12 Months Old

Weight

19.9 Pounds

Height

31 inches

Diaper Size

3

Clothing Size
12 Months

Eating

6 ounces 4 times a day

3rd foods 3 times a day.  

Cookies or Crackers

Sleeping

 Sleep from 7:30 pm to 6:30 a.m

Takes a 2 or 3 hour nap once a day

Likes

crawling

playing with any kind of ball

going for walks

Dislikes

Loud noises

Pete from Mickey Mouse club house

Being held

What's New

She is definitely an on the move baby now!  You can turn you head for a minute and she will disappear.  She is also much happier now that she is crawling.  She also gets to start whole milk so we are excited about that.  I can tell she is really starting to understand what different things mean.  Like when I drop her off at day care or we get in the car to go somewhere.  Before she was just go with the flow not really sure what was going on.  Now I can see her craning her neck to see where we are headed.  She knows nini and papa's house and smiles when we get there, she loves being home too.  I'm not sure if she enjoys going for walks or not.  They always put her asleep, but she doesn't act particularly excited or upset when we go. 

It has been amazing year!  Can't wait to see what the next month holds!

Happy Birthday Lily

Dear Lily

I knew I loved you before I met you, but I never dreamed just how much I could love you or how much you would change our world.

 I was not surprised at all when you came into the world early.  However, I was surprised how quiet and calm you were when you finally came out.  

You were like a dream come true.  We just wanted to lay around and look at you all day.

                                                

 I was terrified and excited to take you home.  

You had the sweetest personality, and oh how you loved to pose in your sleep.

The outdoors always calmed you.  Even in your worst moments, a good porch with a swing made things okay again.

You are very picky when it comes to your bottle and your food.   You like your bottle warm and your food to be chicken or spaghetti. You always let us know when you don't like something.

You love to look at yourself in the camera and take selfies.   You also love to watch Mickey Mouse, Daniel Tiger, and Barney.

You have the longest eyelashes and the most beautiful blue eyes.  I'm not sure who your nose belongs to, but it is a cute as a button.  I think you have my mouth, but there is no doubt you favor your daddy.  I love your dark eyebrows and curly hair, but my favorite thing about you is that killer smile.  

You are a very curious baby.  You want to know what everything is, and you are always afraid you will miss something so you tend to push away when we hold you, not wanting your back to the world.

You love bath time

Reading books

And sitting with your legs crossed like a lady

You don't have any teeth yet, so I call you my toothless beauty.

You do all things in your own time at your own pace.  We weren't sure that you would ever crawl or walk, but in true Lily form, once you learned you wanted to do it all the time.  You crawl everywhere!

You are the perfect playmate for daddy

The perfect cuddle partner for Momma.

We may have more children in the future, but what makes you special is that you made me a momma.  Before you I am still not sure what I did with all of my time.  You have made life more wonderful in every way. I live for your smiles and your kisses.  I can't wait to watch you grow and learn, and to teach you new things.  I love you with everything that I am and every breath I take.  You will never truly know how precious and special you are, but I will make every effort to show you.

I'll Love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I am living,

My baby you will be.

Happy Birthday my sweet Lily

~11 months old~

Weight

19 Pounds

Height

Not Sure

Diaper Size

3

Clothing Size
12 Months

Eating

6-7 ounces 4 or 5 times a day

3rd foods and some table food

Sleeping

Goes to bed between 7:30 & 8:00 p.m. 

Wakes up at 6:30 a.m.  Still waking at least once a night

Takes a 2 or 3 hour nap during the day

Likes

Playing Peak-a-boo

Bath time

Eating table food: Chicken mostly

Playing in her crib

Reading Books

Dislikes

Cuddling (except for in the morning).. she pushes you away! 

Being told No.

Laying on her back or having to sit still more than 5 minutes.

Words she is saying

Dada

Mama

Bah Bah

The baby version of "Yay"

What's New

Are we really here?  Is her first year really almost over?  I have mixed emotions about this.  We pretty much have everything set for her party.  I will put the picture of the invitation up once everyone has gotten theirs.  

