Roll Class!

Olivia's first day of school was a success - she'll be going back...just not today. We rolled class and watched 'crete instead! On her first day she had to go to the office because she was on hunger strike...and now day 2 she didn't show up and mom didn't call. We got busted by the skip patrol. Oops. But my check cleared...so I'm not crying too much. I can already tell we're going to be 'those parents'...

First Day Outfits

I think there is a song from Annie that says You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile! Well no first of anything is complete with out a new outfit, hairdo, purse or something around here. Olivia is gifted with the DIY parents that we are - so her first day at school included a new outfit (of course). Only this outfit was more functional that normal. It included a letter from 'Olivia' to her teachers about what she likes and a translation of her sounds and peculiar movements. Like for example she will hit her belly with her hands when she wants to be picked up or if you cough she'll laugh. We kept it a big secret and dressed her in some overalls so the letter would be found by the teachers sometime during the day. Just a brief reminder she has people who love her and we'll get you if you hurt her... I also included some marks on the sleeves that said "I'm the new Kid" and "Its my FIRST day!" And one extra special message in a quirky place that pointed out Jon's favorite fact - "Diaper rash free - so far!!" I chose not to mention the wireless camera I had rigged up i and that she can text us on her own personal blackberry.

Pouring on Friday

Generally, you don't want to ever hear these words in Seattle (we do more than we'd like) - unless it means concrete! That's right we're POURing on Friday!!! The concrete man just keeps coming back. Its almost 500 square feet of beautiful stamped concrete. We've been de-greened (in more ways than one), formed, re barred and even customized. After several wire chasing projects inside we wanted to be sure to accommodate future wire projects outside. So we requested a sinus cavity to allow for future customization of a 'tribal counsel' theme, lights or some audio/visual project of some sort. Next up is a new grill and patio furniture! July 4th barbecue is at OUR HOUSE!!!!

3 Day Weekend

Just your typical safety glasses required weekend at our house. The hall door installation is complete. The neighbor said it looks like its always been there. Success an OEM quality improvement not an aftermarket improvement. We have lots of dry wall work to do but for now the vacuum, stroller and car seat fit just fine. The integrated flooring to match the main room really perfected the look. Thank goodness we saved that wood all these years...but thank goodness that dreadful box of scraps of GONE! I'll keep daydreaming about shelf configurations till winter.

The patio guy finally made an appearance (twice) and we currently have a mud pit. Forming supposedly to occur on Tuesday with pouring next day, week, month? Who knows. I think next week. We're gearing up for a 'project minimum' summer this year. The couch will be delivered tomorrow, patio complete in May (cross our fingers), plants have been moved just need a photinia or two and I'll call it quits. The irrigation system is on tap for next November or March. We'll tackle more bigger projects when we have more labor. Currently some of us are working harder than others...at least somebody knows what 3 day weekends are for!

Separated at Birth

Separated at birth not for anything other than the act of getting attention for doing this. It seems next to the discovery of her hands and feet, is the discovery of the tongue. She goes around all day sticking this out - because she can. Its actually very entertaining to watch her public encounters. Most people smile at a baby to get the baby to smile back. This new trick causes people to mimic her. I've never seen so many tongues - some I want to, others I'd rather skip. And of course this new thang has caused a conversation for...who's tongue does she have? You can now logoff and visulize that conversation for a minute or two...

That was a bus - this is an Airplane

We're re-writing a bit of history by claiming this as Olivia's first flight. We hit the skies today to explore the tulips fields and introduce Liv to the $100 hamburger.

Daddy Nanny

AKA - Daddy's Nanny - this weekend JR was on duty. He used the opportunity to introduce Liv to the 'light box' - AKA the TV. We have a whole new meaning for - "Don't look into the light!". Mommy will be canceling cable shortly. I will admit to also having spent a bit (just a sec) of time in front of the light box, when Liv exploded into laughter. It was hilarious because on the light box was Charlie Rose conducting an interview with Arianna Huffington and Thomas Curley. I think she thought Thomas Curley was funny. I would too if I couldn't understand what he was saying and only saw his face. He lookeds like a muppet...don't you think?

St. Sophie's Day May 25 1961

Poor kid, I never seem to highlight the super cute pics - only the super funny ones! Today, the FedEx man brought our new toy Sophie.

Bikini Ready

Speaking of sun - we're all hitting the treadmill around her lately. We'll be hittin' the beach later in April. It appears, everyone has some work to do on their abs...I can't wait to see her in her bathing suit(s) - yes...plural...she has 3.

