Is spring really here?

We have had quite a nice week, weather wise. Olivia enjoyed playing outside this week. She also enjoyed having the windows open in the house (so did I). Every time the wind would blow, she would laugh. She thought it was pretty funny.

Liv also figured out this week how to put the roll-a-round balls into her "Drop & Roar Dinosaur". I admit, I'm a bit amazed. She has played with this for about 2 weeks, and I didn't think that she would figure this out for quite a while. But now she just puts them in so quickly that the toy can't even finish the song from when she put the last ball in.



Last week, we went shopping, and got Liv some new summer clothes. It was so warm on Tuesday, that when she got home from day-care, we changed her into a new "summer" outfit! Below is a typical scene at our house. We put the dogs on the other side of the gate at times, so Liv can have free reign of the Living Room without the other "kids". She will crawl down the hall, and then stand at the gate. Rusty usually sits at the other side, as if he's asking her to help get it out! She will push on the pedal, and Rusty will get excited, but she can't yet open the gate. Maybe that will be next week! Then we'll really be in trouble!



And last but not least, my mom comes over about 3 times a week to watch Liv, so that Travis and I can go to the gym. Liv gets so excited when she sees her. Her they are on the floor after Liv tried to crawl all over her Grammie! They get rather silly together.

She's getting so big!

My little girl is getting so big! She turned 8 months old this weekend! We spent a long weekend together. I took Friday off, where Olivia and I joined Melissa and Meris for a shopping trip to the outlet mall in Howell. It was a lot of fun! The kids were so good. And they both slept the whole way home!

Saturday started off with swim lessons at the YMCA. This is her third week, and she is really starting to enjoy the water. She was splashing and giggling, something that she didn't do the last two weeks! So, we're getting there. She gets so worn out that she usually falls asleep on the way home - which she did again this week. She was sleeping so sound, that we decided I could do some shopping, while Travis sat in the car with her. I made it to Gymboree, Toys 'R Us and Target. Later on Saturday, since the weather was so nice, we went on a walk. Liv really seems to enjoy our walks. She giggles every time the wind blows in her face.

Sunday consisted of a project day for Travis and me. So, we switched off playing with Liv, which was also our reprieve from our job list! She is getting so funny. She stands up every moment she gets. She loves to stand up holding onto her toy box, and proceeds to empty the bin.

She also enjoys making faces and talking to the dark girl in the reflection of the dish washer! She will sit there, babbling, touching and making faces that the girl in the dish washer! In the last couple of weeks, Liv has also started clapping. Anytime we say "Yeah!", she will smile and clap. It is the cutest thing. She is just so adorable. She is such a source of entertainment for us. We have decided that before we had her, we were VERY boring people!

Well...that's Michigan for ya...

On Tuesday, it was a warm, sunny 70 degrees here. Today, we woke up to a snow covered ground. It even covered the trees. Yes, it is pretty, but not in March, two days after a 70 degree day. I'm over it! I'm ready for sun and warmer weather.

This is the view of our back yard and the big tree.

Where did my little baby go?

Yesterday was such a nice day out, I decided to take Olivia out for a walk. Since it was so sunny out, we put on one of Julia's sun hats, which was a bit small, but looked cute just the same. Then we decided to protect her eyes with the sunglasses from Aunt Marcy & Uncle Chuck. She really doesn't seem to mind the sunglasses, and leaves them alone.

Part way through our walk, we met up with Melissa and Meris. Meris kept peeking out the side of the Burley (the cart that Meris rides in) to see Olivia. It was just a little over 70 degrees, and it felt great!

Olivia didn't deal with the sun hat for long, so we put up her hood, because it was pretty windy.

When we got home, Liv seemed to be tired, but she was revived after dinner, and decided to take on an obstacle course (under the kitchen table). She was trying to maneuver around the chairs, and table.

Then at one point, Olivia was walking on all fours like she was in the Jungle Book! She is so much fun!

And she finally made it through the course! YEAH!!!!

WHERE DID MY LITTLE BABY GO?

After Liv got home from daycare today, I changed her and put her in her crib, which has always been my "safe place" to put her while I wash my hands. I wasn't gone for more than a minute, but when I came back, this is what I found!

This was the look on her face when I walked back in with the camera. It was almost as if she wanted me to take her picture, as she laughed at me.

Yes, Liv is standing up in her crib. No, I didn't leave her like that, nor did I prop her up. She started pulling herself up this week. She did once on Monday, and once yesterday, and then today, she did it five times at day care, and to my surprise, once as soon as I got home with her.

Not only is this little girl on the move crawling, but now she is moving to new heights (pun intended). We will now have to clear off anything at Liv's new level. The end tables will become bare. I don't even want to think about the entertainment center. Right now it is blocked with her toy bins, but I can see her moving the bins to get to Travis' electronics.

