21 Weeks

Here are some of the ultrasound pics. Proof you're a girl (so the doc tells me), a nice spine, some cute feet, and a cute little profile.  

Happy Birthday Mama

I am the big 2-6! It was a good birthday. Ryan spoiled me with some beautiful flowers, some gift cards, and her picked out and bought me a dress and a skirt that are both adorable, and I can wear during and after pregnancy! Smart husband. I am so grateful for how thoughtful he is, and that he has such a great sense of style! We went to Cafe Rio for lunch, which was amazing as always. Then I treated myself to an afternoon of laziness and non-productiveness, it was wonderful. Then one of my good friends, Jess, brought me 4 perfect cupcakes. 

For dinner, my dad took us out to dinner to Olive Garden, I haven't been there in so long, and all I wanted was their salad and breadsticks. He also brought me some beautiful flowers, and we really enjoyed the dinner all together.
We came home for our own little party. Livy got great practice last week with Grandpa Bob's birthday. She took all the candles we had, stuffed them all into one cupcake and sang me the sweetest happy birthday song. She sang to me several times that day, it made me so happy and so grateful to be her mother.

With a broken phone, we decided to bite the bullet and get the new iPhone 5 since it just came to T-Mobile. It was a very happy birthday to me... and Ryan too! It should come tomorrow, and we can't wait! It was a great birthday, I'm looking forward to another wonderful year!!

For sweet memories sake, here's Livy's "Happy birthday" for me. I love how she "blows" out the candles at the end of the song. I also love how she licks the frosting off a candle and then puts it back in the cupcake.  We then went on the light the candles, sing, and blow them out about 4 or 5 more times. I love this girl.

Little Miss Livy

This little girl brings so much joy to our home and our family. She has so much personality.  She is always wanting to carry around her "things". This usually consists of some small pink toys. Sometimes her princesses, sometimes books, sometimes her ponies or their combs, and maybe even pink crayons. 

She loves to color. But she'll pick out only the cool colors, the pinks, purples, and blues. She'll line them all up and then color. Things always have to be orderly and straight. I will often come in my bathroom and find all of my hair products all lined up somewhere. 

She has found a new love with blowing bubbles. We bought her a big bucket for Easter, and she is always wanting to go out on the back porch and blow bubbles, especially with dad. 

Livy is the expert at a silent tantrum. People think this is better than kids who kick and scream, but I still find it frustrating. If she doesn't get what she wants, or if there is a sudden change of plans without someone explaining to her what's happening, she'll turn and walk away and put her heads in her hands. Sometimes she'll turn around, fold her arms, and let out a loud audible sigh. A lot of times these tantrums just make me laugh. But other times, when I really need her to do something because we're trying to hurry, or trying to leave, or in public, she gets even more defiant if I try and force her to do it. 

I love when I give her something to eat and she'll say, "Oh! It tastes good!"

She doesn't always eat very well, so when she does I always tell her how good of a job she's doing. So when I'm eating, she'll often say, "Good job mama! That's a great bite mama!" 

Her new favorite songs to sing...often...are "The ABC's" and she just repeats the song..."And now I know my A, B, C, D, E...." She's so funny. She also loves "Twinkle Twinkle", and a song we found on YouTube called "Family Fingers". 

Our little 2 1/2 year old. She is just the light of our lives. 

Maui

We had the most amazing time in Maui. Ryan's parents were going, and basically we asked if Livy could come...and we'd tag along too. They couldn't resist the Livster. We found some pretty cheap tickets, and have been looking forward to it so much! We also decided to take a whole of week of Ryan's vacation days, because I'll be very pregnant all summer, so we're not going anywhere, and we're most likely not traveling with a newborn in the Fall. It was the perfect time for a vacation. 

We flew in Thursday night, and went straight to bed. That helped a ton with adjusting to the time change. Livy was really good on the plane, we just made sure to have lots of "surprises". We stayed at the Marriott in Wailea for the first few nights. Ryan and Bob went golfing Friday morning and had a great time, it was a such a beautiful course, I made him take at least one picture. 

