Chaos and Cupcakes

4 years ago tomorrow, my sweet baby girl entered this world. Olivia’s birth was my easiest labor. When I was 6-7 months pregnant with Olivia, I started dilating and effacing too early (sound familiar?) and was put on modified bedrest. The problem that was that I was in the middle of packing up my home, flying to Utah to house hunt, selling our home, moving across the country, and taking care of 3 kids 3 and under. Before we left to drive from Louisiana to Utah (in separate cars), Jared gave me a blessing that all would be well with the pregnancy during our move and until Olivia was born. The blessing worked! We all expected Olivia to come early but she was only 10 days early! When I went into labor with her, I wasn’t even quite sure I was in labor. It wasn’t particularly painful or intense. We called Jared’s sister and her husband over to watch the boys and left for the hospital expecting to just be sent home. The contractions were coming really close together but they just weren’t very intense. Imagine our surprise when we arrived at the hospital and I got checked and I was 9 centimeters dilated! The nurses rushed to call my OB and tell him to get there pronto! The doctor did rush to the hospital; in fact, he drove so fast that a police officer tried to pull him over as he neared the hospital but he just kept going. The officer followed him to the hospital and was really mad but my doctor explained that he was an OB and had a patient about to give birth without him. The officer laughed and let him go inside. The doctor rushed into the room where the nurses were making sure I didn’t push and before he could even get everything ready… Olivia slid out. Yes, slid out. Not a single push involved. No tearing, nothing. Luckily the doctor and nurses were at the foot of the bed to catch her. How’s that for a labor?!

Olivia Jane is, to quote her favorite pajamas, the “apple of daddy’s eye.” She is the apple of all of our eyes, actually. We adore our Livi. I worried for a while that all her brothers would be mean to her and pick on her, but it has never happened. Livi fits right in with the boys and they all love to play together. She is as girly as it gets, though she can also wield a lightsaber with the best of them. She is infatuated with Hannah Montana, Polly Pocket, Disney princesses, Dora, Barbie, and anything to do with ballet. Yet she will also play Pokemon or Star Wars with the boys. Thank heavens for characters like Queen Amidala or Princess Leia. Olivia is also a total clothes horse. On a typical day she changes outfits about 6 times. Usually she only wants to wear dresses. She is a shoes fanatic and loves to shop. She also always want her hair fixed just so and thinks no outfit is complete without jewelry and a hint of perfume. She is quite a flirt and has several “boyfriends.” Jared tells her all the time that he is going to have to lock her in room until she is 30. Luckily, she’s got those 5 brothers to scare off the boys! She is our talented ballerina and we are so excited to see her perform in her Christmas recital next month. She can’t wait to start soccer in the summer and has been practicing for that. She loves pre-school and is an eager learner.

I love you, my sweet baby girl! I can’t believe how quickly you are growing up!

Halloween 2008 has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  We had a very busy Halloween week with parties at the library, church, and schools.  Taylor was Commander Cody (from Star Wars), Andrew was a clone trooper, Olivia was a cheerleader, Sawyer was Thomas the Tank Engine, and Parker was a froggie.  Cameron was having a bit of an identity crisis that week, I suppose.  He wore a different costume to his 4 different parties:  blue Power Ranger, red Power Ranger, blue and gold Power Ranger, and Indiana Jones.  I was a witch and Jared was, well, Jared.

I must admit that I don’t love Halloween.  I like decorating the house and the initial excitement of choosing costumes.  But helping kids change in and out of costumes all week long gets tiring.  As does all the candy.  Luckily, my kids quickly get tired of the candy and forget all about it.

Now I am more than ready for my favorite holidays… Thanksgiving and Christmas!  I cannot wait to pretty my house up the day after Thanksgiving for Christmas.  I love everything about Christmas and look forward to this time of year all year long.

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I realized today that last year when Taylor was the first Super Star Student from his first grade class, I blogged about how proud of him I was and I have not blogged about Andrew doing the same thing this year.  Andrew was the first Super Star Student from his first grade class!  He got a goody bag full of certificates for free meals at places like Chili’s, Mimi’s, Red Robin, Applebee’s, and tons of other restaurants.  He also got a toothbrush and pen and other cool things.  He got to eat a yummy lunch with the director and have his picture taken in front of the school.  He was so excited and proud of himself.  I am beyond thrilled and proud.  I cannot get over how well he is doing in school this year.  He is reading really well and his handwriting has improved 200% (especially since he is a leftie).  Way to go, Super Star Andrew!

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