Olivia's first day at the Lake!

Ever since my Dad bought his boat in DECEMBER, he hasn't been able to stop planning our first family boating trip! My Dad, Christee, and Grandma & Grandpa went up Friday. Then Shaylee, Marissa (our 4 year old family friend), Brittanee, and Graciee May came over for Breakfast Saturday morning and we all headed out to the Lake together. Later, Kayla and her sister Ashley joined us.

Christee was SO excited to have her two little girls there! Olivia wasn't too impressed with the group hug... she just kept licking Graciee's arm, while Graciee was trying to kiss her head.

When we were ready to go down to the swimming hole, my hands were full, so I asked my Dad if he could carry Olivia's floatie. Instead he thought Brittanee should carry it down.... on her head! Lol.

Graciee LOVED the water! She was a little weary at first because it was really cold, but then she was going crazy playing in it. Olivia didn't mind touching it with her feet but as soon as I put her in her floatie she freaked out! Bad idea!!

So instead, I just held her while I walked around in the water. The Lake was NICE!! It was so sunny out, and the swimming hole is a lot of fun! It's paved, so your not worried about what you're stepping on, or if anything weird is swimming underneath. Great for Babies!

I could tell Olivia was getting sleepy, and my Dad wanted me to go out on the boat, so I left Olivia with Grandma and Brittanee and they were able to get her to go to sleep. Isn't she the cutest?! This picture just makes me want to squeeze her and never let go.

I was SO nervous about my Dad driving, BTW, isn't my Daddy handsome? :) I was scared that he would go all crazy and knock us off the tubes.

Shaylee went first, I didn't know that it was her first time... she did good!

Then it was my turn! I was having so much fun, until my I hit a big wave that knocked my on my tummy. I was still holding on, and wanted to keep going, but then my bikini bottoms started pulling away!! Haha. I had to make my Dad stop before I lost them :)

Then Kayla went. She's afraid of the water, so it was really cool that she tried it out. After she was finished though, she said 'I'm never doing that again!'

Then it was time for Shaylee to drive! Her and my Dad got their boating licenses together so she could drive him around. She was really nervous at first, but she did SO GOOD!!

My Dad was the last to go, and he wanted to use the knee board, it was fun watching him have so much fun. The day trip was the best, and I'm so excited to go up again this weekend!!

3 Months!

Olivia, you are 3 months old today!!

There are SO many things that you tried for the first time this month (most of them included in previous posts, so I won't go into too much detail), and you've completely gone from a newborn to a kid.

I have to say, that this has been one of my favorite months. You've grown out of your newborn fussiness and you love to play! You're awake most of the day now and you're such a happy Baby, everyone adores you.

You love being on your feet! I can't believe it. I'll think that you're getting tired of standing so I'll sit you down and then you cry and want right back up. You can also push yourself from a sitting position to a standing position if I hold your hands. The picture above is you standing against the couch all by yourself!! You're just getting too big!

You learned how to grab this month too! The first time I noticed it was at Uncle Marc's, in Utah. And as if that isn't enough, everything you grab goes into your mouth. You LOVE having things in your mouth! Binkies, blankets, toys, YOUR HAND!! You LOVE sucking on your hand.

 You also started sleeping in your crib this month, and you're doing amazing! You only wake me up once or twice in the night and you fall back to sleep right away. My favorite part of the day is when you wake up. Now that you're not in my bed anymore, when I go into your room for the first time in the morning and you see me, you get SO excited!

Time is just FLYING! And again, I love you more and more every day. This month has definitely been the hardest for me to work... I just want to be with you all the time! You bring so much joy and happiness to my life. I love you baby girl!!

Love, Mommy

Olivia's first trip to the Coast!

I've been DYING for a Coast trip ever since I was pregnant, but I've been so busy, so I was SO excited to finally get to go and the timing couldn't have been more perfect!

Olivia slept the entire 3 hours it took to get to Seaside, it was amazing! Especially because she seems to hate cars these days. We found a place to settle on the beach, I fed her, and then let her put her feet in the sand.

I was a little scared because I read about how babies don't usually like sand, but Olivia didn't seem to mind it that much. Actually, when I put her back on the blanket, she got fussy until I put her back in the sand.

