Update time!

It must be the winter blues....I have seriously had enough! Today, however, was a balmy 9 degrees. I know that winter is not over and it will be here for a LONG time.  A couple weeks ago I told Wes that if a job opportunity opens up in a place where it is HOT and winter doesn't exist (or at least short) to TAKE IT!! And, I'm serious! I just can't take winter any more! This time next year we are going to be far away on a very warm vacation!

Anyway, enough complaining for one post.

I know that some people do use this blog to stay up-dated and connected with what we are doing, so I figure I had better keep it updated.

Our big girl is 15 months! And what a DOLL she is! I love her fun personality and sense of humour. Wes and I, of course, think she is BRILLIANT and wonder how she got so smart! She just knows things that we don't even teach her. For example, the other day she grabbed me wedding ring of the night-stand (whoops) and gave it to me. After she handed it to me, she held out her finger for me to put it on her. I was surprised that she knew the ring went on her finger! She knows what cars sound like and will say "car" when she hears one, even though she may not see it. She loves to pick up the phone, put it next to her ear, and start talking. And, she will even talk back on the phone when someone is on the other end. When she hears music she can't help but "raise the roof". She sometimes really hates sitting in her booster seat at the table and would much prefer sitting on the bench like a "Big Girl". She loves to sing and will often sing along with me at home, and join in during church. She folds her arm for prayer and often times will start mumbling to herself right when she folds her arm as though she is trying to say the prayer herself. She can point to her body-parts when asked, i.e.: head, belly, lips, stinky feet, eyes, nose, ear. She HATES finger painting.

She is learning new words all the time. Trying to remember some of the new ones off the top of my head...

• turtle (grandma Karen taught her that)
• pup (she says that for "up")
• more
• juice
• milk
• car
• baby
• Jesus. She has a picture of Jesus in her room and often times likes to kiss the picture.
• cracker
• cheese
• mommy
• dadda
• hi
• bye
• no

As for Wes, he is still working hard at SCM and still on the night-shift. I opened a Dayhome the beginning of Jan. I thought it would be a great way for me to make some extra money while staying home with Olivia. Well, I have now learned that it is a lot more limiting that i had previously thought. I feel like a stay at home mom without the perks. I don't have much (if any) one-on-one time with Liv, can't take her on outings. To be honest, I feel like the quality of my life has decreased since I opened the Dayhome. It's not that I don't like taking care of children, it's that taking care of other peoples children 5 days a week, all day long is just too much! Not only do I want to give Olivia more, I also have personal interests and talents I want to pursue. I'm just having a hard time doing it all. So, I have one more month of full-time Dayhome, and then I'll go down to 2 days a week. I'm looking forward to that!

By the way, a HUGE thank you to Wes for seriously supporting me with the Dayhome and picking up for me in the areas where I'm lacking. I honestly feel that the longer we are married (a whopping 3.5 years now), the more connected we are and the better we are getting at working together and supporting each other. Love him!!!