Poodles in the Bed!

For some reason (still unknown to me), Jason placed Gracie in Olivia's bed.

If you aren't a dog lover, I'm sure this absolutely disgusts you.

Our dogs don't sleep with us, but they do cuddle with us in the bed. They don't shed and they normally don't smell bad (not like most big dogs). It works for us.

When Jason told me he put Gracie in the bed, I cracked up. I wanted to see for myself, so I made him do it again this weekend. They both loved it. Gracie just wagged and wagged her tail and Olivia just acted really silly.

My two sweet girls!

Not really related (other than the black poodle that's also in this bed), but Olivia sleeps with all of these babies every night...plus 2 more tiny ones. Every morning, she makes us put them all back in the doll crib. And every night, we have to put them one by one back in her bed to sleep. I'm trying to get her down to just 2-3 babies a night!

Olivia is such a sweet little mommy. Tonight, when I put her to bed, she had one of the babies laying next to her and she was rubbing and patting it...just like I pat her. She seriously melts my heart on a daily basis!

Art and Music

Olivia loves to color. She will color forever with both crayons and markers. Here she is a few days ago creating a masterpiece.

Side note: The table was a birthday gift from my mom. Isn't it cute?

Aunt Emily gave her some finger paints for her birthday. They were Color Wonder finger paints....so no mess. She LOVED it.

O also loves music. She loves to sing and dance. We pay extra for her to go to music class once a week at daycare. Daddy even gets up extra early to take her. Sometimes I tell him to just skip it and he says "Nooooo....she loves music class". Such a good daddy.

I have several children's CD's we like to play in the car. She loves to sing with me. I love that she's started to really pick up on the words and tries to really sing along with the real words.

I hope she also enjoys school and learning one day. The majority and artists and musicians don't make much of a living. And as much as I love her, I don't think I want her living with me when she's 35!

Pink Poodle 2nd Birthday Party

We had Olivia's 2nd birthday party this past weekend with family and closest friends. We had a pink poodle party, and we had the best two mascots ever (Gracie & Bentley). We had a total of six kids (including Olivia). They had a good time playing, eating and getting all sugared-up!

For those who weren't able to make it, no worries. My cousin Shelby managed to take over 200 pictures of the day so we'll always be able to remember it!

The party favors were cookies (below) and magnets (above). My mom made the magnets out of scrabble tiles. They are SUPER strong magnets for such small magnets! They can basically be made with any design you want. If you are interested in some, let me know and I'll pass the info along to her. They'd make great little gifts. I know she is planning on created an Etsy store, but not sure when the will happen!

After playing outside for a bit, we came in to eat. This messy-haired girl LOVED oreos. I think it was most likely her first time having them. Hope I haven't created a cookie monster!

Wyatt, who will turn 2 in a couple of weeks

Olivia and Hudson

Maggie

Opening presents. Thanks everyone for all the great toys and clothes!

Gram E bought this "Olivia-sized" baby grand piano. All the kids loved it.

Hudson "explaining" to the kids why it's his turn to play the piano.

He played HARD. I know what Santa needs to get him next year!

Time for cake!

She was embarrassed when everyone began singing.

After cake and presents, we went back outside and played with the dogs. Maggie LOVES animals, so she was loving it (see background with her and Gracie).

Olivia pushing Turner in the car.

Little Diva Maggie in Olivia's new chair

Attempt at getting the four of them in a picture.

THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME AND HELPED US CELEBRATE OLIVIA'S 2ND YEAR!

2 Year Check-Up

I took off work on Friday to clean house and get ready for the birthday party. Olivia also had her 2 year old checkup, which included 1 shot (which she took like a champ).

The doctor said she seemed to be doing great and that it was really nice to see her well for a change! I agree! We discussed milestones and discipline. She commented on how well-behaved Olivia was, which made me feel SO good. She told me to keep doing what we have been doing as it's working. It's nice to hear sometime that you are doing a good job as a parent, as I think we all question our parenting skills at one point or another!

Weight: 26 pounds (around 50th percentile)

Height: 34 1/2 inches (around 75th percentile)

These pictures aren't at all relevant to the doctor visit (except they were taken on the same day). Olivia put her baby in the back of her tricycle. She's such a sweet little mommy and is always concerned about her babies. It just makes my heart melt!

LOVE this girl

1-20-11

Olivia's turned two on 1/20/11. It's so hard to believe that my BABY is two!

I made cupcakes for Olivia to take to school. They had a little mini-party for her, and I'm sure they had a good time!

As it was a "school night" and since her party was going to be in two days, we decided to just stay at home and have a regular evening. We went ahead and gave Olivia her gift (in addition to the picnic table we had already given her). She LOVES her little tricycle. I'm sure it will take a while for her to figure out how to ride it properly, but she definitely manages to get around!

All The Single Ladies...

I'm participating in Kelly's Korner - Show Us Your SINGLE Friends/Family! She did it last year and 2 couples are now engaged. Crazy! I have 3 fantastic single ladies I'd like to share with you; unfortunately, I'm only going to be able to share 2 at this time! I may come back and add the third later when I can gather some pictures of her!

CLANCY

Clancy is 31 and looking for that special man to share her future with. She was born and raised in Hope, AR and loves her AR roots, the Razorbacks, friends and family. She crossed the border to Texas to attend Stephen F Austin and graduated with a degree in Hospitality. She completed an internship in New York City and loved her time in the Big Apple. She returned to Texas and has been in Dallas since 2002 working in sales.

Unlucky in love. Clancy is divorced and the mother of two of the most beautiful children in the world (and I have one of my own!). She has sacrificed some career advancements to be a part time stay at home mom. She is an extremely dedicated mom and is doing a wonderful job raising her children. She is somehow able to manage work, children and a home completely on her own and I rarely hear her complain about any of it. She even mows her own yard...something I've only done once in my life!

She loves the Lord. Her church and church family have been most important in her life during the transition to single mom. She is grateful to her church family and she knows and believes there is that special someone for her in her future. She loves Life. She loves to have fun and loves to be active. She loves to cook, loves photography, loves the beach in Destin, the lake in Hot Springs and loves to travel. She is a romantic!! She is compassionate, caring and ready to meet that special someone! Please post with your email address so we can get in touch with you!

DEBORAH

Deborah will probably kill me for putting her out there like this, but I figure "why not"?! Deborah is 34, divorced and the mother of two small children (7 years and 2 years). I have worked with Deborah for several years and have become pretty close over the past 2-3 years. She loves her children more than anything in the world and would do anything for them. They come first in her life. Deborah works full time with an hour commute and then goes home to take care of two children on her own. I'm not sure how she does it without going completely crazy! I know being a single mom has to be tough, especially when the father of the children travels year round. Deborah is stronger than she even knows. She even recently learned to change her taillight in her car and fix the disposal....two things I know I've never even attempted! Ha.

Deborah loves country music (although listens to pop as well). She loves all things Disney and has been to Disney World the past two summers. She often refers to movies and songs from the 80's and makes fun of me for never knowing any of it! She carries with her a touch of sarcasm most of the time, although the more I've gotten to know her, I've come to realize that she has a very caring heart and isn't as tough as she'd like you to think!

Deborah is looking for a friend, a companion, someone who will love her for who she is, someone that is mature and responsible, and someone that will treat her and her children with respect. If you know or are that person, please post with your email address!

P.S. The best advise I could ever give you is to never, ever call her "Debi"! It's either Deb or Deborah!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

YOU ARE TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday to the most precious little girl in the world!

We love you to pieces!!!!

More to come on Olivia being two.....but it will have to wait another day or two! I just couldn't let the day go by without sharing that today is her birthday!!!