My peanut is growing up.

Within the last month or so Olivia has changed SO much. She has so much sas and such a little personality. She isn't a "baby" anymore (although she will always be my baby).

She is SO independent.
She knows exactly what she wants.
She wants to be around everyone, so social.
She wants to go pee-pee on the potty (although tells us too late).
She is starting to communicate so effectively. She lets you know what she has on her mind!
She LOVES her daddy.
She is obsessed with Dora and Minnie (that cracks me up that she is already partial to the "girly" stuff).
She is also obsessed with brushing her teeth. And painting her nails.

I just love to see this little beauty becoming a little girl :)

Summer Lovin

We had our first taste of really summer this Sunday! It was 80+, sunny, and we were at the lake! Ahhhh....

I am so looking forward to the summer. My kids LOVE being outside and I know that they are going to take to the water like little fishies this summer. Blake is getting so brave and Liv has always been fearless!!

Here's to a warm summer!!

Piggy tails and Birthdays

Livi Kay sported her first pair of piggy tails today! Oh boy did she think that she was something special (well...she is)...she is just SO sassy and loves to look at herself in the mirror. As a mom, who is as girly as they come, this having a girly-girl is just too fun! Love that her hair is getting longer...and that she LETS me do it!

AND---it is my momma's birthday today! Happy birthday mom/nana! We sure do love you. We would be lost without you. I hope that you have a marvelous birthday and that the coming year is filled with happiness and fun!
The older I get, the more I realize how wonderful my mother is, and what a great job she did (and still does) of raising my sister and I. Love you.

Cruising around....

Now that we are getting some warmer temps here in MI, my kids are DYING to be outside. ALL OF THE TIME. It's a good thing...but let me tell you, it is a task. They are on the go, go, go!

My dad got Blake this hot rod for Christmas a couple of years ago. Livi things its pretty awesome...
And I must admit...she does look pretty awesome in it :)And Blake has been a cruisin machine on his baby 4-wheeler. He is obviously taking things pertty seriously here...
Hooray for springtime!!

p.s. Vegas TOMORROW!!! Yippee!!

Snapshots from the weekend...

Just a few iPhone pics from our weekend....iPhones and awesome...but at the same time, I NEVER use my real (nice) camera anymore. It is just too easy to use the iPhone or iPad! Especially when they take such decent quality pics!

Blaker and I after I got home from work on Friday. We were WAY happy to see each other. Friday was a LONG day of meetings for me..so it was good to be home!!

My pretty Livi girl on her way to nana and papa's...do you think she was happy!? :)
And my handsome Blaker...he is looking SO old. he happens to think that this Batman shirt is the coolest thing on the planet...and I got it at a garage sale for 25 cents! haha

Cousin Addy came over for the day on Saturday. The kids SURE did have fun in the bathtub :)Olivia is OBSESSED with brushing her teeth. Wants to do it ALL DAY LONG. Ha...yet she only has about 6 teethers...oh well, creating good habits, right?!?

All for now, but there is more where these came from :)

t-minus-2 days until VEGAS...yeah babay!!!

My beautiful babies

The very fabulous and talented Miranda Parker of Miranda Parker Photography took my babies pictures on Sunday.

I am in LOVE with them. I just cant wait to have these beautiful faces hanging on my wall in super LARGE prints.



Ugh...I am just so proud to call these babies MINE. Love them SO much!

Festival Time

Spring has sprung...and we went to our first festival this weekend...the good 'ole Maple Syrup Festival in Shepherd on Friday evening. Ryan and I an the kids went out to a quick dinner and then on to the festival.

We planning on just going for the "Lights and Sirens" Parade...but we got there a bit before dusk, so had to walk around. We met up with my besting Erica and her son Dylan. The boys rode a couple of rides...and it was adorable! They were just giddy over it and SOO SOO cute! They laughed and squealed the whole time.




And then on to the parade where we met up with my friend Wendy and her daughters. It was fun..but LOUD. Blake got a kick out of it but covered his ears after a bit. Liv just took it all in like a champ!


(Can't get over how OLD Blake looks in this pic)

Hooray for spring time and outdoor activities! SO ready for the warmer weather!

Oh How Pinteresting...and VOTE for Livi!

First and foremost...Olivia STILL needs your help in her photo competition. The cotes are CLOSE....so each one is important at this point. All you have to do is "like" her pics on facebook...links are here!

And now I am linking up with Michelle for Oh, How Pinteresting!

Ummmm yes, please!

Source: vanillakitchen.blogspot.com via Annie on Pinterest

How cute is this top?

Source: store.shopprivategallery.com via Annie on Pinterest

This made me lol...

Source: Uploaded by user via Annie on Pinterest

Love this color and cut:

Source: hair.becomegorgeous.com via Annie on Pinterest

yummm...

Source: google.com via Annie on Pinterest

What are you pinning?!

Olivia Needs Your Help!

I mentioned here that I entered little Olivia in a photo contest....well, the pics have been taken and it is time to Vote!

I need ALL OF YOUR HELP!

My crazy "Toddlers and Tiaras" mother side of me is coming out...and I am in competitive mode! haha

There are two different contests. Each on facebook. In each contest the picture with the most "likes" wins....so all you have to do is click on Olivia's picture in the contest folder and "like" it for your vote to be counted!

