It's been a long time since we have updated the blog. We have been so busy. Lets see...we have been to visit Grandma and Papa in Ft. Macleod for the last weekend of the summer. Then it became fall here and cooled off so fast - which was nice. And it gives Olivia lots of opportunity to show off her new waredrobe. We have been shopping lots, to get some of these new items for winter, including a full head to toe snow suit, oh the joys of living in Canada!

Olivia is trying to walk and doing really well holding on to the furniture and her little walker. She is so busy exploring everything and she has started to really play with Rascal and that is so fun to watch. Not sure what Rascal thinks though. She also walks across the room with the walker and waves "bye-bye" as she moves along!

We are having lots of fun...its hard to believe she is almost 10 months old!!So, here are some pictures of Olivia and her accomplishments; they are in backwards order because I can't figure out how to put them in the correct order with this blog!

Visit to Arkansas

We had a nice visit with Family and friends in Arkansas last week. The Giesecke's were there too so it was the first time Olivia got to meet her cousins and aunt and uncle. Sebastian although only 4 1/2 months almost weighs as much as Olivia but he is still a little baby. This is Sebastian and Max playing on the floor...

Olivia got to hang out at Grandpa's Restaurant and have lunch with Granna and her uncles Marco and Mario.
Oh, and we can't forget that she has mastered the stairs at Grandmama's house.

And when she saw Max having a little snack, she needed one too.

Olivia is a busy little one - on the brink of being a toddler! She was pulling up on everything in sight and pushing the coffee table around as a walker.

And sometimes hiding under it!

We tried to get a picture of the babies with Grandpa on the couch but the wiggles got the best of them both and well, Grandpa looks happy right in the middle!!

A good time was had by all! We can't wait until we can visit again.

Some new pics to share:

Olivia reading the Sunday flyers.

She made it! Crawled to the top of the stairs!

8 months old and sitting pretty in the big chair...

But not for long!

Growing up

Peek a boo is a fun game. Especially after naptime. Olivia is now standing up in her crib and looling out for me to come and get her once she is awake. It is the cutest thing to see her there looking out. For one thing, I can't believe how much she has grown! She looks so tall and chubby standing there. I think somedays she grows just in the time she is sleeping at naptime. It is a wonderful feeling to see the look on her face when I come into her room, she just lights up. And she gives Ian that same look when he gets home from work. She is a sweet HART!

Olivia was 8 months old yesterday. I finally got a picture that shows her 2 teeth on the bottom there. This is in the tub having a grand ol time. She has graduated to the big tub and loves it in there.Just like a little fish.

As you can see, Olivia has been very busy. She is crawling everywhere and Rascal is just not too sure about this. He can't figure out if she is playing with him or just after his toys. After a while, Rascal just takes off with the toy, sometimes his own and sometimes hers.

Olivia loves to play with all those toys on the floor. But if "Neighbourhood Animals" by Baby Einstein or "Baby Neptune" is on, she is mezmorized by the TV.

Thankfully, all this activity is making for some really good naps! She is in a good routine now and just growing up so fast. She will be 8 months next week! "Inconceivable!"

So, Olivia looks like "what the heck is going on here, I thought this was a BABY pool"! Ian decided to see if he could fit in there with her and thought Rascal may like it too. (Rascal HATES water by the way). It was definitly a Kodak moment for me. Next year we will have to get a bigger pool so everyone can fit.

Olivia is offically crawling! It is fun to see her just head for the door, out into the hall, and after Rascal. He better watch out she will be after him and his toys all the time now.

She still hasn't let me take a picture of those little teeth of hers but we will get them sooner or later.

Naked Baby shot!!!

Felicia didn't want this picture on the site, but(no pun intended)I'm going to put it on anyway. It will probably get taken off, so look fast. She is on the way to the tub.

Happy belated Canada Day and Fourth of July! We have been busy visiting family down in Fort Macleod. We had such a good time seeing Brenda and Klaas, Kaylen and Garrett. We had a little time to take a family photo, only Jaime is missing. We missed you Jaime!! But, I think Bob can photo shop her in! Rascal even made the picture, but he is hiding behind Olivia.

In other news...Olivia has 2 teeth!! The bottom two have popped up in the last two weeks. There were no signs like the hot red cheeks, little fever or anything! It was just that one morning she smiled and I said "I see a tooth!!" We have no pictures yet, as it is hard to get her to open her mouth at the same time the camera is there for the camera is way too interesting. When she does open for us, I will be sure to get a picture for everyone.