Then we went down to the water to fill up her pail for a sand castle, I thought she would hate the cold water on her feet, but she was fine. We had to run from the waves a few times though... I don't think she's ready for that yet :) The water was FREEZING!!

After all the excitement from building the sand castle, she PASSED OUT! It was so funny too! Her hands stayed up like this the entire time, and she didn't have her binky in her mouth, but she kept sucking like she did. I LOVE just watching her.

It was a beautiful day on the coast and she did AMAZING! I'm so excited for more!

Our first visit to Utah!

Olivia and I just got home from visiting family and friends in Utah and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!

I had been worried about the flight ever since I bought my ticket back in February. I've never really been annoyed with babies on airplanes, but it's a totally different story when you're a Mom. You're so worried about all the haters. While we were waiting for our flight there was a girl sitting behind us on the phone complaining of a headache from being surrounded by babies on her previous flight. Way to calm a Mommy down. Haha. But she was AMAZING!! I bounced her to sleep right before they started boarding and she stayed that way until we reached Utah. As we exited the airplane, all the flight attendants kept saying 'She's such a good baby!' Insert sigh of relief.

Uncle Marc was at the airport when we landed ready to great us. From there, we headed straight for St. George. I can't believe I was more worried about the airplane than the car... she HATED the drive! HATED!!!!!!!!! (Can't stress that enough) She pretty much fussed and cried the entire 5 hours. SO crazy because a week ago, she loved the car... crazy babies. Still, it was SO nice to catch up with Marc and it ended up being a nice drive anyway. Once we hit Cedar, we put in a Primary CD and she finally fell asleep. We stayed with my Uncle Bruce and Aunt Shirley. When I woke up in the morning and was feeding Olivia, I looked out the kitchen window to find this amazing view! They also cooked us a really yummy Denny grand slam style breakfast, that I was actually able to enjoy because Olivia was sleeping and still exhausted from the day before. It was so fun to be able to visit with Bruce and Shirley, I LOVE that he has Grandpa's sense of humor. He was so funny to talk to! 

 After Breakfast we headed over to Grandpa's to meet up with Charlotte and Paul. When they walked in, Olivia had woken up and was not happy. I don't think she was a fan of the heat. Grandpa didn't mind though, and still kept smiling at her and saying how cute she was. Lol. He loves babies, and we love him! So Charlotte tried to calm her down but she wasn't having it. Finally, I was like 'Is there a bouncy ball in this place?!?' As soon as Charlotte walked in with one and I started bouncing Olivia, she was out cold.

I LOVE my family! I don't get to see them enough, and the time I do get with them is never enough. I miss them so much! It was nice to just sit back and visit. Grandpa's hearing is getting worse and worse, but what I've always loved about family gatherings is that although Grandpa can't hear and usually has no idea what is going on or what anyone is saying, he always has this big smile on his face, and I can see how much he just enjoys sitting there watching his family interact... it's enough for him.

On the way home, Olivia started out really good. We went to Arctic Circle for lunch before we had to head out and Olivia just sat there in her car seat and people watched, but as soon as we got in the car her crying started back up. It wasn't as bad as the drive down though, and she went to sleep pretty quickly. Once we hit Nephi though she was getting really hungry and hot so I stripped her down to her diaper and headband and she was happy. I love this pic of her! I was sitting in the backseat to keep her entertained and she realized she has feet! So cute! She looked at them, and then she would put her foot up, then down, then up, then down. 

 We were SOOO ready to relax when we got home. We watched Marley and Me and let Olivia sleep and play. Marc has a big green bean bag, that Olivia LOVED. I would set her down and she would stay entertained for quite a while... she slept in it a little bit too.

Sunday morning we woke up and went straight to the pool. Olivia did MUCH better this time! It was really hot though, so I'm sure she was more than happy to jump in. There was a puppy that kept coming to the fence to play fetch. We wouldn't play, but Olivia was entertained watching him try, and I think she just really enjoyed being outside. The pic on the right is her laying out by Mommy. It was so fun! And I FINALLY got my starter tan. I LOVE Utah sun!!!!!!!

After the pool, we went to Nana and Grandpa Craigs house (Christee's parents) to visit. She LOVED Nana and Nana loved her. She spent the entire hour or so talking and smiling.

