History Repeats Itself

With Olivia's first birthday on the horizon we've
spent some time the past few days reminiscing
about the last year and how wonderful it has been
to have a little princess in the house.

Ironically, I came across some photos of myself
from my first birthday. Thought you all might enjoy
comparing Olivia's (yet-to-come) first birthday
photos with one of mine. By the way, for you fellow
midwesterners, that is a Happy Joe's Pizza Party
I'm having.

Now, if we could only dig up a clear photo of Pat
before he was age 5, we'd have a really good comparison!

No Buttons and No Hands

Lately Olivia has been standing on her own
and clapping for herself. I couldn't catch
the clapping part, but here she is standing on
her own and (looking very serious, I might
add) drinking a bottle.

Snooping and wearing overalls. She always
unbuttons them which is why I rarely
dress her in overalls.

"Why did you take the cel phone away from me?"

"I think I'll seek out something else I shouldn't
be playing with..."

"Ah, yes, the camera bag. Now I'm happy!"

Beauty, Brains, Looks, and Books

Today I had Olivia's first "parent/teacher conference." Let me begin

by saying that I had no idea what was in store for me when her

teacher suggested this meeting. I had my fears as Olivia is known

for her morning dose of (heartbreaking) separation anxiety when

I leave her at school. She is also known for stealing toys and pacifiers

from her peers.

As you can imagine, I was quite relieved to learn that Olivia is

doing extremely well. In addition to stealing toys, she also shares

them. She is one of the few children her age in her class with a 5

word vocabulary! In fact, her teachers find it amusing when they

hear her talking to herself saying "no," "dog," "mama," "dada," and

"go." She also loves books and music and has a propensity for

playing the drums and tambourine (I had no idea!). Thank god

they don't have a cowbell for her to toy with.

So, I will leave you with a few photos of her posing with her books.

Tonight she decided tip over her entire basket of books and

she spent time "reading" some of her favorites; "Goodnight Moon,"

"Olivia," and "Wheels on the Bus." Her expressions are priceless.

Tips, Anyone...

Guess who doesn't like to have her teeth brushed?

Anyone have any tips?

Chattahoochee Phil and The Henry 3

We took an afternoon excursion to the Chattahoochee Nature Center (those of you who grew up here are familiar with this, and no it hasn't changed a bit) to give Olivia a little wildlife education. It was interesting but not quite as fun as it was when I was a kid. I was kind of hoping they'd have a hidden room with dinosaurs or something. No such luck. All we got was some bad cardboard cut outs discouraging pollution and a beaver I'll call Chattahoochee Phil since he kind of looks like a groundhog. These guys apparently don't wake up until 12:30. He looked really hung over when Kate snapped this picture:

Yes I'm a beaver. No I won't sign your map.

Here's Olivia trying to figure out how to read a map. I had a very similar perplexed look on my face when the wild Bush Man was trying to show me where the good stuff was.

Cardboard cutouts of butterflies to mark the butterfly garden. Apparently they don't have butterflies in the winter so it pretty much just looks like a bunch of dead shrubbery. Some landscaper actually has a plaque in this area denoting his work. My backyard looks about the same so I believe a plaque is now necessary.

We had to get one family picture. Olivia actually did have a great time.

Kate looking fashionable among the granola types...

Here's one of the best shots we could get of the lake. The river walk was unavailable because some volunteer neglected to open the gate. All in all we had a good time and will return in the spring I'm sure. The biggest letdown was that the bald eagle wasn't around because he was in some sort of bald eagle rehab program. A very strange day indeed.

Pants Shmantz...Friday Night Antics

Olivia had a wonderfully mischievious time Friday

night. She searched through her favorite end-table

drawer, grabbed and shook Mom's bottled water

and Crystal Light (or Crystal Crack, as I often call it),

shredded a few Parents magazines and managed to drag her

jeans with her the entire time. We are praying she learns to

keep her pants on soon! :)

Where Ya At?

I've decided to follow the lead of some of my fellow bloggers and post a "visitor map." Should be fun to track those who have been tracking the infamous Henry 3.

Bobo Around Town

For those of you who enjoy the actual photos, we
have decided to indulge you.

Here are a few photogs of "Bobo around town."
To be more accurate, they are photos of Bobo
around midtown ATL.

Do you like her tough girl swing pose? Or the glasses?
She is quite the character.

Today marks Olivia's 11-month birthday. She had
an exciting afternoon filled with swinging, meeting boys
and scaring Aunt Liz and Uncle Zak's kitty and dog.

What's the Use?

Of Christmas china? I have had THREE people tell me how they saved money
and/or scoured sale racks for Christmas china (no, none of them read this blog--just
in case you are wondering).

I just don't see the point. I mean, if you are buying Christmas china you probably
already have fine china. And, if you have fine china, you probably have everyday china.

Odds are, that the only time you use your fine china is during the holidays, no?! I mean,
I have fine china and it has never been out of the box (because I forget I have it, not
because I don't love it).

Perhaps Christmas china is one of those southern traditions that I will never understand...Sort of
like boiled peanuts (yuck), having your father as a groomsman (who's gonna sit with your teary-eyed Momma?), and wearing a cocktail dress to a football game (WTF- I mean really).

I guess Christmas china is probably a guilty pleasure/purchase for some. But I can think
of a lot more exciting ways to drop $1500.

I know, you probably think I am an irresponsible blogger and maybe you don't want to hear my little rant. But hey, we're all entitled to complain about a silly nuisance every once in a while. :)