She's a fish!

Alivia started swim lessons at the end of March.  Aunt Brooke gave her a certificate for a month of free swim lessons with Watersafe Swim School, so we just had to take advantage of that.  The lesson occur at the very picturesque Tustin Hills Racquet Club.

 She was so excited!

 

I expected tons and tons of tears, but she did so well!  And Nathan is seriously talented.  He is so patient with the little ones.

Saying good-bye...

In March, we bid a final farewell to one of Livy's bestest friends, her pacifier.  It was necessary.  She was 20 months old.  Her moods were becoming too dependent on whether the pacifier was in her mouth or outside of her mouth, and I could not handle the moodiness and dependency.  Plus, heaven forbid we ever forgot the pacifier at home.  Oh, and she was the only nursery attendee with a pacifier.  And that is just too darn embarrassing. 

The process started a week prior to our trip to Utah for a family wedding, in a couple of days she was pacifier free, but a bout of vomiting and travel set us back.  Upon our return home with returned health, and on the night of a very impossibly difficult day of too many Livy melt-downs (and one from Mommy), we again pulled the plug.  And after about two days, we were so much happier!

It's just so silly that the one thing that soothed her the best became a crutch for crankiness.  She is still having a bottle 2-3 times a day before sleep (which I'm not hyper to discard - judge away :)), but Mr. Pacifier has been gone since March!  And once this woman turns two we'll revisit the bottle situation, but for now, we'll just give ourselves some points for staying strong during the pacifier withdrawals.  Those two days were quite the test in perseverance and patience! 

Because she really did love her paci.

March Wedding

Cody's niece, Chelsey got married on 3-9-13, and we flew up to Utah for the occasion.  Unfortunately all three of us were sick while we were up there, but we managed to all feel well enough on the day of the wedding to go and celebrate.  And despite being sick, we weren't all sick at the same time and we weren't sick the entire time.  And all of Cody's siblings were together for the occasion, and boy do they have a good time together!  One night, as I was laying on the couch sicker than a dog, I fell asleep to the hard laughter of all the siblings in the kitchen.  And it was a beautiful sound to my "mom ears" and for a millisecond I wanted seven kids so that they could grow old and come home and laugh and get along and party with me.  Just a millisecond.

Cruising around the airport with style!

On the day of the wedding we were trying to get some energy into Alivia, without producing any more vomiting.  One of the hardest things about a child being sick, besides all the laundry and night-time vomiting sessions, is when they request a "baba" or "num, num" and you know their belly feels empty and hungry, but you have to say no.  Thank goodness for Popsicles. 

Chelsey's wedding and reception occurred in a high school cafeteria.  And I had some serious doubts and concerns with how this could possibly be a good situation.  I pictured the entire event in advance and started feeling very sorry for Chelsey...which was completely unnecessary.  I hate wasting emotions and energy on non-issues.  Turns out they paid a talented decorator who literally transformed the place.  I'm so glad that my sister-in-law had a vision for how this place could look, and where to go to make that vision possible, because it really was impressive.  Kudos Jackie and Chelsey! 

 The candy bar...

 

I feel like such a fool for not taking a picture of the food buffet.  The family worked so hard (mainly Jana) to have the food made, stocked, and cute - and I was too focused on consuming it and failed to photograph it.  Oops!

 

The Bride and Groom:

 

Liv was such a trooper.  She wasn't feeling her best, but she pulled through.

 

Napping on Dada (this hasn't happened since she was 6 months old!).  Cody's arms were dying, but he loved the precious moment.

Photo booth pictures...

 Dancing...

Cody and siblings...Clint, Cory, Casey, Jackie, Cade, Jana, Cody





 They are crazy and totally inappropriate...

 Mother-of-the-bride Jackie with her eldest, bride Chelsey.

And last but not least, the entire family shot...

I just wanted to also post some pictures of Liv at Grandma and Grandpa's house washing dishes with cousin Shaylee and being entertained by the family post wedding.

Oh Brother...some people's kids!

Loves for Grandma!

And Grandpa...

Just chillin' with her cool cousin...