17 Months, Week 1

We have been having lot of fall fun this past week!  We also had some fun visitors.  First, Uncle Jordan stopped by for an afternoon visit.  Olivia took a few minutes to warm up but then she really starting having fun!  Especially when she and Uncle Jordan had a tea party.  He was such a good sport!



Uncle Jordan was also nice enough to play along with Olivia as she figured out a new way to play "Peek-a-boo!"  She was pretty proud of herself and it was pretty funny to watch.

It was also Homecoming at the University of Indianapolis this weekend. We had so much fun with Auntie Carrie and the Galyen family.  Olivia and Isabelle made the cutest cheerleaders in their matching skirts and leggings!  Even though it was pretty chilly, we had a lot of fun watching the golf cart parade, taking pictures with Ace, having tasty treats in the Stadium Club, and cheering the Hounds on to victory!  I can't believe it's been ten years since most of us graduated from there (Josh is an honorary grad since he spent so much time there our senior year while we were dating) and nearly 7 years since Josh started working there.  So many happy memories there!

On Sunday, we headed out to Piney Acres for some fun on the farm!  They had a great kids area complete with a corn maze.  Olivia had so much fun climbing on the bales of hay, running through the maze, and enjoying some apple cider.

Next, we went on a hayride. Olivia didn't necessarily enjoy "sitting" during the ride, but she did like snuggling under the blanket and checking out all the animals.

It wouldn't be a trip to the pumpkin patch without getting some pumpkins to take home.  Olivia was very choosy but we did find some winners.  She was also adamant that she put them in the wagon herself.  She was also a big help in pushing the wagon to the cash register.

Our little pumpkin got quite the haul at the pumpkin patch! She helped to pick out each of the 7 pumpkins we brought home. I think the pie pumpkins were her favorite because she could easily pick those up and load them into the wagon. If it were up to her, the entire front porch would have been loaded with those babies!

And just as weather is starting to turn colder, Olivia is sporting the latest on the toddler chic runway (aka the cold weather accessories section at La Target).  Work it girl!

16 Months, Week 4

Happy October! Fall is officially under way now.  I can't wait for all the fun fall activities this month!

Josh and Olivia got to have another one of their famous Daddy/Daughter dates while I went to Auntie Christi last weekend.  Of course, any time frozen yogurt is involved Olivia is a happy girl!

I was glad to be back in time for family date night.  We went to church, did a little shopping and then went on to dinner.  Little Miss Sass is really enjoying climbing up on things - chairs, benches, couches, etc. She also tried to climb into the fountain before we stopped her.  Our compromise was letting her climb onto the bench instead.  She was also really excited to see the moon.

Grammy and Grampy also stopped by for a visit this week.  We each played to our strengths - Josh and Grampy installed a new light on the side of the house while Grammy, Olivia, and I went shopping at the mall.  I think it worked out well for everyone!

16 Months, Week 3

Another fun week with the Doodlebugs!  Olivia enjoyed playing the instruments and giving hugs to her good friend, Isabella.  She doesn't necessarily enjoy sitting for any period of time, but as long as she's allowed to be up and moving she's having a good time.

The next day we went for some lunch before running a few errands.  Olivia was a big fan of the mac 'n cheese at Noodles Company.  She was also a fan of running behind the counter to "help" the servers.

She did sit down eventually.   She reminded me of Edith Ann in this chair!

Unfortunately, Olivia had a little mishap at daycare this week and got her first shiner.  Poor girl!  Sometimes she just gets running so fast that she has a hard time stopping.  Clearly, she gets her grace from me!

It always seems like morning always comes too early at our house.  During the week, we usually have to wake Olivia to eat, get changed, and ready for the day.  Personally, I don't blame her for going back to sleep in the car!

Olivia has still been going to Gymboree and loving it.  It always makes me laugh when she stands with her hands behind her back just like her daddy.

16 Months, Week 2

Our house was full of visitors this weekend! Grandma and Grandpa Szafarczyk and Uncle Drew and Aunt Lis were all in town to attend a wedding of one of Uncle Drew's childhood friends. Olivia had so much fun visiting with everyone.  Especially those who were willing to blow bubbles for her!

The Doodlebugs are back!  Olivia's music class with Miss Michelle started back up this week too.  She was a little shy when we arrived, but I think she had fun!  The class is now being held at the YMCA in one of their multi-purpose rooms.  She particularly enjoyed looking at herself in the full length mirrors and trying to climb on the ballet barre. I think sometimes she was surprised that we allowed and were encouraging her to make noise!

