10 on Tuesday

1.....is the number of minutes since I last worried about being a good mom.

2.....is the number of chins Olivia has developed. And 2 big cheeks to match!

3.....is the number of days until Ralph comes home. It's been a long week and I can hardly wait until he's home on Friday night. I think I might sleep in on Saturday morning.

4.....is the number of times I have said, "please be gentle." In the last hour alone.

5.....is the number of hours Olivia slept in one stretch last night...from 9pm-2am. I'm hoping this will be the new trend for bedtime. It can only get better, right?!

6.....is the number of pumpkin spice muffins I have eaten. Out of the 18 I made.

7.....is the number of times today I thought about watering the plants, changing the kitty litter, shoveling the driveway or vacuuming. None of which are actually done.

8.....is the size I aspire my jeans to be. One day very soon.

9.....is the time of night I would like to go to bed. Every night. But I always find something "better" to do than sleep. I should just give up and go to bed with Olivia. I have the whole day tomorrow to procrastinate over the things I should be doing. Like watering my droopy plants.

10...is (at the very least) the number of attempts I have made to sit in front of the computer and finish this post!

Awwwwww.....

Just another day
hangin' out at home with my babies.

Kara & Olivia's Baby Shower

My little princess is spoiled rotten.
Already.

Eveline and Tessa hosted a lovely baby shower
honoring Olivia and I and we had a lovely afternoon.
Olivia enjoyed having a snuggle
with all kinds of new people
while Mommy opened
her many beautiful presents!

Great Grandma Pearl bought Olivia her
first party dress.
She looked so sweet.

Sara Jane made
the most AMAZING diaper cake!
There were so many beautiful treats hidden
inside this work of art!

Baby GIRL....I still have to pinch
myself now and again!!

Mommy and Daughter.
Wow.
I have a DAUGHTER.

Making faces for the camera already!
Look at those big eyes!!

Yea!! OLIVIA the pig!!
Her very first book for her very own bookshelf.
And how appropriate....

This little party girl was still awake
when we got home at 9:30!!
Auntie Kelly didn't mind having another snuggle.
I think you can really see the
Gould side in Olivia....

I love her little "smirky" smiles.....
the I-know-I'm-so-cute-and-you're-wrapped
around-my-finger kind of smiles!

Olivia's closet is now full of beautiful outfits

and dresses courtesy of
Mommy's wonderful and thoughtful friends.

Thank you SO MUCH.
I feel so blessed.

Ten on Tuesday...on Wednesday!

1. Life with 2 children is BUSY! I know other moms have shared this little tid-bit of information with me, and it's really true. It is a bit of a juggling act. We're still trying to find our way....but I hope to be a well-oiled machine one day! Don't even get me started on how few times a week I shower or how little time I have behind the computer......

2. The lack of sleep is catching up with me. I keep saying I will nap....and it never seems to happen. I say I should go to bed early....but that never happens either. I felt VERY grouchy this morning as a result of 3 weeks of broken sleep. I felt better after a big cup of coffee!

3. I can't believe my baby girl is almost 1 month old!!

4. I'm still trying to decide when I should put Olivia in her room. We are up every 2-3 hours at night so it's pretty convenient to have her right beside me. Ralph says it's totally up to me. I'm having mixed feelings. For some reason, it feels too soon.

5. Ralph has to take a business trip to Atlanta for ONE WHOLE WEEK.....starting on Sunday! I'm freaking out a little. Those are going to be some LONG days with no breaks. Eek. I'll be going to bed at 9:30 every night for sure! Just one more reason to keep Olivia in our room for a little while longer.....

6. My sister, Kelly, was in town for a weekend visit. I guess short and sweet is better than nothing. I hadn't seen her since the Summer, so it was really nice to have some time together. She was here for the baby shower and she got to see our new house, and meet her niece for the first time.

7. Olivia had a little milestone! I tickled her cheek and she smiled and let out 2 big giggles!! Mommy was, of course, in tears. I don't care if it was gas....it was the sweetest sound. She loves to smile in her sleep.....she must be having sweet dreams.

8. What is it with boys and their fascination with electronics? I don't get it. If I push the power button and the TV comes on, I'm happy. If I push play on the DVD player to catch a chick flick, I'm happy. It can even be a full-screen version. Not so much the case for Ralphie. We just got a new $230 bulb for the big screen TV and a Blue-Ray DVD player. Sorry honey, I really don't see the difference.

