Olivia - Just over 10 months!!!

Olivia continues to amaze us. I've said this a million times, but it is SO fun to watch our baby grow and so refreshing to watch the world through the innocent eyes of your child.

Olivia seems to do something amazing everyday. She seems like such a little person now which seems crazy that only 10 months ago we brought home this little baby who was so incredibly dependant on us. Olivia is very determined to show us her Independence now. Although she is still very much attached to mama and dada, she does like us to watch her do things on her own.

She is quite the chatterbox these days (i love her little voice) and she is very into mimicking our sounds and words (often getting the words very recognizable). She is also very much into copying the actions we do...that is fun. She points at everything now too which is so cute!!!

She is like a little sponge just soaking things up right now and it is so obvious these last few weeks that she really understands us when we talk to her. Olivia, Clap your hands....she claps her hands....Olivia, show mommy and daddy where your hair is...she pulls her hair....Olivia , go kick the ball...she kicks the ball....you get the idea....Amazing!!!!

She is also SO close to walking it scares me. she has taken a few steps on her own already and i would bet she'll be fully walking in the next month or so....

This is Olivia's upstairs toy box (great for hiding toys in a pinch, although we rarely bother)...Olivia spend alot of time here. It's cute to watch her route through her toys especially when she is looking for something VERY SPECIFIC. Every toy comes out and is thrown on the floor until she finds the exact one she was looking to play with...
...she spends most of her day with big smiles and nothing warms our hearts more....
...."dada...are you gonna chase me"? ...one of Olivia's favorite games...we chase her then she chases us...it's hilarious because she usually starts laughing hysterically...
...Olivia is into EVERYTHING....and more often than not, into all the places that she isn't supposed to...we are currently in the middle of baby proofing....
"Hi Mama, can I have a turn with the camera"?

Lunch, Playdate and a trip to Bear Brook Farm!!!!

Bear Brook Farm

Gibson is one of Olivia's playmates that we have become quite close with over this past year. I actually know Gibson's mommy (Alison) through my good friend Nadia. I used to see Alison quite a bit when I first moved to Ottawa as we lived in the same area and frequented the same watering hole (Gracie's). Over the years we sorta lost touched and hadn't seen each other in quite a few years. That is until we had our babies (only 6 weeks apart). We started getting together when the kids were only a couple months old and have been getting together just about every week or two since. It has been alot of fun reconnecting with Alison over the last year and watching our babies grow together in there first year.

Yesterday after lunch at Gibson and Alison's house we went over to Bear brook farm to walk around and check out the animals...

The peacocks were a hit ...right up until they started SCREECHING....Olivia began to cry and Gibson quickly followed...

Our friends, Alison and Gibson...
... the lamas...the kids were pretty relaxed by now...over the trauma caused by the peacocks...
Olivia just chillin'. You might notice the GASH on her forehead....She slipped at Gibson's house and fell right on top of a puzzle head first....
there were more animals at the farm but to be honest I'm too lazy to upload more pics...lol!!!

Here is Olivia and Gibson Playing together before lunch and our trip to the farm...Alison and I still can't get over the changes in only a year that these kids have gone through. When we first started playing together our lunch / play dates were quite relaxing and the babies basically just laid on the floor staring at each other. Now they are both cruising and into EVERYTHING to the point where Alison and I now have to take turns to used the bathroom!!!! It's been a blast and although we are both back to work in the next year we hope to still see each other as regularly as we can!!!!

Olivia and new Gal Pal!!!

Olivia's new Gal Pal Charlie...they met for the first time finally last weekend!!! They were SO CUTE to watch together!!!

Olivia showing off her car to charlie...
...awwww...sharing...goood girls!!!!
We had so much fun with Olivia and Charlie!!!

A visit with Baby Kennedy...

