Great Grands & the zoo

"Family is not the most important thing...

it's the only important thing!"

-Grandpa Merrill





Maybe it's because I never got to meet either one of my grandpas (my dad's dad died when my dad was 12 and my mom's dad died years before I was born) but I found myself soaking up every second that Grandpa Merrill was in Utah. He is the perfect mix of silly and sweet. You know just how grandpas are supposed to be? He teases and hugs and calls you love and even  holds the door open. You know the things that grandpas are supposed to do?  He calls Grandma Jean "sweetness" and they link arms when they walk. I love that kind of aged love.

Grandparents are the best. Maybe it's because they have lived long enough to learn what is really important in life. Just being around them makes you happy.  We took Olivia to the zoo for the first time while they were in town.  I was such a Grandma Jean hog at the zoo. I couldn't help it though! She is just adorbable. I loved all the little boy Conrad stories and flattery she fed to me all day.

 

 

Change...

[since December 31, 2011]

I take too many pictures

I think in 3 hour increments (feeding times)

I call Conrad "dad"

My house is rarely clean

Baby gadgets, clothes, and accessories top my list of wants

I say "boo!" a lot

I carry a diaper bag instead of a purse

I narrate all of Olivia's thoughts

I have a Costco membership

I chopped my hair off

Need caffeine

Multitasker/ can do almost everything one handed

I appreciate my parents more than I ever have

Everything has changed. It's the best kind of change and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The men in my life

My daughter's father...

This Father's Day was an extra special one; it was Conrad's first! He is such a good dad. Olivia already has that man wrapped around her little finger.

 

"Can we wake her up and play with her, please?"

He says this at least once a week.

Nothing melts my heart quite like seeing these two together. I love them so much!

Conrad is so optimistic.  Yes, sometimes it drives me nuts when I want the kid to feel sorry for me and moan and groan with me. But really it's so good for me. It's good for me to be reminded why the little things that drive me nuts don't really matter, reminded why I should be happy, and how the life I live is so good.
[because it is!]
He's good looking! I mean come on. Look at that face.
I love how he calls us his girls.
I love when he surprises me with treats.
I love when him and Liv visit me at work just because he knows how much I'm missing them.
I love when he [lies] and tells me I look pretty in the morning.
I love when he plays Michael Jackson. Especially when he dances to I Wanna Rock with You
I love when he texts me links to songs.
I love his ringtone for me.
He is so good for me. Olivia & I... well we're lucky girls.

My father...

One of the reasons I love seeing Olivia with her dad is the love I have for my own dad.  He is everything you could want in a father figure. Here are a few things I love about my dad. The list is endless.

Hard worker-- He works anywhere from 14-16 hours a day. And you know what? I don't think I've ever heard him complain. Never once have I heard him say "I'm tired. I don't want to go to work." 

Gardener-- Boy do I love his garden! Fresh peas, raspberries, blackberries, corn, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, onions, peppers, I love it all!   

love for my mother--It's the sweetest thing to see/know how much your mom and dad love each other. They have raised 6 kids together! They are an amazing couple. I love them and I love the love they have for one another.

Happy late father's day to all you dads out there! and future dads and anyone who knows a dad or has a dad. You're so important and so loved.

Grandma & Grandpa Great

Conrad's grandparents are in town from Maine. It is both mine and Olivia's first time meeting them. They are adorable! We have had so much fun and never want them to leave.
Everyone took the day off on Thursday to spend some time together. Kate took us to lunch at Pizzeria Limone and then we headed to the pool for the afternoon. Livi loves to swim! She squeals and laughs the whole time. We cooled down with some snow cones and played phase 10. Then Mark took us to a nice dinner at Kyoto.

Catch up with Olivia

iPhone pics to catch up with Olivia's little 5 month old self.

Out of the 1500 pictures on my phone. I'm proud I limited it to this much.

Meet our +1

Olivia Kate Rupe joined our family on December 31, 2011 at 9:41 pm...

Just in time to end 2011 perfectly and start our new year as the best year yet!

I can't believe she is ours.

I can't believe we get to keep her forever.

She is so perfect.

We are so lucky.