prim and proper

I can dress her up all I want...

but she prefers this style

and I prefer for her to be happy.

Halfway

Today marks the halfway point of Dental Hygiene school!

To celebrate we had several treats throughout the day including these popsicles.

We also had 3 mid-terms today that I had a rough time studying for, which is a nice way of saying that I didn't study for them. You try studying during the summer.

Every day I go to school I miss my husband and my heart breaks to leave my sweetest baby. I'm exhausted day in and out from trying to balance being the wife and mother I want to be, being the good straight A student I want to be, magnifying my church calling, and being a good friend, sister, and daughter. I'm worn thin, I'm tired, I'm drained.

Although all of this is true, I am above all else happy with my choices. On several occasions I have told B how I love this career, and that I'm always so pleasantly surprised at how much I end up enjoying clinic days (even if I wasn't looking forward to them at first). I'm so grateful to know that what I'm doing is right for our family. I can honestly say that I have never once regretted my decision.

“The young sailor at sea was ordered to climb a mast to adjust a sail during a violent storm.

He got halfway up, looked down, got dizzy and sick. An old sailor on deck shouted up to him,

'Look up, son, look up'

The young sailor looked up, regained his composure, and completed his mission.”

9 month check up

Poor babe had to get 2 shots and a toe prick for an iron check on Saturday.

The whole ordeal just completely wore her out...

...the shots and the fact that it was exactly her nap time when we went.

{sidenote: She is on such a great schedule right now. Two naps a day, 2 hours each! And she goes down pretty well at her nap time. Finally I have a baby who has real naptimes! Trust me, its exciting}

It was kind of annoying when the nurses and the doctor made sure to mention several times that most babies don't cry when they get they're toe pricked.

Really?

Because I almost cry when I get my finger pricked for the iron test and I'm 25, yet I get shots in mouth every week {including 4 palatal injections} and I don't cry for those. I think its okay if my baby wants to cry when you're jabbing her with needles. She's a baby, they cry sometimes.

Seems like this would be common knowledge for pediatric doctors.

p.s. It wasn't even that loud or that long. She's calms down really easily when we pick her up.

Strawberry Days and a memory

One of my favorite dates that B took me on before we were married

(or even engaged for that matter) was to Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove.

It was a surprise. He just told me that he had already planned something fun for that night and all I had to do was show up. I remember him driving to someplace I'd never been and I had no idea where I was {which is so funny to me because now I go to PG at least once a week}. I was so excited when I saw we were going to a carnival, he didn't even know how much I loved them. It had been my dream that my boyfriend would take me to one and we could laugh and joke and act like little kids.

We rode a few rides and that was when I learned my stomach is not as strong as it once was when it comes to crazy rides. I didn't throw up or anything I just felt so nauseous and dizzy. I don't know what happened to me, I used to go to six flags all the time when I was younger and rode the scariest of scary rides. Now I just need to stick to the ferris wheel/carousel.

We stuffed ourselves with strawberries and cream and then spent the rest of the summer being obsessed with it and making it all the time. That summer was so glorious. I was working for the first part but I had a summer internship in the Dominican that I was getting ready to leave on, so about 2 weeks before I left I quit my job and I wasn't in school. I filled my days laying poolside with my girls and going on dates with B, not a care in the world! Wonderful memories.

This time was a little different, but still so much fun!

Liv enjoyed watching all the rides.

She would wave her arms in a frenzy when the carts would rattle by and smile!

The picture above cracks us up.

The poor little girl sitting in front of G was absolutely petrified.

Literally biting her nails the whole time and crying. Bless her heart. I felt so bad for her.

Then you see G. His face is that of pure joy!

Oh dear, the difference between little boys and little girls.

And B has memories of going to all the little carnivals with his family when he was young, which is why he knew of the Strawberry Days festival in the first place! Thank goodness for memories.

Bella

Little Bells was such a sweetheart to Livy when we were visiting in May. I'm sad I didn't get any photos of Liv with any of her other Austin cousins, but these pictures I did capture are so precious. We love you Bella and Austin cousins!

Happy Father's Day

This is my Dad as a senior in high school.

What a handsome guy!

I am so grateful for all that my Dad did for me and my family while growing up,

and for all that he still does for us.

He is the most generous caring soul I think I've ever met in my entire life,

and he is an extremely hard worker. I wish that would have rubbed off on me a little more :)

He has such a strong testimony that is so apparent in everything he does.

He is such a great example to me!

I love you Daddy!

I am also so grateful to have such a wonderful father-in-law. He is an amazing example of hard work, healthy living (he still races 100 mi. bike races at 50 yrs), and magnifying his calling.