Once again. and officially on the O'Neil's blog...Congratulations to Jennifer and Chris who welcomed their beautiful daughter Kennedy to the world on April 9th!!! Kennedy is now 7 weeks old and Olivia and I saw her for the first time yesterday! Jennifer looks great and Kennedy is very beautiful and very sweet. Olivia was very excited by her, but was a wee bit confused why she wouldn't get on the floor and play with her....We told her next year she could show wee Kennedy the ropes...lol

Here's me with Kennedy...I forget Olivia being quite that small!!! Holding that tiny baby made me think about doing it all over again...lol...I was quickly reminded by Olivia how exhausted i would be though as she crawled all over me and tried to get into everything!!!!
Here is Olivia trying to get Kennedy to play with her!!! Kennedy just wants to take a cat nap!!!
...Here baby Kennedy...Let me give you a push on that swing!!!! We are STILL trying to show Olivia the meaning of GENTLE!!!!
Olivia playing with Kennedy's doggie Logan!!!

A Nice Visit from Family...

It's not too often if at all we get out of town visitors from my side of the family (other than Grandma/pa Light)...but this past week we very much enjoyed a visit from my aunt Renee and cousins Chase and Bryce. They drove here from Missouri as a part of Bryce's high school grad trip.

Olivia especially enjoyed our family visiting since that meant she once again had Loyal subject at her every request!!!

Her is Olivia down by the canal admiring the tulips which are in bloom everywhere around here:

The O'Neil's walking along the canal:

Chase, Stacy, Olivia, Renee and Bryce:

The cousins on a night out:

Everyone is back home safe now after a 22 hour straight through drive!!!!

Congratulations to Darren and Melissa!!!

We very much enjoyed Darren (Brad's brother) and Melissa's wedding this past weekend!!! The groom was handsome and the bride very beautiful. Thanks again for letting us share in your big day:)

Here is a picture of the O'Neils just before the ceremony:
Nanny and Olivia blowing bubbles after the ceremony:
Olivia posing in her new dress and sweater:
Nanny with her grandchildren, Logan and Olivia:
...AND...Introducing the beautiful couple, Mr. and Mrs. McCready:
Congratulations again guys!!! we hope you arrived safely to your honeymoon destination and are enjoying mucho cervesas!!!

xoxo

More Olivia PICS and an O'Neil update...

It's that time of year again...you know, when the weather turns nice and spring is in full swing with summer clearly on it's way... Also the time of year for us which seems to fly by!!! Weekend sneak up on you and it seems there is always something on the go.

We've been busy this spring Chez o'Neil. Renos always seem to be going on here (thankfully my husband is happy doing it). Our latest renos include our beautiful new hardwood floors which my husband (with some much appreciated help from Uncle Earl) laid them down himself. He did a GREAT job for never having done it before. Currently, Brad is working on getting new baseboards and window trim on and recently Mama Light was here and re-painted the entire first floor for us!!! Once these renos are finish we plan to put new tile in both the front entrance and our main level bathroom. That should do us for a while. I should also mention we finally had the roof replaced and it looks great!!!

This weekend is Brad's little Brother's wedding which we look forward to. Actually he is out golfing right now, rehearsal tonight and wedding tomorrow!!! I should also note that another big even is taking place this weekend...My sister is graduating from her college program this weekend...She has worked really hard for this and I am VERY proud of her!!! Wish we could be in two places at once :)

As if this is not action packed enough, we are also expecting company to arrive Sunday and will be here for about a week. We look forward to showing off our beautiful City to my Aunt Renee and cousins Chase and Bryce!!!

In just a couple weeks the O'Neil's have a road trip planned...final destination...Missouri again to visit grandma and Grandpa Light!!! Also we are pretty excited as we just found out my two gorgeous nieces will be at Grandma and Grandpas as well during that time. The will no doubt be a wonderful help with Olivia and I know Olivia will very much enjoy her two cousins!!!

Upon returning from Missouri...this mama (unfortunately) must return to work. I'm very sad as I have enjoyed the last year spending the entire days with my beautiful daughter more than words can describe! On the bright side though I know that Olivia and daddy will have a wonderful time the month of July while Brad takes his Paternity leave.

