8 Months Old!

The kids in Austin on the way to San Antonio...it was a million degrees!

Olivia outside of McKinney Medical for NICU party.

Olivia is 8 months old today! Time is flying by...we went to her NICU Anniversary party a few weeks ago. The experience was bitter sweet.. drudging up old feelings from her traumatic birth and time spent in the NICU, and at the same time such feelings of love and thankfulness that she is here and so healthy and well. She is finally sitting up on her own! She is eating solid food...even fed herself banana chunks at the dinner table tonight! She is still itty bitty...in fact she is still mostly in her 0 to 3 month old clothes. She can fit into the 3 to 6 months...but can also still wear her NEWBORN sized onsies! Who knows maybe she was destined to be a little thing even if she were full term.

That being said she may be a little thing in size but not in SASS! She is by far the most SPOILED baby on the planet. She demands to be held all of the time. A friend told me today that it is because I have trained her that way...and that is true...but not ME alone...those darn sisters! Tonight I was trying to "teach" Olivia how to go to sleep on her own. I rocked and loved her and then when mostly, but not entirely asleep, I laid her down and walked out. She let out her first peep of a cry and MacKenzie comes running down stairs, flips on the bedroom light, and rushes to Olivia's rescue. I was not a happy mom...and Kenzie did not care, she just continued to hold and play with Olivia....this would be why the baby is SO SPOILED! What's a mom to do. By the way Brian is just as bad if not worse at giving little Olivia EVERYTHING she wants.

In other Wing news...Brian ran an awesome 5K in Arkansas on Saturday...his time was 22 min! I was proud of him. I ran my kind of race...... against myself on Monday.... and logged 11 miles of sweaty, hilly fun. :)

The kids are doing awesome in school...lots of homework already. Emily is in GT and her homework is HARD! I had to help her with an essay tonight on "The Family as a Social Institution"...How it fits, what are its goals, Why it is important to her, what it means, on and on...she's 9 years old, and its the first weeks of school, UGH! Kenz has a "crush" that I get to hear about after school everyday ;) She is also doing lots of homework, and is really impressing by getting up happy and early ever morning. Ryan is a crazy bike rider lately. He convinced Brian to ride bikes with him to the church and back....in 100 degree weather. About 8 to 10 miles? He fell and bloodied his ankle twice, but kept going. It took them about 2 hours, but he was so happy.

Other than that life is busy and blessed, busy...Volleyball, Dance, Piano, Activity Days, Softball, Brian starts a new class next week, I picked up 2 new classes at the Y, Cakes/Cookie orders, running, and Baby...blessed because we are a family...and Emily summed it up in her closing remarks on her essay tonight..In her words....

"Family is to Social Institutions, like the Heart is to the body...essential to all other functions......it is what keeps us "pumping"... your heart pumps your blood, and your family pumps your soul with happiness....Family lifts us up with love, encouragement, forgiveness, happiness and support...it is the only social institution that will stay with you forever....You may lose your teachers, friends, jobs, and money but you will never loose your family. They will always be there for you."

Emily's Sock Monkey

Emily was having a very summer bored moment...and I was just finishing a cake. So I suggested she take the extra cake I baked and the extra butter cream frosting and make an Emily Original Cake. She went to my computer and looked up some ideas...then came back to the kitchen and made this! She is SO good! She really came up with the idea, sculpted and decorated the entire cake all by herself. I LOVED it!

Mackenzie caught it!

Mackenzie, after being harassed by dad for 2 weeks now, has entered a summer photo contest for the newspaper. The theme is summer. I LOVE this picture of Olivia...to me (proud mommy) it screams the best parts of summer evenings. Olivia was out watching the boys work on their bikes. (Brian and Ryan went to a class down at REI on bike maintenance...they are pros now:) she was so happy just basking in the sunshine. I love the way the kids still adore her at every moment. It is astonishing to think of the blessings this little person has brought to our lives. We love and adore her...and I'm sure she knows it. She is definitely the ruler of this house. Between mom, sisters, brother and dad she pretty much gets ANYTHING and EVERYTHING she wants....Can you imagine how its going to be at age 2 and 3? I am so grateful and thankful that she is a part of our eternal family. She has brought with her such sweet emotion and love to our household. God is good.

My Sister Rocks!

My sister is a professional photographer...and she is awesome. I have said it before and I am living it again with some of her latest pictures from our photo shoot last month. I haven't seen all of the pictures but needed a full body shot of Emily for something that she is entering. Take a look at this beautiful girl! So my idea is to have my sister fly out this spring and do Family and individual sessions on location for me and my friends...if this sounds like something you might want to participate with me in... please let me know...she is very reasonably priced and is so very talented. You can visit her blog and web sight in my link, Pretty Pictures.

Okay that's a beautiful baby

I might be a little tad bias but I really think she is THE most beautiful baby...her dad's not half bad either :)

Road Trippin

So when we first discussed going to Utah for a trip this summer we really thought we should and would fly...however the kids convinced us that the drive and the hotel were some of the best memories and traditions. This being said...even with a 5 month old baby in toe we made the drive. Amazingly Olivia did an awesome job, she slept most of the time. We were determined to keep her happy, and so we even strapped her own DVD player to the back of the seat and let her watch Tom and Jerry...good parenting skills..want anymore pointers from us?

We stayed half way in ABQ like always even at the same hotel that is..."the best ever mom, it has MEATBALL's and all you can eat SODA!" I tried to venture to the Embassy Suites this time but was over ruled by "tradition". We hiked to the Arch in southern Utah and had a very good all people happy road trip.

Utah Happiness

We have just returned from the best family trip to Utah. We had such a great time and I am so sad that it went by so fast. I really think I was just cheated with only staying 2 weeks! :) The first weekend in Utah we celebrated the 4th of July. I ran in the 10k in Provo. It was my first 10k race (I usually stick with 5K) but for driving in at 11 pm the night before, getting 4 hours of sleep, and nursing my 5 month old baby I think I did ok. My time was 48 min even. I was 200 something out of almost 4,000 runners. It was an awesome course and perfect weather.

We then celebrated with the parade and fireworks with friends and family that night...perfect I tell ya.

This picture of Olivia was snapped by my cousin. We had a fabulous reunion of sorts with all of my cousins on my mom's side of the family. I LOVE all of them and it was so great to see them and to visit. I wish that I lived right by the whole lot of them they are truly the funnest, happiest people I know. I have many more adventures and pictures to share of our trip...but alas Oliva is needing a bath in a very smelly way!