But it's beach day!

We've been livin it up at the beach lately. I have a love/hate relationship with the beautiful beaches. So much fun - but I freaking hate cleaning all of the sand out of every possible area on Livy's body. Livy, however, is in LOVE with the beach. She storms out into the water like she's some sort of little mermaid who belongs in the ocean! It's so cute.

Here are the daddies with their daredevil daughters. These girls have no fear! In the second pic, you can see Livy begging to go farther and farther in the water!

Taking pics of Gabrielle is my new favorite thing. She's hilarious when she sees a camera.

Here's Cal. I don't know why but this pic makes me laugh. It's like, really Cal? This is the most fun you can have at the beach?? Ha!

Newport So Far...

So we're chillin in Newport this week - woo! We thought that the weather was going to suck, but it's been freaking awesome! Here's some pics of the cute kiddlies at work.

Livy Lou has been awesome. She's a good little traveller. She's been playing at the beach, getting tanner than Mommy, and having so much fun with her cousins! She loves following them around and trying to be a part of the fun. Her poor little eyes got sunburned - so sad. We got her some sweet sunglasses but it's hit or miss if she likes wearing them.

Here's Cal doing his thing. There's no stopping this one.

While we were outside today, Gabrielle asked me to take some pictures of her, she then proceeded with the following poses. Awesome.

We went on the ferris wheel on Balboa Island. Cal's favorite thing to say during the ride: "Daddy, I can hear you!" Livy's favorite thing to say during the ride: "Woah. Woah. Woah."

Here's Livy's "little" cousin, Jake. He's three months younger but about 5 pounds heavier and a couple inches taller! He's a freakin cute chunk!

Matt took this pic of his dad. I love it because it's the epitome of a Wiseman gathering. Rick is always settin up the timer on the camera and then running as fast as possible to get in the picture! He's quite speedy.

Here's another Wiseman vacation must have: an attempt to get these crazy kids to all sit for a pic!

Gabrielle is sleeping in our room tonight so that Cal doesn't wake her up. Here's where we created "the coolest bed ever," as Gabrielle coined it. She's in our tub. We took a bunch of sofa cushions and put them inside of it and then put pillows everywhere. It's so cute! Gabrielle's super stoked to be sleeping across from Livy.

Also, before bed tonight, Gabrielle said a prayer with Matt, Livy, and I. Here's a little snippet of it...

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Grateful for the friends we could play with today. Grateful for going to the beach. Grateful that Livy doesn't die... Amen."

Livy's Daily Routine

Destroy the apartment CHECK

Throw a tantrum CHECK

Go to one minute time out CHECK

Cuddle with Mommy CHECK

Throw another tantrum...

and the cycle repeats over and over and over again and sometimes I feel incredibly drained.

Then I keep reminding myself: being a mommy is ridiculously hard and draining - but it's so important and the reward from this as opposed to a job, money, recognition, success, or anything like that is SO MUCH GREATER.

So I'm going to keep on truckin' on...

Here's the little monster in action.

Pool Party!

Matt's brother has a pool in their backyard (thank goodness!) and so after I did a little Max photo shoot, I took some pics of Livy with her favorite cousins.

Here's Livy's newest swimsuit. I freaking love it!

The back is my favorite part.

Please! This was Livy begging her aunt for a Mike 'n Ike...

I feel like this picture captures my niece, Gabrielle's, full personality! I love it.

Doesn't their backyard look UNREAL??

Here's Cal, Livy's mentor in becoming a CRAZY toddler. He has taught her well!

Cute Little Max!

I took some pics of my cute little nephew yesterday - I still can't believe how teeny and CUTE this kid is! You really can't go wrong with a Wiseman baby.

I can't decide how I like this picture best...

color

sepia

black & white
I don't know what to call this...

Colorado = Awesomeness

Livy and I have been chillaxin in Parker with my familia and it has been pretty nice! (Besides the fact that I can't freaking sleep without Matt...bleh!) Anywho, Grandma has treated us both to an entire new wardrobe and for me, a hair cut with bangs! Woo! I haven't had my hair cut since before Livy - it was awesome. Anywho, here are some pics of Livy and my mom at the pool today. And of course, Livy is wearing one of her TWO new swimsuits, thank you Old Navy and more importanty, thank you Mom!!!

Okay, so we have a little floaty thing that she absolutely refuses to get in, but she freaking fell in love with this turtle thing, so of course, I'm stealing it!

Livy was having so much fun with Grandma!

Then I apparently got obsessed with footprints...

I title this: "I don't know what to do with my hands...?" (If you didn't get that reference, you need to go and watch Talladega Nights ASAP!) Anywho, I wasn't looking when I took this pic. Her little hands are so cute! Also, this is how she says, "Where did it go?"

My baby can't stop puking!

This cute smiling kid is so sick! It totally came out of the blue. She's barfing everywhere and has diarrhea at least once every couple hours. I seriously didn't know so much puke could come out of such a little person. Last night on our way home, she barfed everywhere and we literally had to leave her in her carseat and take the entire carseat out of the car and hose everything off, including Livers. We've just been letting her drink pedialyte and gatorade. We tried a couple bites of toast and it immediately came up. Any suggestions on how to deal with this??? We could really use your help.

My hubby ROCKS!

So I'm sitting on the couch while Livy's napping, and Matt comes home and looks at me and says, "I have a surprise for you." So I'm thinking he brought me something like Tupperware which he has loads of in his car that he always forgets to bring in. Then he hands me a Canon case, and I open it and he bought me THIS:

A flash for my camera! I just mentioned it in passing the other day - that it would be cool to have an attachable flash to take better pictures. And then completely out of the blue he buys one for me! Coolest husband ever, right!?!?!

Well, here's Livy's latest photo shoot with my new flash! There are plenty more I'm still working on...