Eric and Krystal

Olivia brushed her teeth for the first time! She really liked it…as you can see!

Olivia starts dancing anytime there is music! It can be a musical instrument, a commercial or someone singing! She seems to have a pretty good rhythm too! That’s a good thing because I have absolutely no rhythm, whatsoever! Haha!

During one of her dances yesterday she started turning in circles. She finally stopped and looked up at Eric and smiled really big then she fell down! Eric said she fell down like 6 times and then she started to turn circles again!

When Olivia wants to sit down she has started backing up. She usually does this when we are sitting on the floor playing. Most the time she does fine, but sometimes her depth perception is off and she misses so we have to be ready too when she tries to sit down!

I took Olivia to the doctor today because she has been coughing a lot, not wanting to eat or drink very much and just fussy. I am so thankful we went! She has another pretty bad ear infection in her left ear. That is two for that ear (if you are keeping track!). The doctor gave us a different antibiotic than the one she has had before since the last round was only in December. Eric also has an ear infection! He went to the doctor last Friday.

We took Olivia for her one year check up on Thursday. She is now 20 lbs 6 oz (50%) and 30 inches long (75%). We are going to transition to whole milk and to table food only. She has been eating table food for a while and she does really well! The doctor recommended waiting for a couple months before completely switching over to a sippy cup. Olivia does pretty well with a sippy cup for a few drinks and then she just wants to play with it! Olivia got another round of immunizations and has not had any problems with them. Olivia had green gunk in her eyes on Wednesday and Thursday morning, the doctor said she had conjunctivitis, (also known as pink eye) and gave us antibiotic eye drops. After one day her eyes were looking better! This morning we didn’t see any yucky green stuff! We go back to see the doctor at 15 months!

Olivia’s first birthday was Tuesday! I can hardly believe that she is a year old! The first year flew by so quickly! I am definitely learning to enjoy every moment!!! Olivia has been such a blessing to our lives! I don’t think I ever imagined that I would love being a mommy this much!

On the 2nd we had her first birthday party in Illinois. My sister decorated the cakes and they looked wonderful! Olivia had a little smile while everyone sang to her and loved opening her presents with help from some cousins! She had her own little cake to try, but I don’t think she know what to do with it at first! I put her hand into the icing, but she tried to wipe it off on the table! I gave her a bite of cake and then she started eating on her own!

On Tuesday, Daddy and I sang to her. Which she really enjoyed! I think she just likes being sung to!!! This coming Saturday we are getting together with some friends in St. Louis for a little more celebrating!

It was a busy, but wonderful December for us.

Our first family Christmas was in Indiana on the 19th. Olivia got her first experience with presents and wrapping paper. She seemed to like her presents, but her favorite part was definitely the paper!

Papa and Grandma Martin were here for a few days before Christmas and Olivia loved spending time with them! She clearly says Papa and a few times I am pretty sure I heard her say Grandma. Olivia opened up her Christmas and birthday presents with them on Christmas Eve morning.

On Christmas we traveled to Grandpa and Nanny’s house. Olivia was much better about opening her presents, but she still wanted to hold some paper in one hand! After she was done she wanted to help everyone else open their presents!

After Christmas we traveled back to Indiana to visit with Eric’s brother, Brian, and his family. Eric’s parents were there also so Olivia was able to spend more time with them too! Olivia loved playing with her cousins and following them all over the house!

The Tuesday before Christmas I came down with a 24 hour stomach flu. Eric got sick on Christmas day! Mike, Jennie and all of Brian’s family except Caleb got the virus also! There were also at least 6 people on my side of the family that got sick as well! It was a pretty nasty virus! I was so thankful that Olivia never got sick!

Last night we went over to a friend’s house to celebrate New Year’s Eve. There were about 6 families there. All of the kids did really well! Olivia took a short nap and then woke up just in time for midnight! We still can’t believe that she did so well all night! Some nights she can hardly make it to 7:30! It must have been all the kids and excitement!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and we hope you all have a very Happy New Year!!!

We have had a very busy week! We spent Thanksgiving with my family. It was a nice, fairly quiet (which is saying something with my family!) day. Olivia tried lots of yummy food like ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls and green beans. She really liked the ham!

This last week my Grandpa Bill (Rachel and John’s grandpa) passed away. We drove home to Illinois for the service. He had looked so good on Thanksgiving. I am so glad that we were able to see him then!

On Friday we made a trip to the doctor for Olivia. She had been congested with a cough for a few days. When she woke up from her nap her cough sounded different to me and her balance seemed off. I called the doctor and they wanted to see her. Turns out she had an ear infection in her right ear. She is now on antibiotics. She also has bronchiolitis. The doctor said they don’t have a treatment for the virus. She said that we just monitor her for changes in her breathing and/or dehydration. She is eating and drinking fine and has had no problems with her breathing. I just wish her cough would get better!

Yesterday we drove down to see my sister in her fall dance concert. She was in two pieces and they were great! Olivia did well sitting through almost the whole show! She has started dancing to just about any music. When Rachel was dancing she watched the stage the whole time…it might have been the upbeat music! She was also bouncing in my lap!

Other Olivia updates include four top front teeth and two bottom teeth coming in at the same time. She is chewing on everything! Olivia is now walking all by herself! She is all over the place! Just this week she started saying “hi,” “bye,” and what sounds like “I love you.” I can hardly believe that my little baby is 11 months old.

This is for my cousins, Misty and Marie. They made this cute dress for Olivia! Thank you!

Olivia took her first steps on Eric’s birthday! I don’t think he could have gotten a better present! She is quickly gaining confidence in her new skill! In the last week she has started standing up and she just takes off. She doesn’t walk to far right now, but she is very proud of herself! She usually gets a big smile whenever she walks…It is pretty cute!

Another thing that she has done lately (and I am hoping she doesn’t realize it) is climb onto one of her small toy bins to reach into her crib. We had the bin by the end of her bed to keep her from getting to the plug and cord for her monitor. She decided to step right up onto it. She must have really wanted her bunny! Here is a picture when we caught her in the act! Haha! It’s kind of blurry because I took it with my phone and then cropped it.