Where did April go?

Part of my job as property manager is processing rent payments at the beginning of the month. I've gotten quicker at it, but it is still a tedious task that I don't always look forward to. I think the most annoying thing is waiting for all the tenants to finally decide to pay their rent. It forces me to stay extra organized to make sure I don't forget anything. Anyway, as I was processing rent earlier today it really hit me that it was already May. It feels like April just started the other day! Time goes by way to fast these days.

We've been busy as usual around here. I'm working really hard at getting all my units leased for August, Koby is still trying to finish up the huge tree planting project on campus and Olivia is busy crawling all over the house! She is saying little words (babbling would be a better description) and is still eating really well. Today she had prunes for the first time and seemed to like them just fine. I took her to the doctor earlier this week...I jumped the gun because it was just a cold. But, they weighed her and she's 20lbs! She is growing so quickly.

We took a trip to Dallas a couple of weeks ago and visited my new little niece Ashlyn. She is so sweet and tiny! I'd post a picture but I just realized that I didn't even take one! We also saw our friends the Team's and my best friend from high school JJ. It was a busy weekend, but I'm glad we made it up there. We always have lots of fun in the big D!

Emma and Olivia

Kenley was such a sweet cousin. She calls her "Olivia Kate!" Me and JJ
On the way to Dallas we stopped off and took some wildflower pictures. We were looking for bluebonnets, but I guess we waited too long because all we found were these little yellow flowers (which I don't know the name of). They were really tall so it was kind of hard to get a good picture but these were among my favorites.

Our next trip is coming up soon. We will be heading to Abilene for Mother's Day weekend. It will be my first MDay! I was pregnant last year and everybody said I was included, but I didn't agree. So now I can truly celebrate the blessing of having a sweet, loving, beautiful baby girl!

Speaking of mothers...Happy Anniversary momma (and dad)! Today is my parents 33rd anniversary! What an accomplishment!

Remember "the Blog"

Yes, it has been a very long time since I've posted. I think this might be becoming the rule rather than the exception. There is just waaaaayyyyy too much to do and I have to say that posting on the blog has not been up there on my priority list. But, I know there are some faithful followers out there that probably more than anything just want to see pictures of sweet Olivia. So, because it is already 10pm and I can hardly keep my eyes open...enjoy!

About a month ago...gazing up at her daddy

In Delaware

close up shot in NYC

playing outside on a nice day

eating some avocado

Home, sweet home

Olivia and I are back from our spring break travels and now I'm trying to play catch up with all my work stuff and just a few household things. We had such a great time visiting with Irene, Philip, James, John and Rosemary (and Fara too!). Olivia did so incredibly good on the airplane and I couldn't be happier with her cooperation.
But, now that we are home it is a different story. I guess she got used to being in my arms (or Irene's, or Philip's, or Fara's, or my dad's, or being entertained by the kids...) that now that we are home she is extremely fussy and annoyingly clingy. As in it feels like I came home with a different baby altogether. I'm hoping that as the week continues on that she will feel more at home and return to being the sweet, content baby that she is.
I will post trip details and pictures later...

We miss you Campbells!!!!!!!

Forever and a year

Okay, so sometimes when it's been a long time since something has happened you hear people say, "it's been forever!" But I thought I needed to add the "year" part because it's been an extra long time since I've blogged. ;)

My absence hasn't been because there's nothing to blog about. Lots has happened lately. Really I've just been busy with my new job. It's going great and I feel like I'm catching on to things but at least for now, it is taking up most of my free time. Thankfully, Olivia has consistently been taking 1 1/2 to 2 hour naps so I get most of my work done then.

Koby's been busy as ever at work. He has this huge tree planting project going on and has been coordinating it for a long time now. Last week was when the digging actually started and one of the contractors hit a gas line while he was digging. It was a HUGE mess. The media caught wind of it so it was all over the radio and the evening news. Koby was devastated. Texas A&M has this system called Code Maroon to alert all the students/faculty/staff when something goes on and they sent a big message (via e-mail and text) about the gas leak. So now, several of Koby's co-workers have taken to calling him Code Maroon. It's definitely not his favorite nickname!

