Old Tucson (part 2 of trip to AZ)

We got to visit with my parents for a few days. It was a good time. Olivia gets a little crabby without her usual schedule... but she loved the merry go round at Old Tucson!

Visiting the Taylors (Part 3 of road trip to AZ)

We visited Brett's sister Alisha and her family before we left Arizona. It was really great to see them. Jill and Olivia LOVED playing together. We really wish they lived closer so we could play more often. We went golfing, played with their new chicks, and ate good food.

What's really going on...

Well, I like to think I am in-touch with friends and family through blogs. Well... then I realize, a lot of us really don't say what's going on in just every day life. Some times it's so every-day type of stuff I forget people don't know what's going on! So.. heres an update!
Olivia-
Livie is speaking really well. She speaks in compound sentences and is 90% understandable. She has really grown up in the past few months. She is still working on ABC's. She has colors and numbers down. She can count to 10 well, and is working on her teens. Her favorite activities are reading books. She recites and 'reads' books to me all day long. She loves to dance. She loves to pretend. She calls herself Princess Theona a lot. She is a spectacular eater. She eats just about every thing we put in front of her. She whines a lot. She is always telling me to put Claire down and play with her. She loves her friends and family. She asks about them all the time.

Claire-
Claire is a good baby. She is often fussy when she is awake, but she smiles for atleast 10 minutes a day. She loves attention. She will always calm down if I hold her, bounce her, or let her swing in her chair. She has a hard time sitting or being alone unless she is dead aseelp. I can't blame her though. I wouldn't want to entertain myself either! She LOVES the car. She always falls asleep in the car. I love that she loves it- Olivia would SCREAM every time we got in the car. It was dreadful going anywhere with her when she was a baby. Umm, Claire is a pretty good sleeper. She sleeps about 6-8 hours at night. Not bad... Claire kicks her little legs a lot and is always making noise. Some times mad noises, sometimes happy. It is cute. She is a good eater too. She loves her binky, but loves her mommy most ;) She is very attatched and prefers me over anyone else.

Brett-
Brett has been playing lots of basketball. Our ward meets in the morning at 6 am to play. Brett hates getting up early, but loves basketball! He had gained a little weight, but has lost it now since resuming playing sports! HE lost 11 pounds! WOW! He is by no means fat though, and never was. Bretts job is not doing so well. We are down one paycheck... and I forsee missing others due to the company having $0 to pay us. It has been stressfull not knowing if we will be able to pay bills. If things don't start getting better soon, he will have to get a new job. Sadly, there are not many to choose from at this time with the economy doing so bad. Wish us luck!!

Sarah-
Well, I am just boring! I watch and play with the girls all day long. Mostly changing diapers, nursing, and trying to clean. I make dinners most nights and love to try new recipes. I have abiout 15 that I ALWAYS make though. I take TONS of pictures and I really like it. I like to blog and be on the computer. Theres always something to look at on the computer! I am trying really hard to stick to a work-out routine. My goal is to treadmill for atleast 1/2 an hour a day and to do arm, tummy, and back exercises. It takes about an hour total. It is difficult.. I wait until Claire is napping and Olivia just plays with toys or watches a show on TV. I'm always praying that Claire doesn't wake up. I am on my 3rd week now. I have lost about a pound. I can see a tiny difference. I've only missed a few days, so I've done pretty well ;) I think it is a good investment of my time to keep up my health and firness. I don't want to regret soem day not taking care of my body.
In General-
Amy (Bretts little sister) is living with us for awhile. When she finds an apartment and makes a few bucks she'll move out. Olivia LOVES having her around. I hear "Wheres Amy? Whens she coming home?" all day long. Umm, we are teaching primary again. We teach the 10 year old boys. I was scared at first. Turns out they are MUCH easier then 4 year olds! (who we used to teach) The boys are little minds for molding- they know so little, and just soak it in! It's cool to watch them learn. Brett does the teaching for now. He is really good with the boys. Olivia is doing really well in nursery again. She went through a hard 4 months or so. It stunk when she would cry every week and just wouldn't let me leave. She is doing great now though. WOOHOO!

Chunky Monkey (2 month check-up)

Weight: 12 lbs 8 oz. (76%)
Length: 24 inches (93%)
Head Circumference: 15.5 inches (61%)

Claire checked out great at her Dr's visit today. She has a flat spot on her head though. She has a condition where her head was turned to one side in the womb, so now she keeps her head turned that way all the time making it flat. I have to do some exercises with her to strengthen her neck muscles so she'll turn the other way. It should be fine. Other then that it was just a normal visit with the screaming from shots. Poor girl.

Twinners

I've had to resort to coloring my own hair, now that I'm not working at the salon. It stinks. Who can afford to actually pay $80!? I know I charged it... but, man, it is just too pricey for me ;) Olivia really wanted to help me. At one point she actually got a hold of the color brush and swiped some on the top of her head. IKES! Don't worry, we got it off without any damage to her beautiful blonde hair ;)
p.s. notice the pictures in the back-ground? I need ones that actually fit the frame!! Can all Peterson family please e-mail me an updated family photo that will fit in one of those slots!? It can be the Christmas card one... just in it's full size!