We also had the opportunity to celebrate another special girl's first birthday. Our good friend, Miss Isabella Abraham, turned 1 this weekend!  Olivia had fun not only climbing up on the chair by herself to enjoy all of the yummy food, but also spending time with one of her gal pals!  Although, neither of them were too thrilled when we tried to pose for a picture.

As the week went on, it definitely started to feel like fall again.  Time to bring out the long sleeves and pants and play outside!

One morning after I got Olivia dressed, I left her room and thought she was right behind me. As I started to head downstairs, I told Olivia it was time to go.  I had to laugh when I turned around and saw her standing there in her princess t-shirt holding a Kate Spade shopping bag.  What can say, the girl knows how to top off an outfit!

It was also time to move up the next size car seat. I can't believe my little pumpkin is getting too big for her pumpkin seat!  Thanks to Grammy and Grampy for the fancy new chair!

And sometimes at the end of the week, you just have to splurge and have a little treat.  Olivia highly recommends fro-yo!

16 Months, Week 1

Welcome to the sweet 16 (months that is!).  And what a sweet 16 months it has been.  With each passing month, I'm just so amazed at how quickly the time is flying by.   She looks less and less like a baby and so much more like a kid!

It's also getting to be more and more fun to take her places. On Saturday night after Mass we went to dinner at P.F. Chang's.  Olivia was so well behaved!  She also attempted to use chopsticks...perhaps, one day she will be better with them than I am!

Olivia also got to have her first fortune cookie.  It said, "You are a lover of words, someday you should write a book."  She certainly has a lot on her mind so perhaps she will be an author one day!

The next day, we went to celebrate our good friend Isabelle's first birthday!  It was such a fun party, but I only managed to get one picture of the two of them together.  Isabelle was such a pretty princess and so kind to share her new toys with Olivia.  Apparently we need to buy Olivia a baby carriage of her own.

We've also reached that fun point in the year where we have to dress in layers because there is usually at least a 20 degree swing in the temperature from the morning when we leave to when we come home at night.  Olivia doesn't seem to mind though!  She's also much more of a morning person than her mommy!

This week we also went to visit our old friends at Mommy & Me. One of the moms and her little boy are relocating to Texas and we went to say good bye. Now that Olivia has weaned herself and is done nursing, we don't go to Mommy and Me very often so it was fun to some of our old friends and lactation consultants. Of course, I was also very happy to get to weigh her once again. Skinny Minnie checked in at 23 pounds, 3 ounces. I thought for sure she would weigh more because she seems to be outgrowing lots of her clothes lately.


Maybe all the yogurt is what's helping her to outgrow those clothes.  She may be skinny, but this girl can eat!  And by golly, she's going to do it by herself!

Labor Day Weekend

Yeah, for a three day weekend! And what better way to kick it off than with frozen yogurt? Yummy!

Unfortunately, the weather didn't feel like cooperating on our three day weekend. While we still need the rain, does it really have to happen when we have a few days off? Oh well, guess it's time for a short road trip for some indoor fun...IKEA here we come! It wasn't until we had a toddler that we realized just how family friendly IKEA is. Olivia may not have loved looking at all of the fine Swedish home furnishings, but she did love running and climbing on all of the furniture! She was also a big fan of their meatballs. I think she ate as many as I did!

Grandma and Grandpa Szafarczyk also came to visit us. They not only brought Olivia some new duds to represent Da Bears and Sox, but they brought Olivia's favorite furry friend, Angus! She loves that dog so much. Her new favorite thing is to take him for walks. I'm not really sure who is walking who, but they both have fun!

Sadly after such a fun weekend, we ended up at the HSE Health Center to see Dr. Lai. Olivia has been battling a cold for a few weeks now and I was worried it had turned into a sinus infection. She also had a very red tush. Olivia really hated having her ears looked at (not that she ever really "likes" it). Unfortunately, Dr. Lai couldn't see one of her ear tubes. NOOOOOOOO! He did caution that it could have been because he couldn't get the best angle. We have a 6 month ear tube re-check scheduled in a few weeks, so I am hoping and praying Dr. Dugan will be able to see BOTH tubes.

Who doesn't enjoy Starbucks after a doctor's appointment? What can I say, we felt bad that she was in so much pain so we let her have a little treat. Oh and it was just whipped cream; no coffee! Can you imagine Olivia with a caffeine buzz?

Thankfully, by the end of the week all of Olivia's antibiotics had kicked in and she was in much better spirits.  She is much more of a morning person than me!