CLICK HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES »

Monday, December 15, 2008

A few new pictures of Lili

Lili's first time in snow, and she is with Sophia (in the white coat).
Trying to make a snowball (mind you, the 'snow' is man made and on a lush green lawn in a Phoenix subdivision).
Lili and Sophia hugging before they see Santa
Lili playing at the park.
Lili playing in the water in the sink.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Lost moments to cherish

Lili is my world. Her happiness is my greatest joy, her sadness is my defeat. She smiles and I melt.

I try very hard to remember all of the cute, fun, sweet times because I know this stage won't last long. I already miss my little baby girl. She hasn't been a baby in so long it seems. I miss the way I could hold her and she would nestle herself into me and fall asleep.

She is at a cool stage though. If you ask for a kiss or a hug, she will...as long as Blues Clues isn't on. She will pick up toys, or her milk if you ask her too. If she makes a mess she tries to clean it up. Watching her grab a paper towel and come back with the whole roll attached is quite amusing. Or watching as she grabs the Dust Buster to clean up her spilled Cheerios. If only she could turn it on.

She gives the best hugs. She will wrap her arms around my neck, lay her head on my shoulder, start patting my back and saying "Aw". I just have to squeeze a bit harder and longer when she does that.

But I still miss the purity of her being a baby. She would lay in my arms and study my face. She would curl up her lips and try to smile when I talked to her. She was a warm little body to cuddle with while I fed her. I could sing to her and she would watch me, fascinated. She'd cry but she knew I would come running. I couldn't ever let her cry it out. It killed me to listen to her so miserable.

Now she is walking and talking (sort of). She's even showing signs she is ready to potty train. I won't have that anymore. My husband thinks I hate changing diapers, and I don't. I hate climbing the stairs after a long day to do it. Especially since she MUST walk up them herself. Not crawl up anymore. Walk. Upright holding the banister that she is now taller than.

She is not even 2 years old yet and she is a big girl. She is a tall, skinny, freaking genius. She figures everything out. She knows what everything does. She watches us and learns so she does it right the first time she tries. She hates it when she can't figure something out on her own. She is stubborn. She is brilliant.

I am mad at myself for not enjoying my morning with her more. Our neighbors had a party and kept me up until 2am, even with 2 calls to the police and repeated attempts to get them to shut up (I should have shredded that little shits motorcycle tires with my best knife, but I resisted). So when I got up this morning and she was up as well, I got stressed out. I was tired and wanted to veg out until I had to leave, but I was thrust into Mommy mode. I should have relished that time with her, but I didn't.

I got in the car feeling like I'd missed out. And I had. I took something beautiful and got bitchy about it. I so rarely get to see her before I go to work and then miss her all day. I should have kissed her more this morning. I should have chased her around the living room. I should have played the "oh no Mommy is gonna get me" game in the crib this morning.

Instead I got frustrated, took her out, changed her diaper, took her downstairs and let her do her own thing.

I did enjoy our eating eggs together. I did enjoy her playing in the sink as I got ready. But I should have relished in all of it. I have so few of these days with her this little, at this stage, and even wanting to be in the same house as me.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Lili's First Experience with Caribbean Jerk Chicken

After a wonderful day hanging out with Deanna and Madison, Matt, Lili and I came home. On the way, we stopped at Buffalo Wild Wings where Matt got his favorite Caribbean Jerk Chicken wings. Spicy and hot, my friends. I hate them. I like spice, but not the habanero spice that is in these things.

Well, Lili being the ridiculously curious child she is decided that while daddy was two-fisting these wings she would grab one for herself. This is after at good 2 or 3 minutes of being told 'no', mind you. She grabs the wing, runs away from Matt's grasp and takes a bite. I laughed because I knew what was coming, and because I was too far away to stop it. And after the afternoon of her sliding down slides to big for her against my wishes, I felt this lesson was a lot easier to learn by experiencing it. I get very few parental 'I-told-you-so' moments that don't actually involve her getting hurt, falling down or breaking something that I felt it was ok to let it happen.

Her eyes watered and she starts blinking a lot. Then she comes to me with her tongue out trying to get me to wipe the hot off her tongue. Cutest thing ever. Tears streaming down her face, she's ready to cry. I had to force her to drink milk, which did help. But silly baby put her fingers back in her mouth.

