Texting vs. Talking

Clint and I have thought really hard on if it's better to teach Alivia to talk or just to text. We feel like we should keep her up with the "new" way of communication, but are not sure. So we have had many sleepless nights decided that texting is the way to go.

We made a pro/con list and this is what we came up with.
Pro:

she looks adorable

it helps her hand/finger coordination

she can express herself from anywhere in the house

(I mean come on when she wakes up she just text to us "I am up" and we never hear yelling)

Con:

we will never hear her beautiful voice

she might fall behind in school someday

this is a crazy idea

Well I guess we will forget the texting for now and continue on her verbal skills. Alivia is already saying so many things right now and coping everything. Let's hope by the time she is old enough there is no such thing is texting..... She is pretty darn cute trying though, isn't she

Just another summer day!!!

This summer we bought a season pass the the Edina pool. It has been so much fun to just pack up and go when ever we want to. Alivia is able to play with other kids and her cousins when we go and it makes for a fun day!

Right now we mostly like to sit on the edge of the baby play area and eat our toys. She is getting better about playing in the water.

Another favorite of Presley's is to squirt Alivia with the fish. These two are going to be trouble when they get older.

Here is my long legged child in the pool just enough to keep cool. We love bath time and it's so hard to get her out, but at the pool we like to just sit with our toys.

They look so innocent right now, but there is something behind those smiles.

Overall we are having a wonderful summer. It's been hot, but hey will take any warm weather we can get.

What a day!

Thursday was a busy and fun day. We started our day like normal with breakfast and then downstairs to check my emails. Alivia did her daily workout while panting like a dog (our new thing). Normally we would head up for a morning nap, but today was special we were heading the Mall of America to meet up with auntie Steph, Jack, Presley and Grandma.

This was Alivia's first time riding on rides. We have taken her to the M of A before, but not like this. Alivia loved the merry go round. When it started going and she was moving up and down she thought it was pretty cool.

My little girl has grown up way to fast these past few months.

Look at me mom I am doing it all by myself.

To end the day Alivia had her favorite dinner which is anything with hamburger so a little noodles and sauce did the trick. This was a perfect way to finish a fun day!

Great Grandma Betty's Memorial

Over the weekend while we were in Iowa we also attending Alivia's Great Grandma's Memorial. It was a beautiful day with family and friends. Betty passed away the same day we found out we were pregnant with Alivia. When one life ends another begins and we are a true example of that.

Alivia and her daddy at Great Grandpa's house in Atlantic IA. The two of them waiting patiently for lunch.

Alivia enjoying the beautiful day and the green grass that happens to match her dress perfectly.

Some of Alivia's second cousins and her auntie (in the blue)

Exploring some more in the grass.

Alivia and her grandma!

Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa V!

Alivia, Clint and I headed down to IA last Wednesday for 5 days. We had a wonderful time playing, jumping on the trampoline, going to the park and seeing a lot of relatives. Alivia grew very much attached to grandma. The two of them cooked, baked and played with the big blue car. Alivia is so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents on both sides of the family.

Alivia having a ball playing under the table with her toys.
Look at me grandma, aren't I cute!

Alivia was helping clean up and making sure everything was going in the garbage.

Playing around on the car at the wedding reception. Thanks grandpa for making sure I don't fall off.

Look at me I am such a big girl now. I can stand and climb on a lot of things!

Alivia's 1st b-day and update

We are officially a toddler now. Alivia had a wonderful birthday party on Saturday. All her family and friends were there to share this special time in her life. Even though it was cold and rainy it ended up being a perfect day. Alivia also had her one year old check up and weighed in at 23 lbs. and 31 inches. She is healthy as can be and growing like crazy. We would also like to thank everyone that has helped us through this past year. We have done a lot and needed some extra hands in many cases. Thank you to all!!!

I don't think Alivia wiped that smile off her face the entire day. Being the center of attention was pretty easy.
The Varley family minus Sampson.

We had a lot of balloons for her birthday and Alivia loved playing in them.

Riding on her new pony from Grandma and Grandpa V.

One of the many new cool books Alivia got.

Oh it's cake time. Thank goodness I practiced this with her this past month. Alivia delivered perfectly on the whole cake in the face mess.

Mmmmmmm this is soooooo good!!!

I don't think her eye's could get any bigger....

Happy 1st Birthday Alivia

Happy birthday to my little princess! Alivia has turned one and I don't know where the time has gone. I have a hard time believing that they grow up this fast. Over the past year a lot has happened. Below is a look back at everything the Varleys have done!



Who would have thought Alivia would have arrived 10 days early. I still remember coming home from work and being in the bathroom and thinking, was that my water that just broke. I called Clint and I just starting crying because I had nothing packed for the hospital yet. We headed to the hospital so they could make sure it was my water that broke. While waiting Clint was determined that it wasn't and trying to decide where we should go eat at. Little did we know he was eating good old hospital food and I was not allowed to eat a thing....

