Happy half birthday

One of Liv’s favorite phrases right now is “Happy Birthday to you.”

Except she skips the “birthday” part and really puts some emphasis on the “you.”

“Happy to YOUUUUUUU!”

She says it whenever she thinks it’s appropriate, usually when there’s some type of candle or fire (she said “happy birthday” to a pizza oven at a restaurant recently) or a cake or cupcake. At the mall last week, we got some bling for her Crocs. One is a cupcake, since she loves to point to it and say “happy to you.”

At the ped

It’s so crazy to think we’re already at the 1.5 year mark.

Where is my little bald babbling squishy newborn? In her place is a vivacious, talking, running, dancing little lovebug. Every day is so much fun, even the “not so fun” ones 😉 Today we had our first official public meltdown, which is half my fault since I tried to do a quick Costco run before nap time. She got sick of riding in the cart, but it was time to pay so I told her I needed to hold her, and she started shrieking “walk! WALK! WAAAALLLLKKK!” and then let out the 5-second silent scream before the high-pitched one erupted. Good times, good times. Just an hour before that, I was thinking about how staying home with Liv feels like a lovely vacation since we’d gone on a nice walk and story time with friends. Things change by the second, that’s for sure haha.

It always makes me laugh to myself because I’ll often hear “Enjoy every moment! It’s over before you know it.”

Over? It just seems to just keep getting better and better <3

Here are some of the things Oliv is doing right now:

-Jumping. She learned how to do it this past weekend! So while she’s dancing, she’ll stop and add in a few hops for good measure.

-Talking in 2-3 word sentences. It all started a couple of months ago when she started to say “Minnie Mouse” and has grown to “Where did nana go?” It’s pretty incredible to have conversations with her and feel like she really understands. I can ask her to do something, like pick up a toy or throw something in the trash, and she gets it.

-She LOVES Minnie Mouse… her strong love for Elmo is rivaled by the rodent in the polka dot dress. I can’t wait to take her to Disneyland and meet her– she loved meeting Elmo at Sea World.

-She knows pretty much all of the body parts (even the harder ones like “eyebrow,” “elbow,” and “chin”) and we’re working on counting, ABCs and colors. I think that her classes at MyGym, story time at the library, Kindermusik and fun hanging out with her nanas has taught her so much. She really is a little sponge and I feel like she learns new things every day.

Current likes:

-Shoes

-Trying to pour the dog food out of the dog’s bowls

-Swimming (she could swim all day) and bubble baths

Swimming  1 of 1

-Dunkin’ Donuts munchkins (especially the chocolate ones)

-Books (Eric Carle and books with flaps/activities hold her attention)

-Baby dolls… always babies.

-Pretending to sneeze

-Omelets with salsa (she calls it “spicy egg”)

-Picking herbs and watering the garden with me

-Coloring and painting

Mano

Dislikes:

-Ponytails and hair clips

-Stuffed animals that move or make strange noises

-Getting her hair washed

-Being told “no, thank you.” Oh man.

Me and liv

Happy to YOUUUUUU, my amazing girl. I feel so blessed that I was chosen to be your mama.

Here’s to another incredible half year 🙂

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46 Comments

  1. Kailey on July 9, 2013 at 6:02 pm

    Cuteness overload! Happy half birthday, Liv!!!

  2. Giselle@myhealthyhappyhome on July 9, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    So cute! I definitely feel you on things changing by the second! We went to the gym today as we usually do and after just 20 minutes there was a little incident in the daycare. My little guy would not let me leave him again so workout got cancelled and plans got changed. Go with the flow has become my new motto 🙂

  3. brittney on July 9, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    That smile. 🙂

  4. Nicholle on July 9, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    Something that might help with the hair washing–the toughest part of shampooing my son’s hair was always getting him to put his head back far enough so I could rinse out the shampoo without getting any soap in his eyes. This was solved by teaching him to howl like a coyote. He liked to throw his head back and howl and got to keep doing it until all the shampoo was rinsed out. Who doesn’t like to have a good howl every now and again?

