Happy Birthday Griffin!

Today we celebrated Griffin's 1st birthday! What a gorgeous day it was today! Griffin had Tammy from Lasting Moments by Tammy there taking pictures.  Olivia was so excited to see her and gave her some smiles! We saw all of our friends.  We had snacks and drinks and played.  Griffin did a good job with his cake and didn't get to messy.  Olivia had fun playing with the bubble machine and bubbles!  We are so glad we got to celebrate Griffin's special day with him.  We are so happy to have met him at Gymboree last summer!

Happy birthday kiss!

The chair that Olivia loved!

playing outside

Bubbles!

The birthday boy!

Violet and Bianca

Time for some cake!

No don't take my cake!

Olivia eating cucumbers and pointing at daddy!

Happy Rebirthday Karyn!

Last night we celebrated something really special! One year ago yesterday (May 18, 2011) our neighbor Karyn received a second chance at life.  Karyn has/had Wilson's Disease which affects the liver.  She has been off an on sick for many years.   But shortly after Olivia was born she got worse.  She got so bad that she was put on the transplant list to receive a new liver.  There was lots of waiting, hoping, and praying for her and her family.  Then the call finally came they had a lover for her.  I still remember finding out and calling Brendon and he couldn't even understand what I was saying! Shortly after the transplant she returned home and had an awesome recovery.  God truly gave her a miracle and a second chance at life.  It was amazing to see how fast she recovered and seeing her laugh and smile.  We had a small gathering last night for her and had some cake and ice cream to celebrate such a special day.  I know that Brendon and I are organ donors, and if you are not you should think about becoming one.  After Karyn's transplant we realized how special life is and to cherish every moment!

Heavy lifter!

Olivia has lately started carrying stuff around.  It started with a blanket, then her lawnmower, and today her 2 dogs- one stuffed and one that is a pull toy.  It is funny.  Also today she carried her ladybug pillow around and then would do a belly flop on it.  Too funny! Brendon got a great shot showing her top teeth too!

Olivia went grocery shopping with daddy too and did a great job.  We all went for a quick family swim today since it was warm.  Olivia cried a little bit at first but then was fine.  She is really chomping on her fingers and lots of other things....so those teeth must be coming but I can't quite see anything yet.  I feel the bumps from brushing but can't get her to open wide enough to see.

Look at my top teeth while doing belly flops on the ladybug!

I like to lift heavy things!

Melted my Heart

Today was Olivia's last day of daycare for awhile.  I picked some dates in June and July for her to go so she doesn't forget who Susan is! I got a big surprise when I picked her up today! I got my Mother's Day present! Susan painted canvases and Olivia's finger prints are the flower stems and ladybugs.  It is sooo cute! I cried...I just love homemade crafts and this just melted my heart. Then when I got home my other Mother's Day present came.  It is a necklace from The Vintage Pearl I tried to take a picture of it but they were all blurry.  So if you click on the link it will take you to what it looks like but mine says Olivia with her birthstone.

Olivia took a long nap and I tackled a long to do list which I am almost finished with.  Olivia also taught herself to sit in her little green chair tonight.  She knows to turn around and then sit.  It was hilarious to watch her figure it out.  She needs a little help because she sticks her leg through the one arm though.  But she was really fussy tonight after dinner and playing outside.  I could say we may have had a little tantrum.  She cried when I took something away from her- oh well.  Then she cried the entire bath which is not like her.  I know she is not the happiest because of all the teeth so hopefully she will sleep ok tonight.

Reading my books

My first painting from Olivia

Another lesson learned

Throughout these almost 14 months I have learned a lot of things.  Well I learned something new today.  After Gymboree today we met up with Michelle and Ethan, and Bianca and Violet to check out the fountain at the mall.  So I put a swim diaper on Olivia and her bathing suit.  Well the water pressure at this fountain was much stronger than the fountains we went to a few weeks ago in Suwanee.  Olivia did not like it at all.  She touched the water once and that was about it.  So she ate some snacks and hung out in her stroller.  So I figured since she didn't get her bathing suit wet she could just wear what she had on home.  Well what do you know when I lifted her out of the car seat when I got home my arm and leg got wet and I thought, "That was weird." Well... the swim diaper doesn't hold a lot of pee when you are not in the water.  Lesson learned...don't wear swim diapers in the car... Her car seat was all wet and it even got the seat of the truck wet.  Fun times...trying to clean up pee when the garage is like 100 degrees.  In fact I need to go check on it again....

Violet in her swimming suit!

Olivia- let me back in the stroller

Ethan and his super cute frog hat!

Olivia has ticklish feet

Holy Molars!

Holy Molars! That is what all the fuss is about- I felt them tonight brushing her teeth and they feel more swollen than yesterday.  This afternoon she was pretty fussy off and on.  She would be happy and then cry.  But she did take a nap after awhile when I put her down.  Brendon had fun with her this morning and took her outside to play a bit.  The funniest thing today was Olivia brought me a diaper.  We still have the Pack and Play downstairs and she walked over and brought me a diaper from the diaper holder.  I put it back and then about 2 minutes later she brought it again to me.  I guess she was telling me that she needed a diaper change and she did! Such a smart girl! We went back outside after dinner and did some bubbles and of course walking up the driveway.

Magnets...they stick together!

Close up

I love Jake!!