Olivia's 4 Year Well Visit AND 7 Days until Jack's Big Arrival

Today is a big day here!!! Olivia had her 4 year well visit this morning and we only have 7 more days until Jack is here!!!

Olivia's appointment with Dr. B went very well! He is such an amazing doctor and has us all laughing the entire visit! He really has a great "bedside" manner! He makes going to the doctor so much easier on all of us!

The appointment started off easy.... Olivia weighed in at 35.4 lbs, which put her in the 50th percentile for weight, and measured in at 42.5 inches, which is the 95% percentile for height! Her lean body mass is only in the 10th percentile. What a lucky little girl! Long and lean! Unfortunately the fun and games did not last long, as Olivia was due for 4 shots and a finger prick to test her iron. The finger prick was a breeze, but as soon as they laid her down for her shots, the tears were on! Luckily it was over quickly, and other than a flu shot, she is done with immunizations until she's 11! That is definitely good news! Now we get to start all over next week with the next one! :)

It's hard to imagine that in 7 short days we will be in the hospital with a newborn! We are all very excited! Every day Olivia says, "Mommy I want Jack to come today!". I am glad she is so excited to meet her baby brother. I just hope she still feels that way when we bring him home and she realizes she is not the center of attention any longer! Denny and I are both extremely excited, but like any soon to be parents, are aprehensive just that everything will go well with the surgery and that Jack is born healthy, without any complications! Please pray for a safe delivery and an easy transition for us all! :)

We will be sure to keep everyone updated next week as we welcome Jack into our family!

Olivia's First Experience Going Under

Last week Olivia had to get a mole removed that was on her head. It was in her hair, on the back of her head and looked a little funny. So both the dermatologist and plastic surgeon recommended we completely take it out just in case! She knew what we were doing that day and pretty much what was going to happen. And I have to say I was very proud of her! She was very brave! It helped knowing she was getting a surprise and ice cream when we were done! :)

Waiting for the doctor to come in

Giving us her best "scared" face. She was a complete clown while we were waiting!
I was so surprised she was not freaking out right here. I think I would have been! The nurse came in and we had to wrap her up in this blanket so that her arms were bound to her side. Thankfully we brought lovey along and lovey got all wrapped up with her! Then she had to lay on her tummy on the table, and then put the mask on for the laughing gas. She did everything as she was told and was so brave. Just after taking this picture I looked up at Denny and we both had teary-eyes! We are wimps I know! It was sad to see her disposition change as she inhaled the laughing gas and got so tranquil and still. But then it was just hysterical. It was like she had had a few too many margaritas! Denny and I were then in tears because we were laughing so hard at what she was saying! I wish we'd had video of it!
The entire procedure took about 20 minutes and she was very good and still. By the end she was really sleepy and when she came off of the gas she was a major grump! But by the time we got home and she opened her surprise she was a happy girl once again!

The wound is healing nicely and hopefully you won't be able to see it once it is completely healed, even though she will never grow hair where the actual scar is. And we found out yesterday that is was totally benign, so that is a blessing!

Poor thing, this week she goes in for her 4 year well visit and has to get 4 shots! Luckily it will be over quickly! And next week she gets her stitches out. But after that I pray we she is done with doctor visits for a while! Next it will be her brother's turn! :)

Liv's Birthday cont.

So, here is the rest of Olivia's birthday! Finally!!! We all had a really good time! Olivia loved the games and the few rides they had, and even had enough tickets for several (albeit very pathetic) prizes at the end of the evening!

Setting up at our table

She is so ready to get down and PLAY!
Her first game and ticket score!
Trying her hand at skeeball, it was so cute to watch! And who does not love skeeball, even at our age!
This picture is so great! This monster truck goes up in the air and tilts during the ride. I think of the bumps and tilts rattled her a bit!
She really enjoyed the pretend roller coaster, it was pretty cool!

After Chuck's we came home and had ice cream cake and Olivia opened her gifts from us!

And here is her most prized possession, her double stroller! She is so excited still about this thing! She has a hard time sharing it with her friends. She wants her friends to come over and "watch" her play with it, but not give them a turn! It was a last minute purchase but I am so glad we got it! She was truly SO excited, which is not like her. She doesn't typically show much emotion when she opens a gift, even if it's one she has been wanting for awhile!

As I said, I can't get over the fact that she is four! It's not only her age, but she just looks so much older to me recently. Before I know it she'll be taking drivers ed and I'll be on all kinds of medication so that I'm not up worrying every day and night about her! Until then, we are already busy making our Christmas list!!!!!!!! :)

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Girl

I really can't even believe it has been 4 years since Olivia came into our lives! She has been a blessing in every way (even though as I type this we are arguing about her going to the bathroom!), and Denny and I constantly wonder what we ever did with ourselves before she was born. Our lives must have been so boring and empty! :) I am probably a little more emotional with another impending birth around the corner, but 4 just seems so big to me! I wish I could freeze time and just keep her my little girl forever! I know everyone feels that way about their own at some time or another, so I know I am not alone!

We have had a pretty low key day so far... We gave her one gift when she woke up, which she seemed to really like because it's all she played with all morning! She even bypassed a trip to the donut store to stay home and play!!!! Now she has her sweet friend Sawyer over for a playdate and we are about to go to cheerleading! Then it's on to Chuck-E-Cheese for dinner! I know I can't wait!!!

Opening her Barbie pool
The Birthday Breakfast of Champions!


I will be sure to post more pictures of her big day later after our exciting adventure at Chuck-E-Cheese's!

Olivia's 4th Birthday Party

After a full week of swim lessons, we ended the week celebrating Olivia's 4th Birthday! We invited all of her friends to a cute little tea room in Plano where the girls, and Luken (lucky little man!) got to be "big" for a morning. The kids enjoyed "pink lady tea" (aka pink lemonade), pigs in a blanket, chocolate chip mini-muffins and fruit kabobs! And of course there was cake, presents, and in the end they made bracelets to take home! It was definitely a calm birthday party, but I hope all the kids enjoyed it! :) The tea room took care of everything so all we had to do was show up, how nice is that!?

Here is one side of the table, Kennedy, Macy, Bella, and Ayva
And here is the other side... Luken, Sawyer, Emma, Finley and Maci
I love the way she held her teacup! It looks like something her daddy taught her!
Blowing out the candles!!!!

Swim Lessons

Last week Olivia took swim lessons with Kennedy! We completely lucked out and they were the only 2 in the class, so it was really more like a semi-private lesson! Olivia loved the first two days, but on Wednesday her teacher was "helping" her dunk her head under water and Olivia got a little frightened. She got upset in the pool and wanted out, but she stayed in and finished her lesson. On Thursday morning she was upset and crying that she didn't want to go. I really didn't want to push her, but wanted her to go back and at least try one more day. So after some coaxing from Denny and I she was game! Her hang up is getting her entire face in the water. She definitely wants to be in control and do it at her own pace. Which to me is understandable. Thankfully her instructor was very patient and understanding and didn't force her to do anything she wasn't willing to try. She said that Olivia had good body position, if she could just hurdle her fear of putting her face in the water she'd be off! So that will give us something to work on! All in all I thought the lessons went well! I don't think we'll be seeing Olivia swim across the pool or jumping off any diving boards anytime soon, but she does have more confidence and skill in the water!

I think Olivia's favorite part of swim lessons was doing the alligator crawl on the tanning ledge! My little thrill seeker! :)

And her least favorite thing was the back float! This is as relaxed as she got!

The 4th of July

We had a great 4th of July! We spent the day together as a family and then after Olivia's nap (yea!) we went over to the Smith's house for a cookout and some fun! Kennedy and Olivia had a lot of fun playing outside in Kennedy's pool, which is super cool and has a slide on it! They then had a picnic and went on playing on Kennedy's swingset! It was all fun and games and then Olivia got stung by a wasp or hornet or something! I heard her scream from inside the house and thought she was just being over-dramatic about a bug or something, her newest fear! But I was wrong, she had every reason to be upset! Denny ran and got her down from the playset and her left ear was bright red!!! After looking around her ear and asking her where it hurt, we found a small spot where it looked as though she had been stung. Thanks to the quick thinking of Matt and Julie, we quickly had an antidote! Baking soda and water mixed together was supposed to take out the sting! Just a little FYI to all of you out there, it really worked! Within minutes she was up and playing again... although this time, indoors! Which I'm sure the guys were thankful for as they had been stuck with them outside all afternoon!

After all had settled down, I was able to get a picture of

Olivia with the baking soda and water remedy!

After lots of playing the girls took a bath and got into their pj's!
Then we took them to check out the fireworks closeby! Olivia loves fireworks and was disappointed they started a little earlier than planned so we missed the very beginning! But she had a great time and was sad when the show was over!

We had a wonderful 4th and even survived our first wasp sting! I hope everyone else enjoyed their holiday and extended time with their family! It is always so hard to see Denny go back to work after a holiday!

Jack's Baby Shower

Again, I am a little behind, so today will be catch-up day! But I only have 2 posts, not 6 like last time!!!

A couple of weeks ago some of my sweetest friends were kind enough to throw a shower for us! It was so much fun and we really got some cute, cute stuff!!! It totally got me in the mood for this new little bundle of joy (who will be here in 4 short weeks!!!). I came home and started nesting and haven't stopped since! It's been so much fun, at least for me! Denny is probably cursing his ever growing honey-do list! :)

Olivia and I before the shower - she really wanted to come with us, but I thought it would be best to keep it a mommy day and she got some good quality time with her daddy!

Summer was kind enough to host the shower at her home... again! What a wonderful friend!
Sheryl and Stacy, 2 other gracious hostesses!
The cute "all boy" table - the food was so yummy!
Mimi checking out the ever-expanding belly! Her hand looks so small in comparison!
Aunt Shar (or La-la as Liv would say)
Aunt Cheryl and Liz
Some of our great friends from church - Carrie, Me, Julie, Emily and Noel

My friend Ronda, way back from AT&T Wireless! We realized it's been almost 6 years since we worked together! I can't believe it's been that long, it seems like yesterday!

Kelli, another great friend from our church, and Rebecca, an old friend from our days in Grayhawk!

I am so disappointed I did not get a picture of myself with the photographer for the day, Mollie! She was another hostess for the shower and we did not get a picture together! But she does great work doesn't she! :) She took so many pictures and was sure to get a picture of me with all of the guests! Not to mention one of me opening every gift, but I will spare you that torture! :)

As you can see, it was a fun time and Denny and I are so blessed to have such amazing and loving family and friends!

I was sure to bring a cupcake home for Olivia as I knew she would love it! They were huge with bright blue icing, what kid wouldn't want to jump right in! On Sunday after church she sat down to tackle it! Needless to say I think she enjoyed it!