It's been too long!

It's been awhile since I've updated my blog.  I thought about just letting it go, but I love the record that it creates, even if I don't update it all the time.

(O's last day at the office.  Most of her stuff was already packed up and gone)

We have had some BIG changes in our home!  Back in February after a lot of thought and prayer I decided to quit my job.  While I loved the people I worked with there were some changes being made at the company and I didn't trust the owners any longer.  It had been stressful there for awhile with broken promises and other things and plus Olivia was getting a little restless.  So February 21st was my last day.

(Cleaning Papa's house!)

I was beyond scared about losing my income, but things have worked out really well since I quit.  We definitely don't have as much disposable income, but Jeff has really supported me being at home with Olivia which means the world to me.  He is such a great provider and going to school as well as working full time, I couldn't be more proud of him.  I also work a few hours a week for Rusty and at a gym day care 3 days a week.  Both jobs I get to bring O with me.  It's amazing what getting rid of the stress in my life has done for our family.  Not to mention the time I now have to devote to my home and family.  I feel like I have my life back.  Everybody is happier!  One of the first days at home Liv just looked at me and said "happy."  I feel this is the way it is meant to be.

(I feel like most days I spend cleaning up one mess after the other, and I LOVE it!!!)

We've been having a lot fun going to story hour, the zoo playing at the park, cooking and other fun things.  It's also so much fun to stay at home in our pj's all day if we want to!
  I know Olivia is going to be grown up before I know it.  I'm so glad I get to be the one with her to see her grow and teach her new things.  It goes by SO fast and I wouldn't miss a minute of it.  Even the difficult times.

 (Now we have more time for things like this!!!!  It's so fun being out during the day with Olivia.  Sometimes I'm at an activity with O and I can't believe this is our life now!)

No more bottles

It's a BIG day in the Hale household!  Liv is no longer drinking a bottle.  About a month ago we cut out her morning bottle.  And tonight, we didn't give her her nighttime bottle.  Her Dr. wanted her to be completely done by 18 months.  Her 18 month check-up is in about 3 weeks, so we thought now was as good as time as any.  She doesn't really ask for it, and is drinking water out of her sippy really well, so we decided to bite the bullet.

We cut up the nipples so we wouldn't be tempted to go back.  It's a good/sad time.  Where is my baby going?  She's getting SO big.  I'm happy she's growing and progressing, but I didn't think time was going to fly by at light speed.  

I'll just have to buy her a new outfit to make myself feel better:)

Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas this year.  Every year that Olivia gets older it becomes more magical.  Although her reaction when she woke up this year wasn't quite what I expected……..I think me waking her up (because I COULD NOT WAIT) and being in the room recording her threw her off.  She warmed up pretty quick.  I love this time of year when we reflect on our Savior and celebrate his birth.  And it's SO magical with kids.  I'm treasuring these memories

I love the look O has on her face looking up at Jeff.  She just adores him.  This captures how she looks at him all the time.  It's the sweetest.

Full Heart

Oh Olivia!  You have certainly been on one this week.  You've made me laugh and cry within minutes of each other....But mostly laugh.



You've been obsessed with taking you shirt off and, destroying your pack n play during naps.  Most days I have to go back in twice during naps to put your shirt back on and fix your bed.  It's funny the first time...not the following ones.

My cue that there is trouble is when you are quiet.  Here's a little secret, sometimes I don't care because it means I can get work done.  I just have to weigh the pros and cons with letting you continue your destruction.

Clearly this was one of those, continue with ruining that label making tape, because I have phone calls to return times.

Then you have a moment like this and I could die of your cuteness.  But Liv, PLEASE stop growing SOOO fast.  You're becoming a big girl right before my eyes.

Tonight after I put you down to sleep, I was running around the house trying to do laundry and dishes while daddy was at school.  I was just in the thick of things when you started screaming (you sometimes get night terrors like your daddy did when he was little).  As I was holding you I was thinking of all the things that I needed to still do before I could go to bed.  Then, I felt this little warm hand come to rest on my arm.  For that moment in time life was perfect.  There was no messy house, sick family members to worry about, bills to pay, etc.  There was just you and me in that chair in your room.  It was a little bit of Heaven on Earth.

