Seasons Greetings!

 The Watt Family Top Ten of 2011

1. 1. It was a Year of "Firsts" for Olivia. First teeth (finally!), first Birthday (July 16th) , first step (July 15th), first word (Bubble).  Not to sound like a total cliche, but Russ and I can't believe how much she has grown in the past year.  We try to savor every moment we can, and will probably be rocking her to sleep until she's Fifteen

 

 

1. 2.  Russ has officially completed his Master's Degree in Engineering and Technology   Management!  We look forward to his extra free time...and perhaps and extra date night or two for Mommy and Daddy

1. 3.  Grandparents, Grandparents, GRANDPARENTS!  We were so lucky to have Janell and Russ's parents in town so much this year.  When they are not in town, we love to keep in touch by SKYPE...now if we could only get Olivia to sit still

 

1. 4.  Mouse in your shoe?!  To get Olivia to sit still while we put on her shoes, Janell came up with a little game.  We ask Olivia, "Is there a mouse in your shoe?", a quick look and a "No" from Olivia before  placing it on her feet.  Imagine her surprise when Daddy brought home a small plastic mouse and hid it in one of her shoes!
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1. 5.  Team Heaton raised $4,500 for the Alzheimer's Walk this year (beating our team goal of $3000). Janell participates in this event every year with friends, but we've NEVER raised so much money before!  The leader of Team Heaton was also the MC for this year's event...that's big stuff people!  (Heads up for next year...you might be finding an email from me this summer to help out for the next fundraising goal)

1. 6.  Welcoming Adalina Analise Hughes.  Trent and Christianne (Russ's sister) welcomed babygirl #2, and she is just as beautiful as her sister.  The family is doing well, and we are blessed that they live so close to us.
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1. 7.  Easter Trip to Utah.  We decided to take a trip to Utah for the annual Easter Party that Janell's Aunt Lani hosts every year.  Olivia got to meet her 2nd cousin Tripp, who is the same age, and get tons of love and kisses from family.  We also took a trip to Park City on Easter Sunday...needless to say we were the only ones there
 

 

1. 8.  Olivia's sweet new ride!  We "somehow" talked ourselves into buying a new city cruiser for Olivia's bike seat.  Olivia loves the wind in her face and bumpy roads...if we could only convince her to keep her sunglasses on

1. 9.  Olivia learning animals and body parts in Spanish.  Russ has been speaking to Olivia in Spanish since birth, and it's fun to see her understand words in both languages.  We get the most response out of animals and body parts, but we were thrilled to hear her speak her first Spanish word, "mono" (monkey)

1. 10.  Probably our best memory of the year was hanging out with the neighbors and their kids this summer everyday after work.  There are about 9 kids who live within a few houses from us, ages ranging from 1 year to 9.  Our afternoons were filled with sunshine, good conversation, bubbles, hopscotch, wagon rides, bikes and dress up.  I guess it's the simple pleasures that thrill us the most

We are truly blessed with such great friend and family.  You touch our lives in so many ways, and we are eternally grateful every moment shared with you.

We wish you a very joyful holiday season, and an adventurous New Year.

All Our Love,

Russ, Janell and Olivia

Mommy introducing Olivia to the Pacific

Aunt Jill and Olivia enjoying the waves

Playing with Grandma at the beach house

Olivia's sweet new ride!

Our favorite trick.  We call it, "Ninja!"

Playing with Daddy at the Oregon Coast

For Olivia's Birthday we bought a Family Zoo Pass

Finding the perfect pumpkin

Visiting Janell's relatives in Utah for Easter (Janell and Olivia with Aunt Lani)

Getting into mischief with cousin Izzy

Butt

Hanging with Grandma Watt and Cousin Gabriana

Memorized by the ducks at Crystal Springs 

Olivia's first tree

Getting our first tree as a family from Dougy Dawg...we arrived too early to see Santa

All bundled and warm

Wait...it keeps getting better!

Baby's First ROCKTOBER!

