Definitely Maybe

I definitely want to blog but maybe I don't really. That's how I'm feeling right now. Pictures and thoughts to share, so I'm motivated by that fact, but lots of other things that I want to spend my snippets of free time doing. Hey, just being honest.

We survived Jeremy's month-long travels, barely. No, really, we were fine because we got to travel to Florida to see friends, Granna came for a little visit, we went to just about everyone's house that we know in Florence for dinner. And now Daddy's back. We've spent the last few weeks just enjoying some spring weather mixed with lots of April showers (only in March). Jeremy's really getting into the swing of things with his job and very content. Olivia's still struggling with the issue of sharing so we continue to tackle that monster. But her manners are really beginning to become more second nature. Who knew this parenting thing would be this challenging? (and rewarding...)

Here are some recent pictures. And as for the future of this blog, I definitely plan to continue, maybe.

At the beach with Granna, Olivia making her way down to the sand, bucket and shovel in hand.


It was cold, very cold, but fun.


Strangers helped us out and took a pic.


I Love this kiddo.


She wants to get in the water and I say no way. Her reaction:


My precious friend, Melissa (or her reflection, I should say) and her daughter, Addy, and Olivia, brushing teeth. Unfortunately, these were the only pictures I got of the two of them the whole WEEK we were there. I was an, um, lazy photographer, I guess.






Isn't she gorgeous?


A recent day at the park.










Olivia hanging out with her long-last daddy after his return from Michigan.


Easter egg hunt fun.








Easter weekend we spent with all my family, again few pictures from the event, but lots of fun. Olivia's cousins, brothers Myles and Nolan.


Granna and Olivia tackling the Scooby Doo puzzle.


The sweetest, best natured kid around.


Cousins.


This picture captures the joy that both Daddy and Olivia felt on the night of Jeremy's return home. Olivia specifically requested to get dressed up in her sparkly sequin-ey cheerleader outfit in order to pick Jeremy up from the airport.

Daddy brought a special present back for Olivia, a princess camera.

Maybe I should try this technique...don't look at your subject at all. In fact, look in the total other direction to get a good shot.

A couple pictures of Olivia's recent choice of dress. We've got pajamas, Jane Fonda headbands, floral skirts, mom's socks, and summer sandals all in the same outfit.

And not one but two Jane Fonda headbands, denim jacket, green-t, paisley capris, and summer sandals. Project Runway, here she comes.

More time at the park on a windy day, with my favorite sidekick and photo subject.

Don't think I'll be using THIS swing.


Mommy preparing Olivia's foot to SMASH the sandcastle.

Going...

Going...

Gone!


Probably not sanitary, but sweet.

My little monkey.

I see love all over their faces.

Casey and her new best friend, Brighton, joined us at the park. Are they pitiful or what?

Our Idea of a Pretty Good Weekend

Jeremy leaves tomorrow for the week to head to Florida, gets back for the weekend, and then is off to Michigan for 3 weeks for job training. So we spent this weekend making the most of our last few days together as a family for a while. We ate dinner at home on Friday. Saturday we woke up early with a plan to head for the zoo. It was the PERFECT day for such a plan. And just an extra blessing, Jeremy's new boss who lives in Columbia, offered to meet us there with his wife and daughter and to give us two of their guest passes so that we could go for free. Olivia enjoyed our entire time there and couldn't get enough of the flamingos, snakes, and sea lions. Though when asked what her favorite animal was that she saw, she was consistently replying "hippopotamus" which we never did get around to seeing, so go figure???


We came home from the zoo and all took naps. Jeremy and I had plans to celebrate our Valentines (only 2 days late), so we got ready and dropped Olivia off at a church that was providing a parent's night out where we received another blessing, free childcare for 4 HOURS. We totally enjoyed our evening...a really nice dinner and then a fantastic movie--Definitely, Maybe. I loved loved loved it, Jeremy liked it pretty well, and it was nice just to hang out, talk, hold hands, enjoy each other's company....and then as usual, we excitedly headed back to pick up Olivia. A little time just the two of us always makes us appreciate our whole little family of three that much more.

