A Fun Filled Weekend

Since last weekend was our big trip to Des Moines, I thought I'd do a quick picture post to let everyone know how it went. Gram and Gramps followed us down and Livi took turns riding with each of us. This made the 2 ½ hour car ride a lot easier! We also made frequent potty stops (which broke-up the ride) since our big girl exclusively wears underpants now (except through the night. She did excellent!

We arrived at the hotel right around supper time. We got a two room suite, which Olivia loved! First she had to try out each bed and decide which one was the best for jumping on; Then she ran to the kitchen, getting into all the cupboards and emptying out the pots and pans. This was fine by me, for once I didn't have to pick it all back up!


After getting settled in, we headed over to Texas Roadhouse for some grub. Liv loved seeing the waiters dance around and clapped her hands right along with them! I wish I would have got some pictures of this...After we were done we came back to the hotel for a swim and got ready for our busy morning.

When we woke-up it was raining...We waited it out a bit and by the time Adventureland opened it had pretty much cleared off. The park wasn't very busy for most of the morning. We thought people were probably waiting to see what the weather would do. This made waiting in line a breeze!
First we rode the train, definitely a family favorite. After that, the Ferris wheel and then the tea cups. The Ferris wheel made Mama a little queasy (must be the pregnancy), so Daddy and Gramps took Liv on the tea cups. When they first started spinning I was a little worried. They looked like they were going so fast (and Steve attested to it)! This is when we discovered Miss Livi-Pie has no fear (besides white coats and green scrubs)! No matter what ride it was; If they'd let her on it, she'd ride it!


Another favorite was the Carousel. Here is her and Gramps going for a pony ride.


Each time they would spin by, Olivia would vigorously wave. We couldn't believe how much fun she was having and thought it was so sweet the way she kept waving at us!


However...We soon discovered it wasn't us she was waving at...

As soon as she was done on the carousel she ran over to see “Pluto.” This was who she was so excited to see!

Olivia loved the ladybugs. She wants to take her baby brother back to Adventureland after he's born so he can ride the red one and she can ride the green.


I don't think this child quit smiling for 12 hours straight. Just look at her face in these pictures...It's priceless. After all she's been through, this is what she deserves!








After a good six hours our little Livster was starting to get a bit tired. We also had Dreamnight at the zoo in a couple of hours, so we packed it up and headed to the hotel. By the time we arrived, Liv was already fast asleep. Steve carried her in and laid her down. She surprisingly didn't wake-up so we knew she must be tired. At about 5:30pm we woke her up and headed to Blank Park Zoo for Dreamnight.


We ran into a few other heart families we know as well as a few princesses Liv recognized!


“Hey, look Daddy! It's Salty the seal!”


In addition to crafts, food, animals, and characters...they also had live music! Here's Livi dancin' a jig on Daddy's shoulders.


And I believe her favorite part....petting a baby goat!


Dreamnight was over at 8:00pm, so we headed back to the hotel to visit and relax after our big day. In the morning we headed to Living History Farms. We figured Livi would love seeing the animals.


She chased around the chickens...


Used a printing press...

Posed for a few adorable pictures...


And convinced some helpless young girls to let her play a 200 year old organ...


Surprisingly, one of Olivia's favorite things to see was The Flynn Mansion. She loved that house. Maybe it was the fact that she also had the girls in this house wrapped around her little finger. At one point, I made my way upstairs to where Livi and Gram were only to find Olivia sitting in one of the Flynn daughter's rooms playing with a porcelain tea set from 1872. I thought to myself, “Please God, don't let her break that!”

After the farms we were all pretty tired. We grabbed a bite to eat at The Machine shed and made our way home. It turned out to be a perfect weekend. Livi had the time of her life. I know it really warmed mine and Steve's heart's to see her smiling so much and having such a great time. Thanks for helping us make this weekend possible Gram and Gramps. We love you! And thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers...and for checking in on us.

Baby Spencer

I wanted to do a quick post to let you all know how our day in IA City went. We arrived mid-morning and started off with our ultrasound. The sonographer took the proper measurements and said everything looked right on. She said the baby was having no problems eating and even said the babies tummy was plenty big, measuring in the 90th percentile! She tried to take a look to see if baby was a boy or girl, but was having a hard time since their foot was right in the way. After a few minutes she found what she was looking for...We were having a baby boy! Next she thoroughly checked over baby's heart.
“There are four beautiful chambers,” she said.
Those were the most wonderful words we could have heard today! We were having a baby boy with a beautiful healthy heart!


Here's Baby Boy with his feet tucked back by his bottom. Aren't they cute?!


Here's a profile pic of baby boy. Notice that belly?

After the ultrasound we met with Dr. Hunter, our high risk OB. He felt things looked great, but would like to do another ultrasound at 28 weeks. Once we were done there, we had a break for lunch, then met with Cardiology for the fetal echo. They spent about 30 minutes checking over every inch of the heart and confirmed that things looked great! Once we left the hospital we called to tell Olivia the big news. It was truly a wonderful day.

