2011

Hotel Queene Anne-where we stayed for the weekend (surprised a ghost didn't haunt us).

This year for New Years Hays and I went to New Orleans to celebrate with our good friends, Rebecca and Jay. We had a fantastic time eating at great restaurants, ringing in the new year at a piano bar (I know...pretty lame for being in New Orleans), going to the Saints game and not to mention sleeping ALL night and late in the mornings and not changing one stinky diaper for a whole 48 hours! Every year I make at least 5 resolutions for the upcoming year but have decided to forgo that this year considering I did not fulfill one of mine from last year (we were a bit busy taking care of a newborn). I have things in mind that I am going to try and improve and work on but for now, Olivia is my main focus. I would like to read more, exercise more, spend more alone time with Hays, go on a cool trip and follow our budget.

These are a few pictures I recieved throughout the weekend from my mom. I know Olivia was in good hands but we sure did miss her. The poor girl was sick the entire time we were gone, running fever and had a snotty nose. I think Nano was sad to see the girl go but oh so glad she was going to be getting a full nights rest again. Thanks Nano and Pops for keeping Olivia so we could get away for a bit and catch up on some R and R.

11 Months

It's getting harder and harder to get these pictures each month. We have a very busy body!

Wow!!! Is Olivia really 11 months old?? Where has time gone? In exactly one month we will be doing some major celebrating with a certain little girl (oh...how I need to start planning). I really am stunned at how fast this year has gone and I really pray that this next year just drags by. I'm really not sure if I want to cry or be happy with next months milestone. Where has my little 6 pound newborn gone that I brought home from the hospital??

On to the more important things. This little one has been very busy this month...growing, growing and more growing. We thought she would NEVER start crawling and she did!! Just a little before Christmas she took off. Now, she is not all over the place quite yet but she's getting the hang of it. She is also only eating big people food. No more baby food for her. She is eating a variety of sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, pears, bananas, cheese, peaches, yogurt amongst other things. She just started refusing baby food and pushing the spoon away but will gobble down food she can pick up and chew with her 3 little teeth. Yep, you read that right. She has her third tooth coming in on the top. Many to follow soon, I'm sure. She is also only drinking whole milk now taking 3 eight ounce bottles a day. My baby girl is growing into a little toddler. :(

She is also performing many tricks for her audience of whomever wants to watch. She will wave bye bye, say uh uh ohhh, moo like a cow (sorta), bark when she sees Lilly and other dogs, and swing her arms back and forth to music. She is so much fun and it amazes me to see how much she has grown and is learning. Might have to put a brick on the girls head. :) Before I know it we'll be starting kindergarten! If anyone figures out how to slow down time PLEASE let me in on the secret!

Uh Uh Ohhhh....

Olivia is now saying "uh ohhh". She definitely has her own version. She says uh twice and then a drawn out ohhhhh. It is the cutest thing!!

She had a major uh oh one night. She got into Lilly's water bowl and had THE best time.

Christmas Morning

We had a magical Christmas morning at home with just us and Olivia. It was fun to see Olivia's face when she saw all of her toys even though she didn't get the whole concept. Christmas is much more fun now with a little one to share it with. She must have been a good little girl because Santa may have gone a little over board.

After playing with all the toys Santa brought we headed to Memphis to spend the rest of the holiday with my family. We had dinner with extended family that night and then opened gifts with my parents, brother, sister and nephews that night. A lot of excitement for one day. We were all POOPED.

SANTA CAME!!

Playing...
Can you tell she just woke up??

Patty Cake....!
I was really surprised that she wanted to play with ALL her toys.

Can you tell this picture wasn't taken with Hays' fancy camera? My camera is a lot worse than I thought.

Pooped out after 3 days of going, going, and going some more.

Christmas Eve

Both mine and Hays' family have big Christmas traditions on Christmas Eve so the first year we were married we flipped a coin to see where we were going for Christmas Eve and have switched back and forth every year since. This has worked for us so far. We will see how much longer we do this with Olivia. I have a feeling I will be doing some major compromising when she can grasp the whole concept of Santa Claus.

This year we were in Jackson with Hays' family for Christmas Eve and traveled to Memphis to be with my family on Christmas morning. It was special to have Olivia's first Christmas at home. We went to Hays' aunts house to have dinner after going to our church for the Christmas Eve service. Olivia was a little tuckered out at the end of the night to say the very least.

Family photo in front of the tree.

"Excuse me....where did the presents go???"

Cousins

Olivia liked the tissue paper more than her actual gifts...typical.

Christmas Eve Eve

Our Christmas festivities began on Christmas Eve Eve this year. We opened presents and had dinner with Hays' family the day before Christmas Eve. Wil Franklin and Olivia got so many presents from everyone. They are two very blessed little children.

The little girl having an appetizer of yogurt bites before the festivities begin (doesn't that sound delicious).

Aunt June is here visiting from Austrailia.
About to open presents. Olivia had an oopsie in her festive dress so she had to wear pj's.

ALL the presents....my goodness!!

We FINALLY have a Crawler!!!