2 Good Causes- Can you help?

In the next few weeks our family will be participating in a few worthy causes.  If you would so like- take time to read this post and follow the directions if you would like to donate.

First event: March of Dimes March for Babies- Saturday April 28th

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. I'm walking in March for Babies because I want to do something about this. And I need your help.

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Please click on the link below to go to my personal page to make a donation if you would like to
http://www.marchforbabies.org/melissabga

Second event: Relay for Life on May 4th
This year, over 1.4 million Americans will hear the words "You have cancer". I know too many people who are touched by cancer, and that is why I have joined the American Cancer Society on a mission to save lives and create a world with more birthdays by participating in the Relay For Life in my community.

At Relay For Life we celebrate loved ones who have won their battle against cancer, remember those who are no longer with us, and fight back against this disease that touches so many. I am determined to make a difference, and I hope you will join me.

Please, support me in my efforts by using the link below to visit my personal web page and make a donation. Every dollar raised brings us one dollar closer to a cure, and to a time when the number of people who have to hear the words "you have cancer" is zero.

Thank you so much for your support. Together, we ARE saving lives and creating a world with more birthdays!

Please click on the link below to donate:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=3659531&pg=personal&fr_id=39714

13 Months Old

Drinking from a different cup

Mommy's hard earned Cheerios

Back away from my Cheerios

13 months old!

Olivia is 13 months old today! I can't believe she is 1 year and 1 month old.  Brendon tried a new cup with her this morning with her milk and had success.  I ran the Cheerios Challenge 10K this morning and brought Olivia some hard earned Cheerios from the race.  After her nap we played outside for a bit and Kristy came over to visit.  Olivia was so happy to see her.  After her afternoon nap we had a few more steps.  We set up some chairs that were too close to hold on to and we had a few steps.  We are anxiously awaiting her to walk. I admit I am still impatient about it.  But today lots of standing and not holding on to things and a few steps = success!

P.S. I am not sure why the pictures posted first......

So in Love

Sometimes I can't believe how in love you can be with your child.  We love Olivia oh so much.  She has started doing some kisses.  It is very cute.  But love that one feels for a child is indescribable.  There are moments that I want to last forever even if it is moments like throwing her food on the floor because one day I know she will stop and I will miss picking up all that food on the floor.

Olivia is so in love with Jake.  Poor Jake though.  He just doesn't realize that she loves him.  I got some pictures tonight of Olivia checking out his ears.  She also loves his tail, especially when it wags.  Hopefully he will realize she is doing this out of love and not to bother him.

Tonight during her bath time I got some ma sounds.  Not together like mama but random ma.  Right now as she is laying in her crib she is making more of them.  Maybe we are close to mama. I also got her to point to my nose- now we need to work on pointing to her nose!

Freeze!

Olivia loves to look at this picture of herself...she thinks it is so funny.

Close up

Playing with Jake's ears

Let me check this one out

oh wow...there are 2 of them!

Petting Jake nicely. 

Top teeth and milk

The top teeth are really coming down so that equaled some increase of fussiness today.  This morning she was not happy about breakfast at all.  For switching to all milk today she did great.  She had some this morning in a sippy cup and this afternoon too in the cup.  I noticed today she was doing some weird stuff with her lips- I think she was just feeling her teeth with them but now she has a little blister.  Hopefully it will go away over night.  For her bedtime milk I started it in the cup and she drank about half of it.  I think it was rubbing on her lip so I switched to a bottle and she finished the rest.  I am hoping to be bottle free soon! It would be great! I even felt some relief today about not making bottles.  Boy how just one thing changes routine and makes life easier. 

Tonight we saw our first bunny of the year.  Jake and Olivia watched it out of the doors.  Olivia also discovered that Jake has ears today.  She thought it was funny to flop them around while watching the bunny.  Also Olivia today started putting shapes in her shape sorter.  I have been practicing with her forever on this and finally today she started putting the shapes in the right place.  I was so proud of her! It is the littlest things like that that just amaze me! She seems to do something everyday to surprise us!

