It is with much excitement that I bring you this next post.

2 words… Dominican Republic.

AKA heaven.

Yes, you can be jealous.

This was seriously the best vacation… like of all time. For many reasons:

babies

even better when they are naked beach babies

quality family time... I can't get enough

dear friends

dear RaRa and aunt Jess

beach

ocean

palm trees

hot tubs (for 4 nights anyways) and personal pools

family dinners

strollers used as highchairs? of course! we are so inventive

embracing high humidity hair... and rockin' it!

date nights with my love

beer, liquor, wine and mimosas: a vital necessity for a beach vacation

Sandy, the best butler this side of the equator. I mean he says my baby is "too smart"!

creepy dolls that kept me up at night obsessing over the "return of chuckie"

impromptu golf course picnics

Race cars disguised as golf carts, speedometers and ‘oh shit’ handle bars included.

DEET cancer. Hey, it is better than malaria!

and the most bad ass villa you have ever laid eyes on.

Yes... that is a palm tree growing in the middle of our living room. Awesome, right?

All of this and the friends that make it literally the most special place on earth.

It was so special that hurricane Irene paid us a visit. She had also heard the Dominican was a little slice of heaven.

We were scared… terrified in fact. Terrified that we would be stranded without wine. Priorities people.

There was a TON of laughter, a couple of tears, and some great late night poolside chats. Have I mentioned these are the greatest people on earth?

Friends for life? Absolutely!

So, who is jumping on the Dominican bandwagon? It does not disappoint my friends!

XOXO,

MamaT

18 months

Wait! What? I have an 18 month old? Say it isn’t so!

After I was finished wiping away my tears and agonizing over how time really is flying I went out and bought a potty. Interesting.

Well, I figured that I need to relish in the fact that my infant is turning into a toddler and enjoy her instead of working on a way to make time stand still.

And what better way to celebrate the beginning of potty training? Olivia celebrated by putting the potty on her head. Clearly we have some work to do.

I really cannot believe how much she is growing… EVERY.DAY.

She knows exactly what she wants and she knows how to get it. No, we are not wrapped around her finger. ☺

“Up” with her tiny outstretched arms and sly smile and “mama peas” (aka please) as she asks for my phone repeatedly. Oh, and there is nothing like “PEAS” as she is beating her chest (sign for please) and crying because you refuse to hand her the kitchen knife you are using to cut her fruit.

She is becoming quite the little mama. I frequently find babies nestled into the crook of her neck as she buries her sweet cheek into their back. Melted. Then, she starts to gently “pat-pat” their little bottom. Wow, now she has really has me. Hook.line.and.sinker.

Putting 2 words together? Check. Her favorites are “mo mama” (more mama), “doe-wee” (love you), “nigh-night ee-ah” (night night Olivia), “bye bye daddy/mama” and “shhhh bo-bo” (shut the hell up Benson). Maybe I embellished on that last one.

Paci? It is a goner. I wont mention the fact that I needed the paci for myself during those 3 horrendous days that seemed like 3 years. She won’t remember but that is a deep scar in my memory.

She blows her own bubbles and thinks it is the greatest thing ever. We are working on not eating the bubble wand. Baby steps people.

Clipping her nails, brushing her hair and brushing her teeth are just a few of her favorite activities. She "do it" and she do it well.

This chick can do things to the T.V. that I cannot undo. Fans? She can turn the light on and set the fan speed according to your request. She is the master of the universe and the remote control.

OH, and looking at the world though your own legs is way under-rated. You should try it. She has got this “hand-stand” thing down, I think we are on to something here.

The pointing game has become our favorite activity. You name it... she will point to it. The biggest scrunched face smile sweeps across her face as you cheer like a fool when she nails it. Then she starts to clap for herself and I am a goner.

“Me-mo”(Elmo), “bird”, “teet-teet” (tweet-tweet), “whee” (wheel), “nandal” (sandal), “poo-poo”, “dah-bab-boo” (W), “hiney”, “no-no”, “wow-wee” (owie), and “ut-oh” are just a few of her new words this week. She can pretty much repeat any word you ask her too... including the ENTIRE alphabet. Yep, she is a genius.

Counting? Done. Well up to 5 anyways. My favorite is “tree” (three) and she like to show her 2 as a gun. We are working on this texas tech way of doing things. I think the hook-em is a much more appropriate way of displaying the 2.

She is also learning to share and is actually quite good at taking turns, how precious is that? She waits patiently as she says “peas” with her hand ready and waiting. If you ask her “Is it Olivia’s turn?” she quietly replies “Yes”. But don’t let her ask you more than once, then it is not quite as angelic. Get with the program mama.

In case you don’t already know, I have the coolest little person on the planet. This is the most amazing ride. EVER.

XOXO,

MamaT