Rear View...

...gets a whole new meaning!!!

Now that Olivia is crawling so well, all I see is her little tushy! I am sure when she begins walking I will see the same tushy as it runs in any direction that she can! As much as I look forward to that day I also hope that it doesn't come too soon.



Introducing Bear Bear

For those of you who know me and I mean really know me, you also know Puff Puff! He goes everywhere with me and has been around for 28 years. When we found out we were pregnant many of you asked if I would pass down Puff Puff to our future child and my answer was Absolutely Not!. I was not trying to be mean but I was worried that he would not fare well at his age.

Introducing ...Bear Bear

Not to fear Olivia does not need Puff Puff, because she has her own. I would like to introduce to you Bear Bear! She received him when she was born and still in the hospital and for the most part has spent much of his life thus far in a basket next to her crib. However in the past couple of month's she pulled him out and has grown very attached to him. He now spends his days with her and nights protecting her in her crib! I love to watch their friendship, they cuddle, they talk, and she throws him.

Bear Bear even took his first trip this past month to Philadelphia with us. He joined us at the wedding and all the site seeing before we headed back home. I am certain that we will have many more stories of Olivia and Bear Bear!

Stay Tuned!

Turkey Lake

Olivia has never been to a park and on Sunday we were invited to join our best friends at Turkey Lake Park. We packed up her wagon and everything else we could think of and headed off to meet them. The park has changed a bit since Ben and I had last been there 9 years ago (we celebrated our first Valentine's Day there at the petting zoo) but it's still a beautiful place to go. The girls and Daddy's got to play on the jungle gym and Olivia rode the slide for the very first time. She loved it, bouncing down on Daddy's lap, but when I brought her down the second time she got scared. I had no idea that we would go that fast, it's OK we survived.

We headed to what used to be a petting zoo that now is just a farm, we checked out the chickens, rosters, turkey's, bunnies, pigs, and goats. The girls just love animals even if they pay no attention to those of  us watching them. Since we could only stand on the other side on the chicken wire fences we decided it was too hot and we were hungry. Off to lunch and resting for the week ahead.

Cowboy Karaoke

This is how we do Cowboy!

As we get ever closer to the big day for Myles and Butchie, it was time to celebrate with a couples shower and they sure know how to do it big. Saturday night we headed out for a Cowboy Karaoke themed evening, I even got cowboy boots! Ben and I had such a great time chatting with friends that we don't see often enough and watching everyone sing. We said we wouldn't sing but we did join in on a couple group songs, Ben even got some of the moves down to Bye Bye Bye by NSYNC!



A perfect pair!!!

Yes, Ben sang!

Too adorable for words!

10 Month's Old

Today, you are 10 month's old only 2 month's from now we will be celebrating your first year. Your Mommy and Daddy have already begun the planning for this bitter sweet day. But, enough about the future this past month has been so fun.

Weight: 17lbs

Height: 25 1/2 inches

No doctor's appointment this month, so we just used our scale!

Tooth number 2 made its appearance on March 3, just as we were leaving for your first trip to Philly. I have tried to get a pic of your 2 little teeth but you have not let me just yet. I don't give up I will get it.

You are getting very close to those first steps, you stand up on everything and you have learned to let go. You just stand there for many second before you either grab on to something again or fall on your tush. We love to watch as you hold onto anything and walk to get closer to something else. Generally it's something that you are not supposed to have, but for now we are still faster then you. What else is new this month? You climb! Yup, on anything and everything you can get your little legs up on. Your favorite is the pillows on our bed because when you get up higher you can see out the window better.

Daddy and I were so excited that we decided to see if you would eat some Puff's now that you have teeth and the minute that you swallowed it we CHEERED! We have tried in the past with no luck, just gagging followed by throw up. Now, you come home each evening and sit in your highchair for snack time. Puff's, Surfboards, and water, you just sit there and eat while we wash dishes, or make dinner. It is great family time in the kitchen.

Not that your personality has ever held you back before but this month you have become like a little one women welcome committee where ever we go. You either sit in your stroller or on our hip and as we walk where ever we are you just wave. To everyone even if they are not paying any attention to you. But if they aren't watching you, you wave and they give them your mean face. It's like how dare you not look at me.

