Blogger Bum

So, I'm making up a new term for bloggers like me who think they can just blog once a month, and that's acceptable or something. It's "blogger bum" and I'm the chairman, president, founder of the lot of us. No excuse, just absolutely pathetic.

Now that I've beaten myself up, let's change the subject. I'd love to share some recent pictures and updates with you all. We spent Thanksgiving in Florida with Jeremy's family and were there for a whole week which is nice when it takes you a whole day to make the trip. We had the great plan to leave late afternoon so that Olivia would be awake for a couple hours and then fall asleep for the majority of the trip. Unfortunately, little Miss "I don't sleep in cars" apparently had other plans and slept all of 15 minutes...the 9.5 hour trip there and the 9.5 hour trip back. Nonetheless, the 9 hours and 15 minutes that she was awake, she remained pleasant for the most part and enjoyed reading tons of books, watching some movies, and playing with her basket-stash of toys.

We had a great time celebrating both Olivia and her Uncle Jonathan's birthdays, one early and the other late, one day we celebrated Thanksgiving, and then another day we celebrated Christmas, so all the parties, food, and presents took up most of our time. It really was a fun time for all us to spend with Jeremy's parents, grandmother, and brother.

Between all the celebrating, Olivia did make time for a couple trips to the park.





I, too, have always believed that forks are overrated.


The birthday girl and the birthday boy exchange a birthday kiss.


Olivia riding her new tricycle...she loves it!


Is she growing up, or what? I sort of feel like I'm looking at myself at the age of 2 here, the little prissy lips and all.


Olivia was determined--despite lots of blood, sweat and tears-- (okay, no blood, but lots of sweat and tears) to wear her new toboggan and gloves around in the cold Florida winter (at a toasty 75 degrees). What can I say? She's stubborn like her...daddy.


Olivia enamoured by Nana's tree.


After we returned home from our Thanksgiving travels, we loaded up again, the next day--Jeremy going to Atlanta for new job training and Olivia and I home to High Point to visit my family. I don't have any pictures from the week, but we celebrated my Mom's birthday, did some shopping, visited Olivia's great grandma, went back to my old high school to catch a girls' basketball game where my dad still coaches, and got lots of quality time with Granna.

Then finally back home to Florence where we jumped in head first, no time to rest, to get our home and our hearts ready for the fast-approaching Christmas holidays....not to mention a baby shower, a close friend's party, Olivia's birthday coming up, parties for our Bible study group...just that time of year, I guess. And I love it. The busy-ness, the hectic-ness, the CRAZY-ness...as long as I maintain perspective and keep myself in check and remind myself of what, rather WHO, this season is about. So we've taken lots of time to get our tree and lights and home all decorated, we've gone to a little town's Old Fashioned Christmas nearby, Olivia went to see Columbia's Santa and we did some toy shopping for our niece and nephews, we've driven through a lights show in Sumter...all while the weather is constantly fluctuating from like below freezing to today's temperature of 70.

Olivia sporting the latest elf-gear while rumaging around in Mommy's closet.


Riding the carousel with Daddy at the mall in Columbia...she's as happy on these as she is anywhere.


Fearfully making all her requests known to Santa...okay, just a baby doll.


And, oh, Olivia has made the transition (much more smoothly than expected) to her new big girl bed. This was her first test run at measuring the new bed's comfort level while she curls up with a good book. Fortunately for mommy and daddy, it passed the test.


Most recently, yesterday, Jeremy had a little stomach bug so Olivia and I went and got our fave, Chick-Fil-A, and took it to the park for lunch. I caught a few great shots of her as she played, and wondered, and explored.

At the risk of sounding like a dorky Mom, I must admit that the child--her face, her love of life, her energy, the whole package, it owns me...that's all there is to it. I think only Moms and Dads could understand when I say that it hurts me to look at pictures like these sometimes...not a bad hurt...a hurt that comes from loving someone so much that it, well, hurts. If that makes me a dorky Mom, then I'm okay with that. Anyway, take a look...




















If I could only read her thoughts...















I'm telling you, it hurts.