No one can tell you how it feels to hold your own child for the first time. I remember looking at her going how did we create such a perfect little girl. These days I hold her going how did we create this little girl with SO much personality. Clint would probably say she gets it all from him.

Not only did Alivia come almost two weeks early, but we had to move less than a month after she was born. When she arrived we still were not sure about our big move up to MN. Exactly a week after she was born we headed up to MN and found our wonderful home!!!

Throughout this past year Alivia has had many firsts. From the first cold, smile and babble talk to rolling over, sitting up and eating solid foods. You seem to get so excited for such simple tasks that last forever. Above is one of my favorites, Alivia's first Christmas.

Here is Alivia's first tooth that came in without anyone knowing till Grandma Joyce got bit. Who would of thought at four months her chompers would start to come in.

The day we found out if we were having a boy or a girl I can remember thinking it has to be a boy for Clint's sake. When the doctor said do you want to know, we said YES. She then proceeded to say it's a girl! Clint put his hand on my shoulder (since I was laying down) and said wow which then turned into can you check one more time. Ever since that day (once it sank in) he couldn't have been more excited. The minute she was born (sorry Clint) he cried and at that moment she was daddy's little girl!

People that are lucky to be around Alivia or meet her you will know she is a pretty happy girl. The day she started smiling was so exciting. She smiles at anyone which makes it fun to go to the grocery or mall. It's fun to here people say "oh she smiled at me". These days Alivia likes to laugh at herself a lot so let's hope this contiues throughout life.

This past year we have traveled to many different places with Alivia. From the week after she was born we were trucking her up to MN so she has traveled many miles in her year of life. Above is one of her many trips down to IA to visit all her family on the Varley side. We are lucky that Clint travels for work down there weekly so we can tag along.

This trip we took a train ride down or over to IN to see her second cousin's wedding. Grandma Joyce, Paul, Auntie Steph, Jack and Presley were all there for this ride. Thank goodness for our own room on the train so the kids could at least play. It was a long and crazy trip which we will never forget.

This adorable picture is of my little bathing beauty down in FL. This trip we go one every year after the holiday's. Papa Kevin and Nana Paige get to enjoy a week of craziness with all three grand kids.

Alivia has been lucky to attend three weddings this past year. She has the wedding scene down pretty good now. Lot's of waiting, crying and crazy people dancing.

Eating has had it's many phases. Let me tell you the awesome baby food was not a favorite for mom. We quickly moved onto finger food which is much better on all of us.

A huge milestone is mastering crawling. When Alivia did it I was right there and thank goodness the video camera was too. The video above is her very first time crawling. I have never been so proud of my little girl.

It's crazy when your child reaches a certain stage you say "I love THIS stage the best". I think I have said that every time we move to something new. I would have to say as soon as we could get outside and go to the park I truly loved watching Alivia swing and slide down the slide. Being able to see her enjoy something that I loved as a child was pretty awesome.

As Alivia has grown up into this little person, I try to look back and remember what it was like when she just sat there or cried for no reason. I have a hard time remembering those times because all the new ones are so exciting and fun. I have promised myself to never say "I can't wait till" because I never want the moment happening right now pass by while waiting for the future.

Alivia has brought so much to our lives and we can't even imagine what life was like without her here. Watching Clint as a dad has given me a new found respect for him. We have grown closer this past year learning from each other on how to parent our little girl. So today Clint and I want to wish Alivia a Happy 1st Birthday! We are so lucky to have her as a daughter and could not ask for a more memorable year. Happy Birthday Alivia!!!

Just another day at the Varley home!

Over the weekend Clint and I discovered a huge park and walking trail right by our house. We took both Sampson and Alivia for a afternoon walk and enjoyed the beautiful day. Sampson loved running around and smelling all the new smells. Alivia just sat back and enjoyed the view while enjoying a snack. It's been so much fun exploring more and finding new things right in our backyard.

After a beautiful day outside my two little people/dog are ready for a long nap.

Alivia has become my little climber. She climbs on everything even strollers for her babies that she does not fit in. Her new favorite thing to do while I am on the computer is to sit on the workout equipment and have conversations with herself or just clap. Clint over the weekend taught her to snap so during the clip you will notice she shows off her new pass time. Also you will notice Alivia's big old shiner on her eye. She pulled down a box and it fell on top of her and the top opened up on to her eye. She has a two little cuts and a little black eye.

Hanging with daddy!

Now that it's nice out and we have finished our backyard we do have to water all those precious flowers. This seems to be Clint's daily routine when he gets home from work or during the day on the weekend. Not only is it fun for Clint, but Alivia has been loving helping daddy out. She finds it really funny to put her hand in the water line and watch it squirt all over which you can see on Clint's shirt below. It has been so neat to see Alivia interested in everything. I guess that happens when they grow up.