weekend of firsts

Joe and I took the girls swimming yesterday.  I recently joined the YMCA in La Canada.   They have several activites that I think Audrey will enjoy including swimming and gymanstics.  Not to mention the wonderful babysitting facility.   Audrey was very excited to go "swimming in water". She had a blast and fell asleep as soon as we got home.  Olivia also enjoyed the pool.  It was her first time swimming.  She loved going back in forth in the pool from end to end.  It was also very cute, it seemed that Olivia was mimicing her sister trying to spash with her hand and feet.  All 4 of us had fun and both girls took a long nap afterwards.
Today Joe whipped up some peas for Olivia to try.  We have been giving her new foods every few days trying to expand her diet.   She has a bite or two this evening and has a very negative reaction to them.  I have never seen a little baby dislike a food so much. She was gagging so much I ran and got her a bottle of water to cleanse her mouth.  I may try them again in the next few days mixing them with other foods. Olivia has her own opinion and likes what she likes.  Her sister was much more easy going.

Here is a picture of Joe swimming with Audrey when she was Olivia's age.  We took swimming lessons at the Rosebowl on Saturday's for a few months.

Yesterday Olivia wore this same swimsuit.  It was a little big but looked just as cute.  Audrey was so proud of her swimming session with Olivia. My parents came over to babysit last night and she just glowed as she told them about "swimming in water".  Ha!

Swing Ride...wheeeeee

Olivia experienced her first ride in the swing yesterday.  We went to the park for a MOMS club play date.  Audrey was begging me for a swing ride so I decided to try Olivia in the swing as well to make my life a little easier.  At first Olivia did not know what to think of it.  But after a minute she loves it and did not stop screeching for a long time!

Joe and I were laughing at this picture last night.  We are still not so sure who she looks like.  I mostly see Joe when I look at her.  And if you ask our postman she looks exactly like daddy! 

 

November is here already

Wow time has flown by so quickly.  Olivia is now cruising the floor getting into all of the toys that Audrey does not put away, which is everything.  We had a fun Halloween this year.  We celebrated with Audrey's school on Friday and on Saturday we went to the Boo at the Zoo event in the morning.  Carter Morel has his birthday party in the afternoon and we ended the day at my parents house and went trick or treating with the girls.  It was so much fun.  The first house we made a visit to was Rico's home. She opened the door and Audrey just walked right inside.  It was only a thing that a little girl would do!

Audrey loved the Snow White costume that I made for her this year.  It is hard to get a good picture of her lately.  She is a very serious little girl.  I was able to snap this while Joe and I were visiting her class

Teacher Jose is dressed up as the Big Green Monster. This is one of Audrey's favorite books that they read at school often.  Audrey seems to have formed a good relationship with her teachers and speaks of them often.

 

Audrey stops to check out her treats with teacher Carmen and daddy.  

After trick or treating at Celebration Kids we returned to Audrey's classroom and decorated cookies.  

Joe took this photo of the girls as we were getting ready to go to Carter's birthday party.  You can see that Audrey and Olivia have such different personalities.  Olivia never stops smiling, and Audrey does!

 

Olivia is six and a half months here in this photo.  She is so cute and amazing.  She discovers a different skill everyday.  She looked so cute in her Kimono inspired pajamas that my parents bought for her on their recent trip to Japan.  As you look at the photos below it is so funny..the many faces of Olivia.

 

Climbing is one of Audrey's favorite things.  These tunnels are up about 8 feet and require a ton of climbing. 

Audrey enjoyed the little fire car at Amy's Playground.  I love snapping shots of her when she is not looking.  It is the only way I can really get a photo of the true Audrey.

October seems to be the busiest month for children's activites.  There are so many halloween parties and harvest festivals there is no way we could fit them all in.  This past Sunday MOMS club had their Halloween party at our house.  I did learn that I will never again be able to host a Halloween party if I plan on making the girls costumes.  I was so stressed out and busy forthe past 2 weeks.  Now that it is over I feel liberated.  Ahhhhh.  This morning I too the girls in costume to the Americana where there was a kids band plaing and there were some halloween activities.  We have come home and both girls are zonked out.  I love sitting here listiening to them sleep.  I can also hear the wind blowing outside for the first time this year.  I love fall it is my favorite time of the year.  I hope that it contiinues to cool down in the next few weeks. 

The Halloween party was a success. I think it was the most people that we have ever had in our house at the same time.  Joe was a super great husband and picked up three straw bails for a photo opp in our back yard.  This is my favorite picture of the day.

