Crazy Christmas!

I always get excited about Christmas.  It is my favorite time of year.  I love the Christmas Music, Movies, and food.  Their is just such a different feeling this time of year.  Sadly this year although we got to see family and got some amazing gifts this Christmas was more about trying to help Lily get through sickness.  I remember being pregnant with Lily last year at Christmas and wondering what the next year would be like.  I had a lot of assumptions that were nowhere close to how things turned out.  First off for some reason, even knowing Lilly would only be 8 months old, I assumed she would actually open presents haha!  Instead she would tear a piece and then wanted to just play with the paper or then wait for us to do the rest.  The good news is she acted excited with each new toy she got and took time to play with each before opening the next.  I also never considered she might be sick because you just don't think about things like that!  Lily had a very bad cold including a fever of 102.5.  This lasted from Monday night when we opened gifts with my parents and came and went off and on until yesterday the 27th.  So needless to say she didn't do a whole lot of celebrating this year, but hopefully next year will be spectacular!  She will be 20 months old and will know more what is going on.  I see crazy paper ripping in our future.

I also always get excited when the craziness of Christmas is over and we get to look forward to a new year.  A lot of people see New Year's Resolutions are stupid but I don't see it that way.  I think they are a fun way to evaluate your past year and then plan on how you would like to improve the next year.  Josh, Lily, and I had a great 2013.  It has been our best year yet I think.  I am not much of a bragger but here is some of the best of 2013.

1. Month 4 brought us the best gift we could ever receive in Lily.  She had changed our whole world and made it that much more magical and Wonderful.  I can't wait to watch her grow and change in 2014.  

2. We sold our house in Month 5.  I won't lie.. as much as I wanted to get to Van Buren, the thought of Selling our house, buying a house, moving, and taking care of a 2 month old all while your husband works crazy hours scared me to death.. but somehow we made it happen and I am so happy to be in Van Buren.

3.  Josh and I celebrated our 4 year Anniversary in Month 10.  Now some of you might be wondering what is so special about that.. but to me every day, week, month, and year him and I are able to have a happy and healthy marriage is special. I am so happy to have him in my life.

4. I haven't talked much about this because I am not one to brag about things I have.  Yes my parents have been able to give my brother and I a lot growing up, but I think the most important thing they gave me was the Knowledge that I am very lucky and that having and not having doesn't make one person better than the other, and I have never really heard them brag about what they have worked so hard to get.  That all being said I finally got the car I have had my eye on the past 2 years.  It is perfect for me.  I will admit though... I look at Lily in the backseat and find myself picturing another child back there haha... no worries that is not happening any time soon.. I think!

We had a lot of exciting and new things happen for us this year so I am kinda hoping 2014 will be a year of peaceful relaxation and great times with our little family!  Here are some things I want to do this next year.

1. I plan to start college back.  After being out of school for 8 years I am determined to go back and finish.  Not just for me but for Josh and Lily.  I am planning to start in the Fall to work on my LPN.  I only have to take 2 pre-requisite classes so that shouldn't be to bad... 2015 will the be the crazy year of nursing school haha.  

2.  I want to finish decorating our house.  Yes I know we have been here 6 months, however, there are a few things I still want to do.

3.  As usual I want to finish my weight loss journey.  I started G-Fit 4 months ago and did great the first 2 months but then kinda stopped going as much in November and December.  Hopefully 2014 will be the year of a new me!

4.  I follow a blog "Shullfamily.blogspot.com" She is an amazing decorator, cooker, and mom of 2 (soon to be 3) wonderful kids.  She is such an inspiration and role model for me.  She did this wonderful thing where she literally took a picture every day of that year and then put them on her blog whenever she posted.  That is a tall order but I want to try it haha!

That is all I have for this post.  Josh is working New Year's Eve day which means he will be up at 4:30 in the morning so I doubt we will do anything to celebrate.  Especially with a little one.  You can't stay up all night when you have to be up all day the next day taking care of a baby haha.  I plan on getting up around midnight and going in Lily's room.  Call me weird or crazy but it is our first New Year together and I want to spend the last moments of this year and first moments of next year with her.. and if you ask me, that is pretty darn special!  

I will post again next weekend, with some pictures. I hope all of your 2013 ends with a bang and I will see you all in 2014!

8 Months Old!

Weight

16 and 1/2 Pounds

Clothing Size

6 to 9 Months & 9 Months

Diaper Size

Size 2 but switching to Size 3 when we run out of 2's.

Eating

5-6 Ounces 6 times a day

Now eating all baby foods

Sleeping

Goes to bed between 9-10 PM and wakes up between 6-7 AM waking once or twice a night

Takes several 30 Min. naps a day

Likes

Giving Kisses, Tasting Mom and Dad's food, Visiting new people, Watching Barney & Mickey Mouse Club and being tickled!

Dislikes

Going to bed and Riding in the car seat at night

What's New?

