Dear Olivia,

So I took my days off and tried to work on the sleeping thing. The first day I tried to make it work I made sure to give you naps every 1 1/2-2 hours you napped fine. But your last nap ended at like 6. Well by the time I was able to get you in bed it was 9:30. I think you were overly tired by that point because you just screamed and screamed every time I put you down. I think if I could've gotten you in bed on time it would have worked out. I am just super frustrated because I'm working so much overtime I don't have the chance to get you on a good schedule. I just feel so lost on what to do. I don't want you to be a sleep deprived baby all your life! I guess I'll just keep trying to find a schedule that works. Wish me luck beautiful girl!

Love,
Mom

Dear Olivia,

I love you my child. You are adorable and sweet and I just love you to pieces. With that said however, you are SO demanding. You insist on being held 24/7! You cry the minute you are out of our arms. But then we pick you up and you immediately are fine. This makes it super impossible to get anything done. Then of course when you let us put you down your brother insists on sitting on you or climbing on you or putting his fingers down your throat. Maybe that's why you insist on being held all the time! ;) On top of all of this you do not sleep well. Night times you do okay. It takes a long time to get you to sleep but then you only wake up once or twice a night for which I am grateful! But you are not a good napper during the day. You take like 15 minute naps. Miraculously the other day you took a 2 hour nap! And you were sleeping in your crib! It was a miracle and I was shocked at how much I was able to get done. I love you my Livvy girl! You are worth all the hard work.
Love,
Mom

Dear Olivia,

I can't believe I didn't write you a letter the minute it happened. You have started rolling over! I think I'm in denial about how old you are. I keep thinking you are much to young to do these things but here you are! Rolling and laughing! I can't even believe it! First all you could do was roll from your stomach to your back. I was pleased with that and thought it would be a long while before you rolled from back to stomach. But you my little dear are always surprising your Mom. Like 3 days later you rolled from your back to stomach! I was amazed. You roll all the time from your back to stomach now. Actually you get stuck like that most of the time. You seem to forget that you can roll back to your back. You just arch your body and scream your head off till I finally roll you back.

Speaking of rolling... Yesterday I had you laying on the bed and I may have forgotten that you knew how to roll now. I heard the thud and immediately knew what happened. You cried so hard and I cried with you apologizing over and over again for being so stupid. Even though you are my second kid it sure as heck doesn't make me perfect! :(

I want to thank you. Tonight I came home from work for a break and you just smiled and smiled at me. I loved every second of it! Bently never has been super attached to us (your dad and I). At least not until recently. But you are. You are most happy when one of us is holding you and smile for us the most! You sure make us feel loved and important!

Love,
Mom

Dear Olivia,

Last year I took Bently up the road to Mueller Park to walk around in the leaves. It was October and everything was so beautiful. I remember having a hard day that day. I was so ready to have our next baby. But I decided to focus on just enjoying Benlty. I tried, but I'm not sure I succeeded. I never want you to doubt how wanted and loved you are. You were seriously a miracle in my life. You brought with you so much happiness and hope for your Dad and I. This year I went to the leaves again. With both of my beautiful children. I couldn't help but be truly and completely happy. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you my Livvy girl! You are such a cutie. I am continually grateful for you!
Love,
Mom

Dear Olivia,

Yesterday you had your first trip to intacare and it was all my fault. I was trying to readjust you while nursing and I pulled on your arm. I heard a pop and you started to scream! I knew immediately what I had done and felt so bad! So off we rushed to instacare. Thank goodness they weren't busy. The took us right back and popped your elbow back into place. I hated that I had caused you to be in pain! It was awful and I had to stop myself from crying. I felt like the world's worst mother. I'm just glad my baby girl is okay now!

On a happier note yesterday marks the one year from when we found out we were having you! I took the fateful pregnancy test on 11/5/12. I am so grateful I have you baby girl! You are seriously one of the best things that has ever happened to me! You make me smile every single day. I love you more than you will ever be able to understand!

Love,
Mom