more pics, less words

Here are some pictures from my phone.

She's really in to bracelets and necklaces right now.

Church on Sunday.

In the car with a scratch on her nose.

So concerned with what was on tv.

Wearing mommy's headband, and unrolling all the toilet paper. Why does she love the bathroom so much?

This is Liv wearing the same shirt she wore the day before, no pants, dirty hair, and yes, a dirty diaper too (pictures from yesterday, when she was completely neglected).

Brady couldn't get her dressed because he doesn't have full function of his hands. I got hom from school at 5 and picked my two babies up. Dropped B off at work, meawhile Liv was working on a poopy diaper. We were on our way to pick up my brother (who doesn't have a car) to take him to a job interview. He had jumped in the shower really quick, so we were waiting outside his apt. I guess at least we got some good playtime in here :)

{bumps and bruises}

I tried to find a picture that was not completely inappropriate for the blog.

So, B got in a small accident. As you can see from the pictures, he is totally fine-with some scrapes, swelling, bumps, and bruises (and maybe a broken wrist). We got a scooter at the beginning of summer, to ease the pain of being a one car family. Today the scooter didn't quite do its job of easing the pain.

I feel bad. I can't blame it on the scooter. It wasn't its fault (or Brady's) that sometimes people in cars don't look both ways before they pull out of a parking lot.

Jeff (my little Bro) was watching Liv for us today (as he does every Mon.) while Brady went to his 1 hour class. On B's drive back up Columbia Ln, he noticed a car waiting, about to pull out of a parking lot. Just as B was getting there, the car puts on the gas and pulls out. At the same time, this man in the car sees Brady, and now slams on the break, stopping dead in the middle of the road. B had the wits to swurve and lay the scoot down and slide, rather than just hit the car broadside and fly over it. After getting things sorted, he drove up to my school to get our car, so that he could take Jeff to his class (he needed the car to put Liv in the carseat). I'm called out of class, and I walk to the front of the building. I see B with gloves on his hands. This is strange. And then I hear Dr. Molen talking to him and asking if he was hurt anywhere else. Of course my mind is racing and now my heart is pumping. Brady sees me and says "oh hi" and Dr Molen tells us to take a minute to go outside and talk. I ask a million questions, the first of which was "you're wearing gloves", not really a question but that's just all that came out. After he tells me what happened (he's kind of laughing about it) I just burst into tears. I can't help it; thinking of him on that scooter being hit by a big car....I don't know. I was thinking I was happy that he was pretty much fine, that the scooter was pretty much fine, and at the same time thinking of all the other terrible things that might have happened. We hugged each other tight for a second while I shed some tears, and then I pulled it back together.

Seriously, since we got that scooter I was hounding B to wear the helmet. He NEVER did, because its legal here not to. Everyday, right when he walked in I would say "Beetle (thats what I call him) why didn't you where your helmet?" and he always wondered how I knew. It was because his hair looked crazy.

Today, for some reason, he did wear his helmet. This made me cry too.

Things are getting taken care of. The other person involved feels terrible and is working on getting everything fixed and paid for. We have friends that have gone through, and some that are going through, very serious injuries. I don't want anyone to think that we think this is serious. Today just reminded me to be thankful for every second.

{weekend thoughts}

My weekends begin on Thursday. This weekend has really got me thinking.

Thursday went from being the much anticipated start to my weekend, to being a frantic haywire day. This unfortunate change began around 12:15 pm when the patient I had scheduled cancelled (this was the 2nd patient I had found by the way). If you're in, or have ever been in Dental Hygiene school, then you already know the pit in your stomach that forms when this happens, and all of the other stresses that come along with having a patient cancel (ie I will NEVER meet all my requirements, I will lose ALL my points for the day, etc etc)

In Dental Hygiene school, they expect you to eat, sleep, and breathe dental hygiene. Drop everything else that might be going on in your life and do everything they are asking you to do. Okay, I can handle that. I mean I'm the one who chose to go, so yes, I will do what they ask. Now the thing I can't quite wrap my mind around is the fact that they also expect all your friends and family members to eat, sleep, and breathe dental hygiene. So when my patient cancels, I need to find someone else, like a family member or friend to come and fill my seat. Oh okay, since all my friends and family will just drop everything they've got going on in their lives to come sit my chair for 3 hours.

Back to the story, I call B to see if there is any way he can drop Liv off with someone and come sit in my chair. He calls around, no one can do it. I don't blame them, we're giving them about 15 minutes notice. I call my sister who has already watched her several times at very short notice, and she says she can do it. Even though she is going to pick her son up from school, and already had plans to run errands, lives in PG, not to mention she probably wants to take advantage of the time she has with her husband since he's usually gone for multiple days in a row (he's a firefighter), she still says she can do it. She'll even come by our place to pick her up, since we only have 1 car and I have it. Hallelujah

So I call B, and he reminds me that I have the car, meaning I have the car seat, meaning the baby can't go anywhere. SO now I have to jump in my car, rush home to drop off the car seat, and rush back to school to get there in time for attendance to be taken, and set up my operatory. Everything turns out fine. I make it back in time, B gets there and sits in my seat. I was just doing sealants so I thought it would be real quick, but nothing is ever quick in dental hygiene school, and 2 hours later he's on his way back home. My sister is nice about the whole thing, even though I feel terrible that it took an hour longer than I told her.