Blank

Blank. That is what happened to my mind during these shots. There is a time in your life when you will throw your underwear on stage for your favorite rock star - later you throw your babies at your favorite rock star. I wish I could say we shared a great conversation where I told him how much I enjoyed his music and my attachment to "Bartender Hook Me Up" but I can't. I was totally star-struck, mind was blank. I'm lucky the shots are in focus. The only thing I can remember is he smelled her head and said "mmmm smells good". You fans out there will recognize that statement from his live concert where he's said the same thing. Only difference is this was baby smell - not rock concert smell. For you non-fans out there...this is not a homeless man (as it may appear). ITS DAVE MATHEWS!!!! Turns out he likes the same coffee shop Olivia and I do. As the crowd started to thin out I heard this strange, but rather familiar grumbling low voice. I turned my head a bit and only got a slightly better earful of the grumbling low tones. I mouthed across the table to a friend "is that Dave?". My heart started racing as I read her lips say "yes". He was sitting right behind me. I have no shame - so when Dave (as I like to call him) got up from the table to get a coffee, I asked his table mate (his wife) if it would be okay to ask for a photo with the baby. I mean - who is going to say no to a baby?! She said he would be honored. When he returned, his wife helped introduce my request, I turned around and said "will you hold my baby" he said - "Why? Where are you going?" and I started taking pictures. It was such a chance encounter. I knew he lived here at least part time with his family and always hoped to 'bump' into him . What a great surprise that I would do it today! I just wish JR could have been there - he's the serious fan.

Sun God

Sun this time of year is wonderful - everyone celebrates. I found CAT lounging on the patio soaking up a few rays. She was eyes closed for a while, very relaxed.

We are slowly introducing contact between KID and CAT. Nothing too exciting yet. Olivia seems to be analyzing the situation nothing more. Here she seems to be concerned about something - perhaps the cause and effect relationshp between eating solid foods and size?

New Barista In Town

My coffee odyssey started with Gloria Jean's, then Krups Machine (remember the pretty gold spoons), next I sipped and studied at Espresso Royale, eventually Starbucks made me feel 'cool', finally 'prosuming' with Jon at the Pasquini. Now, Olivia Jean is learning the ropes.

Jon has eagerly awaited the day the Baby Bjorn would be acceptable to Miss Olivia. Today was the day. We decided she didn't like it set on the 23" infant...she prefers a 26" setting which provides much more clearance for her legs and probably doesn't make her hips spread so far apart. Whatever, works is my motto. Now the two of them are dancing around the house making breakfast, coffees....I'm going to see about slipping a vacuum and and mop into this one before it is over.

Picture Day!

I got out the fancy camera today, our fancy clothes and the backdrop. I wanted to see if I could take some ultra cute pictures without paying a photographer to do it. I didn't do so well - of the 100 or so (thank god for digital) I only have a few to show for the hour. These are basically cute but nothing like the professionals. I did some reading on flikr for advice setting poses and stuff. Almost all said to have an assistant - my main mistake. So I think we will reschedule the photo shoot for this weekend when I have an assistant during Olivia's smiling hour.

She's zero to cute faster than the camera can snap the photo.

Ding Dong the Witch is...

You can decide who the witch is in this story - the point is she sleeps. Great day yesterday. I was itching for a nice long drivvvvvvvvve (vroom vroom). So we headed over the mountains to Cafe Christa (my favorite German spot). We were both a bit worried how things would go for a long ride in the car seat of death but things were perfect. We had some beer, some brats, rhinesrouladen and spaetzle, then out for the count. She slept on the way over so JR and I could play with all the new toys. The two of us are a couple of button pushers I tell ya. The car will play streaming music from our phones through the mobridge bluetooth in the car radio (why would you want/need this?). Whoa, but we couldn't figure it out. The instructions of course say, do this, then that, and voila rock out. But we never got to rock out. All we did was scream at each other when one thought the other was going to hit something as we careened over the mountain pass hands on the wheel, eyes on the PCM computer screen. The car will do everything but drive itself.We have also adopted the use of the swaddle technique. Olivia has not yet lost her involuntary spastic movements of arms and legs at oh say bedtime-thirty. The swaddle seems to be helping her stay asleep for longer periods...in her own space. We had a 8 - 6, 11 - 5 and 10 - 6. I guess she can be trained.



Last pic of the day. One of the few of us as a three-some. I laugh at this photo because it was taken by a drunk woman in the beergarden. She was harmless and very sweet (and the pic is steady and centered). I just find it hilarious because - you know the myriad of questions - whats her name, how old is she, and if they talk to you long enough you get - how much did she weigh at birth. For some reason this woman felt necessary to congratulate me on 'pushing' that one out. Strange choice of words I thought, but then she wasn't thinking all that clearly I guess.

One-Two-Three

One


Two



Three (with a pillow for help).