As Lily keeps growing her personality gets more and more dynamic.  She couldn't be any sweeter.  She has started giving kisses.  Lots of them, however, she is very demanding about it... she grabs your face and won't let go until she gets a kiss!  She is trying to be more independent as well as mobile.  Sitting still is not a favorite thing of hers.  She still isn't crawling yet and I am beginning to wonder if she will... she might be a straight to walking type of girl haha, I guess only time will tell.  On Friday the 20th she opened her very first Christmas Present at day care.  I'm not sure who brought it but it is an elephant that you can fit shapes into the holes.  She hasn't played with it yet but I'm sure she will love it.  She is also about to have her very first Christmas!  I am so excited to share this first with her because its a first that will become a tradition.  

Well I have to be going.  She was taking a nap but I hear her in the other room babbling lol!  I hope you all have wonderful  holidays and a Happy New Year!! 

7 Months!

Weight 

 15 1/2 Pounds

Clothing Size

 6-9 Months

Diaper Size  

2

Eating 

 5 Ounces several times 6 times a day plus baby food (Second Foods)

Sleeping 

Goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:30 PM and wakes up around 7 AM usually waking once a night but sometimes sleeps through the night, takes 3 naps a day.

What's New?

 Lily finally likes food!  She prefers things like sweet potatoes and chicken and rice (all pureed baby foods).  She is finally sitting really well on her own.  Hasn't started crawling yet but tries really hard!  Might be starting to cut teeth!

Likes 

 When you sing to her, watching Barney & Mickey Mouse Club House, ceiling fans, any toy that makes noise, and LOVES music.

Dislikes

  Laying down unless she is tired.

It has been a wonderful month!  Every month I say to myself that there is no way she can get any sweeter and she always proves me wrong.  She is such a Ham and that big ole grin brings a smile to peoples faces where ever she goes.  Her little gums were very swollen at her 6 month check up and she has really been acting like they are bothering her the past few weeks so we are hoping to see some teeth soon. Can't wait to see what this new month brings!!

Picture Update!

I really need to get better about posting more often so that I don't have to do a huge update all at one like this one!  October was a very busy month for us.  On every weekend that Josh wasn't working we were out of town.  I figured instead of just writing about it I would do a picture update and let Lily tell you what all we did this past month!

Hello Everyone!  Let me take you on a journey through October and the beginning of November! 

We all hung out and called those Hogs!  I spent all the games except for 1 at home with mom and dad bouncing in my Jumper and watching it on TV!   In this photo I am chilling at the office with Grandma. 

Then we took off to Gore Oklahoma where we all went camping!  It was chilly and at some points pretty rainy but we all had a wonderful time trick or treating at the camp ground and cooking on the grill.   As you can see I spent most of the time lounging leisurely by the River looking at the pretty view!  First camping experience was a great success!  

I got to attend my cousin Jimmy's 4th Birthday Party out at the Hackett Park.  It was very pretty there and I decided that was where I would like to have my 1st Birthday.   I got to swing in an actual swing for the first time and also got this cool hat from my great Aunt Linda who made it all by herself! 

I spent a lot of weekends hanging out with my other Great Aunt Lora and Uncle Ben.  They usually visit me once a week while daddy is at work to keep mom company and of course to hang out with me!!

Grandpa Roger also tried to teach me to drive!  I could reach out and grab the wheel but my feet couldn't quite touch the peddles yet so I mostly just stared at everything and then drooled on it to mark my territory.  I can't wait until I can actually drive this thing, but for now I will have to just settle for watching cousin Kaleb do it.

I attended my first football game!  I went to watch Uncle Trey & Bryce play for the Hackett Hornets.  I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.  My favorite part was the cheerleaders!

I had my 6 month check up at the Doctor.  I had a great time rattling the paper and looking at myself in the mirror until they gave me my shots. 

At the end of the month I had my first Halloween.  Family came over to my house and I watched them eat really good food but I preferred my bottle.  I was a kitty kat and my neighbor and friend Rayley was a flower.  She came by and showed me how she could stand on her own and I thought that was pretty impressive!  I slept through most of the trick or treating, but woke up in time to hand out a few pieces of candy to some very strange looking people...

I started out November hanging out with my Grandma and Grandpa.  Mommy and Daddy went to the Auburn game with their friends the Marsh's.  I stayed home and ate some good food which I am finally starting to like, however,  formula is still #1 in this girls heart! 

 The End

It has been a great past month!  I cannot believe that Lily will be 7 months old in 13 days.  I have already started making plans for her first birthday.  I am excited about that because even though her baby shower was absolutely wonderful... I didn't get to help plan hardly any of it.   

A few things are happening in the upcoming weeks.  Of course Lily's first Thanksgiving ,

she has her follow up check up at Little Rock Children's Hospital for her neck.  So we are using that as an excuse to go to Hot Springs and visit her other Grandparents (Josh's mom and step dad) since Little Rock is only 45 min. away, and then the next day after Thanksgiving we are going on our Annual trip to Branson with my side of the family to get in some Christmas Shopping, go see a show, and look at all the pretty Christmas lights!

I find myself almost not being able to wait to put up Christmas decorations and pull out the Christmas CD's.  Even though Lily isn't quite big enough to be able to understand what is going on it is still exciting!   That being said I am going to wait until after Thanksgiving but I plan on getting that tree up right after we get back from Branson!