Last week I made an emergency trip to Abilene because my dad had a mild heart attack. He is fine now (thank you Jesus) and will be making a trip to Delaware with me and Olivia. Oh, I guess I hadn't mentioned...I'M GOING TO DELAWARE!!!! I should be packing right now since I leave bright and early Monday morning, but I figured I needed get my blog fix and post some pictures. Olivia, my dad and I will be going to visit Irene, Philip and the kids. I can't wait! I believe a trip to NYC is also on the agenda!
(I just have to add in that when I got back from the long drive home from Abilene I walked in to the most immaculate home! Koby had spent the last few days cleaning the whole house. It was so refreshing I can't even describe it. The bathrooms were clean, floors were mopped and vacuumed, laundry washed and put up, microwave cleaned out...he even took the time to clean the washer and dryer! I think I'm going to keep him for another long while!)

Olivia is growing by leaps and bounds. She will be 6 months old next week and is eating some solid foods now. Mainly just rice cereal but I plan on introducing some veggies and fruits when I get back from Delaware. She is probably about 2 weeks away from crawling, at most. She's getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth quite a bit. I know I've said this a million times before and I know I'll continue to say it another million times in the future but, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST SHE IS GROWING!

Okay, I've got to go and get lots of stuff done because it's really an hour later than what the clock says....don't forget to turn you clocks forward an hour tonight or you'll be late to church tomorrow! Until next time!

Backward progess?

I needed to get some things done on the computer today so I put Olivia down on her tummy to play on her jungle mat in the living room. I knew she wouldn't be content for very long since she was getting a little bit tired, but I kept typing away at my e-mail just waiting for her to start fussing. Well, I guess I got carried away and then I realized that I hadn't heard her so I ran in the living room to find her content and staring up at the ceiling fan. I guess she figured she'd had enough tummy time and just wanted to hang out on the carpet! She is just growing so fast. She's also learning how to reach out for me when she wants to be picked up. It's pretty sweet!

I've been busy training for my new job this week and feel like things are going well. There is a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but the owners and my predecessor have assured me that they are only a phone call or e-mail away if I need them for anything. I'm still really excited about the job and so very thankful for the opportunity!

On another note, Olivia has been "sleeping through the night". I've found that this phrase is hard to define and varies from child to child, but she has been sleeping an average of 9 or 10 hours a night for the last week. Plus she's been taking about 1 1/2 hour nap in the afternoon. It has been wonderful!!!!! I am really enjoying this phase and I hope it lasts another good while! :)

She loves to reach out for the water spray at bath time and she has also decided that she likes to lounge in the tub. We used to contantly put her back in the "right" position but she always wiggled back to this position. Oh well, at least she's getting cleaned!

Back in the saddle again!

Whoohooo! I GOT THE JOB!! I went in for my official interview on Friday, then for a follow up interview yesterday and then shortly after noon today I got the offer! I am so excited and overwhelmed at the same time. I've known about this job for about a month now, but it seems like everything happened so quickly. This is literally an answer to our prayers.
You know, it's amazing how the Lord has provided for us over the years. I tend to get so caught up in me, me, me that I don't give credit where credit is due. I've taken so many "leaps of faith" only to credit myself when things work out in the end. So, Lord, I thank you. Thank you for giving your life just for me. I thank you!

Possibilites

Today I had an interview for a super cool job possibility. The position would let me stay at home with Olivia, make my own schedule and bring home enough bacon to make ends meet. :) If I get the job I'd be managing a group of 25 duplexes (50 units) for an owner that lives out of town. In my opinion, the interview went really smoothly and I felt confident that I didn't make a total fool of myself when I left. I should know if I got the job by Monday so stay tuned to find out!

