FTIA reunion

Here are just a couple of shots from the FTIA reunion in Noblesville. Hopefully at some point I'll have time to catch up on everything!

Olivia's second day job

Car/Baby Wash

Well, Rachel won't get a summer job this year, so I am having Olivia hit the working world:

Name Game

Olivia has really gotten good about naming people and things. From the time she wakes up until she goes to sleep at night she's naming. She runs down the list first thing in the morning: Momma, Daddy, Sissy, Macie, Bubby. She can name most of the Sesame Street characters when she sees them: Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster (although she either calls him Cookie or Monkey), Abby, Zoe, Ernie, Grover. She names Mamaw and Papaw, Ginger and Kya, Michele (Chel). She calls both Aunt Joyce and Uncle Andrew "Joyce". She knows Dora, Map, and Boots. She knows all kinds of animals and is working on what they "say". Her favorites are Monkeys, Ducks, Birds, Kittys and Dogs.
I had a set of flash cards I got a few months ago that I just recently got out. They have colors and simple objects on them. I was amazed that she already knew quite a few of them and the ones she didn't know she remembers after me telling her what they were just a time or two. She's so smart!
I bought a cheap two ring pool at Dollar General today and filled it up in the front yard. It was her first time in a "pool". She didn't hesitate to go right up and get in. She liked splashing around in it, but refused to sit down or get her hair wet. Here are some pics from today:

Rachel's horse show

Last weekend Rachel had an eventing horse show at the Kentucky Horse Park. We didn't get to go see her, but her mom took a few pics that I'll post. Rachel ended with an overall of 2nd place in her division. She and her horse, Prince, are inspirational!

Today my mom and I and Olivia went to West Baden again just to hang out. Mom hadn't been there since the renovation. It was a great photo op for the baby and the car!

Olivia and Isabelle - a comparison of opposites

Isabelle, Rachel's other half-sister came over for a short visit today. She is 28 days older than Olivia. It's funny what opposites they are! Olivia wants to touch and hug on Isabelle and Izzy isn't so sure about it. They are so cute together anyway.

10th Anniversary

Yesterday (May 15) was our 10th wedding anniversary. Last weekend we left Olivia with Ginger and headed to French Lick. We stayed a night at West Baden Springs Hotel. It was awesome! It only took like an hour and a half to get there. We took a train ride at the Train Museum and then ate lunch in the atrium at West Baden. After we checked in I walked the grounds taking pictures - it's so peaceful there! We ordered room service for supper and spent the rest of the evening watching muscle car auctions on tv. I was going to get a massage, but it's so expensive there and I was way comfortable laying around on the bed so I didn't. We probably could have slept till noon there - that was the most comfortable bed I've ever been in! Check-out time, however, is at 11:00. We got up, ordered breakfast thru room service, ate and left. I had the best time just walking the property and the hotel itself taking pictures. Below are some of my favorites.
One of the trains at the museum:

Inside the hotel at night:

West Baden from 56:

The atrium ceiling:

The stairs leading to the veranda:

The fountain and gardens at West Baden:

The center of the atrium ceiling changes colors at night:

Happy Mother's Day

This is my first Mothers Day with Olivia except I won't really be with Olivia. Ken and I are going to French Lick and staying Saturday night to celebrate our 10 year anniversary (which is actually next weekend). Olivia will be staying the night with Ginger and Kya (oh how she loves her Kya). This will be the first time she's slept away from home and the first time Ken and I will both be away from her at the same time. The grandmas are watching the grandpups and birds while we're gone.
Olivia is now afraid of thunderstorms. A couple weeks ago she could care less; now she cries every time it thunders. I had her and both dogs attached to me during the whole storm. Olivia was very clingy today anyway and I was trying to get everything ready for us to leave so she was a blubbering mess most of the day. She's also been eating like crazy lately - I don't know how she's still under 20 pounds!

MD Visit

Olivia had her 18 month doctors appointment today. She is at about 30 inches or so tall, but still just under 20 pounds. One of the nurses said she looks like a gymnist because she's petite, but has muscular legs. She is pretty strong for a baby! He said she seems perfectly healthy and is advancing really well. They gave her a book for her to keep and watched as she pointed and called things out and pointed out things I asked her to find. She found the bird, duck, babies, etc. They asked if she talks much - of course she was kind of quiet there, but I'm like She talks constantly! She'll try to say just about anything we ask her to (and of course things I'd rather her not). She only took about a 20 minute nap today so she was really cranky for the appointment (and otherwise today). She finally crashed around 7:00 tonight. She also got 3 shots today at the doctor's. Between those and them making her strip and sit on the scales I'm sure she pierced a few ear drums with her screams. My mom went with us and said she was expecting glass to shatter from them. I was glad she was with me though; Olivia found a lot of comfort in her being there and "saving her".