I love you and your destructive ways.  I know someday I'll look back and miss them.  Just maybe not today!  And guess what?  After you were safe back in your bed with your blankie, binki and Spot, the dishes were still there:)  So I guess I didn't miss out on anything, by having that perfect moment with you.

Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...And I don't mean Christmas:)

 I LOVE THE FALLL!!!!!!!
Get ready for picture overload:)  We packed A LOT into the month of October(truth be told it MIGHT have started in September....).  We hosted a Halloween party with my fav girls Jennifer and Lindsay.  We had SUCH a blast.  I got my shy husband to dress-up and it didn't take much twisting to have me dress up as a witch:)

 

 And I had So, So, So much fun decorating my little home.  I think Jeff was a little scared every time I came home from the store.....I have NO control!!!  So following, are some pictures of the Halloween decor.  I didn't want to forget this year, it was the best EVER!

 Yes.  Even my bathroom had decorations.  My cute nephew Adler was scared of all the witches and didn't want to use this bathroom!  But I think he got used to it!

 The wall in our living room.  You didn't hear it from me that Jeff and I got into a slight fight getting the vinyl on....

 

 My favorite corner!

 You can't see these too clearly, but the lights have little spiders coming out.  I loved this!

 My favorite banner from my favorite Eagle Mountain gals!

 A black and white witch.  Duh of course I had to have her;)

 I love my BOO blocks!!!

 Spider Web mats, I may have bought these in August.......

 Witch from my mom for my birthday this year!  Does she know me or what!

 Bakers Rack.

 Thanks Jen for the new SIGN!

 Front Porch.

 My sister Steph and I both wanted to do this sign without knowing we both wanted too.  We then found and and collaborated.  She got the vinyl for me and I made a chalkboard and banner for her:0  Hers is bigger and my favorite of the 2, but I really like how mine turned out too!

 The full fron porch.  I've got problems.

 Yes, I made banners for the windows and added another bale of hay to the yard....

 Who could resist bats on the garage?!?

My little bird at the "Pookey Forest".  AKA Storybook forest.  It's becoming a tradition for me and Jen to go.  It's our 3rd year in a row!  This year we added Hayley and Lauren and our good friends the Bailey's.  We had a BLAST!

I'm already counting down the days until next year!!!!!!

Grandmas in town!!!

Olivia and I are obsessed with this lady!  My mom mad a visit to Oklahoma last week.  We had SO

much Fun!  My mom immediately won over this very picky about who she likes girls heart by what else?  Cheetos and necklaces.  It took about .2 seconds for Olivia to fall in love.  By the way, how cute is my mom with her Halloween treat bags?!?

 My mom stayed home the first day with O to bond and play while I got some much needed work done.  The next day we shopped until we dropped at the Outlet Mall.  Olivia had fun chasing birds and running around.  It was such a treat to have my mom tell me to go shop and she would take care of Olivia.  We had lunch at Smash Burger.  It was delicious!

 Wednesday night O woke up with a nightmare and wouldn't go to mom or dad.  Only her grammie would do.  This is how ALL 29 grandkids feel about her.  Every single baby that comes along is loved JUST as much as the previous one.  She and my dad are my heroes.

 Halloween day we did a little more shopping then my mom treated me and O to Red Lobster to lunch!  Then we did some trick or treating at our favorite peeps.  Aunt Cindy's & Uncle Rick, Aunt Karen's & Uncle Rob and Mimi and Papas. 

I'm thinking the night and week were a HUGE success.  I'm so thankful for my mom.  I can call her when I'm sad, happy, or any old time and she knows JUST what to say.  She's busier now with her family than she was when we were growing up.  We all fight over her!!  Thanks mom for taking time to come see us.  We're counting down the days until your next visit.  We LOVE YOU!

Obsessed Much?

 My little "helper" is OBSESSED with paper clips.  She's got her own room here at my office with toys but what does she want to do almost all day every day?  Play with paper clips and office supplies (either on top of my desk or right next to me....)  If I need to get work done or answer a phone call without her interrupting I open my desk drawer and pull these bad boys out.  She even has her own collection in her room.  One of her other favorite things to do is to go to the door jam to her room and stuff pencils and pens through it. Got to love my little office manger in training:)

 

Notice the different outfits, to show that it's every day....I also think every outfit was from Aunt Kelli!