Friday

We all got out of the house and went to the mall! Always a great place to go ;) While there, Olivia got ALL the attention. I hate attention, but I'm also somewhat outgoing, so this is why I have such a weird personality. Anyway, I love that she gets so much attention. I absolutely love when people stop to talk to her, and comment on how beautiful her eyes are. Or stop to watch her walk around, and then come and ask me how old she is because she just looks way too little to be walking. I LOVE every opportunity to gush about my girl. Luckily she loves the mall like me, and was actually quite nice to all the strangers. Usually she cries when she gets too much attention (this makes me think she probably has some of my personality).

Saturday

B is working and Liv and I go to the General Relief Society Broadcast. I get up to get some food, holding Liv of course, and a nice older priesthood holder comes to my aid and asks if he can help me. He holds my plate making it a million times easier to fill it while holding Liv. He tells me she's got blue eyes that would be very easy to get lost in (it wasn't as creepy as it sounds. it was actually very sweet). He even walks me back to the table and makes me sit and eat while he goes back to get me a drink.

Again, Liv is in a mood where she's not being shy. She's testing her limits of how far she can go. She knows I'll always come after her. She was walking up and down the aisles, even into strangers aisles. Like trying to get IN their aisle to get their hymn books. She even started just leaving the chapel without looking back. I end up spending the entire meeting in the foyer. I run into several beautiful mothers from the stake where I again get to talk about my precious girl, and then chat about motherhood, their adorable babies, etc. I also get to hear bits and pieces of the wonderful messages that were shared.

*****************************

So what am I thinking about all of this? I'm thinking that I'm thankful for family who are not just always willing to help me out, but who are so kind about it and make me feel like less of a burden than I really am. A sister who doesn't even know the extent of the relief that she brought to me that day. I'm thinking I'm thankful for people who take the time to give complete strangers compliments, who are unlike me in that they will take a step out of their comfort zone to say something first. People who give a smile, a kind word, a pleasant conversation who don't even realize how they've brightened a stranger's day. I'm thinking I'm grateful for the men that were willing to help the sisters with the chairs and tables, and some who were willing to help mother's with their children, who don't realize how bad those mother's might have needed a break. I'm thinking I'm grateful for the church, for relief society, and for the priesthood. Most of all, I'm thinking I'm grateful to know that there are good people in the world, and I hope that I can be one of them.

Secret Prayer

Okay, I love this.

Such a good idea, and I'm excited to buy this album.

The Lower Lights // A Hymn Revival from The Lower Lights on Vimeo.

{friends}

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made

by the friends we choose.”

-Tennessee Williams

Back in July (or maybe it was August) I was graced by the presence of these lovely ladies! These are my amazing friends from my freshman year of college. I truly feel blessed to have met such great people and to be able to call them friends still, after so many years. I don't know that I've become as close to anyone as I was to them {except Brady, obviously. I had to put this disclaimer in here because he was a little offended when he read this, lol. I just thought it was a given that you become closer to your husband than anyone else ever...but here it is spelt out for ya B :) Thanks for always keepin me on my toes}. I guess because its the kind of close that you can only become when you're living together, away from home for the first time of your life, and fresh out of high school = starting to realize that you don't know everything like you thought you did. I didn't quite realize how hard it would be to leave all my friends and family and move to Provo... in fact I wasn't even nervous at the time. It wasn't until my parents had left and I was alone that I felt like I had no one. And then, one by one, I met my girls.

Deanna, Liz, Jenny {madelyn}, Amanda {jack}, Me {the little miss},

(sadly we're missing Angie, Erin, Natalie, and Meg)

Deanna and Jenny were visiting from out of state, Liz came down from Tremonton, and we all met at Mandy's adorable home in Alpine. It's so fun to grow up, but sometimes I miss those old times- playing nightly dress up in the common room, girls conferences, staying up all night talking, and paying for our poor decisions the next day by being dead tired and having to skip class. Those were the carefree days girls, haha. Now we're real adults :)

car seats and cars

Liv had her 12 month check up the day before her b-day party (terrible planning on my part) and she's doing great!

She's still in 25th percentile for height, but now has dropped down to 5th for weight. The doctor wasn't worried at all. She is developing normally, and he said it was common to not gain as much weight as usual since she's now walking and moving around so much. I was a little sad because she's only 17 lbs. which means she's 3 whole pounds away from getting to have a front facing car seat :( Hoping that by her next appt she'll be 20 lbs and we can kiss the little baby back facing seat goodbye! She seems way too old for that baby seat to me, but safety first I guess ;)

She had a fun little party on Saturday, of which I don't have a ton of pictures. Luckily my sister took some, so I'll have to get them from her and put them up. Liv has LOVED playing with all her new toys today :) I love her new blocks because now I have something to play with when she needs me to be on the floor with her.

