For you, Tia

I can't wait until the next time I get to see you, Tio, James, John and MoMary!
Love, Livi

I'm Confused

Here's the deal...I'm thinking that it is time to get Olivia a new car seat but I don't know which one to buy. As usual, I'm driving myself crazy trying to research and pick the "perfect" one. The problem with this is 1) I don't have time to thoroughly research every car seat out there and 2) the stores around here seem to carry a limited selection.

I know that I still want the option to keep her rear facing since I've read that this way is safest, but I would also like to have her forward facing for trips. The seat needs to be SAFE, comfortable, have a reclining function, good quality, affordable and it would be nice if it was cute! I don't want to spend a million bucks, but at the same time I know that most times you get what you pay for and when it comes to my baby girl's safety, there is no price too high.

So, PLEASE help me. If you know anything about a particular car seat, good or bad, please share.

9 Months and Counting

Hello Blogworld! We still exist!

It's been quite a while since I've been on here to blog. I've checked when friends updated but that's about it. We've basically been up to the same old same old around here. I've been crazy busy with work and so has Koby. Olivia is growing by leaps and bounds and we still can't believe that God has blessed us with such a beautiful, healthy baby. She has taught me so much about myself and life in general and she is only 9 months old!

Here are just a few facts about her since I haven't been good about keeping you up to speed:

• She sleeps all night (yes!) but has been waking up earlier and earlier lately. She was up by 7am today.
• Her bottom two teeth are completely in and has two more cutting in on top.
• She absolutely LOVES to play ball with Izzy. She cracks up like nothing else!
• She has really started to prefer her daddy at certain times. If we meet Koby for lunch she cries when he gets out of the truck and if he leaves the house in the evenings she follows after him and gets sad. :(
• She is learning the word "no"...mainly because we are trying to teach her to stay away from the dog food.
• Her favorite song is "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys. She dances to it and it melts my heart.
• She is a really good eater for the most. Her recent favorite is black beans and cherrios, not necessarily together.
• She says "mama", "hi", "bye-bye", and sometimes "da-da" and she also makes some really sweet sounds with her lips. It makes me smile.
• She is starting to test her balance and sometimes lets go of the furniture when she is standing up. She took a couple of steps the other day with Koby holding both her hands.

There's probably much more but I can't think of anything else. Oh, I did take her for her 9month well check yesterday and she weighs 20lb 10oz and is 29in tall. I think the doctor said that puts her in the 90th percentile for height and 75 for weight so I think she is thinning out a little bit. She still has the yummiest little thighs tough!

We are looking forward to a visit from Koby's brother and his wife. They are coming to visit over the 4th of July weekend from Reno, NV. They own a gym called Freestyle Martial Arts. They have never been to College Station and we haven't seem them since Christmas of 2004 so it is a really special visit. Also, I have my 10 year high school reunion coming up in August! I cannot believe I have been out of high school for 10 years!

Until next time...bye!

My sweet angel

Olivia is 8 months old! How time flies...

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!