9 months mommy???

We can't believe this little stinker is already over 9 months old. She has just matured right before our eyes. She keeps us on our toes and we love every minute of it. She had her 9 month appointment last week and here are her stats:

Weight: 19 lbs 5 oz. (75%)
Height: 27 inches (50%)
Head Cir: 44 cm. (60%)

Tatum's latest updates are:

*She LOVES to go walking with mommy or daddy's help holding her hands.
*She has almost figured out how to crawl but not quite yet, she can move herself around on her belly and push her self backwards.
*She is a champ with all her solids now. Loves oatmeal, and all her fruits and veggies except squash and green beans.
*She has been feeding herself cereal puffs, yogurt bites, and bites of string cheese.
*She has been pulling her tantrum's whenever we lay her on her back to change her diaper, putting her in her high chair to eat, and some of the time she gets mad when we set her down to play with her toys. She wants to be held and be social I guess.
*Has had more colds this winter than I can count on two hands, she gets one then passes it to me and then we are good for a week then we start it all over again.
*She has NO more blow outs!! Yahoo......don't miss those.
*Went from 3 naps in a day to 2 full naps during the day.
*Is at a hard stage with her clothes. She is too big for the 6 month stuff and too small for the 12 month stuff. I have decided that they don't make a lot of in between sizes like around the 9 month stage. Why is that??

Here she is strutting her stuff walking around the house with daddy.

She loves daddy time and I know that he loves it too.

I Finally GOT it!!!

I am a new owner of this baby!! I have been saving my money for quite some time now and I have been looking around at prices and different brand names. I am a huge fan of Canon and have already found it user friendly which is a bonus. I am so excited to learn more and to have yet another hobby. With the money I had saved plus a little help from my sweet husband for my birthday and Valentine's day gift I now own my first SLR camera. Thanks Todd!! You are the Best!!

It has been a tradition almost every Valentine's Day that I make Todd a nice candlelight dinner. We use our nice drinking glasses (pretty much only once a year) and enjoy the company, food, and atomosphere.

This is me testing out my new camera. I am still trying to learn about all the different modes and learn all the new photo lingo that comes with it. It's a little overwhelming I must say but I will only get better with A LOT of practice.
I love how cozy the fire place adds to the night.

Never a dull moment around our house.

Teddy Bear Tatum. I think I have made her plenty of beanies by now, but it's
just too much fun and she looks too cute in all of them.

Tatum has made some eventful milestones in the last few weeks.
She is 8 1/2 months and she:

*eats solids at least 2-3 times a day and has liked everything
I have given her except the green veggies. We will keep working on them.
*has her first tooth( and the other one is creeping through the gums.)
*loves eating puffs (even tried putting a few in her own mouth by herself.)
*says "da-da", "la-la," and other fun screaming gibberish.
*starting to play games with her mommy and daddy.
*is demanding more attention but still plays well by herself.
*still sleeps like a champ 12 hours through the night and is still taking 2-3 naps a day.

Yes mom, I DO love the new owl toy you made me....Thanks!!

Enough that I must drool all over it to break it in.

I loved making up a bunch of these little owl toys for gifts and such. The insides of the owl is batting and some crinkly bag stuff to make the noise that babies love.

Tatum has got the position down for crawling but hasn't succeeded yet.

Tatum loves to have her blankets over her face when she sleeps.

No more pictures mom.....PLEASE!!

She was much happier when I first started taking pictures,
it was also her bedtime so she was getting cranky anyway.

Tatum and Daddy love shooting hoops before she goes to bed every night.
Here she is setting up her shot......
(she is concentrating with her mouth wide open.)

Here comes the lay up.....
(still has the open mouth with a little drool too....that is a bonus)

She......SCORES!!!!

Tatum takes her bedtime stories seriously,
it's too cute.

Well hello there my 3 inch high comb over!!!
You look so lovely sticking straight up there like that.

So you can't really tell but Tatum has broke her first tooth in.
She has been a good sport for teething so far.