Then we had dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory with my friend Jen and her baby Mason, and our friend David. Mason was SO cute and happy, and he has the longest hair!! The food was YUMMY! I miss it!

 After dinner, we went to my parents house for fireworks. The kids were so excited to see Olivia and my Mom loved her! She couldn't wait for me to hand her over. It was sad though; since Olivia hadn't slept all day she was exhausted, and because there was so much going on she didn't want to sleep. And any time that happens she becomes a HUGE Mama's girl. So my family didn't really get to play with her and see her fun side. Still, they loved her and it was SO good to see them! My phone died so I don't have any pics, but as soon as they email them to me, I'll post them :)

We ended the night at back at Marc's house where Chelsey followed us. I missed her so much!! Marc, Brian, Chelsey, and I made chocolate brownie shakes and played with Olivia. It was really fun and I had the best time!! This was so much better than our latest visits because we actually had time to relax and enjoy. It was also nice having Marc there to help. I got a glimpse of married life with a baby and it's NICE!! The help was much appreciated and even with Baby, I still felt like I was on vacation. I LOVED IT!

All American Cutie

I LOVE Independence Day! I love the patriotism and the colors... the fireworks, festivals, parades... EVERYTHING! So I've been SO excited for Olivia's first Independence Day.

We decided to check out the Murray Fun Days parade that morning. Marc and I had completely wore Olivia out the day before, and she really just wanted to sleep, but she's already slept through a parade and I really wanted her to be awake for this one!

The parade started with us saluting the American flag while people handed out flags to all the little ones. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture of Olivia with her American flag!!

Of course Olivia was still the center of attention for everyone! You could see all the people on the floats talking about and pointing to her. One guy even shouted out 'Your Baby is beautiful! Your wife doesn't even look like she was ever pregnant!' Haha. Now I know why it was so hard to pick up guys when Marc and I would hang out... they all think we're married!!

So let me introduce you to my husband Marc, and our daughter Olivia. Haha! He wishes she was his!!!! (without making her, of course. Ew)



She was SO happy and watched the entire parade! She was a little afraid of the drums in the marching bands and she jumped out of her seat when the racecars revved their engines, but she loved all the action going on and the colors and people on the floats. It was SO MUCH FUN!

I also want to take a minute to thank her Dad, Jamel for serving in Afghanistan. It's so hard for him to be away from his family, and I know he feels like he's missing out on a lot and that he isn't there as a Dad, but he is, and he's an amazing support for me, even in another country. Jamel, I talk about you all the time and she will know and be grateful that you were doing an amazing thing for your country. She has the freedom to accomplish all that she desires in life because of brave men like you, and that is the best gift you could ever give your daughter. We are SO proud of you!!

Olivia's blessing

Olivia was blessed July 2nd, 2011 at the Red Hills Rehabilitation Center in St. George, Utah.

I know, I was making jokes about it being at an Assisted Living Facility sacrament meeting, and then Grandpa Davenport just up and decided to have a stroke, which led to us doing it here instead. And I have to say, if I could do it this way with all my kids, which I know I can't, I totally would! It was so nice to just have a few of us there. It was so much more special!

I had JUST gotten Olivia to sleep when the Bishop called and said he was on his way. Eek!! (If you knew what it took us to get her to sleep, you would understand.) When I first put her in her dress, she didn't seem to mind. Even when I put the hat on completely backwards and had to change it only after Uncle Marc and Uncle Paul laughed at me. Yah, my poor daughter.

She was LOVING all the attention she was getting in her pretty dress, until all the excitement caught up with her, and maybe the netting under her dress too, and she got SO mad!! Aunt Charlotte tried to calm her down, and it seemed to work okay. I love this picture of her with Olivia, even though Olivia is super cranky, you can tell how much Charlotte adores her.

Grandpa was able to stand up with his walker and joined in the circle with my Uncle Bruce and Bishop Carter. She was blessed by her Great Uncle Paul. As soon as the blessing started she stopped crying and just started talking to everyone. Such a cutie!!

I'm so proud of my little one and I'm so grateful for my family taking time out of their crazy schedules to make sure that we were able to have her blessed by someone special and to make sure my Grandpa was there in the circle. It was one of the best days of my life! And a memory that Olivia and I will cherish forever.