This has been a big month for Lily.  She in my opinion has been trailing behind in a lot of her developement.   Not enough to worry any pediatrician, but enough to worry this worry wart momma lol.  Until a few weeks ago she wasn't crawling, clapping, pointing, sitting up (she was sitting on her own), eating.  I know that some of those don't have to happen yet but the fact that she wasn't even attempting to do any of them so close to a year had me biting my nails! Well move over worry we have a new baby in town!  It seems like all in the same day she started clapping, sitting up on her own from laying down, eating table foods, and even attempting to crawl, which I assumed she wasn't ever going to do.  She is up on her knees she just hasn't been able to figure out the hands and knees moving thing yet, but I give her a few days and she will be all over the place.  

She loves to clap.  The funny part is that every time I have showed her I say "Yay" with it.  So now when she claps she tries to say "Yay".  It is really cute.  She has also learned to give High Fives, and turn the pages of a book while I am reading to her. 

She still doesn't have any teeth yet.  We think that she is teething though.  Her little gums are swollen and she is constantly biting on her hands and toys, and moaning.  Hopefully we will see some teeth soon.  

We could never get her to eat any of her 3rd foods that had chunks of stuff in it.  She would gag and either spit it out or throw it up.  That was until 2 weeks ago when I cooked chicken and while feeding her and eating dinner she really wanted some of what I have.  So tore her off a piece of chicken (very finely shredded) and she ate it!!  Josh and I were so excited!  Maybe she just doesn't like baby food that much.  She will eat the fruits and sweet potatoes but try giving her any of the other stuff and she pushes the spoon away.  

I am still planning on doing the monthly milestone updates until she reaches 2.  I already bought the new stickers.  I do it as much or more for me than anything.  I love being able to go back and see just where she was at each month.  Some day I know she will enjoy them too.  

Hope everyone has a wonderful day, and see you next post!

She didn't sleep well the night before these pictures so I only got her to smile for one:

 

Spring is coming!

I'm so excited.  I just posted last time about how the cold needed scoot on out of here.  I guess it  heard me because it has been in the 70's during the day ever since, and you know what I say?  Bring it on!!  My little Lily is an outdoor girl, and she wants to go outside and play.

Not a lot has happened in the past few weeks.  Josh has been on night shift so it has been pretty uneventful.  We finally got to have a date night.  We went to eat at Landry's and then saw 300.  Both were good.  Lily is still sticking her to her schedule of a before 8 bedtime.  It was anywhere from 7:15 to 7:30, however, with day light savings it gets darker an hour later.  Since it is still light at her bedtime we have pushed it to 8:00.  I hate this because she is losing 30 to 45 minutes of sleep.  Some might say "just get dark curtains" and to that I say, you haven't seen her window.  She has a big double window and then a half moon window on top of it that would cost us several hundred dollars to darken, and I don't want to darken it because I love the natural light that it produces.  Thus, we just moved her bed time a little bit.  She seems okay with it so we are going forward.  Also she has combined her two naps during the day into one big one which I am loving. Now on the weekends while Josh sleeps (remember he is on night shift)  I get about a 3 hour spread of time that I can get stuff done or just chill depending on my mood.  By the way.. just to clarify.  We have her pack-n-play set up in the spare bedroom that has one normal size window with darkening curtains on them so she naps in there.

We have always had trouble with Lily eating solids.  By solids I do not mean first and second foods.  But third foods that have chunks of stuff in it or any table food.  Well last night we had Mexican Chicken Casserole and she was eyeballing my chicken, so I shredded it smaller and gave her a piece fully expecting her to spit it out, she at it and then at a lot more!  So we have a Chicken eater on our hands lol!  Can't say I'm upset.  Chicken is healthy, and if we can get her protein in that is always a plus.  We thought she had a really bad gag reflex, and maybe she does, but since she is not gagging with the chicken I am thinking its more that she is being picky lol.  

She has also started doing this funny thing where she crosses her legs when she sits.  It is so adorable and lady like!  

We have a busy few months coming up!  Lily turns 1, Josh turns 26, we are gonna take Lily to the Zoo in Hot Springs, Josh and I are doing a 5k with his family, and lots of other stuff.  I will try to get better about taking pictures of everything.  Next week on Friday is Lily's 11 month update!  Hard to believe.   Until then here are some pics of her the past 2 weeks.  As usual they are all of Lily!

Lily waiting for the weather to warm us so she can go outside!

Happy baby in the morning

Holding on to her crib

Styling in her Dr. Seuss hat

Finally...Here are the pics of her sitting with her legs crossed:

I would also like to add a very Happy Birthday to Lily's cousin Sawyer.  He turned 1 today!  
Hope everyone has a great weekend 

Spring Fever!

