Toddler Bed & BYU

Today Olivia's toddler bed came and Bob put it together for her. She was so excited to see it when she woke up from her last nap in her crib. {We were going to wait until we really needed the crib, like when baby is 3 or 4 months old. But she kept getting her thigh seriously stuck between the slats. I bought bumpers, but she just pushed them down with her feet and kept getting stuck. This resulted in no naps, and this was hard on me.} She was excited about the bed, but I am pretty sure she loved getting her first pillow even more.

Grandma Shannon sent a few goodies with Brad and Olivia got a new pair of leggings. Because it was the day of the first BYU football game we put on our BYU shirts. This shirt Grandma Shannon got for Livy last year, and luckily it still fits! I love and hate this picture at the same time. She looks so old to me right here.

We went to my parents house for dinner and the game. Andrea was kind enough to take a quick pictures of our GROWING family. I am about 32 weeks in this picture.

Since we got home later, Olivia was pretty tired and already in her PJ's. She transferred easily into her bed and slept there all night.

The Broken Finger

This morning I was trying to be a good Mom. We hadn't done been to Thanksgiving Point for a few weeks and I had made plans to meet a few friends there that morning. We were planning on the Farm, but it was raining so I quickly changed our meeting place and got ready. Olivia was excited to go and down the stairs we went. I had her on my left hip and I slammed the door with my right hand. Somehow when I pulled Olivia and my hip out of the way, my finger didn't make it and it got smashed in our house door.

I instantly was telling Olivia "Oh this isn't good, we need to go back inside." Once we got upstairs I grabbed an ice pack and started to cry. My finger was smashed and the nail was turning a bluish/purple. I quickly canceled our play date and sat on the couch. Olivia watched cartoons as I sat there thinking about what I should do. Was it bad enough to go to the Dr.?  They don't really do anything for broken fingers do they? I debated back and forth for at least a half hour. The pressure was out of control and I decided to just go to the instacare.

Wednesdays are busy for my family and everyone works so I grabbed the iPad and off we went. Olivia was awesome and just watched her show while I got checked out. They drilled on my finger to relieve the pressure and then I got x-rays. Totally broken - which I was actually happy about. I was questioning going to the doctor and felt like that made it justifiable. Because it was broken near the nail bed I had to be on another 10 day round of antibiotics. He also prescribed me some pain killers which he said would be fine. But after consulting with my pharmacist - we didn't feel good about me taking them so I just stuck to Tylenol.

I always thought it would be fun to visit Bob at work, but when you are filling prescriptions it usually means you are sick, in pain, or dying. So those visits aren't always the best. Haha! Olivia and I left with my meds and went to get a donut.

It was really hard for Olivia to understand that she couldn't touch my finger, especially with my new cool finger cast. A couple hours after we got home she grabbed it during a diaper change and I screamed bloody murder. I felt so bad because she then started crying.

The doctor said it should hurt for about 5 weeks and I will lose my nail. Oh joy! On the bright side, I am glad I did this before the baby came, because it has been hard enough with just one kid.

Sewing: {Nesting takes over}

A friend of mine was making leggings and matching headbands for her baby girl who will be born around the same time as ours. I have been wanting to get some for both girls but I seriously can't pay $20-$40 for a pair of leggings. After looking around I finally ordered some fabric online. I searched for a simple tutorial, opened up my box of 0-3 month clothes and got some leggings to trace. The tutorial I was following said it looks best when you use a double needle. So Olivia and I went to JoAnn's and got some coordinating thread and a double needle.

 I put Olivia down for her nap and got started on the baby's pair. They took a while, but I got the pair finished and I was happy with the product as it was the first. I started on Olivia's and somehow the fabric got stuck and I seriously couldn't get it out of my machine. I had to cut it out and start all over.

Seriously 15 seconds into sewing the freshly cut material I broke one of the needles on my double needle. {Not that I sew a ton, but in the last 3 years or so I have never broken a needle. Of course it happened today with my brand new needle.} Olivia woke up from her nap shortly after - which was way too early, but it allowed me to run back to the store and grab another double needle. 

When I got home I decided to scrap Olivia's pair. The pineapple material said it was a jersey knit, but they seriously don't stretch at all. For the baby, it will be fine to wear but not so much for Livy. I started on my second pair for the baby which when finished will be matching Christmas leggings. I went a lot slower this time because I didn't want to break another needle, and I had to match up the pattern. They are far from perfect, but I am impressed with how close I did get them. 

Here are my final products for the day. I should've put my hand next to them, because they are so small. It's hard for me to remember Olivia ever being this small. I left all of my sewing stuff and machine out on the kitchen table so I can finish up the other pairs soon. 