That night we went to dinner at a place nearby on the beach called Sarentos. It was a super fancy restaurant. Ryan and I got the best Mahi Mahi. Livy was super tired with the time adjustment, she was a little difficult at dinner. But after a little walk on the beach with Grammy Sue she was a little happier. It was a great dinner and great memory. 

We swam, rested, and watched all 4 sessions of conference. I was able to listen so well because there were NO other distractions, and we were completely relaxed. Our little iPad for General Conference. It worked great. 

Livy absolutely loved swimming at the pool. In Wailea they had the best kiddie pool. 

 

Livy was not fond of the sand. Actually, she hated the sand. We thought she'd warm up to it after a few days, but she did not. She hated how dirty it made her feet. She wanted nothing to do with it. 

We saw the first night we were there they were just finishing up a hula show. So we made sure to eat dinner early enough the next night to catch it. We sat in the back and Livy loved watching the dancers. We were all so exhausted so we didn't stay for the whole thing. But it was fun to get a little Hawaiian culture. 

We got some delicious Maui Tacos for lunch and hit up the expensive grocery store before the boys found the chapel to watch the Priesthood session of conference. 

I was sitting like this on the chair outside, so she came out and sat just like me in the other chair. How I love her.  

That afternoon my phone fell out of my pocket and right into the toilet. I tried putting it in a bag of rice for a few days, but it was never revived. But to be honest, it was really nice to be completely disconnected all week and not have my phone on me at all. 

On Sunday we headed to the other side of the island to the Westin Condos in Ka'anapali. It was so nice to have a kitchen, and cook some delicious dinners. The boys grilled some steak and chicken a few nights and we had all the fixin's. Livy was so cute in her little floatie! It was so nice how it connected in front, she could float in the water all by herself and we didn't have to hold her. It was a lifesaver! By the end of the week she was slowly figuring out how to scoop her hands and kick her feet to help her move. We had so much fun playing with her. 

While we were there it was Bob's birthday. So we grabbed some yummy cupcakes, and Livy especially loved singing to Grandpa Bob. Then we went over the Whaler's Village, watched some more little hula dancers, did a little shopping, and Livy got some pink ice cream. 

The next morning we went nice and early to stand in line for the best breakfast ever. Macadamia nut - banana pancakes with coconut syrup. So so yummy. We also got an omelette to split and Livy got Minnie Mouse pancakes. The place is called The Gazebo, and if you're ever in Maui, you NEED to go. 

 

Despite Livy hating the sand, we rented some chairs, bought some sand toys and gave it another shot. It was another fail. She just wanted to sit on the chair the whole time, not even on a towel in the sand. She kills me. What a silly girl. 

The next morning we went on one of our favorite hikes to Twin Falls. It's only a mile or so there and back, it's pretty easy little hike, so it's great for kids. And there is the most beautiful water fall at the end. Livy loved  being in the "jungle". 

 

They have a stand with the best smoothies. It's pure sugar cane juice, pineapple, banana and ice. It was so tasty and refreshing. 

That night we went down Front Street for a dinner at Kobe Steakhouse. Livy loved the fried rice, the shrimp, and watching the fire. Such a good dinner and fun tradition. 

Then we went to watch the beautiful sunset on the bridge. I love this place. 

Then we went to grab a shave ice with MacNut ice cream, and guava, pineapple and passion orange flavors. 

It was so good we made sure to go back the next afternoon for more!

Livy had a great time watching the waves from the bridge, instead of standing on the sand. Beautiful little girl. 

I made a conscious effort to not have any pictures taken of me at the pool. But for memories sake, I did take one of my 20 week swimsuit belly. 

It was the best vacation ever. We were so relaxed. Completely disconnected. We enjoyed every minute being together as a little family.