K9 Kisses

Here is Ruby Doo, my sister's dog. We are watching her for a couple of days. Alivia loves Ruby, but I can't stand all of the k9 kisses on Alivia.



And before you think that Alivia can't stand all the kisses, look at her post kiss face...


Here is Alivia giving Ruby the beg command (ok. not really. but that's what it looks like, right?).

Captions and Stories

I have a problem because often, when looking at pictures of my daughter, I think of a caption, conversation, or story based on her positioning or facial expressions. Let me just show you what I mean.

Example 1. Think Valley Girl.
"Shut the front door"


"OMG, No he didn't"


Example 2. Think Different Strokes.
"What are you talking about Willis"


And finally, Example 3. Think MTV "Cribs" show.
"Are we rolling yet? Do I you think I look cool with one arm over the Bumper?


No? Oh my gosh. OK. No time. Give me my pacifier. I've got this. Go...

Hey, everyone, welcome to my crib. My names Livy Liv and I'm going to be showing you around my pad today.


Let's see, what should I show you first?


Oh yeah, here is my bumper...


It has this really cool pattern on the inside and on the outside.


It has some fun ruffles on top.


And after a long day of napping and eating, I use the bumper as a way to chill and relax.


Next up I'd like to show you how I keep myself nice and hot on chill days.
Here is one of my many blankets. I like this one cause it's pink to match the rest of my crib.


And when you're too young and lazy to get potty trained, blankets are a great way to conceal your diaper. See? First you see diapers...


Now you don't.


I've asked my mom to show you a panoramic shot of my entire crib.


get my nice soft bear in the shot.


I don't know that there is anything else to show you guys.
Thanks for coming by to see my crib, but now it's time for you to leave.
And cut.

Can you believe I mentioned my diapers?


That was so embarrassing."


So, as you readers can tell...I have a problem. If only Alivia was less expressive!

The Hardest Part...

Alivia's been an easy baby. So when Cody and I get asked, "What's the hardest part of parenthood?," we scramble for an answer. Our adjustment to our new roles as mother and father has been natural and comfortable.

After debating it out though, we concluded that maybe, just maybe, the most difficult part of parenthood for us is the packing, loading, and carting around of all the extra stuff required for an outing with a baby. And remembering all the extra stuff.

We've forgotten the stroller, a back-up outfit, enough diapers. Or we forget our phones or my pump or something else because there's just too much to remember.

It's annoying. Super annoying. Especially annoying when, as was the case this past weekend, we are out on the town and remember everything, even my pump, but due to miscommunication, forget something as small as a nipple for the bottle.

Here is what we tried doing:



Alivia humored us for a minute, but then Cody had to go and buy the cheapest bottle available at the closest market. Our poor daughter.

Poor Cody

Fatherhood is something Cody really enjoys.

Just not so much this aspect...




That is Alivia's spit-up.

In. His. Mouth.

And he had already cleaned up a bit before I could grab the camera.

I'll say two things:
#1. Better him than me.
#2. Good aim Livy. Good aim.

The OC

It is depressing to think that our little condo is worth the same amount as a nice, large, and glorious house in Arkansas or Utah or most other states. I love our little condo, don't get me wrong, but we will grow out of it before you know it and then we will need to spend an even larger fortune for a home.

That being said, living here in Orange County has advantages, the weather being on of them. We've had weather in the 70's for weeks now and it's January. So given the lovely weather, we took advantage of another Orange County favorite, the Newport Harbor and Bay. We ate pizza and soda all while riding in a cute little duffy boat in the middle of the bay - with family. We saw sea lions, pelicans, and seagulls. We saw the Fun Zone and the boat ferry. I'll tell you what, family, weather, and nights like Friday make paying ridiculous amounts of money for a small little condo much more agreeable.

Here is our little passenger in her life jacket and looking out at her surroundings:






Here is our captain:

I'm so bummed I didn't get a picture of Margot!

Here is the Fun Zone:



Balboa Pavilion:



Here are the sea lions with flash and without:







Here is the Pelican:


Here is the Seagull (eating a fish on the boat):


And the sunset photo above is from a saturday night shopping trip...it was so much better in person!

6 months!!!

For serious? She is already 6 months?! I feel like 6 months of pregnancy felt like an eternity but 6 months of motherhood has felt like a hiccup. My sweet Alivia has grown up too big too fast. Life is so silly that way.

Little Livy Pearl had a rough 6 month birth date. For starters she was sick. And secondly, we made her have rice cereal for the first time. Let me just say she is not a fan. She gagged, spit, shook out of disgust, and even cried at one point. It was sad and entertaining all at the same time. We tried it again before her bath, with a different consistency and with pear puree, but she still wasn't a fan. Who knew my child wouldn't like food at first meeting.


At 6 months Alivia has two teeth!!!! Just look and see. And this photo was taken toward the beginning of December! I didn't even know she was teething until she bit my finger and one of the teeth was very visible. What crappy mom doesn't know her kid is teething until it is so obvious?!


On her 6 month mark (12-28-11), Alivia could roll over every which way, but best from her back to her front.



She talks a ton of gibberish.


She smiles the day away.


She can sit unassisted for about a minute or two before falling.



She recognizes her bottle. This is a new development this month. And heaven forbid she see her bottle before it is warmed and ready because then she starts complaining for it.



She still gets baths in the sink on her bather. That will have to stop soon. She's just getting too big and she tries to pull on everything, including the hot water valve!

She went to the doctor and got 4 shots on Wednesday. Poor girl. She's a tough girl though. This is me giving her loves in the parking lot outside the doctor's office. I have no make-up on because I've been sick with a cold this week. This includes a very watery eye and nose, which will spontaneously leak without a moments notice. Lukily I'm feeling better and so is she.

I sure do love my little nugget, all 14 pounds 15 ounces (roughly 40%) and I think 26 or 27 inches (roughly 60%).