Through the eye's of Alivia

This past week Alivia has really started showing me her personality. I guess when you turn one your qualified to sass back and give you "the look" when appropriate. I have learned the different pitches of a 13 month old yell. I guess this takes place of learning the different cries when they are a baby.
Alivia has become a little or wait extremely independent as in "I can do it myself". She will play by herself, get down off the sofa by herself, swim in the baby pool by her self and a new one try to change her own diaper and clean herself. Don't let me forget the finger pointing we now do, but for some reason we find it so cute and precious.

Alivia having a morning snack while watching the Today show all by herself.

Singing and strolling up and down the hallway by herself.

Oh we can't forget the joys of crawling behind the couch. This one we just figured out and it's pretty cool I guess to a almost 14 month old.

The "what up" look after building probably the coolest tower in the world!!! Wow she looks like she is having so much fun.

Well I would have to say each day is a new day. Alivia seems to surprise me with new experiences and personalities. I couldn't imagine life without her and am so happy she is funny, happy, adorable and quirky. Oh and Lindsay would appreciate the fact that she loves to just break out in a fake laugh for no reason at all.

Iowa Visit

On Wednesday this week we heading down to IA for a short visit to see Grandma and Grandpa Varley. We had a great time swimming, playing outside and doing a little shopping. Alivia got some much needed grandpa time in on Thursday helping get things done. Thanks for a fun trip!

Alivia and Grandpa doing a little work. Oh don't worry Sampson wasn't harmed in any way during this photo.
Alivia also got some jumping in. She finally figured out how to get it going on her own.

Little Alivia watching her grandpa work.

Grandpa and me again.

Jump...Jump...Jump

Oh yeah we also did some sitting on the rock out by the pond.

Growing up to fast....

So Clint and I are in the living room and down the hall we hear little noises coming from the guest bedroom. I walk down the hall and peek into the room and in the back corner sitting on the pack and play I find Alivia. She was sitting so pretty with her coach purse on her arm just chatting away. I couldn't help but laugh since she could not be any more precious. Even after I had come in and yelled for Clint to come look she continued doing her thing and walked out of the room like it was her moment. Of course I was like the paparazzi snapping pictures....

Oh and I couldn't forget earlier that day little miss "thang" just looks like such a diva when I put these on her. Since we were sporting our awesome beaded necklace I had to add the headband to make her look complete.

Finally walking!!

As of Friday Alivia has finally started walking!!! We are so happy and excited. Bring on all the new challenges and all the accidents..... Also, sorry for the quality of the video I did it on my phone since that was the closest thing.

Fun times with the Varleys!

I had to post this picture of Alivia because it captures her true personality these days. Every morning once we have said bye to daddy we usually play on the couch. Today before we could do that we had to change our pj pants since we wet through them. So we have some awesome ISU pink shorts on with our pj top. Also, we now have to wear this wonderful green necklace from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed. Usually the remote and her bath letters are almost always near us too. Oh I can't forget our bed head. The girl does not have much hair, but she always wakes up with the craziest fro.

Just loving life!!!
Clint and I had a fun evening out together which doesn't happen much. We headed out to the Basilica block party and then out on the town. One of our rare pictures together. Seems like it's always Alivia and me or daddy and Alivia.

Last but not least here is a short video of my princess almost walking. We have a little help from our stroller, but we are so close...

My odd child!

My little climber was at it again this morning. She finds the weirdest places to sit and play. Yesterday she was in the fireplace, yes her head was up in the flu. The girl can't walk yet, but she sure can crawl in to some odd places. She makes me smile and laugh every day and I just love it.

Fun things!!!

Wow I can't believe this month is almost over already. I feel like we have not been able to enjoy summer since the weather is so up and down. Oh well at least we can still be outside without jackets.
Well Alivia is so close to taking off on her own. She has taken a few steps here and there. She is pretty proud of herself when she can go from the TV to the sofa by herself. She will look back and Clint and I with the biggest smile like "look what I can do". She also has become very vocal lately. She will copy everything you say and sometimes I try to get to say things I shouldn't because it's just to darn cute. Not much is new besides our adventures each day.

As I have said before Alivia loves to sit. She will sit on steps, stools, toys or chairs. She just loves to sit on things. We finally got Alivia her own pink chair like above and she will climb and play on it for hours. Thank you Grandma Joyce for my new chair.

Here is our girl doing what she does best, standing..... We do a lot of this throughout the day. We dance standing, play standing and go #2 now standing. Fun things to enjoy!!!

Playing at the lake

On Wednesday we had a great time playing at the beach with Sam and friends. Jess was so nice to have us and other moms over to play. We ate lunch and played in the sand till it was time to nap. Alivia had a wonderful time playing with any stick she could find. She also found a new family to hang with for awhile. Sam found some big kids to pal around with and dig big holes. Thanks Jess for a fun afternoon!

Alivia with her BIG stick that kept her busy for awhile
I think Alivia is wondering why Sam has all the
toys and which one she would love to have

Oh that stick again.....

What a cute pair these two are, don't you think

The rest of the crew

Fun filled weekend!

This past 4th of July weekend we had a lot of fun. We spent as much time outside, swimming and going to the parade. Alivia has also turned 13 months and this past month we just keep moving and shaking. We are so close to walking. Alivia stands alone and will walk if you hold her hands so any day now. She is our little copy cat which has been fun to hear all the new sounds/words she says. Alivia can now blow kisses, but likes to give them away much more.

Alivia and I spent the day at the park and playing outside while daddy went and played golf. Clint only wears hats when he golfs so when he comes home she thinks it's so funny to see him in a hat.
The swimming pool is another home for us. The Edina pool has the best kid area so moms can sit there while this kids swim away.

Sitting on chairs, steps or toys is pretty fun these days. In our backyard Alivia will sit on this rock and just look at all the new flowers growing in the backyard.

Mom and daughter hanging in the backyard.

Another pool we swim at is papa and nana's house. For some reason Alivia rather sit on the b-ball hoop or play in the rocks instead of the pool.

Daddy and his little girl enjoying the day together.

Imagine that sitting by the pool instead of in it.

Alivia is so close to walking. Here she is walking around the house.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Before we headed to the parade.

Another day of play!

A few days ago Alivia and I went to a play group at Kiddywampus. It was a fun place to let the kids just crawl/run around and be kids. Alivia had a great time playing with the tea set and of course the babies. She spent a lot of time rubbing the babies heads and pointing to their eyes. Alivia also has really showed an interest in other moms. When I take her to the park or play areas she always finds a mom or grandma and becomes their best friend. I think it's great she is not afraid of strangers, but when it's time to go she screams and holds her hands out like I am pulling her away from her mom. People around must think I am some stranger taking this little girl. Oh well after a few minutes we are back to normal....

Yum, I wonder if I can really eat this wood cookie.
What does she have on her plate that I don't have.

I think Alivia wishes her room was painted like this. Oh and the hanging picture of Hannah Montana in the background is priceless.

Yum, gotta love wood carrots.