Like a Big Girl

Livy likes to do everything "like a big girl" these days.

"I wanna peel it like big girl." (clementines, soy beans etc.)
"I wanna walk like a big girl."
"I wanna eat it like a big girl." (a sandwich)
"I wanna get dressed like a big girl." (she can put her pants and socks on herself)
"I wanna wipe my hands like a big girl."
"I wanna hold it like a big girl."  (camera, cell phone, etc.)
"I wanna feed Scooter like a big girl."

And she really is looking like a big girl too.  Just look at her!

Lately she loves playing school.  She wants mommy or daddy to be the teacher and she pretends that her stuffed animals are the other kids in the class.  She likes carrying a notebook and a box of crayons around the house in her backpack that Grandma and Grandpa got her for Christmas.  She loves coloring and is really into drawing curlicues lately.  Here is one of her latest works of art:

  

Livy and I have had a lot of time at home together lately.  Unfortunately, its because we've both been sick.   Livy had a terrible virus last week that caused a high fever, coughing, runny nose, sore throat and ear infection.  Then Kyle and I ended up catching it (but Kyle got conjunctivitis while I got an ear infection).  

My mom has been in Ohio for baby Drew's dedication at church so my dad came over and babysat for a little while so I could go to the doctor.  I think that was the highlight of Livy's week.  She still giggles about Grandpa changing her diaper.  Apparently, she wasn't aware that Grandpa knew how to change diapers! 

Today Kyle and I both had snow days due to about a foot of snow that fell last night.  It was a much needed day to recover.  We're all sick of being sick around here and dreaming of spring.  

Daddy's Girl

I was listening in on their conversation tonight when Kyle was rocking Livy before bed.  It was just too cute, I have to write it down.  Of course, I don't remember it exactly word for word, but the part I heard went basically like this:

Daddy:  "Okay, so we're imagining a train.  It's a zoo train with animals on it."

Livy:  "Daddy on the train too."

Daddy:  "Oh, I'm on the train?  Is mommy on the train too?"

Livy:  No

Daddy:  Is Grandpa on the train?

Livy:  No

Daddy:  Is Grandpa taking pictures of the train?

Livy:  Yes!

Daddy:  Is Grandma on the train?

Livy: No

Daddy:  (kept asking about different family members and Livy kept answering "No."

Daddy:  So am I riding solo on this train?

Livy:  No.

Daddy:  Who's on the train with me?

Livy:  Santa Claus!!!

Daddy:  Oh, of course!

Workout Video #2

Snow day!!!   Livy played outside in the snow, but also had fun just dancing around the house.  We made sure daddy got plenty of exercise today, as if shoveling wasn't enough! 

Baby doll

Well, Kyle and I both came down with a terrible 24-hour stomach flu.  Thankfully, Kyle was on the mend by the time I came down with it, so we were able to trade off parenting duties.  But I have to say, Olivia is a pretty good little person to have around when you are sick.  Of course, being a toddler she has tons of energy and lots of needs and wants throughout the day, which is exhausting no matter what.  (And there is no way I would have been able to take care of her on my own the first day I was sick.)  But after being sick herself just recently, she does seem to have gained an understanding of what it means to be sick and how you should behave around a sick person.  When I was sick, she would say things like, "Mommy so tired." "Wanna snuggle with mommy." "Mommy need a drink."  She even brought me my Gatorade without spilling it, without me asking her to (in a glass that a toddler has no business carrying around the living room).

She was willing to watch a little too much Elmo when I was resting on the couch.  I noticed she even has some of the lines memorized.  At one point she said, "Elmo needs to get a grip!" right before an Elmo bat came on the screen and sure enough said, "Elmo needs to get a grip!"  That was my cue that it was time to turn it off.

She is able to play quietly by herself for at least half an hour with a few toys.  Today, when I was feeling better, I took a video of her playing.  It is kinda long at over 3 minutes, but I wanted to show how she will keep playing with the same toy over and over, practicing the same routine without getting tired of it.  She keeps rocking the dolly "a little bit longer."  Of course, that is the same thing she asks me to do for her every night. "Mommy, Rock me a little bit longer!"  It's pretty funny that she filled the bed with lots of small finger puppets and toys before putting the baby in there.  Also, I love how she rubs the doll's back just like I do for her.   I know this is a normal part of toddler development, but it is amazing to me how a little girl who seems to have been my newborn baby just yesterday, is already practicing her own mommying skills.  She needs to work on putting the baby in the bed a little more gently though.;)

Tonight as I was rocking her to sleep, Livy gave me a big hug and asked, "Mommy sick?" I told her, "No, mommy is all better now."  This reminds me of a prayer that Livy said after she got over her ear infection.  I don't think I ever mentioned it in the blog, but one day after we had started the antibiotics, when I was changing her diaper, I told her that tomorrow she could go back to school because she was all better.  She folded her little hands right there on the changer and said,  "Thank God all better now." There are no words to describe the feeling this gave me, which is probably why I never mentioned it before.

Happy Holidays!

We had a wonderful Christmas, New Year's and everything in between.  We missed family and friends that we didn't get to see, especially Nanny and Bop, who we're looking forward to seeing soon.  But we are thankful for all of the family that we did get to spend time with, including my parents, my sisters and their families, Rachel, Paul, Ashley and Ender.  Here are some of the things Livy got to experience this week:

Opening up her stocking and tasting her first candy cane!  She loved it and ate the whole thing!

Getting special one-on-one cousin time with Louisa when Henry had the stomach flu on Christmas.  Poor Henry!

Playing with Grandpa's train under the Christmas tree:

Snuggling with mommy and new baby cousin Clara.

Opening presents!  Livy's all set for some great tea parties now!

A visit from Aunt Rachel on Christmas.  She drove all the way up from DC even though she had to drive back in a blizzard.  She slept overnight on my parents' couch.  Livy did something funny a few days after Rachel had already gone home.  She went over to the couch, moved some blankets around and asked, "Where'd Aunt Rachel go?"  She misses her.  

Here she's holding a dolly wearing new clothes from Sherri and Jerry.  She loves the little hoodie!  On a side note, she names all of her baby dolls "Sarah".  I tried to encourage her to think of a different name, but Grandma and Aunt Emmy both thought it was adorable.  I guess they're right :)  

Helping to decorate a Gingerbread House:

Having lunch with Paul, Ashley and Ender at Wok N' Sushi:

Playing in a little house, being a ballerina and painting a work of art at the children's museum in Florham Park:

Sledding for the first time!

Special one-on-one time with Henry when Louisa caught the stomach flu.  Poor Lulu!

Riding on the New Hope & Ivyland steam train with Corbett, Henry, Louisa, Em, Logan, Drew, daddy and mommy!  Another first!

My dad didn't ride on the train.  Instead he had fun chasing it.  He was at every crossing except for one, waving and taking pictures.  All the cousins had fun looking for him.  Even the other passengers were amazed at how he kept turning up.  Here's a video clip of Livy telling Grandma about the train:

Playing with Daddy's Christmas Present:

Making a Snowman:  Another first!  Livy kept asking to eat the carrot nose and pretzel mouth!

Coming down with the stomach flu and finally getting to try one of those special popsicles that she had been hoping for all week.  Her first stomach virus.  Not as fun as the other firsts.  Poor Livy!

She seems to have recovered in one day and looks like she's all better and will be able to go to day care tomorrow.

Happy New Year everyone!