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!

Here we go!

I always joked with my sisters that since I would be married in my 30's I would have a husband all done with school and settled into his career.  Nice for me right? 
Well, when you marry someone almost 6 years younger than you that isn't the case!
Jeff graduated in December of 2011 with his Bachelor's in International Business.  And in January of 2012 he started working at his dad's accounting firm.  He's done SO well there and has decided that to further himself (and hopefully allow me to stay home someday) he is going to go back to school and get a Bachelors in Accounting and then a Masters.

So here's to 4 more years of having Jeff gone at night and lots of homework!
Olivia and I couldn't be more proud of him.  And let's face it, I would WAY rather be at home with Olivia asleep and having the TV all to myself than sitting in class and having homework assignments.  Love you Mr. Smarty Pants!

While I'm reading Dan Brown he gets to do Debits and Credits:)

Birthday Girl

I'm sitting here on the eve of your birthday with about a million things to do before your party tomorrow.  But I wanted to take a minute and write to you my sweet little O.

This time last year I was sitting in the hospital with your dad, grandma, mimi and aunt Jen waiting for you to make your appearance.  You took your own sweet time coming out.  I should have known then that it was a sign that you might be....strong willed:)

You were born on July 21st, 2012 at 6:23 a.m.  You weighed 8 lbs and 4 oz. and you were 21 and a quarter inches long.  

Giving birth to you was the hardest most amazing experience of my life.

You see, I waited so very long to be your mama.  There were so many times I didn't think it was going to happen.

The day I found out I was pregnant with you was a miracle.  And every day I get to be your mom is another miracle.

It's been one amazing year since you've come into my life.  You bring so much joy to me.  It's also been the hardest year of my life!  You didn't come with an instruction manual and I'm sure I've made so many mistakes, but just know that you mean more to me than anybody in this world, and even though I will mess up sometimes you're so important to me and I love you with every party of me. 

Sometimes when your dad and I look at you we still can't believe we created you and that you're ours.  We can't even imagine our lives without you.

Some of my favorite moments from your first year are:

You sleeping through the night on our trip home from Utah.  We were in Cortez, CO and I was dreading going to sleep only to be woken up every 1-2 hours.  To my utter amazement you slept until 5:00.  I had never felt so well rested in my life.  And then at 5 weeks old you started sleeping every night through the night.  Thank you little O!!!!!!!!

Your blessing day.  It was so special and beautiful.  And that we got to bless you in Utah was so wonderful. You were surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins galore!

I loved the time I spent nursing you.  I only got to do it for two months but it's a time I will never forget.  Those hours that just you and I spent together will be treasured by me for eternity.

Having grandma come out from Utah in December to spend the week with us.  We had so much fun shopping, baking and getting your ears pierced.

Getting you up in the morning and from naps.  You always get so excited when you see me or your dad open your door.  It's seriously the cutest.

You're the BEST eater.  Your current favorite foods are: grapes, macaroni and cheese, bananas, yogurt, any cheese and most meats.  When you like something you make the cutest smacking noise.  It's hilarious.

Taking you to work.  I know I complain about it a lot and it's incredibly hard, but I know I'm so blessed to still provide some income while being the one to take care of you.  And you're such a good baby (except on Tuesdays).

I loved our recent trip to Utah.  You were the MOST AMAZING baby of all time to take across country.  We had SO MUCH fun playing with cousins and seeing aunts and uncles.  You even gave grandpa a kiss first thing, and you are not free with your kisses!  It tickled your grandpa pink.

Going on walks with you and daddy.

Having you "help" me cook in the kitchen.  It's a dream come true when I'm in there cooking and you're on the floor playing with rags and you LOVE helping me empty the dishwasher.  I have to pinch myself sometimes...although that time you emptied the vinegar bottle wasn't so fabulous....

You are SO smart Olivia.  Your dad and I love watching you as you learn something new.  You are so alert and you are so aware of everything around, you have been from birth.

Thank you so much for coming into our lives.  You are so loved such a miracle.  I hope someday you'll get to experience motherhood so you'll know exactly how much I love you.

I'm looking forward to the next year of your life!

Love, Mama

P.S.  Stop growing so fast!!!!!!!

4th of July!

The 4th of July has become one of my favorite Holidays.  It's especially had more meaning the last 3 years.....On the 4th of July in 2010 Jeff proposed.  Here's how it happened.
I was in Oklahoma visiting for the first time.  I didn't really EXPECT for Jeff to propose on this trip.  I was pretty sure it would happen at some point but didn't think THIS soon:)  Although I should have thought something was up when talking to my mom before leaving she told me to have fuuuun in only the way my mom can to let you know something is up!
That year the 4th of July fell on a Sunday which meant I went with Jeff to his singles ward.  He was ward clerk at the time so we had to go early, it was also fast Sunday AND we had to stay late.  I swear we were at church for like 80 hours.  I kept thinking if he doesn't get me a diet coke and some food soon he's going to find out real fast how charming I am on an empty stomach.
When he suggested we go by the temple on the way home, I though is he INSANE?  I'm thirsty and starving.  But since we were still in dating mode I told him it was a great idea....As we pulled up to the temple the rain stopped and it was beautiful outside.  He took me around the temple to see the grounds and I remember thinking this is nice now let's go home.  Then he stopped in front, and got down on one knee.....I finally clued in to what was happening.  He said something along the lines of I want to spend forever with you, will you marry me?  It's a bit of a blur.  I think I was hyperventilating.  I of course said yes, and the rest is history!
Fast forward 3 years ( I don't talk much about last year because I was 9 months pregnant and miserable!) and we have our little O to make Holidays even MORE magical.
We had a great time this year.  It fell on a Thursday and Jeff and I got both Thursday and Friday off.  It was so much fun!