After we got home I went outside to check on my plants since we had been gone all weekend. I found my rose bush to be full of buds. I clipped them and brought them inside to enjoy. After I arranged them I noticed the vase they were sitting in. How fitting.


We truly are blessed. We've got an amazing little girl who has shown us what truly matters in life. We have also been blessed enough to be expecting our 2nd child, a healthy baby boy. Praise The Lord.

And The Kick Off Begins!

Well, it looks like the kick off to summer has officially begun. You know what that means...It's time to put on your running shoes 'cuz Miss Livi-Pie is now on the, “Go! Go! Go!” Hey, that's all right...We're not complaining. After being cooped up most of the winter we're ready for some action. As you'll be able to tell from this update, my camera is also getting plenty of action again! Ha! It seems like during the summer months we have a lot more to take pictures of.
I had a great mother's day. We spent most of the day relaxing together as a family. Liv and Daddy made peanut butter bars for me. They were delicious!


I also spent mother's day weekend photographing my first wedding. Whew...that was exhausting! But, the pictures turned out really well and the family was pleased. That's all that mattered to me. In fact, I've started a blog to post some of my photographs on. If you want to check out the pictures please click below (and remember, this blog is still under construction) Spencer Signature Photography

Aunt Bree flew in from Mt Rainier (Yes, she left TX for the summer and is now working here) a few weeks ago for a college friend's wedding. Livi sure enjoyed getting to spend some time with her. I know they were both a bit sad to say goodbye. It was good seeing you Auntie Bree! Hope to see you at Christmas or before!




We've also been busy with our play dates once again. We had Ellie and Heidi over for some fun in the sun a few weeks back. The girls played so well together. We didn't have any fighting over toys, whining, or, clinging to Mama. Honestly, I don't think they could get enough of each other. They were walking around holding hands, squeezing into the same coupe, and giggling like crazy!




Last week when we saw the girls we made another trip to Old MacDonald's Farm (Yes, I say another because we also took Livi a few days before with Daddy!). As many of you may remember, Liv had me taking her there quite a bit last summer as well!
















We've also been enjoying our time together outside. Liv and I spent an entire afternoon potting flowers one day! Now she loves coming outside to help me water them. She's quite the little helper.




Livi also met a new friend while watering the plants up front!


Therapy has been going very well. She has a lot of fun with Melissa, but she's also becoming “used” to her. Lately, if Melissa wants Liv to use her left hand and she doesn't feel like, she'll tell her, “No, I don't want to!” Luckily, Melissa can convince her otherwise. But it was surprising to hear her say no to her beloved Melissa for the first time! Today Livi was able to string 10 beads in therapy! We were all so proud of her!


Check out this adorable little train we found on the first floor. You'd think after spending over 100 days in this hospital and coming here every week for therapy, we'd have seen it before!

She's also become quite the phonics guru. We learned a new ABC song that practices the sound of each letter. Now she will run around the house doing it to everything she sees! “Hanger...H H H....Mama...M M M...Flower..F F F.” It's quite adorable, not to mention impressive. Olivia's memory of where we're at has also surprised me lately. The other day we were driving past Pizza Hut (Where she's been maybe twice in her life) and she says, “There's Pizza Hut.” Then, just the other day, we were driving home and went past the pharmacy (Where we hardly ever go in since they deliver our stuff)...Sure enough, Liv says, “That's where we get my meds.” Little smarty!

Livi has also found a new favorite snack...Butter! Yep. At least it's high in calories, right!



I was at a garage sale not too long ago and found this adorable little vanity. I of course had to buy it for Liv. I stocked it up with some old make-up and a brush. Let me tell you, this has brought quite a few smiles to Miss Livi-Pie's adorable little face (and to mine)! She sat down on her stool the first day and said, “I get ready just like Mama.” Gram told me another day she opened up her compact and said, “Look at my beautiful blue eyes!” Ha! How cute is she?!



Although...one day she found some of my old 1996 bright blue eyeshadow and got a little wild with it!


On Saturday Daddy had to work so we had a girls day basking in the sun! As you know, Liv LOVES the water. She couldn't get enough of her little pool!


Daddy had his first day off in awhile on Sunday, so we had a family day and went to Cricket Hollow Zoo (Another summer favorite!).




Speaking of the zoo....We received a special invite from the university and The Children's Miracle Network to attend “Dreamnight” at Blank Park Zoo on Saturday. They had a dinner, exotic animals, train rides, face painting...the whole sha-bang! This is an event for patients of the University Of Iowa Hospital and their Families. We actually went to Des Moines this weekend with my parents for Livi's first trip to Adventureland and Living History Farms, so we thought we'd squeeze this in too! I'll post pics later in the week!

On Monday Steve and I will be heading to IA City for our first ultrasound and fetal echocardiogram. Please pray that baby's heart looks healthy and we hear nothing but good news. I'll post the results as soon as I can.

Take Care
The Spencers