I realized about a week ago that I was not going to be able to make Olivia a bunny costume as I had planned.  I found this winnie the pooh costume at the disney store last week on sale.  I think it was perfect!

Joe was a super dad at the party and took care of the girls so I could help run the party.  Olivia was pretty good but Audrey was not so happy sharing all of her toys with so many children.  She had several time outs over the course of the party.  There were many tears shed and she was sad snow white that day. 

Audrey was a very pretty Snow White.  She loved her costume, the moment she put it on, I was so pleased.  My hard work had paid off and she looked perfect!

 Ryan dressed up as a fire truck!

Margaret was a cute little monkey

Grace Dyer was the perfect little Bo Peep!

Amelie in her Sleeping Beauty princess dress

Lilly was a bumble bee

Grace Haskin was a pretty lady bug

Tenny was also a very cute bumble bee.  Popular costume idea!

Bella went as Dorthy with her dog Toto!

Ashley as Abby Cadabby!

And ...Jack!

na ne na ne na ne...

Time keeps flying by so quickly.  Olivia will be turning one year old before I know it.  My little girl, my baby!  She has discovered her tongue in the past few days.  Sticking it out at mommy, daddy, Audrey and anyone else who will pay attention.  Last night I realized that she is going to be on the move very soon.  Ahhhhhhhh, I am not ready for 2 mobile girls.  What am I going to do??  Somehow she mustered up the strength to wiggle over to some coloring books that Audrey left on the floor. Yikes I can see trouble ahead already!

6 months already!

Yesterday we celebrated Olivia's 6-month birthday! Time has flown by so quickly. Our baby is getting bigger. She is sitting up for a few minutes before she topples over. She loves to play with her toys and her favorite seems to be a pink monkey on a ring decorated like a candy cane with red and white stripes. We received this money toy from Nicole and Kevin for Audrey's first Christmas. Audrey never really played with the toys like Olivia does.

Olivia is all about discovering the world around her. She loves anything that is put in front of her. Some of her favorites include, paper, books, crinkly sounding toys, balls, and anything that she can get away from her sister. Olivia is learning to be alert and on her toes, trying to fend off her sister. Overall Olivia is very tolerant of her sister. Audrey loves to tuck her in with blankets, but will also pull them over her head. The two girls are so cute together when they are hanging out on the floor both lying on their tummies.

It just warms my heart that Olivia will always have the lover of her older sister. Audrey wants to play with Olivia so badly. She is so patient at times but quickly forgets my warning and is too rough with Olivia. I do feel bad taking her away and giving her a time out just because she hugged her little sister with too much enthusiasm.

At 6 months Olivia is such a big girl.  I can put her on a blanket and she plays with all of her toys and moves around the floor for over an hour.  She loves it!

Audrey's friend Ryan came over for a visit last week and gave Olivia her first wagon ride.   It was so precious!

Cute thoughts for the day

We woke up today to the first rain of the season. I am excited to put on Audrey's rain coat. Joe dressed Audrey in a long sleeved shirt and jeans.  I cut  her hair last night, it is a cute little bob.  I am trying to help it grow out nicely, giving definition between her bangs and the length of her hair.  I guess you can say it was her first real hair cut.
Audrey has become facinated with trash trucks.  It was super cute watching her run from the front door to the window of her bedroom screaming for her dad to come and watch the truck with her. As I am typing she is sitting next to me having a bowl of cereal, slurping from her spoon.  I love her!
Olivia my other darling has also stepped up and is demanding new attention.  She is not yet crawling but the girl can move across a floor.  It is just a matter of time.  She is kicking her legs and beginning to pull them under herself ready to push up.  Oh Olivia you are growing up so quickly.  While I was feeding you last night at 2am I realized how long your body has become.  My little baby is not as little as she used to be.  I will miss it when she no longer can lay across my lap.  I am sure she would tell you differently.  Olivia has now discovered her voice and has been screeching for the last 24 hours.  It is crazy, her smile is still toothless, but not for long as her first tooth has cut through and you can see the puffiness in her gum from the second bottom tooth that will appear any day. She is loving her solid food. We give her 1 solid meal a day and feed her at the table with the family.  She loves butternut squash, and for the past two nights I have mixed in some plum that I made over the summer just for her! She loved it and was sad when it was gone. She is so different that her sister was at this time.  She is so curious, active and exploring everything!