Daddy and I love you more and more every day and welcome each big wet kiss you now offer up to us. For now I put away the tissues and save them for the day that you turn ONE and you are no longer a baby!

Here is to the next 2 month's and the many adventures that await!

An Interactive Evening

Last night we were invited to spend the evening with the Crofoot and Rowley families. What a great way to start the week, since I was in charge of the dessert, I spent Monday attempting to make a cake that I had never tried before. Maybe not such a great idea, and somehow it ended up looking like it went through an earthquake. Oh well, it made it there in one piece and looked delicious. I took full advantage of strawberry season and filled the cake with them.

Playing with Coleson.

Olivia got to play with Coleson and Brinkley and luckily the girls did not make each other cry this time. They played so nicely together, it was awesome to watch. Plus since they were being so good it gave all of the adults time to talk. I love Mommy talk it always gives new incite on things that we are all going through or will be in the near future.

Taste testing all Coleson's toys.

Olivia and Brinkley all smiles.

The boys were in charge of making the dinner, which was putting together pizzas to cook on the Green Egg. They turned out amazing, I never knew that you could cook a pizza on a grill. And since the weather has been so beautiful that we spent the whole night in their backyard. Have I mentioned that I love this time of year. We can't wait to do it again!

A Run Way To Hope

Sunday night Ben and I joined our best friends Mark and Jenni to support a great cause, A Run Way To Hope. Which is a fashion show featuring 30 local children suffering with cancer. It was a touching and inspiring evening.

Motivation

Ok so a little kick in the ass may be necessary. I have been to the gym for the past 2 month's every day (during the week) and have lost 5 pounds. And now we hover, for some reason I haven't been able to move past this little mark. Oh a little fib this week since I have been sick this I lost a couple more, but I am sure that it will be back now that I am feeling much better. BOOO for that.

So we now have a friendly little motivational bet thing going on in our house. When I lose my (yes, that means that Ben is going to lose 20lbs as well) 20 pounds I get $500 to spend on new clothes. To give it a bit of kick the first one of us to lose the 20lbs gets a little extra present. Yea. I think this should help motivate me just a little bit more. I will not spend this summer in a tankini. Oh if putting pictures of Playboy models all around the house worked now. Kristen can we be 23 again?

I will keep you updated and let you know what amazing clothes I get when I lose it all.

Happy St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patty's Day
Love Olivia

Independance

This is what Olivia learning to feed herself looks like...



Bubbles or Bubbles Not

Ok I am almost caught up, for now. Last night after our long walk we decided to try to give Olivia her first bubble bath. I had everything already for her, she looked very intrigued by the white fluffy things that were covering her floating toys. She almost jumped out of Daddy's arms to get in. But when he placed her in the bath among all the pretty bubbles, she began to cry. We tried to show her that they were fun and put them on her fingers, I even joined her. It didn't work, she had this very sad look on her face. I didn't even have time to get a picture of it.

Look at this face!!!

So we emptied the bath and got rid of all the fluffy bubbles. She was much happier when they all made their way down the drain, she waved Bye-Bye as they made their parade to gone. Maybe next time, when she is a little older we can try again.



Happy 50th Birthday GrandPa

Happy Birthday Gpa

Amidst all the other excitement that was going on Saturday, we managed to make it to Grandpa's 50th surprise birthday party. It was great to see so many people come out to celebrate with the Morse family. I didn't get many pictures from the party, but I did get these 2. There was a beautiful cake with his picture and a video that has become a staple of almost all birthday's. I will add more when if I can get them. I wish that my little would have been feeling better to enjoy everything, but all in all it was a lovely evening.

We Are Calling It "Spring Cleaning"

Our poor little one started with a runny nose this last week and we chalked it up to teething. But as the week progressed and her runny nose turned to cough and then she began to sound as if she had been smoking her entire life we knew it was more then a little tooth. On Friday I decided to see how she did over night to see if she got any better. Saturday morning she had not and in fact sounded a little worse so we headed to the doctor for a little peace of mind.

That I did not get, instead they had me hold my screaming child's arms above her head so they could swab her throat. 10 long minutes later they informed me that she had Strep throat and on top of that she said that she has never seen a case in a child under the age of one. This is very rare and they don't usually even check for strep in babies. Good, Daddy's out of town until late and I am one worried Mommy!