We are not in the lead right now...so it's important that you vote. It's really important to Livi {err, I mean me}...ha!

The first picture is on Two Tutu Ladies...click here to like this one....she is one of 7 in the album! This is the picture...The second pic is for Carm's Creations...click here to "like" this one. She is one of seven in this album as well! This is the pic...
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU in advance for your help! We {I} really appreciate it.

Signing off,
Crazy stage mother :)

My Little Model Baby

These pictures are not the best quality. Ryan just took them on his phone and e-mailed them to me. Out little Liv is such a little poser! She just loves to be the center of attention and have her picture taken.

On a whim, I entered her into a contest for a cover model for a local clothing line/photographer. What do ya know, she was selected in the top 5 girls...she has her first photo shoot on Saturday! I will be sure to let you all know how she does. Hopefully she doesn't get camera shy all of a sudden :)

After this shoot on Saturday there will be a contest for the GRAND prize, I think that you win based on facebook likes...so I will be sending you all the link and asking for some help!

Livi's 15 Month well visit

I just took Livi to her 15 month well visit this morning. Happy to report that all looks well. We just switched to a new pediatrician (for a whole list of reasons that I won't get into right now). Poor Liv is extremely scared of doctors and doctors offices...but I get it...typically every time thy go (to her specialist at U of M) they stick a scope down her throat. Thankfully those days are past us. Hopefully she can start to realize that not ALL appointments will be like that..and start to adjust a bit.

Liv weighed in at a whopping 20.5 lbs today keeping her right in the 10th percentile for weight. She was 32.5 inches tall...so in the 90th percentile for height!

She doesn't look TOO nervous in this pic..but as soon as the doc walked in she was just a screaming and a shaking....poor sweetie!


Luckily we wont have to go back for another 3 months :)

It has been one year since Livi Kay has had her surgery. WOW…that was a fast year. I can remember how terrified I was a year ago. Our sweet baby girl was going through SO much…and she was just so tiny then.

Well, I am happy to report that that chapter has closed and we can move on now. Livi had a checkup at U of M Children’s Hospital on Monday. We have been going back ever few months for a scope and check-up. The appointments are always pretty painful, as they do not put her out for the scope. The older she gets, the harder it becomes because she totally remembers what is coming and fights like a crazy woman.

Monday was no different, painful to watch…but the results were MUCH better. Even as recently as November (at our last appt.) the doc still thought that he saw a little mass at the base of her throat. There was always the threat that it would come back, and another surgery would be required.

This time…she looked GREAT. Her larynx and pharynx were shaped perfectly, no mass, no signs of anything at all. And DEFINITLY nothing wrong with her vocal cords…she can scream with the best of them.

SO, the doc released us and we don’t have to go back to the clinic at all. Hallelujah!

We are so lucky that they found what was causing Liv’s issues at such a young age…I shudder to think what could have happened had they not found the cyst. Who knows how fast it could have grown. We had excellent care from everyone at U of M. I am so thankful….and I know that she had SO many people thinking about her and praying for her…thank you for all of that. She is such a healthy, happy, vibrant little thing today :)


Pictures on the way down...we had to leave pretty early...Liv wasn't so sure about that:

Her new "cheese" face...it's not pretty....hopefully this is just a phase!

And on the way home...such a trooper!!

I cannot believe that it's MARCH 5!

The last month has been a crazy blur. We closed on our new house February 1…and he past month has been full or moving, packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, cleaning, buying, etc. I think that the end is in sight, we are hoping (crossing fingers) to move into our new house after this weekend.

I will feel so much better being in ONE place. Our new house is starting to look like HOME with our stuff (new and old) in it. I just can’t wait to be settled.

Obviously with the move to the new house comes the {freak out} about selling our current house…but I am just going to try to stay positive and hopeful about that.

In the midst of the craziness…this little beautiful girl is growing and changing SO much….and I just LOVE her!

And she ate cake...

Livi's cake smash photo session wasn't much of a smash at all. Our girl is an eater....and she eats like a big girl! She saw that cupcake and went straight for her mouth. Bless her little heart!!

Liv and Blake are opposites when it comes to eating. She is, and always has been, a great eater. She likes everything. She is always ready to eat. Blake could care less about eating. Eating is a chore for him. It is painful for him to come to the dinner table..he is simply to busy to stop and eat. Ha, I wish I had Blake's problem....too busy to eat?! No such thing!! Liv definitely takes after her mama!! :)

My sweet baby

Posting a few more pics from Liv's 1 year birthday shoot.

I think that this one is one of my all time favs. Just captures her sweet little disposition so well.

For many of the pics she would not let go of her "baby." She just loves this little thing. Carries it with her everywhere. She drags it all around the house. At first I was mad that she wouldn't part with it for the pics...now I am kinda glad. It will be a good memory looking back :)

Liv's walking has really taken off. She barely crawls now.

Her tooth on the top is starting to poke through...this is her third.

Her hair is getting long on the top. I have to put it in a little pony tail or it is in her eyes!

She is sleeping like a champ. Between 12 and 14 hours each night.

She is the sweetest little thing ever. We just love her.