Livie the Painter

Pictures for Grandma

Liv's at the park... In February, brrrr

little sleeping beauty

I wanted a picture of Claires foot... she wasn't so happy about that

Random...

It's been sunny, but still chilly. We've been outside a lot for walks and to just be outside. Livie discovered the ginormous sand box that we have acquired with the house... I wasn't sure that I liked it, but the more I think about it, I think I'll like it. Claire has been fitting into all of her hats now. I'm excited about that. I think we have about 20 hats. I know, it's ridiculous, but when ya have bald babies...

This is Olivia's latest look. She rolls her eyes ALL the time. It is funny, but at the same time a bit worrisome. She will hurt baby Claire in some way shape or form and when I make her apologize she will, but soon after turn around, sigh and roll her eyes. Oh brother...

A Smile from Claire

Daddy-O is 30!!

Yesterday was Brett's 30th Birthday. YOWSA! We never knew 30 could look so good ;) Brett told Olivia we would go ice-skating for his birthday. He hoped she would forget... but she did not! So, we went. I forgot to bring in my camera- I was so irritated that I forgot. So, by the time I got it Olivia was DONE on the ice. Really, she only went around once on ice skates and once in her tennis shoes. She didn't really like it. She had a blast playing on the bleachers and watching us skate through the glass though!

My little "Clarito Burrito"

Claire gave us some of her first real smiles just the other day. She is finally more alert and starting to interact a little. She is a noise maker. She grunts, growls and makes funny squeel noises a lot. She is not a quiet baby. If she's not sleeping, she's making noise. She's a sweet pea! We love her.

Valentines and Party time

Daddy gave the girls roses for Valentines Day and Olivia a purple dress. She LOOOVED it. She danced around and spun in her dress for like an hour. She tortured her rose and it broke after 10 minutes, after which she said "I'm sorry Daddy!"

We went to PF Changs for Emmies birthday. It was fun- Olivia just loves visiting "Emmiegisco" (Emily and Francisco)

Our friend Kadee gave us this idea! What great fun!

We Quit

It's official- we are failures! We are quitting potty training, alas, I don't think Olivia is quite ready. After 2 weeks of poop and pee on the floor ALL day long, every stinkin day... WE QUIT! Yesterday she had NOTHING in the potty. She peed on the floor all day long. She doesn't seem to understand when she needs to go. The only time she makes it is when she has been sitting on her toilet already (since I made her sit on it ALL the time, even though she said she didn't need to go). Anyway- I am sick of it.. it is absolutely making me crazy.
In better news...
Claire slept 8 hours last night!!! I've been doing some sleep training (thanks to Natalies great advice) and it is WORKING! AMAZING! I thank the Lord daily for letting Claire and I sleep!!! YEA!!!!

Getting Ready

We are ready for Emmies Birthday party tonight!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Claires' 'Nettie Quilt'

This is a "Nettie Quilt". At least that's what we call them in our house. Nettie is my sister in-law. She is AMAZING with quilt making. I LOVE her style and I LOVE that she makes quilts for my babies ;) Olivia has a quilt and now Claire does too. They are so beautiful and I love to stare at them looking at the different fabrics and stitches. They are great inspiration when I am making quilts!

Claires' pink knit blanket- made by Grandma

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the blankets we get when we have babies... My Grandma has knit beautiful blankets for both the girls, and we love them! The stitching is perfect- it makes me want to knit too. My stuff looks nothing like hers though. She has also knit us our Christmas stockings and I have blankets she knit for me when I was a baby. I think they are really special and I think of her every time I see them ;)

A Visit from some of our favorite people

Hannah and Olivia


This is Bryson- there latest addition! (gotta love that shirt!)

Our friends and old neighbors the Roaches came to visit! We just love getting to see them again. Olivia LOVES playing with Hannah, and I LOVE talking to Natalie. She one of those moms that does it all soo well, so there is much to be learned from her! We miss them lots... it's too bad they didn't move with us!

Happy Birthday!

For Grandma from Sarisker on Vimeo.

Potty Update

Olivia is doing pretty good. She has accidents daily, but usually 1-2 success stories too! She almost went #2 in her potty last night, but she kept her panties ON when she sat on her toilet! aaaah rats! Anyway- we used Dr. Phil's potty training method. He says it works in 1 day.... umm, I think not Dr. Phil. It did get her on the right road though. Olivia is VERY patient in all of this. She practices using that toilet about 30 times a day- then she'll say "I'm so proud of you Wivies!"

It's just beginning...

Potty Training Olivia from Sarisker on Vimeo.

Nursing

Olivia nursing 'Baby Camille'

If anyone knows me well- they would know how awful my experience nursing was with Olivia. We tried and failed at nursing. It was really a BAD, painful experience. I was VERY nervous about nursing Claire, but thought I'd give it one more try. Thank goodness I did- nursing is going great! Although still a little painful, it is leaps and bounds better then with Liv. Claire is a good eater. She will even take a bottle. She nurses 98% of the time, but when she is extra hungry she gets a bottle and takes it pretty well! We are SO happy with how things have turned out this time! YAY!