After we finally got her to wash her hands and drink some more milk, she was fine. But I will carry the memory of her first real spice experience forever. I wish I had a camera at the ready.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Baby is Sick

Watching Blue's Clues Transfixed

She actually laid down on the couch. She must be ill.

Lili and her "Get Better" bear. She didn't let it go for hours.
___

My little sweet Bug (Lili Bug, that is) is sick. So am I, but that is beside the point. Poor baby has a head cold, congestion and the start of an ear infection. She's coughing, miserable and not sleeping.

She woke up at midnight last night and kept Matt up until 4am. She had a coughing fit and she was wired.

She's finally asleep. The doctor gave her antibiotics (she made it 20 months without them, yea) and has us give her a dose of Benedryl before bed. I hope she sleeps. She needs it.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Pictures


Lili didn't like the way things were in her drawers so she "redecorated" them yesterday.


She is just a doll, isn't she? Such a poser!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Not again...

She locked him out...AGAIN! This time, thankfully, I had changed the lock sets, distributed keys to everyone in the family (so we know Matt will always have his on his key ring), and got the rock to hide one in. He had his key and got in no problem.

She locked the bottom lock this time, too. I am so thankful we got the new lock sets and installed them. I'd be breaking a window about now to get inside to her.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Great Outdoor...Patio



Love-bug Lili loves her patio. I need to get some outdoor carpet for her. Since we have no grass and no way to grow any, she needs something with a little cushion. She is quite accident-prone as of late.

Her little knees look like she has liver spots. She keeps looking at the sky as she walks and trips. And she's had a few imaginary banana peel moments. I think she catches her self before her head hits full force, but it still hits. And she hates ice on her boo boos.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Locks and a new anxiety...

There was a time in my life when it didn't matter that I did not have a key to the bottom lock of my front door. That all changed this morning with a call from my husband, on my neighbors' cell phone, announcing the need for me to get home because Lili had locked herself in the house.

Matt took Jr (my sister's dog) out front for a quick constitutional, and in that amount of time, Lili locked the screen door. Top lock, thank God! This is a feat in of itself. That lock is a bit of a hassle. You must pull the door knob, jiggle it as you turn, etc. But Lili managed to get it locked with little effort.

And what is amazing is that this is the one day in 4 years Matt has not had a house key on his key ring. Kyla took his last night so she could let Jr in this morning on her way to work (her roommate is moving in today and the four-legged love sponge needed to be out of the way). He had his keys with him, but no house key. And no phone.

I was in Downtown Phoenix when I got the call. I raced home, paniced. I knew Matt was there, but what can he do with a locked security door between him and her? Thoughts of every horrible nature popped into my head. We currently have 2 couches in our house, so I envisioned her climbing the one that is replacing our old on, getting on the table, the freezer or the island and falling, stabbing herself, or just plain getting hurt.

I don't know how I got home so fast, or how I managed to do it without killing myself or anyone else. I hope there were no speed cameras around because I'll be getting tickets for sure if there were.

She is fine, but she was crying when I got there. She couldn't understand why Daddy wouldn't come in the house. I swooped her up in my arms and hugged the dickens out of her...and then started crying uncontrollably for about 10 minutes.

I have always suspected I was becoming my mother. Now I have the proof.

Kyla and I are going tonight to get new locksets for ALL of the doors. I don't want the next time she does this to be with the little twisty locks on the door knobs, the ones I mentioned before that I DO NOT have a key for. Then I'm storing extras in strategic locations around the damn house and in the cars for just such an emergency.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

A few new pictures

This is Lili occupying herself at a children's store with the movie "Ratatouille". I must say the thought of rats cooking dinner makes me never want to eat again. Bleck. But she liked the music.

This is Lili in her new Princesses Chair that she picked out. I pushed for the Tinkerbell one (that is purple and green and not a spec of pink), but I lost the battle. Sigh...

To the best of my knowledge this is the first time Lili has ever been on a ride at a store. This is obviously Dino, at it is as the Toys R Us near the house when we got her Princesses Chair.


She was far more enthused with the ATV than picking out furniture. I have a feeling something like this will be under the tree this Christmas.