If I haven't already mentioned this is in a previous blog... I really wish spring would get here already!  I have always been a fan of the cold months, however, trying to entertain a wiry 10 month old in doors all day is tough.  The few warm days we have had were wonderful.  She loves being outside so much and just sits so calmly looking around.  I remember back to this past summer when she was only a few months old, she didn't get upset very often, but when she did all we would have to do is take her out on the back porch swing and she would instantly be at peace and usually fall asleep!  

While Josh is on night shift and the weather is bad it is really difficult.  I can't take her anywhere because of the roads, and I have to try and keep her somewhat quiet so he can sleep during the day lol.  It will be so nice when he is on night shift to be able to take her to the park during the day, sit out side on the swing, go for walks.  If you guys haven't figured it out... I'm really ready for warmer weather.  

Do you wanna know what I am not ready for?  April.  Lily will be a year old next month.  That isn't right.  I kinda want her to stay where she is right now.  I love this age.  I also need to add that morning is my favorite time with her.  She is in such a good mood from sleeping all night and she has lots of smiles to give.  We have so much fun during breakfast singing songs and making faces!

  

This past week was pretty uneventful.  Josh switched to night shift on Monday.  His Grandma was in the hospital having surgery so we went to visit her and it was a plus that his mom was there (she lives in Hot Springs) so she got to visit with both her Grandma & Great Grandma!  Darlene is doing well as of yesterday.  Thursday night mom and dad came over and played with Lily and I cooked.  Friday night after Josh left for work I took Lily of to mom and dads so she could play with Kaleb.  They had fun and she is really starting to try and interact with him.  He would hug her and she would first give him a kiss and then push him down, they both though it was funny!  We ended the night with a bath before I took Lily home to put her to bed.

Last night Lora and Ben came over and hung out.  It is always nice to have them over.  Other than a few weeks here and there (I can count them on one hand) they have came by every week!

Today was supposed to be a day of grocery shopping for the week and visiting with grandparents, however, as said above they are saying the weather is supposed to get back we are staying in all day. I have a roast in the crock pot, and am waiting for Lily's nap so that I can start prepping everything for the upcoming week.  I have started to get really organized... if you know me then you know organization doesn't come easily to me.   I feel a lot better though.  My favorite part is meal planning.  I plan our meals for the entire week, go get what I need, and know what I am making every night.  I know that is normal for some people but it isn't for me haha!  

I am going to do an update next week on all the things I am doing to get organized!  These are all ideas I have gotten from other bloggers, but I love them and have adopted them into my life. We are talking about maybe starting to try for baby number two in January(more on that to come as well), and with Josh's job schedule, two kids, working full time, and trying to go back to school for nursing, being organized isn't an option... it is a requirement!   

See you all next week!

10 Months Old!

 Weight

18 Pounds

Height

29 Inches

Diaper Size

3

Eating

6 ounces of formula 4 or 5 times a day

Eating 2 to 3 baby foods a day (mostly second foods, but a few 3rd)

Sleeping

Goes to bed at 8:30 every night and wakes up at 6:30 every morning.  Wakes 1 or 2 times a night.

Likes

Walking assisted, playing with blocks, and being sang to.  Especially Old MacDonald had a farm.

Starting to really enjoy being read to.

Dislikes

Getting out of the bath and being put in to pajamas.  Every night it is a race to dry her off, lotion her, and get her pajamas on before she has a nervous break down because she is cold and tired.

Gags and throws up every time we try to give her anything not liquid.  Mashed up bananas, the little baby puffs.. anything that isn't second foods or too thick 3rd foods.

Laying on her belly.  She flips to her back immediately!

Whats New

We finally have her on a sleeping schedule!!  A few weeks ago she wouldn't go to bed until 10 or 10:30 PM.  Being a new parent you are always learning as you go.  I read a women's blog whose kids are great sleepers and she said when they get tired even if they were still awake she would lay them down.  So one night at about 7:45 P.M. Lily started to act tired so we gave her a bath, bottle, and then laid her down in her crib while still awake, and shut the door.  Then we braced ourselves for the big fit that was to come.  I was surprised when at the 10 minute mark she wasn't begging for someone to come get her (keep in mind up until this point Josh or I one had rocked her to sleep every night).  Finally I went and got the video baby monitor and turned it on and sure enough she was sound a sleep.  The best part was it wasn't just a fluke.  We have done this every night for a few weeks and it is wonderful!  

