Hocz visit

My friend Kristen came down from Ohio with her son Garrison for a quick visit. We made it to Gatlinburg for an afternoon lunch and shopping trip! We had some sleeping issues, especially the first night, so it was challenging to do everything that we had hoped for. It was still great to see them!

Olivia REALLY enjoyed having Garrison around...she even shared her pink car seat with him for our trip to Gatlinburg!

Fall smiles to brighten your day!

The picture speaks for itself!

Hugging rocks. Her favorite.

Charleston South Carolina Vacation

Justin's school had a week long fall break....something we're not used to in Missouri....so we decided to take advantage of it and vacate to Charleston, South Carolina for a few days. We had lots of fun, but it's definitely WAY different being on vacation with an almost 1 1/2 year old! Olivia did amazing. Although the car ride home (6 hours) didn't go over so well. We also went to Dollywood and a Tennessee vs Alabama football game during the break. I've never seen so much orange or heard such loud shouting from one group! I bet that's what it sounded like when the walls of Jericho fell with a shout of Joshua's army! Lots of fun!

We stopped at the Apple Festival in Waynesville, North Carolina on the way down. Olivia found a few pumpkins instead of apples....

Olivia got pretty worn out during the trip. We might have to look into getting another car seat for her baby-she's awfully big! In Columbia, she was so tired, she fell asleep before she finished her gram cracker.

We stayed one night in Columbia, South Carolina. Before we left, we stopped by Finley Park in the downtown area. It was very nice with a cool waterfall set up.

In Charleston, one of the places we ate at was Hyman's Seafood. This meal was cool because they served boiled peanuts as the standard appetizer! Olivia and I were loving it! We each ate a bowl a piece! Other great spots were the Charleston Seafood House, where we had king crab on the roof balcony and Jestine's, which was is a local favorite and has received mention from Rachel Ray and several cooking magazines.

Charleston water fountain. Olivia managed to only get her toes a tad wet.

We took a carriage ride around downtown Charleston to learn some history of the area. Very cool. Plus the horses, named 'Hit' and 'Run', were a hit with Olivia.

We took a boat ride out to Fort Sumter (first shots of the Civil War). Lots of history.

Olivia was HILARIOUS with the cannon! She kept yelling and singing into it because it echoed so well. It was like her echophone (microphone) only bigger!

This was under a pavilion in Battery Park. One of the few family pictures we got.

This was also in Battery Park. Justin has a picture just like this from when he was young.

Olivia had to carry on the tradition.

We went to Folly Beach and shell hunted. The water was way too cold to get in, but Olivia still had fun running in and out of the water with the waves.

We toured through the Heyward-Washington House. Thomas Heyward lived there...he signed the Declaration of Independence. Also President George Washington stayed a week there when he visited Charleston. We were in the outside kitchen area.

Go VOLS!!! Here are a couple pictures of the Univ. of TN vs. #2 Alabama football game. The stadium and crowd were pretty cool, but the team sure stinks this year. We sat on the 30 yd line, second row in the balcony; a very nice view.

Dollywood was fun too. VERY similar to Silver Dollar City. Olivia just got a toy train, so watching this one was fun.

Ohio Trip, Bear Swing, & Duck Hunt

Justin had an administrator's seminar last weekend, so Olivia and I took the opportunity to visit Aunt Tara and Uncle Will in Ohio. It was a quick visit, but very nice to have a change of pace. Here's a few pictures:

Olivia carrying on a conversation with Aunt Tara and Uncle Will at the Outback Steakhouse.

We went to a base (Wright Patterson Air Force Base) picnic and enjoyed a free lunch. Olivia of course finished up with cheerios. Tara and I have finally gotten comments that we look alike. This is a first. Although, I'm still not sure I see it.

We went to The Greene (shopping and dining area) in Beavercreek and enjoyed some fountain time.

Here's the pre-non-halloween outfit Olivia almost kept. It was just a little too short, but very cute none the less.

Olivia really enjoyed pushing buttons on the gigantuous TV that Aunt Tara and Uncle Will had. What a face!

And of course here's us enjoying Olivia's favorite dog, Jackson. Yes, I think he beats Luci because he's smaller and doesn't walk away when she pulls on his cheeks. Plus he's super soft!

