Olivia's first walk!

I wasn't planning on going anywhere today, except to run a couple errands (which is why my hair and make-up isn't done), but it was SOOOOOO gorgeous and nice out today, that I would have felt horrible if we didn't take advantage of it and go to the Riverfront.

I think this is the only part of the entire walk that Olivia was awake and it was because we were leaving and she was hungry. Haha. I love her face!! She's always making the funniest faces.

This is the sunscreen cover that Aunt Shaylee got her. I LOVE it!  It keeps the sun off of her and I love that I can see her without having to lift up a blanket like you do in the colder months. It's going to be perfect for the summer. 

These are just some pics of the river. No matter how many times I go, I'm still always amazed by it's beauty.

So that's it! It was SO nice to get out and exercise. I've REALLY missed being able to work out and I love all this new energy I have. I also love getting Olivia out and about... I want her to be comfortable with going out and being around a lot of people. So far, so good :)

I can't believe it's been two weeks since my beautiful baby girl came into the world. Time goes SO fast! Olivia's already grown out of the jammies I brought her home in and her facial features are turning into her own. She's such a funny baby! I love watching her sleep because she makes the funniest faces and sometimes she'll even laugh and smile. She's so curious and interested in everything going on around her; just like her mommy, and she's so worried that she's going to miss out on something exciting. So once or twice a day or night she'll stay awake for so long that she's overly tired and refuses to fall asleep. The other day she got so mad at me, that she grabbed my jacket with her hands, pulled herself up to my face, and SCREAMED. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen. I can't believe how strong she is for a newborn!

I am loving bath time and mornings with her. She never cries when she's getting a bath and I love having that special time every day where it's just Mommy and Olivia. The same goes for the mornings when she's so awake and happy, I just lay her back on my bed and then talk, sing, and kiss her... she loves it! I love her so much and just when I think it can't get any better she grows a little more and does something that's so cute and funny I can't help but love her just a little more.

Happy Easter!

Olivia's first Easter!!

We started our Easter by going to church. Olivia's first Sunday! She looked ADORABLE in her new Easter dress and everyone just swooned over her. She was so good and slept through all 3 hours!

After church, we all went to Dan and Marilyn's for Easter dinner. The food was soooo yummy and it was really fun to have all of our family there to visit and enjoy. Dan and Marilyn bought the girls their first little Easter gifts too!

It's so fun having little ones to celebrate the Holiday's with, even if they're still a little to small to understand or appreciate it. I want to say that I can't wait until next year when they can go on an Easter egg hunt, because I kind of can't, but Olivia has already grown up SO fast over her first week that I really want her to slow down!

Olivia Lucille Francis Mercado

February 15th, 2011

7.0 pounds, 18.25 inches

Olivia is here! I went to work Thursday the 14th and just felt weird all day, but still didn't think it meant Olivia was getting ready to come. Everyone at work kept telling me that I was going to have her that night, but I didn't believe them. On my way home, she was kicking like she's never kicked before; I almost pulled over the car because I couldn't focus with all her kicking! When I got home, I did a little cleaning, made some spaghetti, and sat down to watch American Idol. When I got up to put my plate in the kitchen I had a huge urge to pee (all day I had to pee every time I stood up), and lo and behold my water broke!! At first I didn't believe it was my water because it was just leaking but after a while I realized that something was up and I called the doctor. They said that it definitely sounded like my water and to get to the hospital.

Christee picked me up and we were on our way. I had been SO excited for weeks and tried everything I could to get her here soon, but when I realized that it was here... I was actually having my baby I got SO nervous and so scared for the labor. I called Jamel and let him know that we were on the way to the Hospital and that I would call when I knew anything else but he was already on his way. The hospital was waiting for me when we got there and they wheeled me up to my room. My water HAD broken, I was at a 1, and was 85% efaced. I knew we would have to use pitocin, there was no way I was going to contract on my own... I hadn't had any contractions up to this point. It was 9:30pm and they said if I hadn't had contractions by 1:00am they would start the pitocin and they did. Brittanee and my Dad came as soon as they were able and Christee went home. At 4:00am I started feeling the contractions really strong so I asked for the epidural. Brittanee stayed with me and surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. The worst part was over... I thought. Britt and I took a nap and woke up around 7:00 am. My Dad came in and we all visited... I think by that point I was at a 4. Christee and Shaylee came back around 9:00am and we just sat around, waiting, and talking. At 10:00am the doctor came in and I was at a 6. I told Jamel to go ahead and get breakfast because the doctor thought I wouldn't be ready to push until about 2:30pm, but he was wrong. About 30 minutes later, I was ready to push!!

Oh man.... pushing was SO hard!! I thought it would be the easiest part of labor, but was so wrong. Everyone is yelling at you to push harder and you're pushing as hard as you physically can. It was so frustrating and not only that, I KNEW this was it, after I was done I was going to have a baby in my arms and I was SO excited and happy I just started bawling. After about an hour she was in my arms. The whole room disappeared. I have no idea what everyone was doing or what was going on, I just couldn't stop staring at my beautiful baby and I couldn't believe that she was here and I created her. Words can't even describe that moment, but it was the greatest day of my life.

She's the best baby. She's so beautiful, precious, and sweet. I'm so blessed to have her in my life and being a Mommy is the best thing in the world. I already can't imagine my life without her and I'm so happy that she's here.