Nothing matters but your smile

Today was a hard night. Dinner with a crabby girl was a bust... until we got home. We danced and snuggled and she belly laughed as I chased my little crawler around the house. All the frustration faded away and seemed so ridiculous. I know these are moments and memories I'll never forget... My beautiful baby girl... I'll do anything to keep her smiling. :)

2011 and 14 Months

Welcome 2011! It's been a while since I've posted, but we've been blessed with a great year so far!

Christmas was filled with wonder as we celebrated with our little lady. We made cookies with cousins, Megan and Matt, and celebrated in Ohio with the Marrinan clan and Grandad and Cyndi. Lily loved opening presents and especially the beautiful lights.

After Christmas, we headed off to South Carolina, but got to stop off to see the Martins, Shaffers and Zayachowskys on the way. For the first time, Quinn and Lily actually played together! In South Carolina, we got to have a photoshoot with Mandie Joy and try out some new Charleston Hot Spots, including "Baked" in this picture. A great time with family!

Now that everything's settled down, we're back to real life and it couldn't be better! Lily is growing like a weed and loves to play peek-a-boo behind any door. She also loves to play with her kitchen and play food, especially the fork. Speaking of which... She can now eat with a fork on her own! She loves cheese eggs, hot dogs and Teddy Grahams and any kind of cookie.

Lily's cruising, but no walking yet... Just waiting for those first few steps...

We're excited to see what the rest of 2011 brings. :)

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!!!