Her new favorite past time...Sled Dad races in the living room. That is her leash/backpack thing hooked to it.

I think this is self-explanitory. She did this all by herself.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

19 Months Ago Today...

Today Lili is 19 months old.

My little Lili Monster has gone through a lot in a short about of time. Difficult labor/delivery, a (short, thankfully) stay in the hospital, the dog attack and subsequent surgery,a couple of colds, vaccines, skinned knees, several bonks to the head, and her first car trip.

She has gone from a little lump of love, to rolling over, to sitting on her own, to standing on her own, to walking on her own and now to running on her own. She's learning to talk, to eat like a big girl, and she even gives you her feet when she sees the socks and shoes come out (albeit usually the wrong foot for the shoe you are holding up).

She relishes bath time, play time, her alone time, using the slide at the park by herself, and any chance she has to harass the dogs in our family (Jr., Punky and now Foxy).

She hates to be told no. She cries if she doesn't get her way or if you won't get up and follow her when she wants you to.

She wants to feed herself, she turns on the bathroom faucet by herself, pushes things under the light switches so she can stand on them and flip the switches to her hearts content, as well as the washing machine and dryer (and usually when they are empty). She climbs the stairs by herself. She bounces in her crib. She grabs books and reads.


She's had personality from day one. She is going to be this independent little imp for the rest of her life. She will work to get her way no matter the situation, which can be both good and bad. She will have goals and accomplish them all because she wants to. She'll figure out any problem, situation, or road block that comes her way.

She has a heart as big as she is. She has a smile that is even bigger and can light up a whole room. Her laugh makes my heart skip a beat. When she wraps those adorable little fingers around my hand, I melt into a puddle of mom goo.


She's the light of my life and becoming her mother has been one of the single greatest experiences of my life. My baby grows and changes everyday. She learns a new word every day. It is exciting to be a part of this journey she is on. And I can't believe I am so blessed to have a healthy, happy, and wickedly intelligent child.

She is my "Little Wonder". Every time I hear this song I think of her. Here it is for all of you to enjoy.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Back from Sedona



We had a great time. Lili most of all...provided she was not in her car seat. She loved running around Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. But the moment you tried to put her back in car seat the screaming started.

Matt & Lili at Slide Rock State Park
Lili appreciating public art by climbing on it and playing on it.


She did not like the drive up once we hit the peak at I-17 before Camp Verde. Her first ear pressure popping experience. Not fun, but she did get a Happy Meal for her pain and suffering.

Getting her Happy Meal

We were unable to get a larger hotel room, so poor Lili got to sleep in her pack n play in the bathroom. In all fairness we tried it in the room and she just kept poking Matt in the head and pulling his hair. No one got sleep the first night, causing a bit of stress on my part the next, but all is better now.
Lili falling face first into some flowers she was trying to sniff. I laughed, yes, but it was funny and she didn't cry.


We did come home a day early, but it is all good. Lili is now nestled in her crib sound asleep and Matt and I are watching Family Guy while I upload pictures.

And now for some nature pictures ...



Sunday, October 19, 2008

Lili at the Park today















Thursday, October 16, 2008

Pictures of Lili

Hi All,

Sorry it has been so long since I blogged about the munchkin. Things have been very busy around here preparing for Zoo Walk on Saturday. Plus the exciting Holiday Book Drive for the St. Peter's Indian Mission School that is coming into play here REALLY soon. I will post more on that later.

I've got a bunch of pictures of the Lil-meister for you to enjoy.

She loves to feed herself now (and notice the beautiful new color on the wall that Matt painted as a surprise).
This is what Lili does in the mornings. She gets her milk and her cheerios, cuddles on the couch and watches the Sprout Channels Sunny Side Up Show with Daddy before starting her day of running around, climbing, running around, screeching at the top of her lungs, running around, eating, running around, sleeping, running around, making a mess, running around, helping Matt unload the dishwasher or sort laundry, running around, and greeting me at the door. Busy busy day!
See above description :-D
This is her REALLLLYYYY missing her mouth. She thought this was hilarious. Then Matt made Mohawk out of it (after he stopped laughing) and I had to wash her hair 3 times before it all came out.
And this was tonight. She used the spoon for awhile, but then, as you can see, she switched to using her whole hand. Quite messy but hilarious. I just love the fact that she wants to do things for herself. She is independent and I think it is great.