9. I've heard of putting Prep-H on puffy eyes......

....but Zincofax bum cream as a moisturizer?? Olivia had a mini facial this morning. Courtesy of Hayden. Thank goodness he missed her eyes! Guess she'll have to get used to these sorts of "tortures" at the hands of her big brother!

10. I had a mini heart attack the other day. I was in the computer room and Hayden was in the family room with Olivia (who was asleep in her swing.) Suddenly, Hayden was standing beside me saying, "here you go Mommy!" WITH MISS OLIVIA IN HIS ARMS!!! I tried not to freak out too much but my heart was racing. I don't know how he muscled her out of the swing, and managed to carry her without dropping her?! The funny thing was, he was totally supporting her head the whole time he held her.

Hayden and Olivia

I can't help but smile when
Hayden gives Olivia
snuggles.

He asks if he can hold her.....
and he gets better and better at supporting
her little head.

Love their facial expressions here!
Hayden is proud.....

Olivia is bewildered.

Aawwwww....sweet little smooches
for his baby sister's
little head.

If they can make MY children look like angels.......

The latest and greatest from
our awesome friends at
BIG PICTURE photography.....

our little pea in a pod

peek-a-boo
blue eyes

she sleeps.....
but not for long

absolutely angelic

Bye bye button!

Woo-hoo!!
Olivia's stinky little belly button stump finally
fell off yesterday!

She kind of has a cross between
an innie and an outie....

an ounie? an intie?

I think my hubby is worried it's more of an outie.

I said to Ralph......."who cares!?
If she hates her belly button,
maybe she won't wear midriff bearing tops!!
Or maybe then she won't even think about
piercing her belly button!"

She's perfect regardless.

Thoughts on Thursday!!

After a brief hiatus, I am going to try to continue my 10 on Tuesday posts. I'll have to ease into it.....5 minutes behind the computer is sometimes a challenge! I sure think I am going to have lots of "material" now that I am trying to parent TWO children!!

1. Olivia's last Dr.'s appointment was yesterday. She is tipping the scales at 10 lbs already!! With the 18% whipping cream that I produce, it's little wonder. It was so nice to have them dote on her about what a healthy and strong baby she is. I, of course, beam with pride whenever anyone tells me how beautiful she is!

2. My daughter already has an eating disorder. She's a total puker. Just like her mommy was.

3. My kids can throw up or pee on me. I can wipe a poopy bum. Boogers are no big deal. Olivia's belly button stump.....GAG! Ralph is in charge of keeping it clean 'cause I nearly throw up every time it almost comes off. Hopefully that happens soon. I nearly fainted tonight when it twisted around and came off on one side.

4. I think her eyelashes grow more every day.

5. Is it wrong that I have already thought about painting her toenails and piercing her ears?

6. I am tired. I forgot how having only 2-3 hours of sleep at a time can wear you down. I don't feel like a total zombie. But, I don't nap. I can always find something "better" to do. Like watching Ellen while I snuggle with Olivia (during Hayden's nap.)

7. To get out of the house to go ANYWHERE takes a minimum of 2 hours. Just when you think you have one child ready, the other poops her pants. As you are changing said poopy diaper, someone else is taking off his shoes and socks! And I refuse to leave the house with no makeup on, so I need a few minutes too. Wow. I can see that outings may be kept to a minimum for awhile. Miss Olivia is eating every couple of hours so no mall-crawling for awhile.

8. Hayden loves his baby sister. He loves to tell me when "she's stinky" and I need to change her bum. He loves to "pet" her head and give her kisses. He wants to give her a soother when she cries. He likes to stand at her side and "mix the water" while she has her bath. We are still working on the concept of "be gentle" but for the most part, he is pretty great with her.

9. Do all older siblings act naughty while Mommy is nursing the baby? Hayden always seems to get into something he is not supposed to while I am immobilized. Gia, the kitten, takes the same opportunity.

10. Why can't we immediately drop the pregnancy weight gain the minute we have a baby? I gained a whopping 50 lbs. I have only lost 35 lbs. I want it to be warm and summery outside so I can get in gear and start walking again. Another 20 lbs. would be perfect. I vowed to get really fit after my second child......I'll work on that after I get some more sleep!

1 Week Old....

.....and Uncle Nick & Auntie Keri
are already working on
Olivia's portfolio.

I still can't believe she's here.
She's so precious.
We're so blessed.