The smartest girl ever!

Lily has done a lot of amazing things lately. She crawls like a champ and pulls up like a pro. She is amazing at cruising and is so fun. She does amazing things like when the dogs run to the door and bark, she crawls over and smiles and says "Dada". Yes, Daddy is home! But...the thing I'm most impressed with?! Today, she figured out how to use a straw with a bite guard! You know... Those camelbak bottles that have a straw you have to bite to get water out of... Some adults can't even figure them out... And my genius baby is using one! Just had to share... Love this girl!

Growing up so fast...

My girl is growing up so fast, I can hardly keep up. It seems like everyday is something new and exciting. Lily is crawling like crazy and I swear one night she went to sleep okay at sliding around and woke up the next morning a full blown crawler. It's so amazing. She also pulls up on everything. Her morning ritual always includes pulling up on the shelf and throwing the picture frame and photo book. So funny. She looks at me while she does it, too... And just smiles. Music is one of her favorite things in the world. Any kind of music gets her clapping and shaking and never fails to cheer up a sad girl. Lily still loves "Little People" and her other favorite toys are an old cell phone cover and a breadcrumbs can. So much for expensive toys! She's also a hungry munchkin and eats anything but fruit. Whole cheeseburgers (!!) and anything with cheese are her favorites, but she'll even eat spinach, spicy foods, mueslix... Just about anything. We've also seamlessly transitioned to sippy cups, too. The milestones are coming so fast! Such a perfect little girl. :)

Lily is 10 Months!

Lily is officially 10 months old! Time has really flown by. Day after day I see myself more and more as the mother of a toddler and no longer a baby. Both scary and exciting. Lily is doing so many great new things... army crawling everywhere, clapping, trying to pull up, saying both "Dada" AND "Mama" and her newest... pointing at things she likes (or wants).

It is such a pleasure being her Mom... we couldn't be happier! :)

My big girl

It's been forever since I've posted, so I thought I'd do a quick one with my recent favorite Lily-isms... Sleeping in her crib--yay!!! * holding her own bottle-- but only when she's in the mood * SAYING MAMA!!!! * starting to try to pull up* searching the toy bin for her favorite toy-- her Little People Santa * kicking her legs, flailing her arms and screaming when she wants something * sitting up from laying down by herself * army crawl-- she's not into moving her legs * ripping up my magazine then smiling at me * swinging on her swing * reaching out for me opening and closing her hands like I do *

So in love with this girl!!!!

Lily's 9 months!

Lily's been 9 months for almost a week now and doing great. She is an absolute delight. At her doctor's appointment yesterday, she weighed in at 18 lbs, 5 ounces- 25%.... but she seems huge to us! She rolls wherever she wants to go and is working on pulling up. She even loves to play with toys standing up, especially Little People. Rattles are so last week! ;) With her 4 teeth, she's eating everything in sight and is full of smiles. We love our growing up girl!!!

Up North 2010

2 of a kind. Lily and Daddy exhausted from their fun at Cat Lake. Lily had a great time playing with all her little friends and even going on a Jet Ski with Daddy. The best part? As always happens with the water...





Off to Traverse City next week!

Location:Mayville, MI

Lots of fun!

So much fun... I don't know where to start... so I'll start with watermelon! Is there anything more summer than that? In June, we celebrated our friend, Kyle's, graduation and Lily got her first taste of watermelon and loved it! That's not all she loves... She loves any food that we're eating. She eats crazy things-- lima beans, peppers, chicken, muffins, grilled cheese, fries... basically, if we're eating it... she has to have it... which is so much fun!

Another great summer activity for Lily... going to the beach. This girl has been to the beach more than the average adult! She went to Isle of Palms in early June and then got to go to the beach in Lake Orion with Cousin Matt (in the picture... Lily LOVES him!!!). We can't forget that she's been to DGC a million times with Aunt Al (who we'll talk about later) and Grand Haven the last week in June with Mommy and Daddy. This week, Lily's going up north with us (pictures to follow, I'm sure) and then in two more weeks, we'll be traveling to Traverse City. Are we lucky, or what?!

 New activity... playing in the grass! (She finally likes it. :) )

Aunt Alex--- We have to take a moment to mention that we had to say goodbye to "Aunt Alex" yesterday. Alex has been a friend of mine since childhood (I actually babysat her, can you believe it?) and has been such a great friend and support system to me... especially since I've had Lily. Alex started coming over every Tuesday (and more when she was in town) when I got pregnant and kept it up all 8 months of Lily's life. Alex is moving on to bigger and better things in NY but we will miss her tons!

And finally... Lily turned 8 months old today. My goodness, my baby is getting big. We are so proud of her and couldn't love her more!

