First Trip to the ER

Olivia gave us a little scare last Saturday night. We ended up taking her to the ER, because we weren't really sure how to help her. She thought it was cool because she was going to the hospital and she got to stay up way past her bedtime. Everything was fine. We were in and out within an hour and a half and on our way back home.

Waiting on the doctor.

All done and ready to go home. Also, looking like she is five feet tall in this picture.

Silly Girl

I know we are biased, but Olivia has the best personality. She is usually very sweet and easy going. She loves to laugh, and loves to make us laugh. Her imagination amazes us, and the conversations we have are often mind blowing. She uses word like "perhaps" and "actually" when she is talking, and can carry on a conversation like an adult. Within the past few weeks she has learned how to eat cherries (while remembering to spit out the pit) , and can chew gum without swallowing it. She runs up the stairs without holding on, and while alternating her feet. She can ride her tricycle on a flat surface, but our bumpy driveway proves to be a little challenging. She truly is an awesome little girl, and we are blessed to have her in our lives.



Our little clown.



A Short Trip Home

After having a few days of antibiotics in our system we decided to keep our scheduled trip to Birmingham to see Gigi and Papaw. Unfortunately Robert's mono kept him from his "man weekend" in Tampa. While Olivia and I were spoiled by Gigi and Papaw Robert and Layla manned the Jernigan fort and caught up on their reading and rest.
As soon as we arrived we had to check out the new Grand River Outlets. This was our first trip to the outlets, and they did not disappoint. It must be nice to be a grandchild because Miss Olivia scored big time.

Note the sparkling shoes and heart/ruffled skirt. A very coordinating outfit.

Olivia had us cracking up in the stores. Before we knew it she would be stripped down in the middle of the store trying on clothes. At one point one of the sales associates asked if we could like a dressing room, but we were a little past that point. I wonder if him rounding the corner to see my daughter's naked hiney prompted him to ask that question.

A trip to Birmingham in the hot summer heat is not complete without a trip to the zoo. I managed to pack my camera, but I left my SIM card at home. Brilliant I know. So all of our pictures are with my phone.

My two favorite monkeys checking out the monkeys at the zoo.

Seeing if her new shoes help her climb.

A little ride around the block with "Daisy."

Enjoying the splash area.

The foam zone was awesome!

Just when I thought we had missed any major meltdowns or tantrums she busted it leaving the splash area and banged up her knee. After a lot of whaling, a trip to first aid, and a small bribe from the gift shop we were on our way.

We had a great and as always too short of a visit.

Exhausted from all of the fun, and headed home to see Daddy.

Fourth of July

Long gone are the days of bar-b-que, hanging by the pool, and having a few cold beverages. Fourth of July was filled with me working, and all of us being sick. We were in bed before 10:00p.m. and were all a little annoyed with the fireworks. They were loud and lasted forever. After "waiting it out" what we thought was a virus turned out to be strep for me, strep and mono for Robert, and a sinus infection for Olivia. After a round of antibiotics for everyone with lots of rest and fluids were were on the mend. Well 2 out of 3 of us were. Robert has been enjoying the symptoms of mono for greater than a month. I know he is ready to be back at 100%, and  we are ready for Daddy to feel better!

Father's Day

"The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, 'Daddy, I need to ask you something,' he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan." -Garrison Keillor
We do not have a son, but the above is otherwise 100% true. Oh, and Robert loves Garrison Keillor.

From the first moment they met and every moment in between they share a love that no one else will ever know or understand. Whether it's a Monday morning and we are rushing to get out of the door, or a lazy Saturday morning with not a care in the world Olivia is the pride in her daddy's eye. He kisses and doctors boo-boos, makes the best mac and cheese upon request, gives awesome piggy back rides, plays dollhouse and dress-up, and tucks her in with a hug and kiss every night. Olivia is blessed to have such an awesome daddy, and I am blessed to have such an awesome husband.

We celebrated Father's Day with breakfast in bed.

Then Miss Olivia and I exited the house so daddy could have some "him" time. We attempted to go to the jumpy place-but it was closed, we attempted to paint pottery-but it was closed, we even attempted a pedicure-but the nail salon was closed. We attempted Lake Ella-and it was open with lots of people, ducks, turtles, dogs, and humidity.

We also attempted Dunkin' Doughnuts-they were open and full of chocolate treats, juice, and iced coffee for mommy.

Surgery # 3

Our sweet baby experienced her third surgery on June 17th. After repeated ear and sinus infections and a slew of out of the air high fevers for days we along with her pediatrician and ENT doctors decided it was time for ear tubes and an adenoidectomy.

Waiting on the doctor, and no she isn't scared. That is her fake smile.

Enjoying all of the juice she could possibly want.

The hardest part for her was not having her glass of milk first thing in the morning. The hardest part for us was walking her back to the sterile area and handing her off to the nurse. Surprisingly there were no tears, but there were a few pouty lips going around. She was in surgery for approximately 40 minutes. The ENT doc informed us that her adenoids were huge and gross and it was a good thing we decided to have then removed. They only allow one parent in recovery, and I was the chosen parent since she was in a "mommy phase" at the time. She was sleeping so peacefully until she saw me, and then the whaling began and continue for the next hour. She hated the IV, and that was the first thing she said to me was that she wanted it out. Following recovery we went to her room where they monitored her for the next two hours, and then we were discharged home.

Our regimen for the next week included pain meds every four hours, antibiotics three times a day, and drops in her ears twice a day. We quickly learned that Lortab has the opposite effect on our daughter which resulted in an over active hyper as crap 3 year old and two exhausted parents. The Lortab was replaced with Tylenol and Ibuprofen ASAP. Robert and I felt like we had a newborn again. We were taking turns with night duty and setting alarms to get up and administer meds. Miss Olivia enjoyed the attention, and endless icecream and popsicles. She returned to school on Tuesday, but we had to continue the pains meds until Friday. She goes back to the ENT tomorrow for her two week follow-up.

Popsicle # ??? we lost count.

Bama Baseball

Alabama baseball was in town the first of June playing in the regionals. We were excited to attend an Alabama sporting event. They are few and far between in this area and since welcoming Peanut. Olivia and I enjoyed the evening with family friends while Robert enjoyed a chance to catch up with a friend. The evening was a little shaky thanks to severe weather causing multiple rain delays. Alabama was scheduled to play at 6:00 p.m., but the delay pushed the start time back to 7:30p.m./Olivia's bedtime. We hung in there for a few innings, but I was done with bribery i.e chick fil a, gummies, goldfish, pretzels, and dippin'dots, and we headed to the house. Olivia had a blast. She loved dancing with the music, and said multiple "Roll Tides" and "Go Bamas."

The beginning of the bribery with gummy fruit snacks.

Something tells me I will see this look again in about 12 years.

Daddy's Bama Girls