A New Experience

 We had our first tornado warning and watch this past month.

We were expecting some bad rain and thunderstorms,

but the prediction of tornadoes in our area were soon upon us.

We got pretty jumpy and during the worst part of the storm 

we moved into our bathroom.

It is the only room in our little apartment without any windows.

We watched our computer for updates

 on where tornadoes were touching down.

They touched down all around our town and some were quite large (F4).

We felt very blessed to have been passed over.

Olivia loved playing in the bathroom!

When Grandma Comes To Visit

My mom came for a visit!

We were so excited to have a visitor, especially a family visitor.

She came to us by two plans and a train.

She traveled all day, but we were able to have a nice dinner and chat.

The next morning we all woke up and found a lake in our backyard.

It had rained most of the night and flooded our field.

We even had ducks swimming in it!

We celebrated Halloween all together,

 and then went to Livy's belated 4-month check up.

After she got her vaccines she was very tired.

She fell asleep in my mom's arms while they listened to Primary songs.

(She had not done that in ages!)

We all went to visit the U of I campus!

Inside the English Building.

This is were Joe has his office and has a couple classes.

Here is Joe's desk were he does all of his big important work!

Don't worry, his bottom drawer is filled with snacks.

It was a beautiful day for a walk around campus.

The back of the English Building.

This is an Ivy League Squirrel.

There are rumors that these squirrels were actually imported

from Harvard or Yale in order to make the University seem

that much more collegiate.  

This is the biggest auditorium on campus.

This is the Illini Union Building.

My two favorites!

This is Lincoln Hall.

Basically, these are the buildings that surround the English building.

Are they not all beautiful and unique?

We all had a great time on campus.

 Another fun memory we made while 

my mom was here was visiting Arthur, Illinois.

Amish Country.

We had been given some recommendations of what to see and do

while we were there, and one of them was to visit Beachy's.  

It is an amazing, locally run store 

where you can find wonderful things for amazing prices!

I got a whole bunch of cinnamon sticks for a couple of bucks!

We also got some peach jam, a pumpkin roll, rhubarb, 

and a million other good things.

We will definitely be going here again!

(Also the outlet mall is just off the freeway!)

After exploring Beachy's we had some lunch at Yoder's Kitchen.

Joe was in heaven with the chicken fried steak!

The day before my mom left we did a lot of domestic things.

She sewed up some things for us and taught me

a little bit more about my sewing machine.

And we also made bran muffins and jam!

Livy loved learning the tricks of jam making from her Grandma.

We were so glad for the visit.

Trunk or Treat

 For Halloween this year,

our family went as the three bears.

(And Goldilocks tagged along too.)

We were Too Hot, Too Cold, and Just Right.

 Olivia has the darling nickname of Livy Bear or Bear.

Not really sure where it came from, but it is here to stay.

Since we call her Bear, 

we thought it would be so fitting to go as bears for Halloween.

I think we had a pretty great set up in our trunk.

We had to have porridge!

 The happy bear family.

(Olivia was pretty ready to eat Goldilocks.)

Five Months

Our Olivia is 5 months old!

We take her to her much belated doctors appointment this week.

However, we can tell she is taller and heaver.

 She checks in somewhere around 15.5 pounds.

Check out her curly hair, huh?

Olivia thrives being outside.

Here she is at the pumpkin patch.

Doesn't she make a great country baby?

We love spending time with our girl outside.

However, the weather here in Urbana is staring to change

and our time spent outside might be dwindling.

Olivia has magical hair.

A blog post about Olivia would not be complete without a tubby photo

or a mention of her hair.

I can't control it!

We have a blast during her nightly tubs.

Olivia loves to celebrate.

We celebrated Joe's birthday this month.

Olivia loved the excuse to stay up late and party!

Olivia rolls.

On September 23rd Olivia rolled over!

She is a pro at rolling from her back to her tummy.

She has only rolled from her tummy to her back twice so far.

She loves lifting her head up high so she can see all around her.

Olivia is an inconsistent sleeper.

Olivia will have wonderful nights of only waking to feed twice

and sleeping in her crib.

We also have some nights of getting to bed in the wee

small hours of the morning,

needing her to sleep in our bed, or waking up

and wanting to play.

Needless to say we appreciate the nights we get sleep!

Olivia loves being around people.

 She is the center of attention at our house for sure!

She loves to smile at friends and she curriously watches

other children play.

We can't believe how fast our little one is changing.

Curtis Orchard

 We went pumpkin picking!

We traveled a short distance to a local orchard.

At Curtis Orchard you can pick your own apples and pumpkins.

There is also live music, a petting zoo,

 a cafe, and a bazillion kids' play things.

We chose to look around and find us some nice pumpkins for the season.

We also got to enjoy some fresh apple doughnuts and cider.

 Our little family at the pumpkin patch.

 Another family shot.

 Don't we have such a smiley baby?

She looks so darling among the pumpkins.

 Joe and Livy.

(Behind them are some of the apple trees.)

We had a fabulous time at the orchard.

I am sure it will be a yearly tradition.

Four Months

Olivia was 4 months old on September 22. 

(I have been a slacker when it comes to keeping up our blog.)

She hasn't been to the doctor for her 4 month check up—

something about relocating and needing to find a new doc.

Her unofficial weigh in was somewhere around 13 pounds!

 Olivia loves to be outside.

She loves to feel the wind and enjoy the sunshine.

The bugs her are a new experience for all of us,

but they can be quite fascinating for Olivia.

(She is staring a a cicada.  

They are so annoying at night and make constant noise!)

 Olivia loves her Mom and Dad

 Olivia loves spending her day with her Mom.

And her Mom can't complain about spending her days with her too!

Olivia loves to play. 

She loves to grab anything in her reach and put it in her mouth.

She has grown up so much this last month!

She can even play a little bit on her own now.

Olivia needed a form of independent play.

We found this gym for her and she really enjoys playing with it.

She often scoots around so that she is aligned with it

 instead of having it across her body.

 Olivia loves to smile.

Sometimes she gets so happy her smile turns into a "O".

We figure that is her way of showing us how truly happy she really is.

 Olivia makes the best faces!

She is such a character and truly has a one of a kind personality.

Joe and I marvel at all that she does in one single day.

 Olivia has discovered herself in the mirror.

She smiles and laughs with herself!

 Olivia is a talker.

And she is a screamer.

She loves to sing along with songs and talk back and forth with you.

When Joe gets home at the end of the day 

she is so excited to see him she talks really loud!

She even screams her excitement.  

 Olivia is teething?

No sign of any teeth yet, 

but there are little buds below her sweet pink gums.

She is a drooler!

And she has had a couple days of a runny nose and cough.

All signs point to teething.

 Olivia loves to follow her Mom and Dad around the room.

Her eyesight has really improved!

Joe and I used to be up close to Olivia for her to see us.

Now, we can be in the next room and her eyes can find us!

Olivia is our blessing.