22 Months, Week 2

Happy St. Patty's Day!  We may not be Irish, but we look good in green!

We spent the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Szafarczyk before heading to Chicago for a few days.  For Livi, it's hard work entertaining Grandma and Grandpa!  There are so many toys to play with, sandals to try on (even though it was FREEZING outside!), and meals to cook.  Plus, Josh and I enjoy having two eager babysitters for the morning shift!

We also celebrated Josh's birthday again with his favorite, Key Lime pie.  Livi thought it was very yummy and was excited to be up past her bedtime!

After a fun weekend with Grandma and Grandpa it was off to the City so Josh could attend a conference for work.  We made also made a quick detour to Ikea for a fun shopping trip and dinner with Auntie Carrie.  Olivia quickly adjusted to hotel living (check out the view from our room!  If only it had been warm enough to take the water taxi!).  Fluffy robes, take-out food, and swimming in the hotel pool - what's not to love?

It was also fun to see the River dyed green for St. Patrick's day.  The last time we were there for that, Olivia was still cooking!
 

And who could resist another birthday celebration, especially at Grand Lux?  Their food and desserts are sooo good!

Lucky Livi also got to experience a trip to the American Girl Store to pick out a new outfit for her Bitty Baby she got from Aunt Miranda and Uncle Paul for her birthday.  That place is like every little girls' dream!

22 Months, Week 1

It's a heat wave!  Remember all that snow from last week?  Yeah, it all melted when suddenly the temperature climbed into the 60s.  Oh well, it was a good problem to have in March!  It was great to spend the day outside playing at the park.  And forget the toddler side of the playground, Olivia wanted to play with the big kids!  When we got home, she wanted to take her Cozy Coupe for a spin and insisted on taking a passenger.  Thankfully, Tinker was a willing participant!

Grampy and Grammy also came to visit us on the day of the big heat wave.  They came to bring us some yummy Easter treats and goodies.  We also gave Grampy his birthday present, which Livi was more than happy to help him open!


















One of Livi's favorite Easter presents from Grammy and Grampy was her tiara.  She insisted on wearing it most nights when she got home.  She was also excited to see a package addressed to her from Grammy and Grampy on the doorstep.  She got her very own set of princess building blocks.  (She might have had a little help putting them together...)

This week was also Josh's birthday. We took him to Cheeseburger in Paradise for some yummy eats.  You know times have changed when you start ordering broccoli to share to go with your burger.  Ah the joys of being a parent! 

Livi continues to be quite the helper! As I was cleaning the living room this week, she was helping with the dusting. One night, she even set the table for dinner without being asked! Can I bottle this helpfulness to use during her teenage years?

21 Months, Week 4

Last weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Szafarczyk came for a visit so we could celebrate Grandpa's birthday.  Grandma was also missing Olivia a lot after being in Florida for a month.  Grandma brought her some very snazzy sunglasses for our upcoming trip to Florida and some snazzy new clothes.  (Can you guess which outfit Grandpa bought for her?)  She was very happy to entertain them so Josh and I could go out for a date night.

One of Livi's favorite things to do when we visit with Grandma and Grandpa is to borrow Grandpa's remote for his camera and take pictures of herself.  She is quite the little photographer and knows how to capture her best side!

As Livi would say, "It's shnow!" This week we got what I hope will be our last snow storm of the winter. It was the first time Livi got to play in the snow though so she thought it was wonderful! When the last snow storm hit we were out of town. By the time we returned it was too cold to actually be outside to play in it.

 Livi had a great time building snow castles with Daddy.  She was less than thrilled to have to wear her mittens though.   Walking in the snow proved to be a bit more difficult as it was a really heavy, wet snow (great for building, tricky for walking!). Although, once she saw that her swing was hanging up she made a beeline for it and proved that swinging is fun no matter what the weather is like! 

Josh and Livi got to continue their fun on Thursday and Friday as they enjoyed Josh's spring break.  They went to breakfast at the Original Pancake House and then to Bounce Planet.  Olivia had so much fun at Bounce Planet that they up going on both days.  They were also nice enough to bring me lunch!  Always a fun lunch date when I can spend it with two of my favorite peeps!  Especially when she says, "There you go!" and "Pretty please!"

Josh has also taught Livi another very cute trick.  At bed time, he says "Livi, show Mommy the gun show."  She then flexes her arms and says "Grrr!"  She is definitely a blend of the both of us!

21 Months, Week 3

Look out, world, Livi's hitting the open road!  When I came home from work the other night, she climbed in the driver's seat and started to turn the wheel and beep the horn.  She's a woman on a mission!  While I hate being away from her, there's nothing like when she comes running toward you full force, yelling "Mommmmmy!"

Also, cracking me up this week is Olivia's new grin.  All of a sudden when we ask her to smile for a picture, she gives us the biggest, cheesiest ear-to-ear grin.  You can't help but laugh!

I've been battling a cold this week, so Josh and Livi have been picking up the slack by running errands.  She is so helpful that when you ask her to hand you something, she will do it and then say, "There you go!"  Unfortunately, by the end of the week Livi was sick too.  It turns out she had an ear infection.  It was her first in almost a year.  After being up with her off and on Thursday night into Friday morning, listening to her cry and tug on her ear, it made me so thankful we had the her tubes put in last February.  I had forgotten/blocked out just how rough those nasty ear infections were on our girl.  I'm hoping she's able to bounce back quickly from this one.