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Sunday, January 31, 2010

January 2010

Wow...where does the time go? I can't believe that Olivia will be six months old next week! How is that possible? And...we're starting to plan Abigail's third birthday...she'll be three years old in April. Oh my!

Olivia is growing and learning so much right now. It's really fun to watch her play and learn. That has been one of my favorite things with Abigail, and it holds true for Olivia, too. There is something very amazing about that expression that they get when they are learning and figuring out how to do something - an expression of deep concentration and a glimmer of purpose and self-achievement all rolled into one. She is on solid foods now - has been since right after Christmas. She's eating apples, bananas, pears, and to a lesser extent...squash, carrots and sweet potatoes. She has also been pulling her knees underneath her on the floor, and rocking back and forth - I think crawling is coming fast! She can sit unsupported for a brief time, but then slowly rolls back down to her side/back/front. She is still a very happy baby, smiling and cooing and laughing and singing - as long as she has an audience. If you're looking at her, she'll perform! Also, she is grabbing at EVERYTHING! I can't multi-task anymore - I can't hold Olivia in one arm and open mail/talk on the phone/use the computer/eat/read a book for Abigail at the same time...she will grab whatever I have and try to eat it. My only complaint with Olivia is her current sleep habits, but we're working to fix that and making some progress. She wants to sleep with me, and I want her in her crib. She doesn't sleep through the night anymore, and it makes for a very tired mommy during the day. There are nights that she gets up three or four times, and those nights are very hard on me. But, like I said, we're working on it and trying to get her back to where she was before she got sick.

Abigail's sleeping habits aren't much better than Olivia's. She fights sleep during each nap time and each bedtime. She is overtired much of the time, and fights sleep with her iron will. At our PAT visit last week, my parent educator recommended some more physical activity for Abigail, so we've signed her up for a dance class. On Thursday nights, Abigail has a tumbling class. She went for the first time last week and they worked on forward rolls, log rolls, cartwheels, and elephant walks. It was really cute to watch! She's also signed up for an hour-long class on Saturday mornings which focuses on tap, ballet and more tumbling. Her cousin, Maddie, is in both of these classes with her, too. We're still looking into preschools and it is really looking like that will wait until the fall, which was my original plan anyway. Her vocabulary is growing at an astounding rate. She hears a word one time, and begins using it. She picks up phrases, too, and will tell me, "I don't know the word" if she can't communicate what she wants. I LOVE that! She is still a wonderful big sister to Olivia - she hugs and kisses her often, and last week held the spoon and helped feed Olivia. I mentioned above that we're planning Abigail's third birthday party. We're hoping for a party at the skating rink on April 10th - so mark your calendars!


Monday, January 4, 2010

Christmas Thank You

I wanted to express our gratitude to everyone who helped make this Christmas special for both Abigail and Olivia. Our girls received many presents this year, and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all of our friends and family. Abigail tore through presents faster than I could keep up with, and in all of the chaos, I am not even sure who bought each present. There are a lot of clothes for them both, and toys to keep them entertained - and I want to thank each of the following: Mom, Debbie, Pat, Holly and Gary and the boys, Michele and Mike, Dave and Tracie, Pat and Vic, Sherri and Bryan, Gina and Irfan, Amanda and Andy and family, Danielle and Steve and Shelby, and Chris and Stephanie and Shelby - Thank you all so much for your gifts! There are some pictures posted on www.therhoadsonline.com - Please feel free to check them out.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Olivia's Baptism

I promise to post more pictures later, but wanted to get this one posted today - thank you so much Pat and Vic - it means a lot to us to have you as Olivia's Godparents. You both are very important people in both our children's lives!

The ceremony was beautiful, and Olivia didn't cry when the water was poured on her head, even though it woke her from a very sound slumber!

Abigail was also well-behaved in church today. I was very proud of both of my girls!
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