Music and the Spoken Word

Every Sunday morning, we watch "Music and the Spoken Word" together as a family. I didn't think Olivia would be very entertained by it. Boy, was I wrong! She absolutely loves to listen to the MoTab! Olivia will actually sit and watch the entire half hour program, then get upset when it is over.

This last Sunday Olivia especially enjoyed it. She kept telling us about all "the jingle bells and pretty music." I love that she enjoys music so much. She will get up and dance to just about anything! Her new dance is to gallop (she just mastered it in dance class.) Even when we are at stores, she will gallop. What a cutie!

What a Little Stinker!!

Lately we have been struggling at bedtime. I don't understand, but Olivia has been getting up 1 to 3 times a night for the past 2 weeks. She has always been such an amazing sleeper (we really are spoiled!) We can't seem to pinpoint what the problem is. We've tried milk (because she asks for it when she wakes up), changing her diaper, rocking her and letting her scream it out. Nothing seems to make a difference. So Wednesday night, Liv and I did the bedtime routine and I went downstairs to get some things done. Then I hear, "Mommy. Mommy. MOMMY!" So I went upstairs to see what was going on. And this is what I saw when I entered . . .

Oh yes, this is my completely naked child! So I thought I had better make this a funny memory or I may get angry (remember, I haven't had more than a few hours of sleep a night for about 1 1/2 weeks.) I left her there and ran downstairs to grab the camera. After I took this picture, I proceeded to pick up her diaper and pj's. And it doesn't end there. I stepped in a small wet spot on the carpet, looked up and realized she had peed all over her bed. Bumpers, sheet and carpet! What a little stinker! You are probably thinking to yourself, "maybe she is getting interested in potty training!?" I thought the same thing. No, she isn't. Since the "occurrence" I have tried a little harder on the P.T. thing with no luck. Sigh, maybe one day she will stop being so stubborn! Until then, I will think about this and laugh.

Olivia and Hailey

This is the newest addition to the Hendrickson family, Hailey Ann Maughan. We went to visit Ryan, Jen and Hailey last week. I was really worried how Olivia was going to act. She never sees me holding other babies/kids. As you can tell from these pictures, she absolutely LOVES her new cousin. I think that Olivia held Hailey more than Dave and I did combined! Olivia can call her Hailey, but prefers to call her "Tiny Baby" and is constantly patting her tummy. She was so proud that she was able to hold Hailey, "By myself!" (or so she thought!)
When she started to act disinterested, I would try to move Hailey. Boy, that was such a bad idea! Olivia just wanted Hailey on her lap at all times. It was so fun to see the Maughan family and glad that we were able to spend some time with our new niece and cousin.

I Can Do It Myself

About 2 weeks ago, my mom found a book that I use to love as a kid. It is a Sesame Street book about 'I can do it myself' The book talkes about making your bed, brushing your teeth, and putting on your shoes. Then it says, "I can do it myself" Our smartie never misses a thing. She has been telling us that she can, "Do it myself!" About 1 week after reading this book with her, I found her putting on her shoes and saying to herself, "I do it myself!" She even velcro'd them! She was so proud of herself! And so was I! I can't believe how big she is getting. Now whenever you try to put her shoes on her, she gets mad and lets you know that she can do it herself.
I was totally impressed that she got them on the right feet! She actually puts them on right about 80% of the time. Way to go, Liv!

Shh, Olivia's Sleeping!

On December 1st, Dave and I were upstairs getting ready while Olivia was downstairs watching a show. Dave went to check on Livie. He came back upstairs and said, "You'd better come see this, you might be mad!" I thought, "Oh, great! Liv's into the DVD's again and has made a huge mess!" We walked downstairs and found Olivia like this ... Wow! She must have been really tired! I love that she crawled up on the couch to sleep. What a cutie!

Edible Finger Painting

What a fun project! I was really suprised how clean Olivia stayed. I thought it was going to be much worse!

It took her quite a while to warm up to the idea of sticking her fingers into it! But once she got the hang of it, she was all for it. She especially enjoyed licking it off her fingers.
We really liked using our edible "paintbrushes" but next time I will totally use unsalted pretzels or maybe cereal straws.

Mmm marshmallows. Olivia loves marshmallows!

Painting and eating marshmallows at the same time. What a multi-tasker! That's my girl!

I love her "Say cheese" smile. Can't wait to do this activity again!

Daddy and Olivia

We are so glad that this semester is over. David did very well in his classes, but it does not come without a price. He has been gone so much! Olivia has really missed him. I found them one morning watching TV. David said that Olivia pulled him down to the ground and snuggled right in to her Daddy. He absolutely loved it! I think he missed her just as much as she missed him!

Today's the Day!!

So, I have been telling Dave for the past few weeks (actually been dreading it ever since she turned one!) that we needed to start saving up for a big girl bed. Well, today proved to be the day. Olivia fell out of her crib. Poor thing was so shocked she didn't even cry! I did though! I was kinda hoping that she could stay in her crib until about eighteen! Sigh, guess I know what we will be doing this weekend! Any opinion on toddler vs. regular bed?