We still need to work on this skill. But it sure is fun to take pictures of TIMBER....I'm quite certain she'll get even someday. Look at that face, right now she's totally under my control (well sorta). Not so long from now things will be entirely different I can see it - she's storing energy up in those cheeks!

Life Changing

Everyone tells you a baby will change your life forever. That is true around here for more reason than one. The latest reason is I pushed the work laptop aside (no more VPN'ing for "just a sec") and replaced it with the sewing machine. Poor Olivia will very soon be forced to wear Mom's homemade concoction. YIKES. At the moments I'm making baby gifts for friends. My latest invention is pretty burp cloths. A Walmart (or Target) cloth diaper with a pretty back to it. I don't go anywhere without one of these and now they have some style - you know frogs, penguins and busy bees - babystyle.

Everyone's Doing It

Cost cutting that is. I have to admit it - I enjoy BigLots, the Dollar Store even Goodwill on occasion. I'm not buying my underwear but just looking for something exciting. Its a sickness but I just love to know I paid $ and someone else paid $$ for the same thing. I love it even more when I know the ingredients to one things are EXACTLY the same as something else but the 'name brand' is the difference. Makes me feel so smart. So on this excursion I found a mobile for $8 bucka-roos. I didn't need the mobile (or all that nasty plastic attachment stuff) but I needed something to make the camels go long enough to take a shower. I found it and now we have a new obsession - camels spinning with noise. Just shaking the camels doesn't do it anymore.

I recently heard kids in A-town are leaving the tags on their clothes and wearing them to school. If I were in school today, mine would have all these extra prices and prices in red pen - and theirs would have the Original BIG price. Frugality is back in vogue - maybe kids will start to compete for who got what cheaper. Just think you could compete - you paid $$$ and I only paid $ for the same thing - then you could spout about the power of compounding interest. Now that would be cool.

Mini-Vans Not Allowed

I meant to get this done before the end of the year to take advantage of end of the year arm twisting but SOMEONE made her arrival early. Instead I had to scour the United States via Autotrader. The local dealer is on drugs with his prices so I had to go out of state. I still correspond via email with him telling him he's overpriced and he's still telling me how he will find me the right car at the right price. Lets just say he's still looking but I'm not. I found one in TX, had a friend all set to check it out and it sold. Bummer. That was awful because it made me much more eager on the next negotiation. I finally found another in Chi-town and one in Denver. I played the game with both dealers and won (who I am kidding...I got screwed). She was delivered on Wednesday and man does she purrrrrrr. I am very very happy with my first car purchase. I'm 34 and never bought a car - my parents kept hooking me up with their old rides...thank god they drive cool cars! Since it took me 34 years to get my first one this just might be my last, so I was sure to make it a good one.

The Big One

First flight, big dress, first time in church, big party, first bath in a salad bowl, second flight, second big snow storm driving in the car, first time she slept 7 hours in her own bed! It was a wild weekend. Olivia kept us busy on the flight home - and then she puked on landing. I think I was right about her NOT being a future pilot, oh well. As we drove home in another Seattle snow storm she screamed - Jon said take her out of that thing. I didn't...but I did crawl into the back (where there was no seat due to luggage) and hold my hand at an angle that even crown molding wouldn't call for. Then we got fed up with traffic due to how icy and dicey the roads were - so we turned around to go the back way. Ya, the back way. A few dead ends later (thank you google maps) and we were finally back on the way we recognized to home. 30 min later (hand still in awful angle but me now in the front seat with seat belt) we arrived at home. My favorite quote from the car ride when Olivia finally sucked herself to sleep...Stephani - "she should sleep until about 2" Jon - "I hope she sleeps until 2-morrow". I later asked Jon if he was ready for baby number 2....the response was VERY different than usual. Jon is not happy she cried on the airplane!!

Oh ya...and that stuff about the 7 hours of sleep. That's right we listened....we bathed her, fed her and rocked her to sleep in her own bed at 8pm last night. She needed some reassurance at about 10pm but then was lights out until 3:30am. I fed her again and then crashed with her and she is still sleeping as I write this at 7:30am. She's a sleeper no matter who's bed she's in!

What the heck is that?!

When was the last time you looked down and saw you hand and thought - "thats cool". Olivia has discovered her hands. Not sure if she knows its hers - and that she has two. So far the left hand is the coolest thing on earth - well maybe second to eating.

Top Ten Must Haves (in no particular order)

We've lived with baby for a while now, and consider ourselves the 'resident' experts of what works and what doesn't. Oh ya we've had those - "give me the baby" episodes, but all in all things are good. Couldn't be without the right gear - here is my list of thank god we had that and couldn't live with outs...