It is so hard to have a baby who is sick and can't tell you what hurts and how she feels. Now for 10 days she is on antibiotic to kick this thing out.

After her hopefully, contagious stage was over I got to spend Sunday disinfecting evey inch of our house and every toy. I never realized just how much she touches and puts in her mouth. In the midst of all this Ben took me to the CVS Minute Clinic because I  was feeling terrible and I thought "Oh Shit! I have strep." Thankfully I don't but I am on meds for a sinus infection. 2 down, who is next? The doctor asked me how horrible I feel on a scale of 1-10. I said "When you have a baby there is no time to feel horrible." So true, no time for me, must make the house clean for her.

So that was my weekend! It may not have been terrible exciting, but it ended with a nice walk to enjoy the fresh air. Now I can go back to being sick.

LIFE

I have not come to terms with Mortality, mine or others. Going to funerals breaks me down, it dosen't matter how well I know the person because I feel for the family and other friends that have been left behind. They have to cope with this loss and I have been there and understand how they must be feeling. I have lost many people who were unbelievably close to me, my family, and friends. Trying to sit through the service is a struggle, but I lose it everytime when they play a specific song, On Eagles Wings, every time it brings tears to my eyes. Ok maybe tears is not a strong enough word, down pouring of tears and sobs. I can't even hear that song without it bringing back memories of sadness, which is heartbreaking because it is such a beautiful song. It should remind me that they are home with Him in heaven and all the pain that was felt here is now vanished.

I am not sure why it is so hard for me to think of death. It could be it's perminence or the unknown. I know that being a catholic teaches us that there is life after death and we will be reunited with our loved ones when our life here on earth is over. But still after 12 years in Catholic school, I am still unsure. I can honestly say that I have no idea how I will deal with the loss of parents and grandparents when their time has come. It kills me a little everytime I even think of it. One day maybe I will figure it out if He wants me to.

So, I have decided that I will not think of what is to come and when, just how I can live life every day to the fullest. I want my life to mean something, beyond what it does to my family. I want to reach others and better their lives. As of this week I am putting my action plan together and I will ensure that when I leave my legacy will not.

The Tourist's Hit Philly

As the wedding festivities came to a close, we were lucky to have a late flight out Sunday evening that left just enough room for some sightseeing with the Duncan's! We had nothing specific that we wanted to do other then Ben HAD to go to Tony Luke's, so our tour guide Catherine planned our day.

Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best, over cast in the morning and foggy and raining in the afternoon. I guess Catherine was channeling the meteorologist in her because she planned the outside things for the morning and after lunch we were indoors. Yet, in the 50 degree weather us Floridian's brought our home to Philly by seeing the city in flip flops. Rain and cold won't keep us down, but don't worry Olivia had sneakers on. I'm sure that the locals were questioning our sanity, but what can they say they can't even drive.

Phillies Mascot

We visited the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall which was amazing, I love going to old places and soaking in the history. Our Park Ranger guy didn't find Olivia's talking while he was very funny though and told us that we should keep her to the back so she doesn't interrupt anyone else. He so nicely told us this in front of the whole crowd. Everyone else thought she was funny, get a sense of humor! So we just waited for the group to move to the other room and then took our pictures and left. He reminded me of all the history professors that I hated because they droned on and on in that monotone voice about nothing interesting. Which is sad because the history and magnitude of where we were is very interesting. I guess I will google it on the net.

Independence Hall

Being Shunned.

Hello Barry

Lunch was what Ben was looking forward to since back in November, when we found out we were going to Philly. We had seen an episode of Man vs. Food where he did a challenge at a cheese steak place called Tony Luke's and so we had to go there. We stood in line for about 10 minutes to place our order and Ben was so proud of me when I actually ordered my very first cheese steak. Olivia slept and we waited for our names to be called. When they did and we were able to take that first bite, it was pretty amazing. Although Ben's didn't sing to him like he expected it was still a delicious meal.

We ended our weekend in Philly with a visit to the Rocky statue and a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This place was beautiful from the outside in and was huge. For an afternoon we were sophisticated art lovers and in the modern room we questioned what the hell the artist's were thinking with a wall of saw's, floating heads, and hanging dirt. What? How is that art?

The Group

Olivia Rocky Morse

Thank you Catherine and West for taking the time to show us around your beautiful city, we had a great time and hope to come back when it's warmer.