 I love October.  The leaves change, it's pumpkin season, it's my birthday AND Halloween all in one month.  Each year "Rock"tober involves a trip to the pumpkin patch (or two...usually my birthday weekend).  This year we got to take our Pnut, and it was a little disappointing she wasn't more excited about it...I guess I have to have more realistic expectations from an infant :)

This year was a quick trip.  We picked a pumpkin (yes, only one pumpkin this time...and not even from the patch...it was very hard for me), got a candy apple, posed Olivia for a couple pictures and went home.  The day was short and sweet (just like my little girl!)









I spent a lot of Rocktober exercising my time management skills.  I went back to work full time on the 5th, and am trying to fit as much in as I can.  I think I only got dinner on the table about a half a dozen times....good thing Russ knows how to fend for himself!

I didn't plan out a fun Halloween costumer for myself, like I usually do every year.  I just wore and old one (Rosie the Riveter) and made Olivia a traditional Parrish-Watt family costumer (inspired by Grandpa Parrish many years ago)...elmer's glue

Olivia has been an awesome baby, and she just keeps getting awesomer!

She was always a good sleeper, but she's even better now...only waking up once to feed at night, AND sleeping in!  Okay, the sleeping in part doesn't work out so well when I'm trying to get to work but it's GREAT during the weekends.

She is holding her head and shoulders pretty steady now, and LOVES that she is facing out on the baby bjorn now.  She loves going for walks, and Russ and I are excited that the rainy season is taking it's time here in Oregon.  We've had so many gorgeous fall days, and the colors are amazing!

I've been able to get a couple of belly-laughs out of her, but mostly she just smiles...at everything and everyone.

Videos for the Grandparents

Okay...I'm slow at this, and the videos could be way more interesting...but these are better than nothing!

Then, and now

We Started with this...

Then decided to change things up a bit...

Like, throw on a big porch...
Add a Flagstone walkway...Then, why not rip the roof off?

Finished! ...for now

6 weeks and counting...

How the time flies! I can't believe I'm halfway through my maternity leave, and I'm already dreading my last day with Olivia. She has absolutely captured me...mothers warned me of how much your life changes, but there are no words to really prepare you for how much motherhood completely rearranges the world as you knew it.

My little Green Burrito

Our house (other than trim work, closets and door knobs) is all done, and beautiful. I'm so happy with how everything turned out. Russ and I tried to do everything as cheaply as possible, which means your choice for carpet/paint colors/tile is limited to what is on sale. I didn't really get my "first choice" for any of those decorative details, but once it came all together I was thrilled with the finished project. Russ and I are so thankful for all of our friends that came out to help us paint and move furniture...especially Russ' parents. They were in town to help us with some major projects like tiling the bathroom and painting the rooms. (I hope we didn't work them too hard and scare them away from ever coming to visit again!). One of my good friends, and coworker, Alex Bertolucci has been helping Russ paint the exterior of the house...such a Bada**! I can never thank everyone enough for all the help.

Facing the landing at the top of the stairs

Facing the Master Bedroom (door on right) and Bathroom (door on left) from the top of the stairs, and you can kind of see into the office

Our bedroom

Olivia and I love hanging out it her new room...Dottie too! It's nice to be able to put her down for a nap in her own crib. I had such a fun time painting her room, definitely the funnest room in the house.
(I copied this straight off the HGTV website, so I can't take credit for the creativity. But I love it!!)

Hanging with Dottie while Mommy works on the nursery

Right now Olivia has been smiling and "talking". I've been trying to get a picture or video, but the little squirt must be camera-shy! I really enjoy my time with her. I went out for the first time, without Olivia, the other night. One of my best friends, Felicia, went out for a drink and dessert with me. We were only gone about an hour and a half, but for a new mom, it felt longer and I had to keep reminding myself that Olivia was fine. It's easy to say that it's good to take some time out for yourself, but it's a completely different story when you put it to practice.
And that's what it's going to take...practice

Bath Time

Napping on the quilt Grandma Parrish made

Meeting Grandma Watt for the first time
Our Favorite Hat