Here is a video of her playing with her new car:

And one more for fun:

Olivia turns one

We had a small party for family to celebrate Liv's first birthday. 

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to"

There was a "tiny" theme for our little one whose always been teeny tiny for her age. We had tiny hot dogs, tiny bow tie greek pasta salad, tiny goldfish, tiny m&m's, little juice boxes, and tiny cakes of course!

After a quick rinse in the bathtub, we headed inside for presents!

She was given so many fun toys and she really did have fun with the kiddos!

Happy First Birthday tiny girl! 

You have brought us so much joy and we thank Heavenly Father for you each and every day.

{One year}

Happy Birthday Baby O!!!

One year ago today, our sweet sweet girl came into this world and we became parents. She brings so much joy and happiness to our lives, I really can't explain it. One year ago today, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves in to. She is the craziest, cutest, funniest, most amazing, and absolutely beautiful baby girl. I don't know what I'd do without her.

I have felt more love for this sweet little girl than I ever imagined was possible. We still sneak into her bedroom each and every night, after she's drifted off to sleep, to peak in at her and gaze at how peaceful and innocent she is. We are so thankfulshe is ours. She has brought so much meaning to my life, and has taught me so much about myself. Everyday I am amazed at what she learns, and I love that I get to watch her grow. She is by far the sweetest blessing of our lives so far.

Such a treat to watch her discover the world...she found an ant.

still watching that ant (her cheek is a perfect ball!)

I have such a bittersweet feeling. I'm so proud of my baby girl for how she's grown and what a beautiful little girl she is, but my heart hurts just a little because I know she will never be a baby again. I felt the need to look through a bunch of old photos we have of her, and it brought tears to my eyes. I am so grateful for the blessing of her spirit in our family. She will be such a great big sister to her siblings (no I'm not pregnant, but I might be a little baby hungry).

And now for a thorough update on what the little miss is up to:

-knows how to sign 'more'

she does awesome at this. For awhile she would make a lowgrunting noise when she wanted more food, so we were happy to teach her thesign for 'more'.Eventually, all we had to tell her was "say more please" and she would do the sign for 'more'.Then all wehad to say was "what do you say Olivia" and she would do the sign. Now she does the sign for EVERYTHING. So....not sure we taught her correctly but its still cute, and she's still communicating what she wants to us without grunting (although she now screams sometimes if we get itwrong).

-Continues to LOVE the outdoors

-bracelets are her favorite.

She always takes mine off and puts them on all by herself. The 2 smaller ones on her wrist are actually my hoop earrings.

-she can tell when we mean business...

...and cries when we say 'no'. It makes me feel like the worst person in the world, and I have since learned to just say 'Olivia, no no' in a sweet voice. She's a sensitive girl (like her mama) and I love that about her.

-i love her curls so much, i can't even handle it.

She is lucky her daddy gave them to her. I know everyone with curls says how she'll hate it when she's older. Well don't worry, I'll be there to let her how hard life is when you have straight hair that won't even curl with a curling iron. Its hard guys ;)

-says 'uh-oh' (which sounds more like ah-oh) 'yeah' 'dada' & 'mama' (still only when she's crying)

-she loves to be sung to.

always has. sometimes she even 'sings' along. I can't really explain it but it is the sweetest thing ever.

-runs to the fridge when it opens.

She literally just stood in there. I had to pry her away so I could close it. Don't mind the mess that is our refrigerator.

-bounces

to music or really anything with a beat (including the dryer).

-she says yeah to everything.

we can now have hilarious conversations with her

ex: are you the cutest thing Olivia - "yeah"

do you love mommy and daddy - "yeah"

is daddy funny lookin - "yeah"

do love to pull mama's hair - "yeah"

and it goes on and on- the possibilities are endless

-I've been working on teaching her the sounds that animals make, and not really making any progress. She does laugh every time I say "ruff ruff" for a doggie, so I decided to focus on the sound a doggie makes since she LOVES dogs and seems to enjoy that one the most. Now when I ask her what sound a doggy makes she yells "YEAH YEAH"

-eats dirt.

(you can only say 'no no' so many times. sometimes you gotta let the kid make her own mistakes)

-She is great at walking, but she absolutely does not watch where she's going. She'll walk right into a table that's her height, because she's looking somewhere else. This also means that she frequently has a bruise on her forehead.

Does she not look like a 5 yr old here?

-she now has 2 teeth!

Her two front teeth are coming close behind, I can see them.

-teething...

...is not her favorite. She is a different baby when she's teething. Its almost crazy. One day she is her normal, happy, funny self, walking all over and playing independently, then the next day she is CLING-Y and literally will not let me put her down. Even when I'm holding her, she's crying. The poor poor thing. Its those days that I am the most worn out and don't know if I can have the patience for one more hour of non stop crying...but I do love the part where she's so cuddly and huggy. I always cuddle and rock her extra long on those days when putting her to sleep. Sometimes even letting her fall asleep in my arms which is a big no no, I know, but I can't help it. We both need it on those days.

Okay, I can't stand it. Here is one baby photo. Look at how tiny and chubby and bald she is!!! I love her!