8 months old and such a little lady

Miss Anne (Liv's nickname for her busy bodyness) is into EVERYTHING! She's strong and fast so what a combinations. Olivia started crawling at about 7.5 months and it's been on and popping every since. Actually, she'd began pulling herself up even before then. We all were convinced that she would forgo crawling altogether and skip ahead to walking. However, she's doing a combination of the two. She can pull herself to a standing position and if she holds onto the sofa or something sturdy, she can walk along aside it, especially if she sees something that she wants.

Olivia is displaying so much personality and smarts. She's very aware and attentive after her name has been spoken. It's like she's listening to hear what you're saying about her. It's funny. She loves to show her two little tic tacs in the bottom of her mouth. She sprouted those teeth around 7 months and hasn't really teethed since. I guess she's been working on getting mobile. Ha!

Olivia is not all that impressed with baby food. She prefers her bottles most days and I was praying that she'd be consuming less formula and more food. She can have some table food now, but she's drinking about 6-8 bottles a day! Sometimes I feel like she's not eating enough, but then she makes the EXPLOSIVE packages and I know she must be getting just what she needs...LOL

With the holidays upcoming, our house is buzzing with the excitement of a 1st Christmas. We spent Thanksgiving in my hometown of B'ham, AL, but before we left I put up the tree and the Christmas decoration. I love Christmas, I just love it! This time of year is just special and all the more now that I have my baby girl. I'm going to try to to go too overboard with buying things, but I ain't making no promises ;-).

We did a little Black Friday shopping in a new Outlet in Leeds and although I'd set out to "treat" myself to a few things, as is the routine Olivia ends up with 3 bags of clothes from The Children's Place, Gymboree and Carter's....like she needs another item of clothing. I did however find her dress for Christmas pictures which we're taking this Saturday at JC Penny. I'm undecided as to whether I will take a few with her or not, or just let it be her picture on the holiday cards.....decisions, decisions.

Also, I have a birthday coming up, Dec. 9th will be my 33rd!!! No big plans, just probably a spa day and a little retail therapy. It doesn't take a whole lot for me. I'm easy like Sunday morning :)

Give Thanks!

With so much to be thankful for, it's hard not to look forward to and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. I am truly blessed beyond measure. I have my health, strength, peace of mind, loving family and friends, and a healthy little girl developing inside of me. Happy doesn't begin to describe my Thanksgiving!

This year, we will be spending it with G's family again. It was so much fun last year and I know it will be a good time again this year. I love that his family is all here in Atlanta and all really close. My family is all concentrated in Birmingham, so they aren't thrilled that I won't be home for Thanksgiving, but I believe they've finally accepted that they will have to share "us" for the holidays. As the song goes, "I'll be home for Christmas"

Today I'm feeling good. I'm at work today, the day before Thanksgiving (blah), but I'm thankful for a great management team who are supportive and very excited about my pregnancy and impending motherhood. I do realize that it could certainly be the opposite b/c not everyone has that in an employer. I'm also hoping their benevolence will allow me to skip out of here around say....2pm so that I can go and get a manicure/pedicure. Its the little things that count the most :)

Can I just say how thrilled I am to have 4 whole days off from work. We get Thanksgiving and the day after, and of course the weekend off. It's going to be great! Sleeping in, watching movies and being boo'd up with my man is a perfect way to enjoy this time off. I didn't think I would want to engage in the Black Friday shopping until I saw the Best Buy ad and noticed that they have a HP laptop for $197 and my Dell laptop of 5 yrs died about a month ago, so there is definitely a need. Although we do have a desktop in the house, there is nothing I'd rather do less than sit in front of a computer for 8 hrs at work and then go home and have to sit in front of another desktop to take care of social needs. Nope! Give me my laptop that I can use sitting on the sofa while watching a movie, or in bed late at night when I can't sleep, or when I wake up for the 3rd time to go pee..LOL. I pray that I secure one of those laptops....

Wednesday, Dec. 2nd is my anatomy scan and another opportunity to see my little girl! This will be my first and only "official" ultrasound at my doctor's office b/c they only give you one if you're having problems or didn't' know when your last cycle was. Since she was a planned pregnancy, I knew exactly when I had my last cycle. We had an "elective" ultrasound around 17wks3d to determine sex b/c at the time Dec. 2nd seemed like eons away! I'm glad we did it b/c I've been stockpiling for her every since! She has clothes in the closet, we purchased her crib about 2 weeks ago, and I bought her bedding this past weekend. Dec. 5th her nursery will be painted to coordinate w/her bedding by my oh so fab designer friend. I'm so excited!! However, most importantly, I'm looking forward to seeing my that my baby's development is just where it should be. Oh how I pray for this little girl. I love her so much already! I invited my BFF to come to the anatomy scan w/us. She's thrilled to come. Since she's an NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) nurse I know she'll know all the questions to ask when I get caught up in the thrill of it all.

These are exciting times for us right now. I've been so consumed with pregnancy that I've almost completely neglected the fact that my birthday is in exactly 2 weeks. Dec. 9th!!! The only thing I'm sure I'll be doing is working a half day and spending the rest of my bday doing something fun. Not sure what just yet, I guess I'll see if G has anything planned since he's going to be off too. Did I mention that I love the holidays? Yep, I'm a holiday kid so naturally this time of year excites me. Our Christmas tree and decor went up last weekend. I was tired of waiting and think that waiting until after Thanksgiving is silly. My tree is a beauty to behold and after all that work I deserve to enjoy it a little longer than most people will. While most folks will be scurrying trying to get their trees purchased and up this weekend. I will be home sitting in my living room, enjoying my beautiful decorations, on my new laptop!! Score!

Happy Holidays to all!