The ice cream truck and Fiona

Olivia and I walk with my friend Sylvia many mornings. She has an old English Mastiff named Fiona who is extremely gentle. Here is a little video of Fiona and Olivia.



We were waiting in the front yard for the ice cream truck. I was stoked to get to buy something from them since I never had the chance growing up in the country. Here are some pictures:

The first dip of 2011

Olivia and I went to the pool today for our first dip of the season. The baby pool was warm, so we stayed there. Daddy took our picture on the way:



Olivia wasn't thrilled at first:



But got pretty excited when I splashed the water with my feet:



Then we headed for the adjacent playground to do some serious sliding (at least 20 runs):



Earlier today Olivia fell asleep on the way home from running errands, and I got the elusive picture of my sleeping baby...since she is almost not a baby anymore, but a toddler and usually sleeps in her crib with the lights out, which is not good for picture-taking:



And a cute one of Olivia eating her frozen blueberries for breakfast. This all started when she wanted some of mine that I had put on my Cheerios. She loves them!

Weekend with Grandpa

Nicholas's dad came into town Thursday and we had projects galore until he left. I'll post pictures later as I finish a few of the things they did. They made all the drawers for the bookcases, trimmed and painted the shelves, lined my garden with landscape timbers, and built two beautiful flower beds with landscape timbers. I am THRILLED with the results! I'll take pictures after I get dirt, plants, and mulch to fill in the beds and sand and paint the rest of the trim on the bookcases and get the books back on the shelves. Hopefully this week for the beds and within two for the shelves.

We also had a wonderful night out to Evangaline's on Saturday. We got a babysitter for Olivia, and it may have been the easiest babysitting job ever. I put Olivia down for bed at seven, the babysitter came at 7:30, and we were home by 10:30. Olivia never woke up.

Olivia and Grandpa played really well together. Olivia warmed up to Bill after the first night, and climbed into his lap while they watched The Backyardigans, and cracked up over his juggling. Yay, Grandpa!!

The first bike ride

What Olivia wants

I've had several request for birthday gift ideas for Olivia's impending birthday. She needs NOTHING! Our house is overrun with toys...but if you must... (The links are mostly so that you know what I am talking about. Feel free to get whatever brand/type you want.)

A plastic tea set; she really liked that at the museum today.

A baby float with canopy; I can hardly wait to get Olivia in the water!!

A baby pool; this is the one she dove into at the play date. I like it because it is so shallow that the water will be quick to warm up.

A baby swing to put up on our patio.

Educational toys and board books.

Soft-soled shoes in size 4; maybe this or anything from a store with soft soles.

Cute head pieces for 18-month photo session. Maybe this, or this?

Bigger hooded bath towels.

A toy phone. Olivia broke the one like this, but she LOVED it.

If a grandparent wants to get her this wagon, let us know. Otherwise, we will probably get it for her.

Another few days with Nicholas out of town

Nicholas just got back into town last night after three days in Washington, D.C. We're glad he's back, but we haven't seen much of him because he is sick in bed. In the mean time, Olivia and I...

took lots of walks

worked on discipline

changed lots of clothes and diapers

went to the children's museum with some friends and had "tea"

and tried to get a picture with the Easter Bunny. Olivia was terrified, so I didn't force the issue.

A moment of silence

My cousin, Andrea, lost her baby, Cecelia, on Thursday at 39 weeks. I am sure that there is nothing so great as this loss. Please take a moment of silence when you read this for Andrea and Cecelia.