Lilly Rae - Week 26

Sunday, December 9

We went shopping today because I was determined to find a monkey hat for Lilly that I had seen another baby wearing and I knew I had to have it (look at Wednesday's pictures to see it).  We were walking around Old Navy and I went to take Lilly out of her stroller because she was fussing and I realized she had peed through her diaper.  Of course, the one time we don't have a change of outfit...Luckily we were in a clothing store!  So we bought Lilly a new pair of pants and I changed her in the bathroom.  It was funny walking up the register and handing the clerk a tag and explaining that my daughter was wearing the pants.  Somehow I doubt that is the first time that has happened in the store, but it was the first time for us!

One of my favorite things is trying to take Lilly's weekly picture.  She is so curious now and wants to see, feel and eat everything, that it has become absolutely hilarious to try to get her to sit still with the paper.  I even have a video of it this time.

I know I say this every week, but I cannot believe my baby is 26 weeks old!  It's hard to imagine what life was like before Lilly.

 Cheese!

Here Daddy, let me help you with that. 

 I'll take that!

 Ok, so this does not make a very good blanket afterall

 Wait, I didn't taste it yet!

 I wonder how I can fit something this big in my mouth...

 Oooooh, something new to put in my mouth!

 Hey, Ma!  Can I have the camera for a minute?

Dad!  Mommy's not sharing!

Monday, December 10

Six months ago today my life was forever changed.  Darren and I were blessed with the most perfect and beautiful baby girl I have ever seen.  My dream of becoming a mom was finally a reality and I have been thankful every day since.  I am always amazed at how much I loved Lilly the second I saw her, but I am even more amazed that my love for her has actually grown stronger each day.  Happy sixth month birthday Lilly Rae!

 Lilly is clearly miserable at Miss Kristi's house ;o)

 I don't know why, but I love this picture!  Lilly is eating her doll with no hands, which is a little strange, but the way she has scrunched up her nose is so cute!

 I was more focused on cuddling today than taking pictures, but here are a few of us playing on her mat.

Tuesday, December 11

I am amazed how dexterous Lilly has become.  She is really good at grabbing toys now.  I love watching her explore her toys and learn how to use her fingers.  I took a lot of video of her doing this today, but the blog only let me upload a few clips.  One of the funniest things was Lilly throwing her toy off of her tray over and over and making me get it.  It was kind of like a game of fetch and I wad the dog!

Also, see if you notice anything different about Lilly in these pictures...

 Did you notice??  My eye is completely clear!  No more blocked tear duct!!!!

Wednesday, December 12

It was finally cold enough for Lilly to wear her monkey hat!!!  It's sad that I was hoping for cold weather in order to put a hat on my baby...

How cute is this hat???

Lilly has been doing an amazing job eating solid foods.  She is always happy sitting in her chair (especially when Daddy comes to tickle her!) and she demolishes her cereal and fruit/vegetable every night.  I made her pureed banana and she didn't love the flavor at first since she was used to only the bland cereal, but she got used to it and now she really likes it.

Thursday, December 13

I think we have the happiest baby in the world (though I might be a little biased).  Her smile makes my heart melt every time. These are some of my favorite pictures of Lilly thus far.

I absolutely love our bedtime routine.  I am a creature of habit, so it is very relaxing for me to give Lilly her bath, play with her and read her stories before feeding her.  She just loves playing in the bath, so that makes it a lot of fun for us as well.

 Darren was tickling Lilly with the pull strings of his hoodie and she was giggling.  It was adorable!

 Lilly has to have her own washcloth in the bathtub.  She likes to chew on it and also suck on it!  I know she probably shouldn't be "drinking" that bath water, but oh well!  :o)

 This is one of my new favorite pictures of Lilly!  The firs time we tried to post it on Facebook it was remove for inappropriate content!  Eeeek!  

 Monkey toes!!!  Lilly loves it when we pour water over her toes.  She lifts up her feet and splays out all of her toes and then curls them to try to "catch" the water

 I will never get tired of taking or posting these pictures, just as I will never get tired of watching Darren read to our baby.  He is such a great father!

Friday, December 14

Tonight was really funny.  Darren had picked up the 6 month checklist from the doctor's office early (thanks for the advice Michelle!) so we could see if she did any of the behaviors that were listed.  One of the things asked if she could pick up a small object like a Cheerio.  I had never tried this before, so I tested it out.  I didn't have any Cheerios, so I used a Rice Krispie.  I put one on her tray and she was scraping her hand across the tray at first try to get it and then whens he finally picked it up, I jumped out of the chair and cheered!!  It was so funny!  I cheered for her every time she did it and also made Darren watch.  I was so proud of her!  We tried a few other behaviors as well (wrapping her hand around a small toy, standing up while we held her hands...etc) and Darren and I cheered and just beamed at her every time.  It was really cute!