It looks like things are quickly changing in our house. I realize that this is a good thing, and all part of her development, but it saddens me. I miss the little infant who would coo and just wanted to sleep on my chest. Now she pushes away to get on the floor and move. As I miss the little one, I'm so looking forward to this next stage. Life is moving a little too quickly for my liking these days.

Busy weekend...

Olivia is slowly, but surly recovering. This past weekend, she had a full weekend. She got a visit from her northern grandparents (they're almost UP'ers). They always come bearing gifts, and this time, they had a stacking toy that lights up, that Olivia is mesmerized with! She loves it!

Below is a picture of three generations of the blue eyed Lounds'. This is Fred (Travis' dad), Olivia and Travis.

Below are Grandpa Fred and Grandma Sue, spoiling Olivia. But then again, what are grandparents for?

As Olivia has started to feel better, her appetite is also returning, in full force. So, we started biter biscuits (thanks for the reminder Jodi). Olivia loves them. She sits and chews on them while we get her dinner ready. She thinks that they're a real treat!

On Monday, Grammie Maggie came by to check on Olivia, and brought her a book on Nursery Rhymes. They had a good time reading together.

And here is Liv and Travis from this morning, heading out for their days! Since it is supposed to be in the upper 60's today, Liv wore her spring jacket. Since I'm not about to let her out with out a hat, but a winter hat would be too much for today, she wore her Spartan beanie from Grandma Betty.
Well, according to my computer, it just hit 70 degrees! Yes, we're pretty excited, and I have all my windows open to enjoy the fresh air! This isn't supposed to last, in the 60's again tomorrow and then back to the 40's. But at least all the snow has melted.

Not quite 100%

Well, after our ER visit, we really thought Liv was on the mend. But she surprised us again! On Monday night, she had gotten worse, and wouldn't even keep the PediaLite down. So, I took her to the doctor on Tuesday morning, knowing that she was getting dehydrated (more coming out than what was going in). After being examined by two doctors, they decided to admit her to the hospital for tests and IV fluids.

The hardest part (for mommy) was the IV. It was horrible as they tried to get it in her left hand, then couldn't and then had to try her right. The whole time she was screaming and looking to me to help her. Luckily my mom was there quickly to hold my hand (she knew that Liv would be okay). Melissa was also there to make sure that I wasn't alone with my baby in the hospital.

They let me stay the night in the room with her, and even provided me with a bed, instead of the back breaking bed/chair that is reserved for new dads when their wives give birth. My parents thought that it was time that I paid my dues of sleeping on this horrible bed/chair, but the kind nurses brought me a bed. Luckily because they quickly put a bed in our room (taking out the 2nd crib), they couldn't double up our room. That was nice having the room to ourselves. For those of you who know my serious "personal space" issue, this could have been a very horrible experience if they had doubled us up.

Liv actually slept better than I had expected. Especially with the nurses coming in to check on her every hour. She didn't really seem to start to "perk up" until late in the day on Wednesday.

Finally Wednesday evening, they released her after keeping her bottles down during the day.

Here is Liv with her "house arrest bracelet" on.

And finally when she started to perk up and smile and giggle!

Giving the sad look at the camera.

Here is Papa C, he was at the hospital both days (all day) with us! It didn't take Liv long to get added as one of her Papa's most important ladies!

And here is Liv tonight - getting back to her chipper self in the bath!

Well, we hope that we don't have to visit the hospital again soon. They were very nice to us, but we don't want to have to go back.

Our first trip to the ER

As I said in the previous post, Olivia was feeling a lot better. Well...that only lasted 2 days! Then she started feeling bad again. By Saturday she wasn't keeping much of anything down. (See picture of Travis below). She also had NO interest in eating her baby food. By Sunday morning, she had a fever of 102.5, so I knew something was up. Again, on Sunday morning, she didn't keep much down. I called the nurse line and they recommended that we bring her to the ER, to make sure that she didn't get dehydrated.

Well, she had gotten a little dehydrated, but she was a champ and drank the Pedialyte. The alternative was to have an IV (she must have known - so she downed the Pedialyte). Immediately upon the first does of the Pedialyte, she was acting more like herself. In addition to the dehydration, her ear infection is also back.

So, we left the ER with a prescription for new antibiotics and plenty of fluids. Today she is getting a day of TLC from her Papa Conant. He took the day to spend with her and help her get better. They're rocking in her chair right now as we speak. She's lucky to have her Grandpa so close and so willing to come spend the day with her.

As I mentioned above...a picture of Travis. This is on Saturday morning, right after her morning bottle. This is when she decided to stop keeping her bottles down. Don't worry, this happened to me later, but Travis didn't take a picture. :) I just couldn't resist!