A day at DGC

Summer is definately here and what could be better than enjoying it in the sun. So... When Alex invited us for a family outing to the pool at DGC, it was a no-brainer.

We started out our day with a little lunch... Aka...Lily crying until I shared all of my signature pool burger with her. Such a little chubber. :)

Next, we went in the baby pool and Lily met a friend, 1.5 year old Rachel. Lily loved Rachel and just kept watching her. We think she was trying to figure out how Rachel could do all those big girl things. Lily loved the fact that she could stand (holding on) in the baby pool and had a great time splashing. By the time we were getting out, Lily was falling asleep on Alex's shoulder and took a nice nap on her lap. (Rob got a nap, too!)

We hope Lily loves swimming as she gets older and it's so fun to see a little glimpse of what one day might be a favorite activity.

Happy Summer!

Lily's Sitting!!!

Exciting news! Lily is officially sitting up. She's not great at it, but I'm sure she'll be an old pro in no time.

Bonus... She went underwater a bunch today, too.

Such a big girl!


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Best. Week. Ever.

This post would not be complete unless I stated the obvious (I clearly get it from my Dad). We are blessed. I can honestly say that this was one of my favorite weeks in my life. Lots of great family time and memories made. A few favorite moments:

• Lily now takes a pacifier= break for Mom
• Lily falling asleep to the white noise of the waves
• The cutest girl on the beach
• Family pictures
• The sloppy smile of Lily's food covered face (and belly, and toes, and hair...)
• Lily now eats table food including fish and a slice of tomato
• Waking up to my husband and little girl snuggling
• Lunch at the pavillion with Rob and Lil (When I was pregnant and struggling, Rob used to always tell me to picture that moment...)
• A date with my fabulous husband
• Walking around Charleston (Getting Lost Dog wine and especially swinging on the porch swings on the pier!)
• The deck at Morgan's Creek
• Nightly games
• Fabulous Friends and Family (Dad, Cyndi, Lewie, Alysia, Carolyn, Joanie and Jeff)
• Joanie and I's encounter with the snake... Not so much ;)

Sad to be back to real life, but glad that real life's so great. :)

Lily's First Beach Adventure

Day 3 of the beach and we're having so much fun! Today was our photo shoot and it was great. We started out with crazy wind, but Mandie got some really cute pics. Lily loves to be outside feeling the sun and listening to the surf. More later...

Lily's 6 month appt.

So crazy! My baby went to her 6 month appt. today (although, actually she's almost 6.5 months old...craziness). Her measurements:

• Weight: 15.12 lbs (25%)
• length: 26.25 (50%)
• head circum: 43 (50%)

So... She is a bitty thing... weight-wise... But is doing great. She's rolling from tummy to back and loves to play with toys on her tummy. She also loves to put her toes in her mouth... Haha. She's getting close to sitting up, loves to stand with help, babbles constantly and has two adorable teeth. She's also eating baby food and even ate pieces of Mac 'n Cheese (homemade by Grammy) this weekend and loved it. We couldn't be luckier. Lily is the sweetest, most fun little girl and we love her to pieces!

We're Going to the Zoo...

GeoTagged, [N42.53378, E83.12063]

Such a great day. Our new fav field trip? The zoo! My little Joey gets toted around in our baby bjorn (love it!!) and gets to meet all the animals. Really, I think the animals are more for me, but after a few hours at the zoo, Lily's always ready for a nap... which these days is a gift. ;) We love going with friends and have had such a great time. Bonus... Lily had such a great nap after the zoo that she happily ate green "beaners" for dinner tonite. Yay!!! That's all for now. :) Thanks for reading!

We're Back....

Hi Friends and Family!



After a ridiculously long time of not updating this blog (all of Lily's life... oops!)... we're back!!! For those of you who have missed these pictures (I'm assuming the non-facebook-anites), here's a little catch up:

November 1, 2009 the most beautiful girl in the world (we think) was born (All Saints Day)!!

Stats: 8 lbs, 2 ounces, 20 1/4 inches

She had a bit of jaundice when she got home, but nothing that a little bit of sun couldn't clear up. (Future beach babe, here we come! :) )

Lily - 1 month

Stats: 8.5 lbs, 21 inches

Lily has had awesome head control since she came home and loves to snuggle.

Lily- 2 months

Stats: 10 lbs 6 ounces, 22 1/4 inches

1st Smile

Lily (and Daddy)- 3 months (and 37 years)

Stats: 11.5 lbs

1st Slept through the night (such a tease... not anymore!!!)

Lily- 4 months

Stats: 13 lbs 1 ounce, 24 3/4 inches

1st Laughed out loud 

Lily- 5 months

Stats: 15 lbs

Started eating food- hates rice cereal, loves squash

Now you're all caught up and we promise we'll send them more often. Thank you so much to all of you that have been such a big part of Lily's life!