Terrific Two!

So who coined the phrase "Terrible Twos?" I know we have just entered that stage of life, and Olivia definitely is strong willed and has her moments, but it has been absolutely fantastic. Just watching her learn and become more independent and see her personality developing is so amazing. I think if we think "terrible twos" it will be terrible. If we think "terrific twos" it will be terrific. I've been reading materials from "Parenting with Love and Logic," and they say if a child tests the limits it means their healthy and intelligent. So when they test us, it's normal and good! It's all about how we respond. They say the most important thing is being consistent and using empathy! When we follow their ideas it almost always goes well. So I recommend to anyone with kids to read Love and logic. If you go to www.loveandlogic.com you can also sign up for a free weekly email on various topics. It's great.

Birthday breakfast for Olivia! Breakfast is my favorite meal, I love it! So we had a little picnic downstairs. It was fun.


Last night, we spent FOREVER putting together this lovely little nursery. There were a billion little plastic pieces that didn't quite fit together. Thanks to the skills of Mom and Rob, it was complete for Livvy the next day. It felt a lot like Christmas Eve:) So worth it, she loved it. She has really gotten into taking care of her babies since Brooklyn joined us. I tell her she's a great little mommy!


Livvy had such a fun day. She had so many presents, I wanted to keep a few and give them to her throughout the year! Thanks Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents!


Grandma Martinsen got us matching aprons!! They are so cute and Grandma and Grandpa Monson gave her cookies. She's going to be a real chef! She'll have so much fun with her kitchen with these additional accessories:)


Okay, so this is Skor cake. You make a chocolate cake and let it cool. Then poke holes all over it with a fork. Mix a can of sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping together. Then pour it over the cake and it sinks into the cake. Make homemade whip cream and put it on top. Crush up Skor bars and sprinkle over whip cream. Oh....soooooo good. I think I gained several pounds throughout the week because of course I'm the one that is home as it stares at me, beckoning me to take just one more bite!


Olivia loves to help me make dinner and she loves her new apron. Here's an action shot.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is Livvy's new pose for the camera. When someone says, "Smile," this is what they get:) I wonder if that hurts? We went to a little Valentine's play group at the church and Livvy had a great time running around and eating with her little friendlies. She loves to socialize.


Livvy got a Valentines card from Grandma and Grandpa Martinsen and she would open it over and over and over again (it had a princess song that would play when opened). She loved it, as you can see from her "real" smile:)


This is the creation out of the stickers she got from Grandma Martinsen.