We have also made strides with her eating too.  As you have already read.. she still isn't big on Third foods or solids, but thank goodness she is finally eating.  A lot of days she will eat 3 full meals, and on others only 2.  So this is a step in the right direction!

She still is not crawling, standing on her own, or walking yet.  She is becoming more mobile.  She loves to roll or stretch really really far (it's almost humorous) if she wants something that is close enough.  She will turn in a complete circle very quickly on her but or stomach.  Every day she is getting better and better at walking while holding our hands... she loves doing this!

We have ordered a lot of stuff for her birthday which is sad and exciting.  Her theme is going to be Minnie Mouse.  Two months will go so quickly.

Now for some photos!

                  Showing us her foot                    

                        

                                                                Waiving to the camera

 

                                                                     Reading a book

  I had to add this one!  She took it herself.

Before I go... The Marsh's had their first ultrasound yesterday and I am happy to announce that baby Marsh is healthy and will be here October 12th.  Congrats to them :) 

Meet Baby Marsh,  6 weeks gestation!

Photo update!

 My favorite time of they day is picking her up from Day Care!

 What I came home to after G-Fit yesterday. The two loves of my life!

 My little sweetheart is all smiles and ready for bed.

This time next week we will have her 10 month update!  See ya then.

 

Who are you, and what have you done with Ashley?

Why am I up at 5:30 A.M.?

Lily and Josh are asleep, I do not have to leave for work for another 2 hours and 45 minutes, and there is nothing I can really do around the house because I don't want to risk waking Lily.  I have absolutely no reason to be up at this time.

A lot of you might be saying to yourself... Big deal, I get up at that time or even earlier... that is wonderful, but I do not lol.  I remember a time, a very lazy time in my life, that I had a hard time getting up to be at work at 9 A.M.  True that was pre-baby and husband, but still... I was the teenager who slept until 11:00 on the weekends and during the summer.  I guess when you don't have much "you" time throughout your day you have to get up early to get it.  I have around an hour and a half before my day has to officially start.  So for now I can just lounge back and catch up on all the blogs I like to read.  

That's another thing.  I'm not sure what I ever did with my time before Pinterest and Blogs.  I couldn't wait to get up and read what all of these wonderful women have to say.  I just wish some of their motivation would rub off on me!

In Lily land it has been a hard few weeks.  She is trying to pop out her first 2 teeth and sadly for her I think they are the ones on the side that I hear can be most painful.  She is constantly gumming on her hands and toys, running low grade fevers, and if I'm being honest.. just being downright cranky as well as not sleeping well.  My old sweet baby a few weeks ago would wake up and give me a huge grin.  I can tell she is still excited to see me, but I will just get a little smile before the crying starts.  I hate when I tell people this and they say "well I'm sure its painful for her" in a tone that suggests that they think I am not being sympathetic with her.  Trust me, that is the problem....  It bothers me so much because I know she is in pain and their is nothing I can do about it, but to give her teething toys and Tylenol.  I do realize that this stage will pass, but I am just so ready to have my sweet, happy baby back!

As much as I love the Holidays I am was ready for January, and for things to slow down.  I get really excited 2 times a year.  October (my favorite month) because the holidays are starting, the cool weather sets in, and Halloween is my favorite holiday. I also love February.  No big holidays for 5 months, and spring is just around the corner.  Of course our biggest day this year will be Lily's first birthday which is in April.  

Not much has happened the past few weeks.  We went to Hot Springs to visit Josh's family.  We had a good time and it is always fun to go see them.  Not to mention a great get away from our normal every day life.  

My biggest and most exciting event though was finding out that some really good friends of ours are having their first baby!  We get together often with Wes and Ashton, and we always have a good time.  They are those great kind of friends that although they never had a baby they had no problem just coming over here on the weekends that Josh and Wes didn't work to hang out, play cards, and chat.  Josh and I have never been much on the going out and partying or clubing, and now that Lily is here we just can't bring ourselves to leave her with someone on the weekend to go do that.  Now here pretty soon they will have a precious little one... so not only does that mean sweet, cuddly baby time for me, but Lily will have a little friend haha.  She will be 18 months old before their little bundle of Joy arrives so I am anxious to see how she will act around Him/Her.  It might give us a small glimpse into the future and how things will be with baby number 2 in the hosue!  So I would like to give a big CONGRATS to the Marsh's!  You guys will be wonderful parents, and I can't wait to hopefully get to watch our kids grow up together!