County Fair

Olivia and I went to the County Fair for the morning. It was fun to walk around and see all of the animals. Olivia loved the rabbits, chickens, pigs and the lambs. We went at around 10, and it was already so hot. I am glad we didn't wait until later in the day to go. This girl loves farm animals. She was lucky to fit into her cowgirl boots one more time, but I am pretty sure it was the last time they will fit. Dad had to work so it was another Mom and Livy date.

21 Months

When she saw Pooh Bear and my camera she got up on the couch and said "picture." She posed on her own today. 

Olivia took another flight this month and got pretty lucky and landed in first class. First time for mom and first time for Olivia. When checking in online, I found I could upgrade to first class for $50. (It was already going to cost me $25 for my bag, and with the upgrade I didn't have to pay for my bag, so I called it a steal and went with it.) Olivia and I were the only customers in first class on our way to San Diego. She sat in her own seat with her seat belt on and loved it. She was so good. The ride home wasn't too bad even if she did have to sit on my lap the whole way.

We spent a week with Aunt Ashley and cousins Tate and Crew in San Diego. Olivia loved playing with her cousins and visiting the Wild Animal Park. She wants to visit the animals everyday now.

While in San Diego Olivia borrowed Tate's old carseat and it was facing forward. When we got home from the trip, we switched her seat around and it has been so nice. We also moved her seat to the outside behind the drivers seat.

Olivia has started taking a bit more interest in movies. Her current favorites are Rio and Jungle Book. Sometimes I put on Tangled, Cinderella, or Frozen just to switch things up. But whenever she wants to watch a movie she says RIO, RIO, RIO. And when she really wants it, she does a little pouty face and says please a lot. She knows if she says please, she will most likely get what she asks for. The only problem with the movies is she loves getting into the entertainment center and pulling out every single DVD. She also knows how to open the cases and pulls out any papers that are inside. Somedays I feel like I am constantly putting them away.

Celebrated the 24th of July by watching Dad in the parade and spending our day in the park. Olivia loved watching the parade. There were horses and candy, what more could she ask for?

This month Olivia made her 4th trip to Lake Powell. This was the best trip so far. The water was just warm enough that it was comfortable for her to swim in. (In June it was way too cold and she didn't want to be in the water at all.) She also swam by herself behind the houseboat wearing her Puddle Jumper. That is seriously the best invention for little kids, she can swim around and has control. When we put her in her lifejacket she flips and flops with no control.

We went to Kangaroo Zoo with Hudson Fairbanks for a playdate. It was a huge room of inflatables that Olivia didn't love. She wasn't feeling that great, but I think they intimidated her and so it was a bit of a waste. We will try again in a few months.

Currently loves: stickers, bubbles, blankie, being outside, swimsuits, pat a cake, animals, jumping on the tramp, coloring, Jensen, the farm, and treats.

"I help you" = Will you help me? Because I always say to her, Do you want me to help you?
She still is a walking parrot and will copy whatever you say. She must've heard the name Carly a lot in nursery one day. When we got home I asked her who she played with and she replied, "Carly." The only problem is Carly is an identical twin, haha. This last Sunday we went downstairs to celebrate Great Grandpa Hales birthday. Since then, she will walk around the house singing the words "happy birthday to you."

Her hair is getting longer and has to be pulled back everyday. I am trying my best to figure out how to do it. When she wakes up in the morning she will run her hands back through her hair and in a whiney voice say, "hair, hair, hair" and wants me to pull it up out of her face.

She now climbs on the kitchen chairs and we have found her on the kitchen table a few times. I have to remember to clear off the table so there isn't anything tempting her to climb up to see.

Wears size 3 shoes, 12-18 month bottoms and tops. She has a few 18-24 month dresses that fit great, but some are too long. She is still wearing size 3 diapers. I had a box of 4's that I put her in and they were just too big. So I traded my sister Andrea who had a box of 3's that were too small for Jensen.

Olivia has a strong love for her blankie. She has woken up crying in the middle of the night a few times this last month because her blankie has fallen out of the crib. I also had to get some crib bumpers because she got her thigh stuck twice in one day. It was stuck bad, and I couldn't push her leg out. I made Bob do it both times. She goes to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 and has been waking up anywhere from 7 - 9.

August Lake Powell Trip

We are seriously so lucky that my parents have a houseboat at Lake Powell, and that we are able to go every 6 weeks. Olivia has been to Powell 4 times since she was born, and 6 times if you count when I was pregnant with her. This last trip was the best trip for her, I only wish Bob could've made it to see how much progress she has made in the water. (Bob had to work and had a scout campout that same week.) 