Random Olivia pictures

She got a new toy train that comes with lots of stackable pieces. Plus it lights up and toots a horn. It's a hit.

After a few pushes of the bear swing, she decided she wanted him down. Yes, he's tied to a tree by string....not so much a bear hanging....more like a bear swing. I thought it would be a good idea.

Olivia got to pick 3 ducks and get 3 prizes at the Jefferson County Old Time Days. After finally picking one duck, I think she would have sat there and emptied the whole pool.

Big Belly

Ok....here's a belly shot for all you who have been wondering... although it was right after dinner...I always feel like that adds a few inches... :-)

I think it's so weird how you can actually feel the baby grow. One day last week I felt so extremely full all day with achyness in my stomach and then woke up the next day with a belly. A few nights ago I had some cramps and boy Ford was doing some MAJOR kicking, then again the next morning I woke up with a humungo belly. I'm at 6 months next Friday. I feel much bigger with this one. I guess that's what they say.....

And Olivia has 3 teeth all sprouting at the same time. So maybe it'll all be over soon.

Fire alarms, dog sickness, and teeth

STORY 1: So what exactly makes fire alarms go off ONLY during the middle of the night? And why do you have to take ALL alarms down to stop the noise? And why do you have to take out the batteries COMPLETELY before they decide to finally stop the second most annoying sound in the world? And how is it that kids can sleep through the alarm, but wake up when you open the ladder to take the alarm down? And why does it happen AGAIN the next night after all batteries are changed and dust is wiped off?

STORY 2: Poor Luci had to go to the ER doggy doctor late Wednesday night. She was super dehydrated, vomiting and pooing blood, and breaking out in hives.... and all this was AFTER we got back from the vet for bathroom issues that hadn't stopped after 3 days. Luci had a gastrointestinal something-er-other and spent all night in the ER and following day at the vet. We were very pleased with the quick diagnosis (unlike last year's sickness that lasted 1 1/2 months) and knowledge of the vets. She's super sleepy being on the medicine and still really skinny, but recovering very well. Thank you Lord for healing our doggy!

STORY 3: Why do teeth take so long to come through? And why can't they all come in at the same time? We've had some major sleeping issues (the lack thereof) and super fun fussiness this past week with Olivia....and therefore myself. However, I finally saw a bud of a tooth coming through on the top! So hopefully it'll all be over soon....until the next one comes! I know she looks happy as a lark in the picture, but I had to include it because she was SOOO cute playing with her baby on the couch. I think she's going to be a fine big sister!

She walks!

We now have a another walker in the house! Olivia really hasn't fallen too much...I guess she's waited to get just the right balance!

Boy Ford and Olivia Fun

No mistaking this time! IT'S A BOY! We saw all the major organs and parts on the 20 week ultrasound. Thank you Jesus for a healthy baby!

Olivia LOVES bows....probably because her hair drives her nuts in her face....but this day she wanted ALL her bows in her hair.

Look at my new wheels!

Olivia found lots of treasures around the yard in her wagon.

AND.....BIG NEWS.....We now have a stander! Olivia can stand by herself on purpose and realize she's doing it! Walking is just around the corner, I hope!

Camping at Cades Cove

Justin and I went camping in Cades Cove (Smoky Mountain National Park) last weekend for our first over night without Olivia. We saw bears and Olivia had fun with Grandma and Grandpa!

This is a picture of a picture because it wasn't from our camera. We decided to go on a short hike close to our campsite just before dinner. As we came up over a hill, we saw a truck ahead of us stopped in the middle of the road. They warned us of a bear, which so happened to be RIGHT over the hill we were walking over. We would have walked within 10 feet of where the bear was! The couple in the truck was on their honeymoon and let us in the back to see the bear over the hill. We didn't have our camera, but they so happened to have a bunch of disposable cameras from their wedding so we got to get some pictures of our first black bear sighting! There is no zoom of course, so the picture shows how close we actually were to the bear!

A little blury, but still a bear.

This was one of the first houses in the Cades Cove area.

Our campsite.

Another bear we saw, this time from our car.

We hiked 5 miles (round trip) to Abram Falls off the the Cades Cove loop.