We have discovered a way to eat dinner at the same time...give Lilly the iPad and turn on PBS kids!  :o)

Saturday, December 15

 Going for a walk in our stroller!  Enjoying nice weather in mid December!  We love the south :o)

We tried peas for the first time tonight.  Check out the video to see how Lilly reacted.

 You can't see in this picture, but we bought Lilly baby's first Christmas PJs and she is wearing them.  I can't wait for her first Christmas!

Darren calls this her parade balloon pose.  :o)

Lilly Rae - Week 25

Sunday, December 2

Lilly loves anything shiny, including the laptop.  She entertains really loves sitting at he computer with Daddy and watching him check all of his deal sites to try to find a new TV that mommy will actually let him buy ;o)

We met all the Smiths and Michelle's parents in downtown Fuquay for the Christmas parade.  It is nice to live so close because we were able to walk to the parade.  Darren held Lilly in her carrier the entire time.  She really loves being able to see everything.  I was worried about the loud noises of the parade, but Lilly didn't seem to mind.  Darren covered her ears when things got too loud, but overall, she enjoyed it!

Afterwards Chad came over and helped Darren hang some Christmas lights.  It really feels like Christmas now!  I cannot wait for Lilly's first Christmas!

My baby is getting so big!  She sits up with just a little protection from her Boppy pillow and she has so much personality now.  We are definitely going to need to figure out a new way to take her weekly picture because she is determined to get the paper sign every time now!

 Lilly loves to sing, just like Mommy!

 Lilly loves watching Maggie and laughs hysterically when Maggie gets crazy or starts to give her kisses on the hand.  I am glad that Lilly is getting exposed to animals now and that Maggie behaves around Lilly.

Monday, December 3

It was so nice today we had to enjoy a walk around the neighborhood.  I bet we have walked the neighborhood a hundred times the past 9 months or so.  We walked every night the last few months of my pregnancy and we walked almost every day this fall as well.  Lilly loves it.

Tuesday, December 4

How funny is this picture?  Lilly is sitting in the recliner and watching the TV!  I set her down sometimes while I get myself ready to feed her and this time she just sat quietly and looked at the TV.  Luckily I had my camera close by and caught the moment.

Wednesday, December 5

Kristi caught a couple of cute pictures of Lilly today.  Lilly likes to sit in her Bumbo seat on the couch and play with the big girls at Kristi's house.  She also likes to practice her new trick: chewing on her toys with no hands!

Thursday, December 6

Today was Darren’s birthday.  Michelle and Chad were so nice and offered to watch Lilly while I took Darren out to dinner to one of his favorite restaurants, Tyler’s Taproom.  When we returned to their house, we had cake and Lilly helped Darren blow out the candles.  

Darren opened his presents back at our house and was very happy that Lilly had bought him a golf Groupon!  She knows how much her Daddy loves her, but she also knows that he needed some time to himself :o) 

Friday, December 7

Lilly is so talkative in the car on the way home from Kristi's house.  Darren and I sit in the front and just laugh sometimes because she just babbles and coos to herself for the entire 10 minutes.  Sometimes she even hums herself to sleep.  It is the cutest thing!  She will be humming with her eyes closed and we can tell she is starting to go to sleep because the humming slowly tappers off and then stops.  She usually wakes up as soon as we get in the house, so we snapped a few pictures of her in the carseat to remember the moment.

There are few things I love more than watching Darren read to Lilly at night.  She really loves the books that play music and the touch and feel books.  She also loves a book called "Moo, Baa, La La La" because when we read it, we make all of the animal noises and she thinks it is hilarious.  I love reading to her!

Saturday, December 8

Lilly and I joined Jared, Carissa and Addie at the Holly Springs Christmas parade today while Darren went on a golf outing.  I held Lilly in her carrier during the parade and she was perfectly content.  She was definitely tired afterwards because she passed out on the way home.  It was so cute I needed to take a picture.

 Oh Mommy!  You keep trying to get me to crawl, but I don't wanna!

 Hmmm...what is this on the blanket?

 Hi Mommy!

 Ok, enough with the pictured already

Oh sheesh, you're still there!