Once Brad returns to work as well, we have found a wonderful daycare (right in our neighborhood for Olivia to attend. I am very confident that she will enjoy her time there and Brad and I are very happy with the daycare provider. We can tell she is all about the kids in her care and know Olivia will be loved very much there :)

As for the rest of the summer, I believe we have quite a few weekends "booked" but those we don't we will no doubt find some awesome activities and adventures as a family....

Well I think that brings us up to speed on the O'Neil's for now... I will try to keep the blog more updated in addition to posting Olivia's pictures!!!

That's it for now...Everyone enjoy their weekend!

-Love, Stacy, Brad and Olivia xo

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Olivia playing in her upstairs toy box:
CHEEEESE!!!!
Will you come play with me???

Let me get us a book to read!!!

We introduced books and reading to Olivia early on...but now it's really getting to be fun...she is starting to enjoy them more and more. Certain books she even recognizes which is so cool!!!

Here's the wee girl choosing a book for us to read to her:

Can we go to the PARK Mama...?

Olivia continues to amazes us every day...some days she seems so "grown up" and I forget she's not quite 10 months old yet. I love spending the days with her, watching her, interacting with her, teaching her...I love the look on her face when her dada comes in the door from work and I love to see the look of love and trust in her eyes when she looks at us. She is so amazing...
We have a park only minutes from our house which we take Olivia to at least once a day (if not more). Her favorite activity...the swing. She loves it...the higher the better!!! Her daddy still gets a bit nervous when she is on it :) Olivia would be there all day if we would let her!!! Right now we are working on her understanding that when it's time to go it's time to go. We do assure her that we will be back again to play but still the tears flow when it's time to go...:( Like I said, we're working on it...

MOTHERS DAY WEEKEND!!!

We had a very nice weekend this past weekend. Saturday we spent in Trenton visiting friends Marc and Amanda and their Children. We had a lovely lunch that Amanda was so kind to put on for us. Olivia played with the children which she absolutely LOVED...I think they loved her too!!! That evening we headed over to Belleville to celebrate our friend Krista birthday with her...Her sisters put on a lovely BBQ (wild west theme) and it was so nice to sit and relax and hang out with good friends. Looking around though...I had to laugh think "my my how things have changed for us all since we first met)...hahaha...

Anyway, Sunday we drove back, stopping in CP to have brunch with Nanny (so Brad could see his mama too). We sure missed mama Light this weekend, but understand since my little (or not so little anymore) cousin Bryce had his high school graduation this weekend)

Anyway...here is Olivia giving me a mommy day present...she even signed her own card which was so incredibly cute!!!!
Olivia with dada at Nanny's house...
Me and my amazingly special baby....
Our family on Mothers day.....
GORGEOUS GIRL!!!

I Can Stand ALL BY MYSELF!!!

Olivia, 9 1/2 months old stands for a minute or two by herself now!!! WOW!!! What a big girl!!!

Just Playin'

"Hi Mama"!!!
"Dada...can you help me into my chair so I can watch you in the kitchen"!!!
"If someone could please close the blinds, that would be great"!!!! Thanks.....
"CHEEESEEE"!!!

Mommy's Little Helper!!!

Brad and I are enjoying this age that Olivia is at now SO MUCH!!! She is so much fun!!! We love watching her grow and explore...we love to see the excitement in her when she accomplishes something new...Everyday it seems she has discovered something at it really is SO refreshing to be able to see life through the eyes of a child (again). Olivia is such a happy baby, always laughing and smiling. The love she has for her daddy and I is so amazing and of course the love we have for her is simply unexplainable...There is NOTHING in the world that compares to the love you have for your child. Everyday we are reminded how truly blessed we are to have Olivia (and each other) in our lives.

Here are a few picture of Mommy's little helper from yesterday: