T'was the Night Before Christmas-a mom's version.

I found this as a comment on Kellys Korner and I had to post it...this is so true! There are some days I just love Olivia SO much that I can't get enough hugs and kisses in, I just want to hug her so tight I'm afraid her head might pop off! Then there are other days when I just want to send her to Grandmas, she's into everything, she won't listen, she's fussy and just makes me very upset. But she knows this and usually needs a kiss or a snuggle and that makes everything alright again. Being a mom is not an easy job and those who think it is must have nanny's 24/7 to help them and are only around for the fun things. I'm sorry but that is NOT parenting at all! So this is to all the mommys out there. Enjoy!!

It was the night before Christmas, when all through the abode
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Nintendo and Barbie, flipped through their heads.
The dad was snoring in front of the TV,With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"
With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand
,She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great!!" muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."
"Ho-Ho-Ho!!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake.
Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."
"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?Run along, Santa. I've no time for chit-chat."
It was the mother's twin.Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.
She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, watch the Young and the Restless."
"Fantastic!!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true!
I'll shop. I'll read. I'll sleep a whole night through!"
From the room above, the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy?!? I'm scared, and I'm wet.
"The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part.
"The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,
As she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.
"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you.
"The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."
The mom frowned and said,
"Sorry, Santa, no deal.That's my child's love that she's trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,Only one loving mother is needed here."
The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget it won't be very long,When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."
The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

I hope you all have a VERY Merry Christmas! And remember that Jesus Christ is the REASON for the SEASON!

Olivia loves Sesame Street

I don't think I have ever mentioned Livvy's LOVE of Sesame Street...she is seriously in LOVE with this show. Luckily we have on Demand with our cable service and PBS Sprout is one of the channels so a few times a day Livvy gets to watch "Play with me Sesame" and this is her typical reaction, she always gets excited when she watches it. Oh my how I love her sooo much!

Happy Birthday to Olivia!

Here is a video of us Singing"Happy Birthday to You" to Livvy at her party!

A Few Updates...

OK, I have not been posting because I can't figure out how to add pictures and it not take forever...sooo...if anyone can explain to me how to add pictures directly from photobucket into blogger that would be great. For now I have been uploading them to photobucket and then copying the Html directly into the post and then shrinking the pictures themselves right in the post...it doesn't take as long to do it this way as opposed to using the blogger upload. That takes forever!!!

Alright, now to my updates. Olivia is done with her shoes/brace!!! She no longer has to wear them at night or ever :))) I can't tell you how extremely happy this makes us!! What a pain the the butt that was, every single night fighting with her trying to get them on tight enough and listening to her beat the hell out of her crib. (Kevin was very upset about that, he spend literally weeks making that crib) I was so excited that I went out and bought her her first pair of footed jammies! Yes she had footed jamies but never could wear them :( I was so happy to put her in them that first night and she slept very well. We go back in six months to see if her feet are still ok. I am praying that we will be done with that Doctor...he still creeps me out, not to mention when I go in he stares at my boobs, NO JOKE!!

Another awesome update is that after four (yes I said FOUR 4!!) failed attempts I finally passed the Praxis II (teacher test) You see, when I graduated Highschool in 2001 (yes I am old...so what?!) and started my first year of college I never would have imagined that in 9 years I would still be plugging away at my Elementary Education degree. Moving to Alaska totally screwed up my college career, UAA (University of Alaska Anchorage) SUCKS at accepting transfers even from their own system!! So basically I had to start over and for the first two years I was only able to take 1 class at a time because if I took more I would have to pay out of state tuition at $400 per credit hour but if I took less than 3 credit hours I could pay instate tuituion at $100 per credit hour until I became a resident. In February of this year I applied for my last leg of my Elementary Education degree my YEAR LONG internship. Well I still hadn't passed my Praxis II and needed that in order to be admited into the internship program. They (College of Education at UAA) let me take a few classes this summer with the assumption that I would pass the Praxis II so I took 4 of them. Well I didn't pass the test and so they put a complete stop to my education until I passed the test. I couldn't do my internship, I couldn't take any classes nothing! Oh did I mention that I only needed 2 points?? 2 FRIGGING POINTS!!! Oh and that the passing score for the State of Alaska is 143 and UAA requires a 163 and that I passed by Alaska requirements everysingletime???? Yeah, so I took the stupid test one more time and I finally passed it! I got the two points I needed! So, I will finally start my internship in the Fall of 2011, TEN years after I started college!
I look at it as a blessing to have been able to spend this time at home with Olivia, I prayed about it and asked God to help me do the right thing, He knew I wasn't ready to leave her and this happened!

Keep checking back for more pictures and posts!
Have a great day!!!

Stephanie

Happy FIRST Birthday Miss Olivia!

I am such a horrible blogger...it's been almost over a month since Livvy's first birthday and I am just now updating about her party. AHHH! Anyway, Olivia turned ONE on November 9 and that night we had Kevin's mom Connie over for dinner and a special cupcake for Livvy. I made baked ziti (a fav. around here) and we went and bought a gourmet cupcake for our birthday girl! She ate so much that night that I thought she was going to pop, instead she puked, lovely I know lol! She had no problem digging into her cupcake at all! She has such a sweet tooth and loves to feed herself. After eating she opened our presents, we just bought her some clothes and a few little things, nothing big. We figured that when she is a little older we will buy her bigger items, for now she has no idea what a birthday is so why go all out? We let others buy the bigger things for her this year.





Above is the card Kevin gave to Livvy, it says "Olivia, A year ago today, I was given the greatest gift I ever recieved. Being your dad has been the best thing I have ever experienced. I love you more and more everyday. Love Dad"...yeah I cried...hard! I am such a sap and both of them make me more of a sap :) I just love my little family!

For her party we rented the Kendall Park Building, a very nice small building with awesome slate heated floors (which were awesome considering it snowed the night before!) and huge indoor grill and tons of windows. I knew I wanted to do a "Fall" themed party because if you don't live in Alaska...November is still Fall haha! We had pumpkins and leaves and all things fall every where!! It was so cute! I made two pumpkin shaped cakes, Livvy's was smaller but perfect for her. I wanted to have a big lunch for everyone but didn't want to do hot dogs or hamburgers (maybe in the Summer) so I decided on a soup and sandwich bar, it was soooo good! We made mooseburger soup, chicken noodle and smoked salmon chowder, with several different kinds of grilled cheese, no one left hungry! The kids did some crafts which turned out so cute! My favorite one was they had to trace their hands and wrists on brown foam and cut them out then glue on fabric leaves to make hand trees! So cute! Livvy tore into her cake and made a huge mess but she had so much fun and totally knew what to do with that cake haha! She needed a bath afterwards so we bathed her in the sink. I think her party was a success and I know she loved it too! So glad that we were able to do such a special party for our very special baby girl!

I took small pumpkins and put in a picture for every month of her life.

Getting ready to blow out her candle!

I had her little shirt made. My best friends cousin makes custom bows and shirts, I emailed her and told her what I had in mind and she came up with this...I LOVE this shirt!! It is better than I could have ever dreamed! If you would like to have shirts or bows made for your kiddos look her up on facebook Avie Lus Custom Hairbows and Accessories (you can click on the underlined link to access her FB page) She is awesome!

She ate so much of her cake! And she shared it with me too :) I love being a mommy!!

I will leave you with this last picture from her Party. This is her "Popeye" look :) She is adorable!HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!! We love you so much and are so happy we have been trusted by God to be your parents! I am excited to see how much you have changed on your second birthday!

*All pictures from her party were taken by my dear friend and neighbor Katie Cannon Photography