Mama in Training: Lilly Rae

Day 36 – July 15, 2012

As you can probably tell from the picture below, today was a pretty quiet day. We just hung out at home and prepared for our visitors. It is nice to get to spend so much time together and to not be rushing off to work all the time J

Taking a nap with Daddy

Getting ready to go to the store

Lilly is really learning to reach for things and grab them

Day 37 – July 16, 2012

We had a busy morning. I was teaching a voice lesson at 11 and Darren’s parents arrived around 10. It was very nice of Sarah (my voice student) and her mom, Tami, to get Lilly a gift. She now has another tutu to add to the collection ;o)

Grandma and Grandpa got some great cuddle time with Lilly. It was nice for them to get to meet her. We took a trip to Walmart to get some groceries and had some delicious grilled chicken and grilled corn for dinner.

Cuddle time with Grandma Barb

Taking a nap with Mommy. She smiles in her sleep and I caught just the end of it.

Day 38 – July 17, 2012

Today we ventured to Trader Joe’s for the first time. Darren and I had not been there in a really long time and Darren’s mom does not have one near her, so she was excited to go. Lilly relaxed in her stroller while we perused the shelves. Mommy bought wine for herself for the first time in almost a year (not alcohol removed wine…or grape juice as most called it!) You can’t beat the $2.99 bottles of wine at Trader Joe’s.

After that we went to Mimi’s Café for lunch. The waitress commented on how good Lilly was. She didn’t make a peep the whole time. She was even calm the entire time Darren gave her a bottle and burped her. We have such an amazing daughter!

Lilly must have had a great day because she slept for 6 hours straight at night! I actually woke up at least 6 times thinking she was crying or that I had fallen asleep while feeding her and now Darren had rolled over on her. It’s weird that I always dream he has rolled over on her because she doesn’t sleep in the bed with us! I know he would prefer I get over those dreams as well ;o)

Taking a bottle at Mimi's

Last night with Grandma

Cuddle time with Mommy

Day 39 – July 18, 2012

I took some time to myself today and got a haircut. Darren is great about letting me have time when I need it for appointments of voice lessons. It was very hot today (what else is new???) so we took a trip to Sweet Creations, the Frozen Yogurt shop. Lilly just relaxed in her seat while we indulged. It will be great when she is old enough to have some yogurt herself!

At home we had a lot of time on the play mat. Lilly is starting to really swat at the toys and she seems to be enjoying the mat much more. It’s crazy how much she moves her arms and legs when she is on her mat! She also makes a lot of cooing and grunting noises, which draws Maggie over to her to see what she is doing. Maggie is still learning not to give Lilly kisses, but she is very sweet around her.

We had bath time tonight as well and apparently it really helped put Lilly to sleep because she slept for 5 hours straight! I am hoping we are starting a trend ;o)

Heading to Sweet Creations

Lilly even likes napping on her play mat

Maggie is a good babysitter...sort of

Day 40 – July 19, 2012

Lilly was such a good girl this morning. She let me shower and get ready while daddy slept and she did not make a single peep. She just sat in her bouncy seat in the bathroom and relaxed. It is nice to know she will do this because Darren goes back to work next week.

She was pretty sleepy today and she took about an hour long nap in her swing while Darren took Maggie for her vet visit. It was great because I was able to get a few things done, including making a batch of muffins (the same ones I made when I was in labor actually). Lilly did not even flinch when I turned the food processor on. I love that she is getting used to sleeping soundly even when it’s noisy.

I had another voice lesson student coming today, so Lilly got some time to hang out with her Daddy. Now that she takes a bottle, it’s great that I always have a backup plan if she gets hungry and I am busy or not home.

Lilly is making so many more noises now and getting so expressive! It’s hard to believe how quickly she is developing. When she is on her play mat her arms and legs never stop moving. She looks like she is trying to do aerobics on her mat. I will have to get some video of it and post. I was at least able to catch some of her personality in these photos:

Day 41 – July 20, 2012

When I came downstairs this morning, Darren and Lilly were taking a nap on the couch. It was so cute to see them both completely passed out and not even notice me. I am so thankful to have a husband who is so involved and helpful. Darren is great about taking time with Lilly so that I can get a nap or get something done.

Today was also our 3 year anniversary. It’s hard to believe that it has been 3 years already; it has been an amazing 3 years. I am glad that we took time to be married before we had Lilly because we have been able to experience so much as a couple before we added our beautiful daughter. Now, we get to have all new amazing experiences without ever feeling like we missed out.

A major shout out to Michelle and Chad for watching Lilly so that Darren and I could go out to dinner for our anniversary! It’s so great that we have such amazing friends here since our families are both in New York. We went out to eat at Daniel’s, an Italian restaurant in town, and then ventured to Sunni Sky’s to get ice cream. We originally wanted to go to dinner and a movie, but I didn’t want to go too far away or for too long the first time we were away. I know she would have been fine, but I didn’t want to push my luck. I know Lilly had a wonderful time with Chad, Michelle, Allie and Ryan as well.

Lilly took a nice bath that night. She really loves her bath time! I love it too because I get to cuddle up with her in her adorable hooded towel after she gets out. I may have to change my strategy with this though because for the second time, Lilly peed on me while I was holding her and sitting in the glider! Luckily she only got me and not the chair! Darren thought this was hilarious, and I have to admit it was pretty funny. You’d think I would have learned my lesson from the last time she did this, but I assumed it was just a fluke! I won’t make that mistake again.

I like to think she is "singing" here, but it doesn't exactly sound like singing yet...

All dressed up and ready to go out!

This is right before the "peeing" incident...doesn't she look so cute???

Day 42 – July 21, 2012

Today was an exciting day because Lilly went to her first musical! Our friend Cindy offered us tickets to see the children’s community theater production of Seussical Jr. at the Stars Theater and I jumped at the chance to see it. I wasn’t sure how Lilly was going to be, but she slept in her seat for the first half and then when she started to get a little fussy, I took her out and held her for the second half and she was fine. It was a great show and it was great to see so many of the kids I have been teaching over the past few years.

That afternoon Lilly took a nice nap with Mommy before we headed out to the grocery store to get some stuff for dinner with the Robinsons. Matt, Jess, Ana and Emma came over and we had an awesome time with them. It is adorable to see the babies together, and great to see the whole family. We had to eat in shifts because the babies were up and wanted their dinner, but I don’t think Darren and Matt minded getting some “guy time” to just hang out, and I know Jess and I enjoyed it. One of the highlights of the night had to be sampling 4 different kinds of cupcakes from the CupCakeBite in Fuquay. I am kind of a cupcake junkie and apparently it was also Ana’s favorite dessert, too J