Oli's baby shiner

It's amazing how quick babies heal in comparison to adults. If I pulled a table over on my face I would be nursing that wound for a month. Not Oliver, five minutes later and he is up and running. I'm beginning to think he has his fathers genes for mischief and danger. Before I know it he will be making pipe bombs and potato guns... *sigh*

Oliver's 1 year check up

Oliver had his 1 year check up today and everything went well. Even the two shots he got. Such a brave little one.

Weight 22 lbs 40th percentile
Length 30 inches 50th percentile

Oliver with Grandam Tina and Papa Phil!

Happy Birthday Oliver!

I could never give you a gift comparable to
the gift you have given me.
I love you Oliver!

A Mother's Love

A Mother's child is every breath that she takes,
walking hand in hand, they are every step that she makes.

And as their steps will grow to strides,
still a child in a mother's eyes.

Every ache and pain they shall feel,
mother will share and with love she will kneel.

She will pray to god to take care of her child,
to protect and guide him through every mile.

Her child is the very core of her soul,
from baby in arms to an adult they will grow.

For to a mother, her child will stay,
the precious infant she held that day.

Happy Birthday!

Yummy blue cupcake made with love

Mommy and her big boy!

Party!

It's pretty sad that this was the best photo out of about a dozen.

Oliver and his little tounge

Another resolution

Aunt Amy may be sad that she missed the November and December birthdays but I am upset...nay...devastated that I missed pretty much every birthday last year. So, to add to my list of new years resolutions I WILL NOT FORGET ANY BIRTHDAYS THIS YEAR. All birthdays will be accompanied by a card in the mail... sometime with in a week of said birthday. Wish me luck!

I love Outlet Malls!

Yes, this looks like an Ebay listing but it's not.

Matt and I took a nice long drive to the Outlet malls today in Johnson Creek. We picked up a ton of goodies at Banana Republic, Gap, and Carters all for under $100.00! (4 sweaters, 2 shirts, 2 sets of PJ for Oliver, 1 pair of slacks, 1 skirt, and 1 belt) Just one more reason to love Wisconsin... Outlet malls everywhere!

Fun Oliver pictures

This morning I left Oliver in his chair so I could go make him a bottle. When I came back he was passed out asleep! Poor thing just couldn't wait another minute.

Oliver loves bath time!

"Seriously mom, just a little privacy..."

My little froggie

Attack of the mystery bug

Just wanted to let everyone know that Matt is alive and well although he still continues to occupy the living room floor. (Oliver isn't to happy that his play area is taken)

He loves his books!

Oliver will be 11 months tomorrow! I can't believe how time has flown by. He has started getting into everything and thinks all objects need to go in his mouth including peoples toes. He likes to sneak up on you and bite you! What's up with that? Strange kid. Other than the biting thing he is a joy to be around. Always laughing. It's been fun to see a little of me and a little of Matt sprinkled into his personality. Aside from his parents he takes after aunt Billie... just can't get enough books!

I'm one of those kind of moms

Exhibit A

Before I joined the ranks of mommyhood I always said I would never be one of "those moms". The kind of mom who's life is bombarded with a living room of plastic toys, an empty stomach until 11:00am when her baby is finally down for a nap, and a house that looks like the interior decorator was a two year old (please see Exhibit A... yes those are woodland creatures on my shower curtain). I really don't have anything poetic to say about the matter. I guess I'm just surprised that:
1. I am that kind of mom.
2. I don't care.
3. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Here's to all you moms out there with creatures on your shower curtain. You deserve a big pat on the back.

New Year Resolutions

Behold my glorious wheat bread!!

Resolution #1

Part of my New Years resolution is to eat healthier. My initial thought was to ban all refined sugar and processed foods... ya, that thought lasted about five minutes. So as a compromise I'm just going to make a resolution to make more foods from scratch. It's at least one step in the right direction. By the way, yes it was super tasty!

Resolution #2

To keep with tradition I will make resolution to read at least one book a month and at least one classic through out the year. (I'm sure this is humorous to Billie... not all of us are super-mutant readers, gosh!) I have surpassed this goal for the last four years so here is to number five! Cheers!

Resolution #3

Never say "I can't wait until..." For example:
I can't wait until Matt is done with residency
... for Oliver to be sleep through the night
... to get a dishwasher
I want to enjoy all of the little nuances life has to offer and to look at Oliver every morning and say today is going to be a great day. It is so easy to live in the future instead of the now. But I will try to remember that the best present you can give your child is to be present.

Happy New Year!

Opening of the presents!

A nice addition to my library. Thanks Matt!

Making beautiful music

What an awesome outfit!

The best presents come in small packages

Merry Christmas!!!

The annual photo in front of the tree pict. And all looking in the same direction. A Christmas miracle!

You guys are like so lame...

St. Lukes Christmas Party

Party at Dr. Nichols house
I really wouldn't call it a house... more an estate or something. The place had a basketball court... inside! It was so awesome!

Matt and Brad playing pool

The Snuggie and Twilight magazine white elephant gift were the hit of the night! Who would have thought so many doctors would be Twi-hards?

Oliver got the Greenbay hat and shotglass. Way to take one for the team buddy!

So tired on the drive home. By the way, can you tell I picked his car seat out to match his eyes? I'm such a sucker.

Recent Randoms

Lovin' my baby

Can you tell I just woke up?

Chillin' with Gpa and Toxic T

My big boy!

For those who care to know... Oliver is 10 months now and officially off the boob. It was a combination of me eating curry (which he hated) and him now having 4 teeth (which I hated... Ouch!)

Seeing Amy's blog about Aria's check up reminded me that I forgot to update everyone on Oliver's 9 month check up. Sorry it's a little late!

Weight 18lb 11oz (25th %)
Height 28.75 inches (75th %)
Head cir. 46c (75th %)

Now you are in the know!

From gloom to awesome room!

I took on the task of giving my Laundry room a face lift before I realized exactly what that would entail. (Several gallons of paint, rubber boots and acid to etch the cement, primer for metal pipes, power sprayer to paint the exposed beams and a LOT of nasty cleaning of 60 year old spider webs and newspaper wrapped pipes) Not to mention Matt was not about to get involved in another home project, not that I blame him! I must say it was all worth it. This room started out 5 shades of ugly and now it is a nice little washroom haven!

Before

After
Thank you power sprayer! With out you this would have taken an eternity!

Before

After
The ID license plate made all the difference!

Before
Not sure what the little patch of yellow was all about

After

Before

After

Before
Another random color... Hunter green?

After