Olivia and daddy waiting for the "Red White & Boom" concert to start.  It was our first year going and we really like it!  Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Kasey and our friend Jordan and her little girl Addy came as well.

  The weather was SO GORGEOUS!

 Sitting with her Mimi!

 Waiting for the fireworks to start!

 

How could she be this big?

How did this happen?  I'm not joking, where did the last 11 months go?  It literally feels like yesterday I was in the hospital giving birth to her.  Now, since she came back form playing with all her cousins and watching them walk and play all around her, she thinks she has to do the same:)

She has turned into a crawling, pulling up and standing on EVERYTHING machine.  

I'm so happy she's developing but I want time to slow down just a little bit.

And I mean, who wouldn't that cute little face looking at them all day?

Spoiled

I've been spoiled by a VERY healthy, happy and good sleeping baby...until 2 days ago.

Little O has either developed a nasty cold or is cutting some wicked teeth because she is just not herself.  This picture is her SNUGGLING with me.  And for those of you who know Olivia know that that is out of the ordinary.  She loves being held but try to snuggle with her?  NO WAY.  She's also been sleeping through the night since 5 weeks old.  I'm talking 10-12 hours straight.  So the last few days has thrown our little family through a loop!

 

 I'm having a little bit of mom guilt because I took her swimming for the first time on Saturday.  Which she LOVED, but it was a tad on the cold side.  Am I such a bad mom?  Did I make her sick?  And to top it off, I accidentally gave her Benadryl on Saturday when she started getting a fever and acting really fussy.  I thought it was Tylenol.  Then I couldn't figure out why she was so hyper and wouldn't sleep when she was clearly exhausted.  Benadryl has the opposite affect on O than it does on most kids.  Worst mom ever.  Good thing I figured it out THE NEXT DAY!
Hopefully she'll forgive me.  I did stay up with her A LOT last night (so did daddy).  So hopefully that goes a ways in her forgiving me.
Being a mom is hard sometimes.  Like REALLY HARD.  But I'm so grateful for it.  I can't even count how many times I just ached to hold my own little baby in my arms.  Sick or not:)

I mean look at that cute baby all ready for the pool!

Hopefully she gets over this little sickness before our trip in 2 weeks.  We're SO excited to be heading HOME!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

 I can't believe you're ONLY turning 28 this year!  It somehow doesn't seem fair that you're STILL 2 years away from being 30!!  But I love you anyway:)
This has been another great year for you.  You've had some big moments!
 I love every day that I get to wake up next to you and spend with you.  I'm looking forward to at least 70 more birthdays with you!
You are truly my best friend.
Olivia and I wanted to tell you 28 things that we love about you in honor of your birthday!
1.  I love your smile.
2.  Olivia LOVES the moment you walk in the door from work.
3.  I LOVE that you work from home on Fridays and take care of Little O.  It's such a special thing you do for her.
4.  I love that you take out the garbage.
5. Olivia loves when you play with her.

 6.  I love that you tickle my back almost every night.
7.  I love that you get my water for me before bed.
8.  I love that you make sure I take my vitamin every night.
9.  Olivia loves it when you help her turn the ceiling fan.
10. Olivia (and mostly me) loves it that you get her up most mornings.
11. I love how hard you work for our family.
12. I love that you love the Red Sox.
13. I love that you do all the yard work.  Not my thing.
14. I love that you are so patient with me.
15. I love that you understand when I get sad about being away from family and you give me my space when I need to be alone.

16. I love that you can't stay mad at me.
17. I love that you're a worthy priesthood holder.
18. I love that my family loves you so much.
19. I love that you spent months building my mom a doll house.
20. I love that you don't complain when I buy headbands.
21. I love sleeping with you at night.
22. I love waking up with you in the morning.
23. I love that you love spending every minute with me.
24. I love that you think I'm the most beautiful girl in the world.  Even though I haven't begun to lose all the baby weight.
25. I love that you make the perfect Diet Dr. Pepper at 7-11
26. Olivia loves it when you get her dressed and pick out the perfect bow to match her outfit.
27. I love that you bring all the groceries in after we go shopping.
28. I love that you're my best friend.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!
I hope you have the best birthday ever.  There are no words to describe HOW much I love you.  Seeing you become the father you have this past year makes me love you even more!

Love, Alicia and Olivia