Today, we went to church, followed by a crazy fun lunch at Chili's with a bunch of friends, a lazy afternoon, a long walk that I really didn't want to end, talking about our new budget, fun playing in the backyard with chalk, up and down the slide, daddy working the grill, more talk about our budget (we have lots of friends who are with us on this one), and updating the blog...all that totaled together equals a pretty great weekend.

Some zoo shots:


The koala bear and her new baby, snuggling.


Olivia imitating the noisy monkeys...ooh, ooh, ooh, aah, aah.



Jeremy, his new boss, Dave, and their girls after riding the carousel.


Olivia at the petting zoo checking out the turkey.

Waiting in line for the pony ride.


Learning all about her pony, Spooky, from guide, Matt. She's seriously concentrating here, folks.


"I think I got this cowgirl thing down, Mom."


As is happening frequently these days, when our fun is over, the emotions really set in.

One of her favorite and most requested exhibits, the flamingos. At lunch today, she kept telling all the moms about the flamingos, how they stood on one leg, and how they were sleeping and "Shh...," we have to be quiet while they're sleeping, and on, and on, and on. She's a mess.

To Boone and Back

Last weekend we took a quick trip to Boone, NC to visit Tracy and Eric, Connor and Cora. I failed to get many pictures from the weekend...we apparently had too much fun to "waste" time with the camera. Tracy, Eric and crew are waiting to hear what God's plans are for their near future, so we had lots of time to talk about all that's going on in their lives as they are waiting, willing, and ready to get on the mission field...wherever that may be.


Olivia loves these guys and when we asked if she wanted to stay there, she also was waiting, willing and ready to take up residence in Boone. Trace, you are an A-MAZING mother, but I just don't know if you could handle her...



This is Connor and Olivia doing circles in the foyer...



Olivia mid-circles...



And Connor post-circles.



Thanks for letting us crash your weekend, Lubsen family.
We love you guys and can't WAIT to see what God has in store....hopefully that answer comes sooner than later :)

A Fun "First"

Jeremy said from the beginning that he NEVER wanted me to have Olivia's hair cut...not trimmed, not snipped, no bangs, NOTHING! So, seeing that he was pretty opinionated on the subject and me being fine with whatever, I decided to wait until he came around. And he finally did. Only a couple days after receiving his "approval," I set out with Olivia to the local Great Clips just for a trim.



The ladies in the shop were all so sweet and made our first trip to the hairdresser a fun one. Olivia got lots of special attention as she was propped up on the seat,




...enjoyed a little snack while having her hair cut,


...and, upon completion, received a lollipop for her bravery and cooperation.



She even got a sweet hug from her barber before we left the store.


Olivia started out on a positive note but didn't end quite the same.










Perhaps it was because she knew that Mommy had spent too much money when she probably could have just done the job herself. Mommy plans to from now on.


Before...


After...



Proof for my Mom (Granna) that some hair was actually cut off in the process...




Aren't "firsts" fun?

The Time Has Come.

It has officially arrived...potty training time. What little maternal instincts I possess have been sending off signals, then flares, then rockets that Olivia was ready to potty train. First it was her initial curiosity surrounding the function/use of/process involved in using the big-girl potty. Then it was a general uncomfortableness in wearing poopy and then wet diapers. It then progressed to her comments that her diaper was HURTING her and we needed to put some "scream" on it (that would be diaper cream), and finally it was a 3 hour trip to the NC mountains that became 4 hours because of all the stops we had to make to change not only wet but DRY diapers because she obviously just didn't want to have them on at all. With the prodding of my sister, Tracy, I realized it was MY laziness and MY nervousness and MY uncertainty that was the hold-up, so without further delay, I bought all the proper potty training accoutrements (big girl panties, potty seat, travel potty seat, wipes to clean travel potty seat, rewards for potty attempts, rewards for successfully staying dry, etc. etc.,) and promptly after arriving home from Mother's Morning Out on Wednesday, our journey began. Yes, we're only two days into this thing and I'm slap worn out by it all, but we're making good progress, at least I think.

So that Olivia doesn't blame me for any (or at least ALL) of the therapy she'll need when she's older, I won't post all of the pictures I've taken over the last few days, but I will post a couple.

Taking care of business...

Going potty should never interrupt your tea party.