Just had to take another cute picture of the little bug.
My mom sent her this darling crochet flower......I have yet to figure out
how to make one so I can make one in every color for her. =)

Happy Valentine's Day (a week early)

I love this girl!!! She is my sweet Valentine baby.

I loved making her this sock monkey beanie.

This is the most innocent picture I have of Tatum so far.
She usually has her traditional open mouth smile but not
in this picture. I think she looks very sweet.

Mommy and "open mouth smile" Tatum!!

I love Tatum's crazy morning hair, it's the BEST!!

This picture I was trying on Tatum's shoes to
see which ones still fit and which ones need to be put away.
She had a shoe on each foot and she kicked off the boot and decided
she was done with this whole "trying on" business.

We went to COSI with a few friends on a blizzard snowy day
and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. It was nice get out
of our houses and take a break from the daily routine grind.

They have a fun water area where the kids can wear these
rain jackets and just sit and splash all the water that they want.
Tatum was unsure at first and then thought was pretty dang fun.

All bundled up for the crazy winter. This is Tatum's little
bug-eye furry friend. She sure thinks fondly of him.

She is such a big girl now just sitting up all by herself
with no help. She is really good about playing with her
toys by herself. She does have her days where she
wants to have some company and she lets us know.

Speaking of "company" this is Tatum's buddy James.
They love hanging out together and get a long so well.

Betty White, eat your heart out. You only "wish" you
had cool shades, a pink turtleneck, and a classy hat like mine.
(I think she looks like an old lady here, it's hilarious)

When will the madness end mom? Do you have to always put things on me
and then take black mail pictures?? This is mommy's shower cap by the way,
but it looks like she is a painter or chef.......what do you think?

Latest projects

If you want to see what kind of projects I have been up to lately you should check out my craft blog. Of course I am always working on some sort of project. I have "Olsen" blood running through my veins. I thank my mother for all the talents I have and what she has taught me over the years.



Happy crafting!!!

One year OLDER and WISER too!!!

What a great way to start out every NEW YEAR!!
Happy Birthday to ME on January 5th!!!

I turned the big 31 this year.
I was able to stay in Utah another week
so I could celebrate it with my family.
Nice of my brother to put all 31 candles in a bunch so
it was easier for me to blow them out. It's getting harder
to blow out more and more candles each year.

Little Tater was all tuckered out in my mom's lap.
I just LOVE her chubby thighs!!

I love this picture of her. She has the cutest little smirk on her face
as if she is thinking "I didn't do it ma, I am innocent I promise."

Practicing her rolling over and getting so good at it too!!

The party is over Tatum, we are now back to Ohio putting away all our
Christmas decorations and getting back into our routine again.
We sure miss our families and friends in Utah but we will be back again
to visit at the end of April. Until then, thanks for a fun time and for all the
spoiling you gave to our little Tater Bug, she loved everyone of you!!!

"Santa Baby"

The perfect Santa picture. Usually kids are crying when
they sit in Santa's lap but no our little happy Tatum.
She was very curious about his large beard but who wouldn't be?

All my siblings and their kiddies minus Todd and Tatum.
Todd had left for Ohio and Tatum was sleeping.

All the grand kids on my side.

All the grand kids on Todd's side with his parents.

A little snuggle from daddy.

Eating out was one of the daily activities of our trip.
Tatum was happy any day with a cup she could chew on.

All the pretty Christmas lights at the outside mall where
we got to see Santa at.

Tatum sporting her new pajamas from her Grandma Christensen.

Tatum's favorite part of presents was the wrapping paper.
She just loved the noises it made and of course the taste of it too.

Family picture by my mom's adorable Christmas tree.

My mom made Tatum this cute stitchery and framed it for
her room, it turned out so darling. Thanks mom!!

Again tasting the wrapping paper and loving every minute of it.

Trying on the Santa hat and looking pretty good too.

She loves her open mouth kisses the best!

Not sure that she likes this, what do you think?

She loved this decoration that my mom had on her table.
I have a cute video clip on it of her shaking it like crazy to hear
all the bells jingle.