Stuff

The winds of change have been blowing at the Weatherford house and the breeze feels good! I'm pretty sure we are over our first bout of baby sickness. Olivia is doing much better and when I took her in for her follow-up appointment everything looked good. To counter the imbalances caused by all the antibiotics she was on we started giving her some probiotics. This seems to be calming her stomach and letting her get a good nights rest. I hope I don't jinx us by sharing this but she is sleeping so much better now. It is wonderful!

Olivia has started becoming much more vocal. She'll squeal in delight and I've also found what seems to be a major tickle spot under her arm. There are few things as beautiful as the sound of her sweet laugh! She is also getting so strong. She's holding herself up when she is on her tummy and can pretty much roll over to her side without help.

Koby has been really busy at work lately. He's also been working an ongoing tree job on Saturday mornings to help pad the ever dwindling bank account. He is such a hard worker and good provider. I love the smile he gets when he comes home and holds Olivia. Of course, she is already daddy's little girl and bashfully smiles back at him!

An opportunity for a part time job has come up that I'm really excited about. One of the other young mothers that I go to church with has been working as a property manager for a small block of duplexes for a couple of years while she stays home with her baby. (is that a run on sentence?) Her husband recently lost his job so they are moving to Amarillo at the end of the month and she will be vacating the position. I spoke with her about it and it seems like a really good deal. The pay is good and the schedule is very flexible and laid back. Anyway, I will interview at the end of next week and know more sometime after that. Wish me luck and say lots of prayers between now and then.

Olivia Kate- 4 months old

How my baby has grown!

September 16th- (birthday)
8 lbs 5 oz
20 inches

October 1st-
9 lbs 5 oz
21 1/2 inches

November 20th-
12 lbs 12 oz
23 inches

January 3rd-
15 lbs 4 oz
26 inches

This girl is growing way too fast. I swear sometimes she looks bigger in the morning than she did the night before! She'll be 4 months old in a week and a half and she is already wearing all 6 month clothes.
She seems to be feeling better every day and is sleeping better at night. (YES!!) The antibiotics are a pain to give her because they don't taste yummy and sweet like the old pink stuff. This stuff is white and chalky. Yuck.
I know some of you want to see new pictures, but we haven't really taken any lately. I'll post some eventually. Have a great weekend!

Plans? What plans?

Well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Belated, I know, but don't people always say better late than never? :) Things have been crazy around here. Not the kind of fun crazy where you get to run around town and meet with friends or shop or go to the movies or go out of town. It's been almost boring crazy, if that makes any sense. My last day of work was Friday, the 21st and that is also when the official Christmas break began for Koby. I had plans. So many plans. Some of them big, some of them small...either way they were plans. But, I've realized that sometimes (especially when you have a small baby) things don't always go as planned.

I planned to catch up with some friends for lunch or dinner, or both...didn't happen.
I planned to work on my photo albums...didn't happen.
I planned to catch some of the after Christmas sales somewhere...didn't happen.
I planned to walk every single day...didn't happen.
I planned to get Olivia's ears pierced...didn't happen.
I planned to finish putting up some decorations in Olivia's room...didn't happen.
I planned to transition Olivia from sleeping in her bassinet to sleeping in her crib...didn't happen.

Okay, I think you get the point. Olivia has been sick since about Christmas Eve. At first we thought it was just a cold, but then after about a week she began having a fever so we took her in to see the doctor. She did have a cold, plus an ear infection. We started her on antibiotics expecting her to show some signs of improvement within about three days. Not so much. I took her to see the doctor today and now she has two ear infections and a new prescription for stronger antibiotics. I hate that she is sick and I hate that we have to give her strong medication that will probably give her an upset stomach. Selfishly, I also hate the fact that she is waking up just as often, if not more than she did when she was a newborn. I am exhausted all over again. Oh, and did I mention that in the middle of all of this we were "celebrating" Christmas and New Years? Honestly, I feel bad that both Koby's parents and my mom made the trip from Abilene to see us. At any given point at least one of us, and sometimes all three of us were in rotten moods. Can you say bah-humbug? Anyway, I'm hoping that we'll all get on the sunny side of life soon and get a better start to 2008.
In the meantime I have no plans...none, whatsoever! ;)