The excited parents-to-be at our house after sharing the wonderful news!!!

9 Months!

Weight

17.4 Pounds

Height

28 & a half inches

Diaper Size

3

Eating

6 Ounces 5 to 6 times a day

2nd Foods. Still will only willingly eat 1 meal a day.  Working on it.

Sleeping

Goes to bed between 9 and 10 pm and wakes up at around 7:30 am

Still wakes one time a night

Takes 2 or 3 naps a day

Likes

Drinking out of a grown up cup, socializing with people, hitting everything with her hands and of course tasting everything she sees!

Dislikes

Still doesn't like the car seat 

Anything cold (if you give her cold food she gags)

What's New?

We are in the stage of Lily's life where things are changing every day.  All at once she is starting to do things that she hasn't done before.  This past month she has started holding her bottle on her own, trying out new sounds like mama and nana.  We finally got her to drink from a sippy cup last week although she still prefers her bottle. I thought we were gold considering she isn't attached to a pacifier (pretty much never uses one) or a blanket, but it is starting to become apparent that her thing is her bottle.  Most babies I have seen love to eat food... she would rather drink her milk lol.  She has never been a fan of her car seat but has been okay in it during the day for the past few months, however at night she would scream and cry if someone was not sitting back there with her.  Last night she finally rode in the car seat at night by herself on the way home from eating and not one tear so maybe that is gonna get better haha.  

She got as close as she has ever gotten to crawling this morning so I am hoping that over the next week or so she will finally meet the big milestone of being mobile, you can tell she wants to move so bad!

For now she is a social butterfly and will stare at anyone until they look at her and then grin when they do. She doesn't mind when most people hold her but I can tell she is starting to really observe them and then either decide they are okay or start crying lol, but she always warms up!

Other than that she is still the same sweetheart she has always been.  Love to smile and give kisses.  Can't wait to see what this next month holds!

Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year everyone!  I cannot believe that we are already in 2014.  I also can't believe that Lily will be 1 year old in a little over 3 months.  Josh and I were exactly where we wanted to be when the clock struck 12.  In Lily's room with her as she dreamed away with no clue what was going on.  Some people might think that is silly, but I don't.  I wanted to end the year and start the new one with both of them.  

Like I said in my last post I am looking forward to this new year, and I am excited to say that my blog will be getting a makeover as well.  It will still be the same blog just different colors.  I had this one made when I wasn't sure if Lily would be a boy or a girl and I didn't want it to be all girly if all my posts were about a boy haha.  Anyway so check back next week to see if it has been updated or not.  Andrea does a wonderful job and I can't wait to see what she has in store for my blog makeover.

In the mean time here are a few things that happened this past week.

 

 Lily and I had a girls day out with Ashton.  It only lasted a few hours but we had fun.  We went to Virgila Dale's prop sale.  She is a wonderful photographer and was selling a bunch of her old props to make room for new ones.  Then we went to Hobby Lobby and walked around.  Lily saw a bunch of things she really wanted to play with and I saw a bunch of things I wanted to buy.  After that we went to Sweet Bay and got coffee, then ended the trip meeting Elizabeth to buy Lily's Shopping Cart Cover.  It is so cute and I can't wait to use it.

After we dropped Ashton off we met my mom and dad at Zaxbys for lunch.  Lily was so happy to see them and really happy to help me eat my pickle.  It was a little sour at first but she kept coming back for more.

 After that we hung out with Lora and Ben for a while.  It is always good to see them, and they got to see just how squirmy Lily has become.  Its so hard to hold her sometimes these days as she is all over the place.  After they left we headed over to Ashton and Wes's house to help them reupholster their chairs.  Ashton had bought the Chevron fabric at Hobby Lobby that day and I think they turned out wonderful!  I am so happy they live so close to us now.  It is great having good friends close by.

We don't have too much going on this week.  One night we are going down to Josh's dad's house, and I am planning on decorating our Laundry room.  Other than that it should be a pretty quiet week.  

See you all next Saturday!