And of course this post wouldn't be complete without acknowledging what an amazing father and example of the priesthood I have right here with me. My husband has grown into his role of father effortlessly. I know I already mention it on this blog all the time, but it can never be repeated enough- he does EVERYTHING for Olivia while I'm gone during the day. I only know a small handful of men who would be willing and not scared out of their wits to do that. And he goes one step further and does it well! Liv has a special sense of humor that is saved only for her daddy. I hope they will always be such great friends. We love love love you B (da-da)!

"The sacred title of “father” is shared with the Almighty.[...] Fatherhood is not a matter of station or wealth; it is a matter of desire, diligence, and determination[...]"

-President Ezra Taft Benson

Jdawgs

After a morning of swimming, we went to Jdawgs. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside.

By the time I got my camera out, this was all that was left...

The little one likes the bread

Livy, pointer finger poised and ready in case an opportunity presents itself...

...and it did :)

Again, this was right after swimming, which is why I just have a cover up on.

Swimming + hot dogs = another great summer day!

Breakfast

Another swimming story

Livy just sitting, relaxing in the shade, and chewing on her bink. She lives a good life.

She was so excited when she saw the water!

We decided to let ourselves bask for awhile in the sun and take advantage of her happy disposition, all the while she just watched and I'm sure wondered when she would get to be in that water.

But she was happy just playing with her straw.

Standing on her own. She keeps doing this now... it makes me a little sad because I really don't want her to walk. I'm hoping she still has several months of standing and crawling left in her.

And then she fell and hit her little head. Sad sad baby. So I decided it was time to get in the water.

And all was right in her world again!

9 months

Livy at 9 months:
-LOVES to eat. Especially bananas, so sometimes we have to mix bananas in with veggies if she won't eat them. Mostly she wishes she could eat every single thing we are eating.
-Still NO TEETH! But we do feed her itty bitty peices of table food, steamed veggies mashed, rice krispies, and she loves to gum on any fruit. She likes sugar like her mama! (and she loves pickles like her dad even though I tell him not to give them to her!)
-Pulls up on everything, and is just starting to get the hang of walking while holding on to the couch. She just scoots side to side. Its actually pretty funny to watch as she just moves from one side of the couch to the other over and over for really no particular reason.
-Crawls FAST if she really wants something.
-Loves watching kids bigger than her.
-Is very ticklish! Especially under her chin.
-Gets so excited when we put her on our big bed. She rolls around on it, and loves when we drop her (lightly) on the bed.
-Actually enjoys taking baths again!

Cousins: Colse and Griff

The Willits' had us over for a delicious dinner tonight, and the babe enjoyed all of the love her cute cousins gave her. I didn't have my camera with me tonight, but I've taken several pics of the boysies and our girly. Here are a few:

Livy LOVES her Colse and Griff so much! It is always such a treat for her when they come over, or when we go over there. What fun it is to watch them tickle and talk to her, I just love how they want to be near her the whole time. She just loves all the attention they give her. I think they could make her giggle all day long.

And an extra pic of Colse being so entertaining!

And another video. Skip to 0:58 to see the boys making her laugh.

I'm sure not a lot of people like these videos, because they're usually so long, and probably pretty boring to most. However, I do know that the grandparents love them, so I continue posting vids for them {and of course for myself because I obviously love them}!

In this video:

-B and Liv playing

-Colse and Griff making Liv laugh

-Liv loving my cell phone

-My brother trying to make her laugh

-Liv sitting and playing

Funny face

I think baby O has the cutest face. Sometimes her faces make me laugh.

Below is her 'fake' smile. She does it all the time!

Its like your joke wasn't really funny, but she's smiling to be nice.

It almost looks painful.

Playing with daddy faces

In awe of the world

The two faces below are my all time favorites.

I wish they were a little clearer, but this is how I will forever think of my Livy at this age.

Anesthesia

This week was quite eventful for me as far as my dental hygiene career goes.

Tues: first time taking impressions

Thurs: first time giving injections

I can't find my little camera right now so I can't upload the photos of impressions {they're pretty funny though so get excited}, but here is a look at injections...

We would talk about giving anesthesia in class in the weeks leading up, and I would get an uneasy feeling in my stomach and my palms would start to sweat, but that morning for reasons unknown to me, I was not nervous at all to give OR to receive injections. I felt completely calm about it.

So I went first. Slow and steady, and it was awesome! I love it. I'm sad at the idea that I won't be able to give anesthesia if I work in Texas.

Then it was my turn to be the victim {hehe}

Cara was awesome and it didn't hurt at all;

however all that red stuff in that carpule below is my blood.

This is what we call a positive aspiration, meaning the needle went into a blood vessel and we should not inject the anesthetic. Its not bad it just means we need to reposition the needle. She actually was fine the whole time- went in, got a negative aspiration, injected, and then on the way out (removing the needle) she aspirated some blood. No big deal, I was fine, and I'm excited to get more practice next week!