  5. Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers on July 9, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    “happy to yoooooou!” this was such a sweet post, gina. you had me smiling from ear to ear. what a beautiful little girl you have, and what a fabulous mama you are to little olivia! 🙂

  6. Sam @ Better With Sprinkles on July 9, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Such a sweet post! Liv is definitely a gorgeous little girl, and it’s been so much fun to watch her grow up!

  7. april on July 9, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    awww, this post was incredibly sweet. liv is absolutely precious and she is so lucky to have you as a mama! happy to you, liv! <3

  8. Amber Schumann on July 9, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    She dislikes ponytails and hair clips?? I would never know…her hair is always up so cute! How do you get her to keep them in? I cannot get Baylie to keep a ponytail in for ANYTHING! We had to give her the 1st haircut super early because I couldn’t keep her hair out of her eyes! So many cute bows, clips and headbands left in her closet with unfulfilled destinies 🙁

    • Fitnessista on July 9, 2013 at 6:36 pm

      I give her something to hold immediately after putting them in. If she’s distracted, she doesn’t try to pull them out. Otherwise they last 2 seconds!

  9. purelytwins on July 9, 2013 at 6:55 pm

    “happy to youuuuu!” too cute!!
    She is growing up so fast!!
    Our niece just turned 3! crazy how fast time goes by!!
    Liv is such a cutie 🙂
    HUGS
    xoxo

  10. Alison on July 9, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    Absolutely adorable! Happy to YOUUUU, Liv! 🙂

  11. Sara @ LovingOnTheRun on July 9, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    Awww Happy 1.5 year birthday to Liv!!! She is so adorable 🙂 Every moment is special no matter the age!

  12. Julie on July 9, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    She is just so precious! I love the half birthday celebration idea.

  13. Suzi @ Confessions of a Fitness Instructor on July 9, 2013 at 7:44 pm

    How is it possible she is 18 months old? My goodness, I can only imagine how fast the time has flown by for you!

  14. Miranda @ Miranda Runs on July 9, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    She’s adorable! <3 She looks so much like her momma 🙂

  15. Rebecca on July 9, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    Adorable!!!!

    haha, Max knows when we are in a drive-thru and immediately sticks out his hand thinking a donut is about to appear…..

  16. Ali @ Peaches and Football on July 9, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    Happy to YOUUUU Liv!

    Is she swimming all by herself? Couldn’t tell in the one pic of her and Tom. She is just adorable. Every kid has meltdowns – be glad you made it to the 1.5yr mark before the first public one! 😉

  17. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on July 9, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Aww Happy to You Olivia!! What a sweet post.

  18. Brittany on July 9, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    I remember that last picture from Instagram. What a cutie! She is the spitting image of her mama! Every year (or 6 months) of her life is one more year or 6 months that you and the Pilot have been parents so Happy to YOUUUUU too Tom and Gina! I have a question. How is Livi’s spanish? Do you speak it to her or does your mom and grandmother speak it to her? Are you planning to raise her bilingual?

  19. Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries on July 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm

    She is the cutest little thing! I love that you said it just keeps getting better and better. Sometimes I feel a little sad that Hunter is growing up so fast (he’s 3 months old now), but it makes me excited to know that it just keeps getting better and better! Happy Half Birthday little Olivia!

  20. Jena@21 Days on July 9, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Omg I think she made my ovaries turn on into high gear, I can’t take all the cuteness!

  21. Becca on July 9, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    I LOVE that! Too cute. My youngest just turned 1 and I’m dying at how fast time seems to be traveling.

  22. Jess on July 9, 2013 at 10:20 pm

    So sweet and clever!! Just beautiful!! I agree it just gets better and better! My girls hate things in their hair too, glad I’m not the only one who struggles with it!

  23. Pua on July 9, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    What a sweetheart! I love this age. She’s so lucky to have such a loving mama… Happy 1/2 birthday, Olivia!

  24. Mia on July 10, 2013 at 12:07 am

    So cute! Happy birthday, Liv!

  25. Ksenija @ Health Ninja on July 10, 2013 at 12:34 am

    Happy half birthday, Liv! I cannot believe that it was 1.5 years ago when your mom mentioned you on the blog, seems like yesterday (strange thing, I feel like a granny saying that 🙂 ). Stay that bubbly sweet sunshine that you are!

