For all the blogging faithful...

I don't fall into this category. Three full months of silence makes me a blogging failure. But I was with some friends the other day and one mentioned that she still checks to see if I've updated and I felt HORRIBLE. I'm totally wasting her time each time she checks, so I just had to do something about that. So, here I am, three months later and 12 weeks more pregnant and feeling pretty cruddy (as most people reading this already know). By the way, just so we're all clear, I hate telling people that I don't feel good. I'm so ready to answer your kind questions with a POSITIVE response. But we have felt no shortage of love and care and concern over the last 6 weeks of @&%!. You, my dear friends, have been so encouraging through all sorts of acts/words of kindness, and though it's been tough, you've made it SO much more bearable. I owe you my life and then some.

Jeremy has been um, busy, to say the least. He is cook, driver, maid, entertainer, laundryman, insurance adjuster, budget keeper, grocery store shopper, super-dad, super-duper-husband, and somehow he is keeping his cool throughout it all. The neat thing is that whereas before, if Olivia was upset she pretty consistently wanted Mommy...nope, not anymore. It's 50/50, anybody's game. She cries for her Daddy when she wakes up and can't stand to hear the news that he is at work, just crushes her. So, they're really bonding. Here they are on Father's Day together:

Olivia is growing up. Most of you know this firsthand as you see her on a regular basis but for those out-of-town friends, I'll give you a little taste of Olivia at 2-and-a-half. These three are still the best of friends:

Olivia, Carlisle, and Abby

Olivia is still happiest in the water:

Preferably with Daddy:

We can french braid her hair now, finally! We're trying it in all sorts of new ways!

Blowing bubbles is her newest favorite pasttime:

She's still hilarious:

And she's still beautiful:

We're excited to celebrate the 4th with Jeremy's parents who are coming into town oh, in about 45 minutes so I need to scoot to get ready, but thanks to all you blogging faithful who continue to check in the miraculous chance that I might post. Have a happy holiday!

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?