Olivia has also started to attempt crawling. She was going backwards for a while but has started to move forward now and can do a 360 on her belly to turn around. I have tried to get her to crawl for one of her toys, sometimes she does, but what interests her more?...Rascals toy, as you can see here!

It is finally summer here in Calgary!!! Thank goodness. We have been waiting through the rain and clouds and today the sun was shining! Yea!


The summer weather has allowed Olivia to wear her fashionable summer wardrobe that many people have contributed to. I love the little "romper" outfits, they really show off her cute little fat thighs!


Olivia enjoyed it so much she refused to go down for her nap. So, we decided to hve her take a little dip in the pool. She loved it! Mostly she loved the little floaty butterfly and ladybugs, as you can see. Lil Rascal liked it too, he thought it was a giant water dish and took a few sips here and there.

She is sporting her little baby bikini with little hearts on it! It is so adorable, as you can imagine!!!
More fun in the sun to follow!!

Fun in the sun. On Father's Day we had a little BBQ for family and friends. Olivia and Trystan enjoyed sitting in the grass playing for a while. This one looks like they are holding hands, some of the other pictures included a Lil Rascal blur and Olivia with Trystan's entire leg in her hand! This one is obviously the best pic! Can't wait to see them in the little baby pool when the weather warms up.

Olivia also got to finally meet her cousin Garrett from Boise, ID and she seems to think he is pretty cute. I think he thought she was pretty cute too!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I thought I better sneak down here and post a little message to Olivia's Daddy on Father's Day.

A long time ago, Ian said he just couldn't see himself with kids and wasn't sure about the baby thing. When we found out we were pregnant, that all changed...and you should see him now. His face lights up at just the thought of his little angel and he loves every minute of being a daddy. I have never heard him complain, even at a diaper change!

He remains in such awe as she does new things, and he loves to make her laugh. I know he can't imagine what his life would be like with out her!

So, Happy Father's Day to Olivia's Daddy - I love you, Ian.

(Of course, he is a great Daddy to Lil Rascal too!)

What's for dessert?

Sometimes dessert doesn't go quite right. So our saying has become "when in doubt make trifle"...but BABY TRIFLE? It was a chance too cute to pass up for Ian as supper was being cleaned up and there was the trifle bowl, just sitting there empty. I mean where else should we sit the baby? And of course this counts as one of our many stupid parent tricks. The great thing is Olivia seems to really enjoy it or well, not complain. She's probably thinking, "what have they got me into now??"

I suppose thats why they have the BUMBO chair, so parents don't put their babies in trifle bowls!!

Bunnies... Bunnies...... Bunnies

Comfy bathrobe

Sitting up by herself now

Before bathtime is her playtime on the bed. She now sits up by herself and seems to like having her picture taken more now.

It is unbelievable that Olivia is 6 months old today. How she is growing so fast! She had her shots today to celebrate. Olivia weighed in at exactly 16 pounds and she is 25 1/2 inches long. ( I think she is going through a growth spurt right now because she is eating lots and being a bit fussy.)

A baby growing up is a hard thing for mommies to see especially when she is out growing her clothes, that are so cute, so fast. So, the picture above is of Olivia in her pink jeans, which I LOVE, and she is wearing them for the last time. Her little thunder thighs are too big! (hee hee) The bonus about the growing is that I just get to shop for more pink jeans!!!

6 Months Old Today

Getting ready for Summer with a new pool. Complete with palm tree. She also got a Leap Pad so she can read along with stories and music and non ripping pages (I'm that will get tested)

A Star is Born

So, this is Olivia out in her swing on the deck! Does she look like a movie star or what? I don't know who has more fun - Me dressing her up to look so cute or Ian taking all the pictures.

It is our May long weekend this week so we are getting the yard ready for summer. I am sure we will have lots of pictures to share after the weekend seeing as how the weather is so great and Olivia is so photogenic!

Summer Days

It feels like summer here and Olivia has got the hang of it in her little summer outfit. She is enjoying sitting on the deck - in the shade of course - and going for walks with Lil Rascal. This picture just made me smile, so I thought I would share it with you! Just wait til you see the one with the sunglasses on!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!

Pre dinner pics