  26. Gwen on July 10, 2013 at 2:21 am

    Can’t even handle her cuteness! Happy half birthday Liv!

  27. Lucie on July 10, 2013 at 4:14 am

    I loooove that she said Happy Birthday to the pizza oven. Seriously, kids are just the funniest.
    And that smile! Happy to you!

  28. Simply Life on July 10, 2013 at 7:40 am

    Oh she is too cute!

  29. Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen on July 10, 2013 at 8:01 am

    Aww happy half birthday to Liv! I can’t believe how much she’s growing up!

  30. Kelly @ Femme Fitale on July 10, 2013 at 8:56 am

    Happy 18 months, little one! It’s ridiculous how quickly babies grow and change. Our baby boy will be 5 months this weekend, and I’m having a hard time processing it!

    I love your response to the whole, “Cherish every moment, they go by too quickly,” comment. People keep telling me that, and it kind of makes me anxious! It’s lovely to hear you say how every day and age keeps getting better and better! Thanks- needed that!

  31. Erica June on July 10, 2013 at 9:07 am

    She is beautiful! You are a great mom and role model and I love your posts about motherhood. You are doing a great job!!!!! xoxo

  32. Greta on July 10, 2013 at 9:29 am

    “Happy to youuuu!” is the cutest phrase ever.

  33. Beverly Aragon on July 10, 2013 at 10:23 am

    Precious, just precious! I might find myself saying “Happy to YOUUUUU!” all day 🙂

  34. Jenni on July 10, 2013 at 10:24 am

    This is the cutest post ever. I love how she doesn’t like to be told “No, thank you.” So typical! Little ones always want to give you everything, haha!

  35. FitBritt@MyOwnBalance on July 10, 2013 at 10:31 am

    She is sooo adorable! Honestly, I don’t believe she had a meltdown because she is always so smiley and cute in your photos!

  36. Ashlee@HisnHers on July 10, 2013 at 10:42 am

    So sweet! Happy 1/2 Miss Livie!

  37. LisaG on July 10, 2013 at 11:56 am

    She is soooo cuuuute; I wanna pinch her!! Hope to see her in person one day.

  38. Katie @ A Full Plate on July 10, 2013 at 12:13 pm

    So funny that she doesn’t like stuffed animals that move or make noise…I HATED those kind of toys when I was little. They really freaked me out so I feel for her! Ha!

  39. Susan on July 10, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    Omg, there so much cute in this post I can’t stand it!

    My parents got me a Teddy Ruxpin when I was really little and my Dad tells me that I was terrified of it and tried to throw it in the garbage can lol. So I understand your daughter’s fear of talking stuffed animals.

  40. Julie on July 10, 2013 at 3:13 pm

    OMG just precious! I can’t even comment on a specific part of this post ‘cuz I thought it was all so stinkin’ cute!

  41. Jacquelyn @justjacq on July 10, 2013 at 4:59 pm

    Lol she is the second kid I’ve heard of that drops off the birthday. My brother used to scream at people “it’s your happy to you!” even when it wasn’t. Party animals.

  42. Meg @ A Dash of Meg on July 11, 2013 at 9:41 am

    oh. my. goodness GINA! This post made me tear up! And I am just imagining her say Happy to YOUUUUUU! Oh I love your fam! I hope to meet you, Tom, and Liv some day <3

  43. Ilane @cultiv8health on July 11, 2013 at 11:43 pm

    It feels like yesterday that I read about your pregnancy. And then about Olivia’s birth. Now, she is 1.5 year old. Time is more than flying.
    Congratulations to all of you. The joy in your face is transparent. I am so happy for you.

  44. Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family on July 13, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Time flies! Such a cute update 🙂 Em hates hair bows and ponytails too! It “hurts her”. These kids I tell you.

  45. Jessica on July 15, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    Literally almost cried reading this! I’ve been following your blog for a long time, and what’s crazy is I got pregnant about the same time as you. I’ve been able to relate to sooo many of your posts, throughout pregnancy and now with the little one. My daughter was born February 9th last year so she is learning/doing just about all the same things as yours is and this made me wanna tear up!

    p.s. Olivia is beautiful (as you know, but who can hear that enough about their baby?)

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