Loving my Dr. Seuss book with flaps

Touching Jake's fur

The weird lip stuff

More lip face

Checking out the bunny together

Just being cute with Jake

Bye bye Similac...Hello Milk!

Ahhh.... finally the transition is over.  I finished the last 2 scoops of Similac today!! Oh how I felt some relief as I put the plastic canister in the garbage.  I know it probably took longer than it should to transition to milk but when we were doing 1/2 formula 1/2 milk we ran out of formula so I bought a small can of it.  Well when you are only using less than 3 scoops a day it takes a long time to get rid of! But starting tomorrow all milk all the time! Yipee!!

We went to Gymboree today and Olivia had her first Level 3 class.  She did pretty well.  She was pretty excited at the beginning of class.  Thankfully there are other almost-walkers like her. She didn't cry at all and climbed over the center they had set up last week that she couldn't get all the way over.  She reached up for the bubbles today which was fun to see. It is so much to see her grow and change every day!

Olivia loves playing with her stinky socks

Hi mommy!

close up of socks

Bye bye Similac...

Hello milk!! I know there are 3 kinds...we all drink different kinds!

LONG Day

Today was  a super long day... I am about on my last leg.  It started early at 5 a.m.  When we use daycare that is what time I have to get up... I need an extra 1/2 hour just for Olivia stuff.  I didn't get the greatest amount of sleep last night either... whatever is blooming is flaring up my allergies.  So dropped her off at 7 a.m. picked her back up at 11:50ish.  Then came home for a bit and then dropped Olivia off at Michelle's house.  Michelle is such a wonderful friend and helped us out when we didn't have a sitter.this afternoon.  Her and Nikki played great while they were together.  It was funny to see them playing and talking together!  Then Michelle and Brad made us dinner.  This was so great since it was such a long day for both of us.  We are so thankful to Michelle and Brad for watching Olivia and for dinner!!

Ahhh....so tired going to be sleepy time soon....

I like Michelle's fridge too!

Uh oh- double trouble already...

Nikki says- I'm out of here.  I am not getting in trouble!

Beautiful Disaster

Olivia is literally a tornado! We really need to start teaching her to clean up her toys and books.  I tried to show her tonight but every time I put something in the baskets, she just took them out! So that is why I call her a beautiful disaster because she looks so cute making her mess.

She is OBSESSED with books.  She loves to turn the pages and looks at the pictures.  She even knows how the book should go (not upside down).  Sometimes I can't even read them to her because she rips them out of my hands or just moves on to the next book. 

I also found a new snack for her today.  Publix had Goldfish crackers Buy 1 Get 1 Free.  Well when I was looking at them I happen to notice there are BABY Goldfish.  I am not sure if they are truly meant for babies but they are a tad smaller than the regular Goldfish.  I tested them out with Olivia today and she loved them.  She ate them all up! She also tried some zucchini tonight that was mixed in her pasta and she ate that all up too! Her eating style has no pattern...one day she is starving and other days she hates everything...

Love mommy's flip flops!

Book mess..

Now on to the toy basket

Moments later...notice Elmo is not is the basket anymore

What can I play with now?

The Beautiful Disaster

Olivia the super couponer

I like coupons!

I like coupons just like my mommy.  On Sundays my mommy and daddy like to read thew newspaper.  Mommy then likes to cut out the coupons.  I really try to help her with this...I do.  I love the pictures and the crinkly sounds the coupons make.  Mommy likes the sound they make at the cash register better.  So this morning I played with the coupons! I had fun until mommy took them away.

I also got to play outside for a little bit today.  I took the the lion for a walk and played in my sneakers.  I had a little trouble at first with them and then I was fine with them. 

After my afternoon nap I got to swing for a bit while daddy cooked on the grill.  It was a fun! The past 2 nights I haven't wanted to go to bed though.  I have been crying =( Mommy rocks and sings to me though... I like it!

XOXO

Olivia

coupons

coupons with messy hair

What's that?

What is on my feet?

Back porch flowers