The Girl is in Charge!

Daddy went out of town which means the girls have 100% of the remote. Olivia has had her fair share of control over the remote. She took full advatage of slobbering all over it!

6 Months Already!

Can somebody please tell me where the last 6 months have gone and how in the world our baby is already half a year old? So at the 6 month mark this is where we are at:
* Sitting up is great fun and makes playing with toys so much more interesting
* Fruit and veggies are the best... bottles she would do without if we let her
* Rolling over- highly overrated so why do it?
* Toes are very ticklish
* Outside time is the best time of day
* Livy must have her blanket when she takes a nap. No blanket = No nap
* Jumping has been and still is her FAVORITE thing to do

Happy 6 months little girl! We love you!

Time for a vacation!

We had our first little vacation as a family last weekend! We ventured to Traverse City with Karen's family for a little fun in the sun! I am not sure what we were thinking... 6 adults and 3 children- it was an adventure! While Olivia was a bit out of sorts she had lots of fun hanging with her Grandma and Grandpa, Auntie Jen, Uncle Joel and cousins Anna and Simon. She loved the water and the sand too! It was very windy while we were there which she thought was great- the wind would blow and Olivia would squeal and laugh and stick out her tongue! So now we are home and needing a vacation from our vacation!

In the car ready to go!

First feel of Grand Traverse Bay!

Swinging with Mommy and Grandma!

Livy and Auntie Jen!

Pondering the meaning of life!

First hot tub experience!

Celebrating mommy's 30th birthday!

Auntie Jen bought Olivia this dress for one of my showers with specific instructions that this was for Traverse City! The time finally came and it fit perfectly! My little sailor girl!

Checking out the water all by herself!
Olivia got introduced to bubbles in Traverse City! She is quite confused by them!

One big happy family!

Out of power!

The Ballard home was out of power for a few days due a tree falling on some power lines in our neighbors backyard. Let me tell ya... 6 month old baby + no electricity = mass chaos! We survived though and I took full advantage of having a photo session with my baby! She was very photogenic!
Showing off her polka dot pj's! She is so stinkin' cute!

Tooty Fruity!

Applesauce!

Bananas!
Peaches- might be a new fav!

Dear Mom,

You don't need to buy me any more toys! I like the boxes they come in much better!

Love, Olivia

A new way of bathing!

We had to buy Olivia her next step up bathtub because... she is crazy! Her cute little baby tub was getting much too small for her, not to mention now that she can sit up on her own she tries to pull herself up and flip herself over. She was not too sure of the new way of bathing at first but once she discovered her toys it was love! She kept leaning over the front of the seat and splashing in the water!