1. Bugaboo Stroller - I spent hours researching what stroller I wanted (the good'ol days of unlimited internet time....). I settled on a value priced luxury stroller and ended up with the luxury priced luxury stroller (thank you grandma). It came down to the ride - SMOOOOOOOTH. But the purchase has proven to be good, the independent panel (JR) constantly tells me how awesome it is. Its a bassinet, a pram, a car seat stroller...it holds shopping bags, Starbucks cups and of course babies! We've used this item almost every single day in one form or another. Once you get the folding and snapping stuff figured out you will never go back. JR loves walking the mall with our low weight equipment seeing those other models that look like they are getting ready to board an airplane with all that carry on luggage.

2. Cloth Diapers - for the spit ups not the butts. I tried the cloth diaper thing. It didn't suit me. But I love these for burp rags. I have them all over my house. I intended to be super crafty and make some fun looking ones using the cloth diapers - but she was early...so mine are still white. Maybe soon I'll get to the fabric store to get these done.

3. Bose Stereo - okay, maybe you don't have to have Bose, but a stereo is a nice to have in the baby's room. I put it above rocking chair. It is so nice to have fun music to sing, rather than whatever random crap comes to my mind (she appreciates that I'm sure). Not to mention when you are stuck in that room - rocking, feeding or whatever - you've got some entertainment. And thankfully JR loves me enough to buy the $99 ipod accessory. It was a splurge...thank goodness for a procrastinating husband that buys my valentine at 8PM day of. I'll have to remember not to get so mad next time - seems to be working for me.

4. BIG Swaddle blankets - you can't use the Gerber/carter ones from walmart, target, or any cute baby store. Babies grow so fast! You need these super awesome and super huge swaddle blankets that actually stay around their little wiggling bodies.

5. Zippered clothes - this is for the daddies and the times you button a outfit all the way up the legs and top only to find you are off by one stinkin' button. Just PLEASE, put your finger behind the zipper so you don't zip skin too. That hurts. You protect it when you zip yourself I'm sure...

6. Wipe Heater - At first glance this may seem like a luxury, but I'm telling you it saves you money. In the early days we didn't have this set-up. Every time we changed a diaper and hit her with the cold wipe, she peed...on her clothes, on me, on JR, on whatever she was laying on. Once we got the changing table assembled and put this in the system, the warm wipe treatment stopped the peeing. Now we use fewer diapers, change our clothes (and hers) less - serious money saver!

7. Petroleum Jelly - lather up in this stuff. Put one in the diaper bag, one on the changing table, one in your pocket. This keeps'em moist and reduces redness. Not to mention it keeps stuff from getting crusty down there if you don't change diapers every 2 hours - which is good because it means you are sleeping more than 2 hours.

8. Garbage Pale and dirty clothes hamper - strategically located and reasonable in size - Dirty diapers are bigger than you would think. We can't believe the amount of trash we are producing these days. Having something to toss those puppies in that you are willing to look at - is nice. Now just don't let it get filled up...empty that thing as frequently as possible.

9. Latch System in your car - makes car shopping so much faster. I think a kid is a necessary accessory for this task. you have an excellent excuse for a quick exit to skip the pitch.

10. Diaper Bag - get one that looks cool you'll be seen with it alot. A good friend recommended I get a 'unisex' one. Cause he'll need to use it too - she said! So actually JR picked ours out. Not too bad and he color coordinated with the stroller - smart man.

And honorable mention....Husband - I can't imagine doing this alone and greatly admire those who do. Its better to have someone here to yell at for not doing all that 'stuff' they should know to do without being told...I'd hate to not have anyone to yell at, at all. Here's super dad with kid and dish towel.

Scene of the Crime

We had a mystery to solve this morning.

Clue number 1:

Clue Number 2:

Clue Number 3 (with distance shot for proper perspective):

Guilty as charged with the act of eating so much you get to fat to fit through your custom made kitcat door to get to the shitbox.

To the best of our mystery solving skills we figure she went through the door...and took the door frame with her. The frame was discovered across the street in a neighbor's yard. The good news, is she made her way out of it - she's been in the house as normal (in/out/in/out). Currently no hard feelings are being displayed - but we sure laughed alot when we figured out what must have happened. No need for concern yet - but if we start cutting holes for Olivia to crawl through to go to the bathroom outside...you may want to step in.

Because no one should listen to good music through bad speakers. I think Olivia's room is finished. I blew my budget for plush toys and a mobile on a new Bose stereo...she'll thank me later. Now we can sing Old McDonald and the Muffin Man in style!

If the shoe fits...

And the steaks need flipping, wear the shoes!!! I'm not the only one that likes Jon's plastic shoes.