I have issues with this kind of thing any way. She thought it was the end for us, and I was extremely sad.

We kept going down and then finally someone announced we could take off the oxygen masks because we were low enough to be able to breath again. We hadn't thought about the fact we were going down so fast because of the cabin pressure, instead of crashing. I felt a rush of relief just knowing you were going to be ok, but it was not over yet.

We were then prompted to prepare for a crash landing. The flight attendants had on their life vests and we were trying to read through the brochures to see how to use ours. I wasn't sure how I was going to put it on because you were already strapped to me, so where would a life vest go? I decided I'd put it around my legs or something, just a way to use it to float I guess.

We were told to take off any heels or pointy things, jewelry, anything that could poke a hole in the raft. Eventually the captain came on again and told us we'd be landing in LA in about 25 minutes. The flight attendants then prompted us on how to brace ourselves for a hard landing and how to have an "orderly escape". We were supposed to leave behind EVERYTHING, so I was thinking how I better grab my phone at least. I'd leave my wallet, my new nook, my mac, whatever. I had one small pocket, good for a phone.

They quickly showed us where the exits were, repeating in loud strained voices where all the emergency doors were located. They showed us how to sit and brace ourselves, with your head down between your knees, again of course that would not be possible with you on my chest. If you couldn't assume that position, they told us to brace against the seat in front of us.

There was something to do with having too much fuel to have a safe landing, and there would be fire trucks and the like waiting for our arrival in case we were too heavy to land or something. But that made me feel better because he explained some of the loud noise was him just trying to burn fuel before we landed.

The whole time going down I was so scared that you weren't breathing. You were asleep in the carrier on my chest and I kept holding my breath so I could feel your stomach move. When we got close to landing I took your pacifier out so it would not cause you harm in the event we actually crashed.

Everything turned out fine and we got to pull in to the terminal and deplane as normal. Granpakin looked into it more today and apparently we were at the regular cruising altitude when the the alarms went off in the cockpit, and if it's bad enough, the masks will drop down. We had to go from 38,000 feet to 10,000 feet to be able to breath, and that is why it seemed like we were going down so fast... because I guess we were.

There was going to be a later flight on a new plane, but they canceled it because the crew were too freaked out to even think about flying again right away.

Now it's 10 pm the next day, we had a long night stranded in LA last night, we found a hotel eventually, then today we had to take a shuttle back to LAX, take a bus ride to Irvine, then a train to Oceanside, and get picked up to come back home. I am so tired, I can't wait to hit the pillow... This has been a really, really long 2 days. I'm so glad I was not alone for this ordeal! I can not explain or put into words the feelings that came over me in those moments, so I won't even try. I kept it bare bones and this was the best I can do to explain your first plane ride. Lets hope the next one is a little better!!!

Here are some pictures: You in your travel outfit visiting Nana on our way up to the airport. Us at the airport today just waiting around. You and granmakin on the bus to Irvine. Then you guys on the train down to San Diego. You were such a good girl the entire time.

Olive, You're a Person Now!

Dear Olive,

Many, many things have been going on lately and I can't keep up! You had your first Easter and we gave you your first taste of "solid" food. It was pretty much a mess!

Since then however, you've had bananas AND apples and I must say you are keeping most of it in quite nicely. Yesterday I roasted 5 organic apples in the oven and mashed them up for you (and me) and I am sorry to say you'll be eating that for the next few days. Exciting I know, but it's what they say I have to do. One food at a time my dear!

We've been walking a lot with our friend Summer and you just can't get the hang of sleeping in a stroller. Yesterday we had the first BBQ jam day at her house. There was a good crowd there and lots of musical instruments. I have a feeling you are going to have a beat.

You're now rolling, scooting, and making me pay even more attention to you! Sometimes you scoot across the whole living room rug and freak me out! I feel like I had so much to tell you about the past few weeks but now I'm forgetting. Oh I know, you keep getting dreadlocks and they keep falling off and then you get more. I can't tell you how many people stop and tug on your hair, "She's got something in her hair..."

We took you up to the cabin and hiked around... doesn't your dad look like a sasquash in the woods?

He has since gotten a hair cut and looks all grown up now (especially since he got a blue tooth and thinks he is cool.)

There are so many things I don't want to forget.. like the way you vigorously kick your legs when someone's holding you outward. You just get super happy and KICK KICK KICK. It's cute. Well this is good enough for now, I'll try to post next time you do something I want to remember someday!!!