I hope you all have wonderful Thanksgiving! 

6 Months!

Weight: 14 pounds and 14 Ounces

Height: 27 Inches

Clothing Size: 6 Months

Diaper Size: 2

Eating: 4-5 Ounces at a time but likes to snack.  Still working on the food, she isn't a fan of any of it lol.

Sleeping: Sleeps in crib.  Goes to bed between 9 & 10 and wakes up around 6 or 7 A.M.  Takes several naps a day.

Whats New: Can grab pacifier and put in mouth as well as transfer objects from one hand to another.  Getting very close to sitting without help and starting to try and crawl.

Likes: Anything that makes noise,  watching Curious George & Cat in the Hat.  Bath, Playing with her toys, and playing with daddy!

Dislikes:  Riding in the car after dark,  loud noises, sour baby food lol. 

To think that Lily is half a year old is just crazy to me.  There are times when I am driving and I look in the rear view mirror and see Lily in her mirror and she is so busy playing with her bunny rattler and talking to herself, and looking out the car window, or when I go in her room before she wakes up in the morning and watch her stretch and roll around and it makes me want to laugh and cry all at the same time.  I am so excited about her getting older and learning new things... but at the same time I know she will never be this age again and time is flying by so fast.      There are a lot of tough moments having a baby, but I will miss her falling asleep in my arms, and that sweet little smile she gives me when she wakes up in the morning to find me standing over her.  Luckily I still have a lot more of the baby phase left.  I just wish time would slow down. 

5 months old!

Weight: 14 Pounds

Clothing Size: 3-6 Months

Diaper Size: 2

Eating: 4-5 ounces of formula at a time plus baby food

Sleeping: Goes to bed by 8:30 pm and wakes up around 6:30 am waking 1 to 2 times a night

Whats New: Grabbing toys and sticking them in her mouth, Trying to sit up on her own, Bouncing in her jumper, and eating baby food!

Likes: Bouncing in her jumper, being sang to, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Barney, being tickled by daddy, and sitting outside on the back porch swing.

Dislikes: Laying down.

I cannot believe that another month has gone by.  Time really is flying now.  Lily is growing up so fast that it just doesn't seem right.  I will say that it has been wonderful the past few weeks with Lily being able to bounce in her jumper!  It sure makes getting ready in the morning and eating super at night a lot easier.  She has finally started eating baby food too.  I am hoping this will help her put on some weight.  She is not a fan of rice or oatmeal cereal but is really starting to enjoy apples.  I am excited to see what else she likes or dislikes as we let her try new things.

As for everything else, I am so happy that fall is here.  I like it to be a bit cooler than it is now but at least it isn't has hot as it has been.  I can't wait to put out my Halloween stuff!  On October 4th-6th Lily will kinda sorta get her first experience with camping.  My mom and dad are taking the motor home and we are staying in a little cabin, however, we will be outside a lot and have camp fires and stuff so I am interested to see how she does.  I can't wait until she is big enough to actually go for real which will be a while considering by the time she does get old enough to enjoy it we will be having another baby lol.  I will make sure and post after the camping trip with how it went and photos.  Have a great week everyone! 

To endings and New beginnings!

             I can't believe I am saying this already, but I'm done with my first round of G-Fit!  I'm not going to lie... that first day was a boot camp day and I left thinking.. what the heck... I'm never going back, however, I went back every day and after the first week I started to kinda like it and by the end I had fallen in love with it.  I haven't had my final weigh in yet but I know I did pretty good.  I am already signed up for the next round, and can't wait to see what my future holds now that I found a work out program and diet that I like. Also in other things that are ending Josh is now done with night shift for a few months.  Thank Goodness!  Don't get me wrong, the nights he is home while on night shift are wonderful, we get to hang out and then I get to sleep all night and he takes care of Lily when she wakes up since he is awake anyway resulting in a full nights sleep for me.  But the odd schedule stinks, and we don't get to spend very much time together as a family.  Luckily they switch back and forth so we get the best of both worlds (yes I did sing that last line Hannah Montana style lol).   Another great thing about day shift is that Josh and I can eat lunch together while Lily is at daycare so it will give us some much needed us time.
             We got some us time last night!  Ashton and Wes babysat Lily for us and we went out to eat and to a movie.  We had fun but I do notice that going out, even without Lily, is still different from before Lily came along.  Mostly that staying out until almost Midnight is such a blast when you know when you get home that chances are you will have to wake up in a few hours lol.  Regardless it was a great time and the next one a few weeks from now should be better because I am doing G-Fit earlier next round.  They have started a 4:30-5:30 pm class instead of me having to go to a 6-7 pm.  That is great considering Football season is upon us and Josh's brothers play football on Friday nights and it starts at 7.
               Not a lot else has happened this month.  Lily finally had her 4 month check up at 4 and a half months old, got her shots.  She is in the 85 percentile for height and the 15 percentile for weight.  The doctor said everything looks good and we get to start her on food so be looking for pictures of that.  Plus in a little over a week she will be 5 months old so we will have an update there.   That being said I have nothing else for ya!  Hope you have a great weekend!