Bradley Days

We had the opportunity to attend Bradley Country Days with our friends, The Boyetts. Olivia, Ramsey, and Mackenna enjoyed the bouncy houses, pony rides, and slides. Tori and I enjoyed a funnel cake and Bradleys sausage.

 Two kwazy haired girls.

 Train ride.

 Olivia wanted to get up on the stage and dance. Luckily one of the cloggers also works at the hospital and took Olivia up on the stage. She loved it, and didn't seem to notice the hundreds of people watching.

 

Thanksgiving a little late.

We were fortunate to have all of Robert's family come to Tallahassee for Thanksgiving. Olivia was especially excited to see her Papa. He flew in from Durham, NC for the long weekend. We hosted Thanksgiving at house for the first time. It was nice to finally have the room to accomodate everyone. We all ate way too much, and played too much Rockband. Black Rain was in town with the addition of a new drummer. They rocked the house.

 Rocking out on the guitar.

 Introducing the newest addition to Black Rain...Olivia Jernigan

 Sticks up!

 Back to the base guitar with a smidge of chocolate.

Rockin' out. 

Santa Baby

Robert, Olivia, Nana, and I ventured to the mall tonight to see Santa. We only had to wait about 30 minutes before the Big Guy appeared after his break. Olivia's jaw dropped immediately when she saw him, but she clammed up when it was her turn to see him. The picture is better than last years screaming mouth wide open red faced and reaching for my parents picture. This years is more bottom lip poked out, pouty and I am on the verge of crying. The poor teenagers running the camera were busy with the children in front us when Olivia decided she was unleash her arms from me and sit in Santa's lap. I was desperately looking at one of them trying to get them to snap a picture before the tears started. Luckily one of the girls heard me and was Johnny on the spot. After Santa we enjoyed dinner with Nana with a little ice cream on the side. Nana is traveling to Orlando for Christmas so we exchanged gifts tonight. Olivia got a very cute doll that she is now obsessed with. She doesn't have a name as of right now but I'm sure we will think of something. Meet the newest addition to our family.

She talks and does lots of tricks. It was too cute and funny listening to Olivia talk to her on the way home. The doll asks to be rocked and Olivia responds, "Okay honey I rock you in a minute." The doll states that she likes to do somersaults and Olivia responds, "You can't do somersaults you bonk you head." The doll stated she was tired and asked for Olivia to sing her a lullaby and Olivia says, "OK what you want to sing?" I was cracking up on the drive home. I love seeing and hearing her imagination work.

On a sad note Olivia received a spanking tonight from yours truly. It was HORRIBLE! After not listening at dinner to both Robert and myself, and then not listening when we got home followed by a big fit... she got a spanking. She was completely shocked and confused. All she could say was "Mommy owie. Mommy you gave me an owie." It was all I could do not to cry with her. After the tears dried we had a talk about listening and being a good girl. She was fine when she went to bed, other then not getting stories, and fell fast asleep.
*Note to self-up the mental counseling fund*

I not whiney. I a big girl.

The life of a 2 1/2 year old includes lots of playing, chasing/torturing the dogs, and apparently whining. I can handle a lot of things, but whining is NOT one of them. This is an issue that we have been trying to address through various interventions including but not limited to bribery. On the way home from school yesterday Olivia was whining about wanting something to drink. She thinks that we should make a trip to the store everyday to get her something to drink. What this really means is...I want to go to Publix to score a free cookie. On days when I think ahead I have something for her when I pick her up. Yesterday was not one of those days. So, the whining started. When I told her to stop whining she replied with, "I not whining. I just talking. I a big girl." A few minutes later she asked me what Santa would think of her whining. When I turned the question back to her she said he wouldn't like it, and wouldn't bring her her Dora Guitar. Pretty smart for a 2 1/2 year old.

A Message from Santa

Jack Be Quick has been very busy traveling back and forth from Tallahassee to the North Pole. We have found him on a lotion bottle in the bathroom and on a door handle in the family room. Olivia told Robert this morning, "Mommy move my Jack." Of course, Robert had to explain that Jack has special magical powers and he only moves when Olivia is a good little girl and he has traveled to the North Pole to report his findings to Santa. Olivia will be excited to see that I received the following message from Santa. That sneaky Santa he is always watching.
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/294-huujCWsMe2HM6DT5LQ

Jack Be Quick

In my best efforts I tried failed to keep a weekly journal outlining our life since Olivia entered the world on April 17, 2008. The once a week entry then became once a month which then became once every two or three months, and has recently consisted of one liners that she has said or did throughout the course of a day/week/month. So I am attempting a blog, and hoping that I can keep it up, in an effort to capture those bits and pieces that don't really have a place in the ol' fashion baby book.

So for tonight we have the introduction of a new family tradition. Meet Jack Be Quick. That's right, Jack Be Quick. Not Jack, but Jack Be Quick.

That is the name that Olivia chose for her Elf on the Shelf. A name that she chose out of Rudolph, Mistletoe, Holly, Noel, Nick. See a pattern? Jack Be Quick was no where to be found in the choices I gave her. This is also coming from the same little girl that names all of her baby dolls, Baby Sister. She was very excited to tell her Daddy her elf's name, remind him that he cannot be touched, and that he has magic wings to he can fly to Santa and report that she has been a very good girl. You see when she is a very good girl Santa is going to bring her a Dora Guitar that is just "my size."