We are just so amazed at how much of a little person you've become. You aren't a blob anymore. Nope. You notice when I leave a room, you respond to singing and laughing, and you can almost (almost) be reasoned with. Love you little bean sprout!

Firsts

Dear Olive,

Lots of firsts this week. We took you in the pool for the first time on Friday. You loved it and it was sooo much fun. We took a video but I'm not going to post it because I'm hanging out all over the place in my tiny bikini that no longer fits me. If you want to watch it though, you can. You laughed and kicked and it was great.

We also took you to the mountains for the first time. You loved the pine tree fresh air, and we put you in the ergo the whole time we hiked around. You were so happy!

You also got your first cold this week too. I am pretty sure it started a week ago and gradually got worse. Tonight seems to be the peak of it, you are having a lot of trouble sleeping because you're coughing and have a stuffy nose :( It pretty much means no sleep for either of us. I wasn't quite sure you were sick at first because you didn't' have symptoms, you were just a bit more irritable than usual. But now I know for sure. Poor baby girl.

Hope you feel better soon...

Bad Mom Bad Friend

(written yesterday)

Dear Olive,

I am not perfect. So someday when I tell you I am, you can refer back to this post and remind me of what happened today.

It was a long day, but you were a happy girl while I worked at Kamie's, and even at Lori's. But then we went to Kristine's house because she (as well as Tracey and Amanda) have offered to watch you so I can get in some yoga now and then.

I tried to feed you, I really did, but you fell asleep. So I left to you enjoy the relaxing home of a good friend who loves you.

Unfortunately, I didn't realize how hungry you were going to be, and boy did you ever give poor Kristine a run for her money. Apparently you were screaming the entire time I was gone practically. Why? Because I didn't leave you any food! What was I thinking? I don't normally leave you places without me so I guess I just didn't realize.

I felt like such a bad friend AND a bad mom, but both of you seemed to forgive me...

I just can't believe how lucky we are Olive. We have these caring clients who don't mind when I have to haul you around with me to work, friends who will watch you so I can maintain a little sanity in my life, and grandma's o'plenty to hold you everywhere in between. Oh, and a daddy who plays with you every chance he gets, even when I tell him not to.

It's challenging at times, that's true. Things take me a lot longer, and the days fly by way too fast, we're a busy family... but at least I'm with you. And we're blessed with a good life. What did I do to deserve such blessings? It makes me worried it will come crashing down. But those are fears I always struggle with, and for once I'd like to just be at peace.

*Thank you to all my amazing friends who have so graciously offered to watch baby Olive while I go the gym. Thank you to the people I work with who hold Olive while she's fussy so I can keep plugging away at work. Thank you to our family members who let me come get away and do laundry and have food made for me. Thank you to my husband who works so hard and never complains. Thank you God.

The Great Aunt Eve

Happy Birthday Aunt Eve...

I say "The Great" because not only was she my great aunt, but she was a great woman. And she was full of great quotes.

She was there through all my dating disasters... One saying I loved, "Let them go, they'll either prove themselves or hang." She was definitely my favorite person to talk to and vent to. She was always open minded and liked thinking about things in new ways. She was always reading philosophical and psychological books and learning about why we are the way we are.

She loved when I played guitar and sang, and she was forgiving.

I'm so glad that Luke got to meet Aunt Eve. Sometimes I forget she is gone and I think about all the things I want to tell her about what's going on in life. I get fleeting thoughts like, "Oh Aunt Eve's going to love the name we choose for our baby!" and I get so disappointed I can't share important moments with her.

It's really not everyday I meet someone who is capable of leaving such a positive impression on me. She's moved me in many ways, I miss her incredibly.

I found this post from September 2007, and I thought since nothings changed in all these years, I'd repost it to celebrate her amazingness.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that matter, it's the life in your years" -Abraham Lincoln

Oh honest Abe, maybe not even as wise as my Grandma Carey's 9th sibling Aunt EVe. She is 88 years old now. She is the most wonderful person that I know and the way she expresses knowledge is indescribable. Her open mindedness and fun approach to life makes her an island of peace in my mind's stormy waters.

We talked about living life to its fullest, about cancer, about life and death, love, friendships... all things we talk about on a regular basis yet never seem to run out of new topics within these.

Here's a picture of Aunt Eve feeding me when I was a baby in my giant diaper. I look about Olive's age. <3

Tired

Dear Olive,

You're sleeping right now, totally unswaddled! You fell asleep that way tonight so I just left you. I was curious to see if you would wake up or not, but so far so good.  Although I am sort of afraid it will get too cold tonight to not swaddle you.

I have a lot to say, but I'm just too tired to say it. I've been working around the clock and you've been right there with me! We are always going going going, this whole family actually.

We took you to Vegas last week. Yup, LAS VEGAS baby! I played black jack and roulette for the first time in my life, and overall we came out 5 bucks ahead. But listen up girly, I don't really condone gambling. We had 20 dollars to try it out, and once it was gone, it was gone. Don't go sneaking off to any casinos or anything!

We also went to Red Rock Canyon, it's pretty...

Your dad's not home from work yet, and I'm so tired I am going to go to bed. You're laying in there and I want to let you sleep there with me and cuddle... but I know neither you nor I will sleep as good if I don't put you in your crib. 

Goodnight sweet babe.

Sleep Monster

Dear Olive,

I haven't figured you out yet, but I'm on my way. You still are not a fan of napping, but at least you're making up for it at night.

The other night you were SO tired you took what I thought was a nap at 5:45 pm. A couple hours later I thought to myself, "I'd better wake up Olive so she can play and eat a bit more."  Well I tried to wake you and you WERE NOT HAPPY. So I went with my instinct on this one and just put you back to sleep, even though I was afraid you'd wake up at like 2 am and be ready to start the day.

I couldn't believe it, but you slept all the way until dad went to work at 5:45 the next morning and after I fed you in your sleep (you were just restless) you slept again until 8:30.

That's kind of... a LOT of sleep! Is that even good? Anyway you don't do that all the time, but it was pretty nice for me. Even though you hate naps, I'm glad you understand bed time.

You and I are going to need to start getting out of the house more for walks though, because I think dad is sick of seeing me in my baggy clothes. Plus even though you are sleeping like a log all night, I'm just laying awake thinking, sometimes for hours.

Today we went for a walk around the bay and once again, Ben Gibbard put you to sleep in the stroller while I tried to get my sweat on.

Oh yeah and I almost forgot, last weekend we went to the Indie fest and I let you try some hummus. Sshh don't tell anyone because you are not supposed to try real food for a while longer still. It was roasted red bell pepper too, but hey, you actually liked it. Your dad tried to get you to taste some frosting last week and you didn't like it, so at least you take after me and like your veggies!

Here are some pics... the farmer's market, the indie fest (check out all the pink thanks to the groove kitties) and some cozy time with dad.

Out n About

Dear Olive,

We went to the beach on Saturday, it was such beautiful weather and I thought I might surf. It was fun to get your feet in the sand and see what you thought. You didn't seem to care either way however.

But we made you a little seat out of the sand and eventually got you to take a nap. Elizabeth and I decided we were too cozy in the warm sun to surf, so we all just laid around.

Last night we went to an open mic at a cafe. We wanted to get out of the house and enjoy some entertainment. When we walked in to the back and sat down, the people running the open mic gave us quite a dirty look. They were probably thinking, "What are they doing bringing a baby to a small live music venue?"

The guy finally said, "I hope the music doesn't scare the baby, it's going to get loud in here." I think it was his way of saying, "I hope the baby doesn't become intrusive and cry during our performances."

I told him you would be fine and added that you were a pretty good baby, so if you cried we'd leave.

You just sat there the whole night watching, and at one point you fell asleep. It wasn't that loud, and you never fussed. The guy finally came over and said, yeah your baby is pretty good... I was like, uhhh YAH duh that's what I said. No need to get all uptight. (I mean, that's what I was thinking)

Ps this guy and this whole open mic WAS HILARIOUS. Quite a joke. But that is for a different blog. Pps, we all wore stripes on accident, all three of us.

 

Sweet Sleeper

Dear Olive,

I had not planned on writing tonight, but this is not a night I want to forget. It was the first time I saw you fall asleep peacefully on your own.

I know you've done it before, but I've never seen it. Well, not like this. I've seen you get close, make a few squawks, and then close your eyes. Otherwise it was always in the car, or after you were fussing, or if you were being rocked.

We had a long day and just got home from Gramakins around 9 at night. You seemed happy and awake so I decided we should take a bath.

The tub was filled with warm water and I put you on my lap as usual, but you seemed more relaxed, and so was I. It's just so nice and calm this late at night.

I got you in your pj's and gave you a little snack, swaddled you, and laid you on the bed. You looked so content so I just went about doing my own thing for a few minutes, and then decided it was time to turn out the light. I turned it off, and you just flickered your little eyelids a few times and finally let them close. No soothie, no fuss, no big deal.


It was so sweet and I wanted to remember it <3

The funny thing was, we were just talking about how we couldn't wait for the day when we could just lay our babies down while they were awake and just leave them there to fall asleep, happily on their own. I recall saying, "Oh that will happen SOME day far away." But you surprised me tonight :)

Busy Bodies

Dear Olive,

I realized that this is supposed to be a virtual baby book for you, about you, and just like a real baby book, I should write to you!

Today you came with me to work on our way to Gramakin's house. You just chilled in your moby wrap while I took photos and did some work.

Gramakin and I decided to have a bi-monthly cooking day where we make new recipes for the week and share it all, since cooking is so much easier in bigger amounts. But among all that commotion, there was an exciting moment tonight when I realized you had rolled over onto your side while you were playing on the mat!

Then you were on a roll (no pun intended) just rolling around and I realized I will need to keep an even closer eye on you.

We had another exciting moment when I wanted to see if you could hold your breath under water. I've been too scared to try it for reals, so tonight we took a shower and I blew in your face and put you under the streaming water, and wow, it really does work! We did it a few times and you looked so excited... I'm hoping you're a water lover like your mama.

<3 tee

Time Just Keeps on Tickin...

So my idea of blogging to remember things is more difficult to keep up on, as I'd have thought. But who am I kidding, I tell people that for a living (keeping up a blog is harder than you think).

Today Olive's 3 months old and I busted out the floor mat thing with the dangly stuff hanging. Happy graduation OG!

SHE LOVES IT!  She absolutely loves it.  It's so cute.  Yeah so she can just bat at it right now, but hey, she is a good batter!

It's funny how things that are new are SO exciting and then they just become the norm.  She laughed for the first time a couple weeks ago, like a real laugh. Ha ha's in a row, you know?  And I tried so hard to get her to do it again for a week, but nothing.  Then on Tuesday she laughed again.  Then today in the morning AND at night.  Pretty soon it will be so standard, but I try to get her to do it as if she will never laugh again!

I don't have too much to say right now, but I was laughing at myself tonight when I was so amazed by her giggles.

My nana was saying how people grow up and change and she misses the people they were. I might not be saying it as eloquently as she did, but I think about it all the time now.  I see little Olive looking around so cute and curious and I think to myself, "wow she will never be this little person again."

She will be cute and wonderful later too, but she just won't be that person anymore.  I'm not making much sense, but it makes me be so in the moment.  Having a baby has made me so much more aware of small moments in life and the understanding that this time is passing so quick and can never be recaptured.

The 2nd Best Time Of Day

My favorite time of day is the morning, when Olive wakes up and is SUPER happy.

But the second best time of day is bath time! She loves it, I love it, it's a win win.

Beauty in Bonding

I think I fall more and more in love with my baby each day that passes. Being a mom gets a lot more rewarding as your baby starts to develop a personality, and best of all, lights up and smiles every time she sees you.

I have this problem where I am constantly trying to record Olive when she's doing something new or extra cute. Of course, it never works, it never happens. And tonight I realized that there's something special about that.

It's like all this time that she and I get to spend together is a secret just for us. It really hit me. Who cares if I can capture it for everyone else? It's so special that I'm the only one who gets to witness those private and amazing little breakthrough moments. It's an award.

This doesn't meant I wont still share her growth with my friends and family from afar, but I definitely won't be so quick to think I need to find my camera and snap a shot.

Everything's changing so fast, and I try to be in the moment every minute I can. It's so intense. I think about how I must be like every other mother thinking, "I have the CUTEST baby in the world!" She is so cute I just can't even stand it.

It's a scary kind of love.

hehehe

Olive had her first real laugh tonight.  It wasn't like the smiley one breathed ha that she's been doing, it was a  real hearty ha ha ha ha ha ha kind of laugh.

I was shaking a little round fabric rattle in front of her face and she somehow found it amusing enough to laugh at! I was SOOOOO happy, what an absolutely adorable sound!!!!

Magic Pooing Chair

I have now discovered TWO things that make Olive poo.  One was the puj (if you remember pooing in a puj) but the other is the magic poo chair.

Someone I know calls it a buzzy chair, so that is generally what I call it too now.  Except for in the mornings.  In the mornings it is called the magic poo chair because NO MATTER what, when she sits in there, she poos.

I got it for 5 bucks at a garage sale, and it's not as cute and fancy as some of the newfangled ones I see, but it does the trick.

Maybe it's those calming vibrations or the splashy water sounds it makes, but it's really getting funny how magical it is. I know you wouldn't normally use the words magic and poo together in the same sentence, but I do it with no shame.

Magic poo chair, I love you.