This trip was "Dan's trip" and he brought 10 of his friends. They were fun to have, and it was nice having them because they helped with Olivia. We left Tuesday afternoon and got to Powell around 7:30. We kept the houseboat on the slip this trip - which I was grateful for. I'm a lover of constant air conditioning and pebbled ice when I am pregnant and chasing a toddler all day.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday all included lots of swimming, good food, boating, games, and naps. Olivia snuck in a few movies and I read a few books. We didn't make it out on the ski boat too many times, just because we had a large group and I obviously wasn't doing any skiing this trip. My brother in law Brent and his brother Tyler spent a lot of their time fishing. Olivia loved to see the fish they caught and was constantly asking for another fish.

My Mom and Dad work so hard before hand and at the lake to let us have a great trip. I am so grateful for them and all that they do! Here are some pictures of our trip that Andrea took. I didn't bring my camera this time. For some reason it won't let me rearrange them so they are in a random order.

One of Dan's friends brought a huge bag of candy from Costco. It was open and on the floor and Olivia was bringing treats out for everyone. She was nice enough to share with Jensen.  

Oliva, my Dad, and Jensen watching Olivia's favorite move Rio. 

Grandpa's first time watching Rio, and he was pretty into it. A few seconds after this picture was taken Jensen fell off the couch. 

Uncle Dan playing with Olivia and Jensen.

Trying to get out so she could go swimming.

I love her little feet kicking in the water.

My favorite picture from the week. This girl loves the water!!! 

Drying off after one of her many swims. 

Wishing someone would take her swimming!

Swimming to Grandpa Hales.

Swimming with Mom. 

Just getting ready for next year.

Playing with their bucket of toys. Olivia was sure excited to see the cow.

Swimming (what else???) with Jensen. 

Dan's friend Merick with Olivia. Last year and this year. Both of them grew a lot of hair in the last year.

Don't worry, I was there in my pregnant glory!

28 Weeks

This last month I got my 3rd and worst sinus infection of this pregnancy. I have never had sinus infections before until now. It started on a Friday and all weekend I was dying. Extra strength Tylenol wasn't really doing much, like it had with the previous 2. The weird thing is that the pain was mostly from 10 - 5 each day. Around 5 or 6 I would start feeling better and when I woke up I would feel fine until 10. It always tricked me into thinking I was feeling better. So on Monday I went to the doctor and got an antibiotic. By Thursday I wasn't feeling any better and I only had 1 pill left. So I knew I needed something else. I also had the same few teeth killing me. In my mind, I knew I had a sinus infection but somehow I kept freaking myself out that I needed to go to the dentist. Just to calm my craziness I made an appointment and the dentist was kind enough to look at me and tell me I am fine. I got on another antibiotic and after 3 days I was still having my same symptoms and pain. I cried to my Mom one day because it was so frustrating to be taking so many pills being pregnant and nothing working. I was in a ton of pain but more worried about the baby because of all the meds. That night my Dad came over and helped Bob give me a blessing. The next day I was feeling better, I was at about 50% and the next day I was at 90%. I was so happy to be feeling completely better just in time to go to Lake Powell with my family. I hope that I don't experience any more sinus infections anytime soon.

I am definitely looking pregnant and there is no hiding it at this point. We went to Seven Peaks as a family and everyone was going down the slides. I asked if they thought I could take Olivia down Flash Flood and everyone looked at me like, you can't hide that baby. I have been loving peaches and buy a box each week from Costco. I got sad thinking that I would have to throw my box away when there was the listeria outbreak, but luckily my box was safe. I also could have a turkey and cheese sandwich everyday for lunch. Yum! I don't really consider these cravings though, because I like to eat them normally.

At 27 weeks I went and had my glucose test done at the Utah Valley lab. I went early that morning so I could just wake up and go, and didn't have to sit around fasting for 2 hours. With Olivia I remember downing the drink and wondering why everyone complained. It didn't taste great, but it didn't bother me. This time around (it could've been since I hadn't eaten since the night before) my stomach wasn't too happy with my drink of choice and for a few minutes I had to just sit and hope I wouldn't throw up. At my appointment I was happy to hear that my blood levels were all great and I had passed!

Last go around I gained a lot of weight, and then took FOREVER to finally lose all of it. (Like I lost the last pound a few weeks before I got pregnant this time.) So I am trying to get myself into better eating habits before baby comes - in hopes that I will keep it up and losing the weight will be easier. Obviously I haven't been great this summer with traveling, holidays and 2 trips to Powell. But now the crazy is over I am trying my best to go without sugar, and mostly eating a clean diet. I am at about 80% clean, which I think is a great lifestyle. 100% clean is hard and I don't think I could manage right now.

And just for fun, here is a picture of me at Lake Powell that Andrea took. This was right at 28 weeks.