Fall family fun

Now that the weather is finally cooling off and becoming tolerable to be outside, last weekend we headed to far west Houston to a place called Dewberry Farms.  Some other families from our Sunday School class were heading there.  We had never been there before and figured it would be something fun for Olivia.  And while we never found any of the other families from church there (the place was packed!), the three of us had a good time.

First stop at the Farm was the Barnyard.  They had a petting area with goats and a barn filled with various farmyard animals - pigs, chickens, turkeys, chicks, sheep - to see.  We practiced all our farm animal sounds as we came to each animal.  Actually, only Geoff and I practiced our animal sounds and I'm sure we looked a little weird to any observers.  Olivia was too fascinated with the animals moving around to care about what sounds they make.

Next up was "Littlefarmervilles", an area of activities for smaller kids.  Some of the things were a little too grown up for Olivia to enjoy (she hated the corn house, little barn filled five feet deep with corn kernels even though Geoff got in there with her).  But there was plenty of space for her to run around and other things for her to climb on. 

You can't tell from the picture, but we are "riding" a statue of a pig.  Olivia thought it was hilarious.

The farm also had other fun activities do to.  Some of them Olivia was too little for and others you had to pay extra for, but we did find a few other activities that she was able to do with our assistance.

On the Cow Train.  Giddy-up Cow!

And of course, the Farm had a pumpkin patch.  Olivia enjoyed getting her hands on the different pumpkins and trying to unsuccessful pick them up. 

Learning how to be a parent - revisited

About a year ago, when Olivia was around a month old, I blogged a few things I had learned in my one month of being a mommy (here).  Now that I've added a year+ of experience onto that one month and I've learned a few more things (actually, a lot more things), I decided I would again reflect.  Plus, it was fun for me to read back over my post from a year ago and realized I've come a long way.  It gives me hope for those moments when it's been a long day or when I feel like I don't know anything.

1.  Boring weekends...where are you?
Sometimes I really miss my pre-mommy days.  I don't mean to imply that there are days I don't want my daughter.  I can't imagine not having her here with us.  But there are times I miss going to see a movie without having to coordinate with a babysitter, feeling fully relaxed heading back to work on Monday or just laying in bed until I'm ready to get out instead of Olivia telling me when it's time to get up.  I'm certain this feeling is normal, that all moms (and probably dads) feel like this at times.  I guess it's just part of the sacrifices made in exchange for getting to be a mommy to the most wonderful little girl I ever could have imagined for our family.

2.  Pain can be a good thing
I don't like to see Olivia in pain.  However on many occasions, in order for her to learn she shouldn't be doing something, she has to experience the consequences such as standing on the piano bench (she's only allowed on the bench if she sits on her bottom) and smashing her fingers in the piano lid.  I think this is a lot like what God does with me as His child.  He lets me make mistakes and feel the consequences of my errors.  I'm sure it hurts Him to see me suffer but He knows the ultimate goal is for me to learn and not make the same mistakes twice (even though I frequently do).

3. My gag reflex still works
You never get immune to disgusting diapers. Or at least I don't.  I've learn different ways to cope with it, but nasty, blow out diapers always make me want to throw up no mater how many of them I've had to deal with. 

4. Kisses beat stresses
Nothing makes the frustrations from a long day at work disappear like coming home and getting hugs and kisses from my baby.   Whenever we ask Olivia to give us "beso" (spanish for kiss), she will lean over and give us a slobbery kiss on the cheek.  LOVE THIS.  No more worries about the mile long to-do list or that three people who work for me have quit in one day when I get one of these.

5.  Toys R Us, no thank you
No need to spend money on toys.  While we do have fun playing with the toys that Olivia has, it seems like every day things laying around the house make the best toys.  Roll of toilet paper, we're set for a good 10 minutes.  Pots and pans equal lots of drum playing and pretend cooking.  Door stoppers that make funny noises, good entertainers while I'm in the shower.  We're set!

Cousins!

Last month, Olivia got to see her cousins twice on back to back weekends.  Given she had only seen her cousins on two other occasions in the last year, this was a big treat!  The cousins all have birthdays within a few weeks of each other in August to early September so there are plenty of birthday parties to go around.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it up for Julie's first birthday party in late August but did go for Avalon's princess themed 3rd birthday party Labor Day weekend.  Olivia wasn't too into the party, but had plenty of fun checking out all of her cousins' toys.  Later, the cousins had plenty of fun exploring and running/crawling around Mama Glory and Granddad's new house. 

The three cousins: Avalon, Julie and Olivia

Sweet Julie Kate

Yum...Mama Glory and Granddad have such tasty furniture!

The following weekend, Aunt Stephanie and the girls along with Mama Glory came down to Houston for Olivia's birthday party.  Olivia is still a little too young to really begin to play with them yet.  I can't wait for the day to come though when they all play dress up or sing silly songs together.  I'm sure it will be here sooner than I can imagine.

Olivia loves her big cousin Avalon...

...and her cousin her size Julie

1st Birthday Bash

It's amazing that this little thing...

is now this big (or still little) thing...

Back on September 10, we had a celebration.  We celebrated one year of life for our sweet baby, Olivia Rachel.  I can't even number how many times in the best year I have been completely overwhelmed by God's goodness to give us this sweet girl as a daughter.  She has been all we ever could have imagined and then some.  Geoff and I also celebrated our survival of the first year of parenthood.  Along our journey the past year, we have learned many things, including much about ourselves, each other and God's love for us as His children.  But we are far from having this parent thing figured out.  I'm sure with each stage come new lessons to be learned.  I've heard the phase "The days are long but the years are short" to describe the time in the early years of your child's life.  Even though I've only experienced one year of this so far, I already know how true it is.  There have been many long days, but I can't believe how fast time has flown by.  I try to keep this in mind often, reminding myself to cherish each and every moment with Olivia.

Anyways, to celebrate Olivia's birthday, we had a small gathering of friends and family.  I'm pretty sure Olivia was clueless to the fact that we were having a party for her.  It was really a party more for adults and Geoff and I certainly had fun.  Although I am relieved her birthday only comes once a year...I was exhausted after it was over!

Cake time!!!

 

Opening her birthday presents

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12 month stats from her checkup:

- Height: 31 inches (80% percentile)

- Weight: 21.5 lbs. (60% percentile)

Other stuff:

- Loves blueberries and strawberries

- Enjoys getting into my underwear drawer and pulling everything out.  Frequently, underwear end up on her head or around her neck.  It's so funny. 

- First official word was "Mama" back around Labor Day.  Yay!  She didn't direct it at me or anything but it's still fun to hear.

- She started taking steps in mid August and was walking across the room by Labor Day.  She is exclusive walking now.  I loved watching her face as she discovered what she could do.

- Climbs on everything.  She's quite the monkey.  I'll have to post some videos soon of all her climbing antics.

- Olivia has started acting more like a toddler, getting whiny and crying when she doesn't get her way.  Oh joy...

- Loves to snuggle in my lap when she's tired.  I'm so glad I have a snuggle baby.  She also likes to give her stuff animals and baby doll hugs.

- When given a phone, she holds it up to her ear.

- Launched herself out of her crib last week.  She hiked one leg up on the rail and then propped herself up the rest of the way by using the corner for leverage.  Later that night, we lowered her crib the rest of the way.

- Olivia is down to only taking one nap a day which typically last anywhere between 1-2 hours.  We wish it were longer, but we'll take whatever we can get.