What's Ann up to?

Like most days, I'm catching up on what I need to do while Oliver is sleeping. It's been great with Oliver taking really good naps so I can take a break too. If I am smart, I'd turn off the phone and jump into bed as soon as I put him in the crib...but it's hard to resist getting on the computer.

The past 2 months I've just been trying to keep the house clean and stay on top of errands and chores. I've picked up a few books that I try to read whenever I get a moment to myself. I really haven't gone anywhere without Oliver or do anything for myself. So when Chris offers to take Oliver out on a morning weekend, I take that opportunity to do some pamperng. A nice long shower, a facial mask, paint my nails, just girly stuff.

The freelance job I had for the church in Denver is on hold at the moment, so I've volunteered to redesign the website for the moms club. With all of my volunteering work for the club, they have decided to put me on the board! I knew that once I got involved I wouldn't be able to help myself from giving it my all. I did pick up another small project for an organization I used to design for while I was at Disney. I hope maybe they will contact me for other work in the future since they really enjoyed working with me. It's hard for me to not try to fill every minute of my day with some type of project, but it's hard to turn down work when these days they are hard to come by.

A few weeks ago someone had gotten into our yard and dropped some things on the ground. It didn't seem like the person was trying to break in, but we still wanted to up our security just to make sure. So I got right to coordinating workers to put up more fencing and lighting around the perimeter. Although it's extra expenses that we rather not have to pay, it definitely gives us a better sense of security being home with the baby.

2 months ago, I chopped off my hair that I've been growing for a few years to donate to Locks of Love. 10 inches of hair was mailed to them in a little envelope to help a child with cancer and other hair loss diseases make a wig. It was quite liberating to have all that hair chopped off. I just received a post card from them for the donation and I know I'll definitely do it again. I'm loving my short hair right now and will probably keep it for a while before growing it out again.

In the coming months, I'll be working on the moms club website redesign, and reformatting the mom's tip book I wrote last year. I found out I can self publish through Amazon.com and sell it on their site. I'm excited about that and need to get to it soon. I know the book will be very helpful to new moms and after I've put so much work into it, it would be a waste just sitting on my computer. I also haven't made any cakes lately, I should really get back to that again.

Baby Milestone - Nineteen Months

In these past few weeks, Oliver and I have gotten into a very good rhythm. He is still waking up at 6:30 every morning, but now he just calls out for Mommy instead of crying to get our attention. Our morning routine with breakfast with Barney and Sesame Street continues. And he often will dance along to the music or call out the names of all the characters. Mondays are still our free day to do anything we want. We haven't been back to the zoo this winter, but we continue to plan fun places to hang out. Tuesdays are for Fit For Kids classes, which Oliver is getting better at staying put during "Circle Time".



Wednesdays, my parents come over around 10:30 and we all have lunch together. I then clean the house while Oliver plays with a-ma and a-gon. They really have a great time together. Thursdays are with the moms club play group either at the Grove or at the park. And Fridays are my parents again, then Grandad in the afternoon. This is a schedule that has worked out well for everybody. On the weekends, Oliver gets to hang out with mommy and daddy all day at some place new and fun. This past month Grandma Dooley came to viist and we all went to Kids Space Museum together. It was the perfect place for Oliver with lots of outdoor activities. he got to ride a tricycle and climb a rock wall! Daddy also took him to a farmer's market with a petting zoo, mini train ride, and pony ride. And I took him on a spontaneous trip to the beach and played in the sand...in the 72 degree California winter.





All the days now are broken up to morning activities followed by his nap. He's been taking great naps, sometimes as long as 3 hours. I suspect he is going through a growth spurt. I love it because I can get a nap in myself and get some work or reading done too.

In the past month, we've also applied for preschool in the neighborhood. It's a really great school and Chris and I did everything we could to show our commitment to having Oliver there. We had a good phone interview, and now we can only wait and hope that Oliver will be accepted. Space is very limited, but hopefully our efforts have paid off.

Later this month, we're heading down to San Diego to see grandma and visit the wild animal park!