I really love this little girl, and I'm so glad I have her in my life. I'm blessed and do my best to treasure her and cherish every moment of her little girl-hood.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Lili's 18-month Checkup

She is still perfect, folks. But we all knew that.

She is in the 97% for head size (genius), 90% for height (tall, 34"), and 70% for weight (skinny, 24.11 pounds). Again, she is a tall, skinny genius. I've said it before, I'll say it again.

I asked about the talking thing. She says about 6 words but doesn't seem to move past that. And she gets frustrated trying to say what she wants to say. The Dr. said there is nothing to worry about. She is fine, no need to panic, and yes I was panicing, but I am calm now. Whew!

I am still going to use the flash cards and sound out words with her. She is having a bit of trouble with sounds and gets frustrated. We'll work on it.

One day she will babble and then the next she'll be talking in full, coherent sentences, just you wait.

Monday, September 29, 2008

A few favorites



Monday, September 22, 2008

My girl

My sweet little monkey girl is climbing everything. Matt had to move the living room around because he was sick of walking in the kitchen only to look back and see her climbing the arm of the couch onto the roll top desk.

You tell her no and she smirks and goes on ahead with whatever plan her devious little brillant mind has cooked up. Consequences be damned! You tell her no, she cares not. You move her, she runs right back. You swat her bottom, she cries and keeps doing it.

She is the exact opposite of me in attitude. Yet, at the same time, she is the perfect kid. Go figure!! She is fearless (I worry, fret and over-analyze), she is overly energetic (I'm quite lazy as of late), she is wicked smart (I have my moments, but the brain she has she got from her brilliant dad), and she is a skinny mini (and I, so, am not...yet).

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Green Green Everywhere

Lili has decided her new favorite color is green. It used to be red, but now it is green. She points it out everywhere. Now I have to find a bedroom set for her that has a green color to it. I should still be able to get the garden theme I want to do (yea!!), but finding cute, girly, yet not-quite conventional bedroom sets is hard.

Lili has this great personality. She is fearless and funny. Now she is getting cuddly, but she is this little independent creature. She needs (nay, demands) her alone time and will spend 45 minutes up in her crib and just play. I figure when she is big enough for a big girl bed she is going to be the same way, only she will have more free reign over her bedroom.

This is the one we are leaning toward

I like it, but I think it might be a little too adult for my baby It's green, but I don't think it paints the serene picture I'm going for.
This one could work, and it brings in the yellow Matt loves so much.



This one is nice, it is lilies, but I don't know if she could read by it.
Funky and green, but a dust magnet.
Cute, but would she hate it in 15 years?
Dragonflies, for the garden theme, but it gives me a headache just looking at it.

Now this is a touch lamp. Those are useful, but no green...
This is 2 lilies, and it looks like it might have some light.
This has green and an angel, but again, does it have enough light to read by?
This is a bird. That's about all I can say about this one...
This is supposed to be a blossom.
This would go great with that one bed set above
I like these types, but Kyla thought this pattern would drive her to drugs. I don't know about that.

I want her sheets to be soft and comfy, yet tough enough to put up with the abuse a little turkey like Lili can dish out. And she has to have pretty drapes, and maybe a rug. If I can make it work up there, I want her to have a cute little chair that is where she and I can cuddle while I read her bedtime stories while she cuddles her dog or her bear or her duck, or whatever stuffed friend she is in the mood to share the story with.

I want a little sanctuary for her. I always had my room as a haven to escape (and later years lock my then clothes stealing little sister out...but now she buys me clothes instead, isn't she great!!!). I want that for her, too. She already knows the value of alone time. When we drive her crazy or she's had enough she lets us know she wants to go upstairs and she enjoys it.

And part of me wants to fix up her room so that we can then work on ours and create that haven we desperately need. I've got the sheets, the drapes, the rug, and the pretty painted wall. But I have a mound of stuff in the room that gets put there because there is no better place to put it. I want a peaceful retreat where I can get inspired to write (the living room just isn't cutting it), where I can lay my head down at night and not think about the clutter on the floor, and where every thing has a place and is put there.