8 months old!

Lily is eight months old today and already has her first job! This week we are testing diapers (Pampers brand) and after completing a survey, she gets $10! I am excited to see her little Nest Egg grow and we look forward to teaching her about using money responsibly as she gets older!

As I write this entry, Lily is next to me eating a Saltine cracker and "dancing". She has crumbs in her hair, on her face, and all over the carpet...but she looks more beautiful than ever! I never imagined feeling so much love in my life for someone I am still getting to know. But here I am, teary eyed at how much she's grown. She is a perpetual mess...a whirlwind of excitement and curiosity...with the world at her feet.

I wonder what God has planned for her life. Although I dream of many things for her, I know He has a future for her, greater than I can imagine. I am so grateful we get to be part of it!

Lily's current hobbies include "cruising" (side-stepping around our furniture, holding on the the edge), dancing, giggling, and typing. I used to open a Microsoft Word document and hold her on my lap so she could use the keyboard, but now (thanks to her friend Alexa) she has a little toy laptop of her own.

Another recent development of hers is the Tantrum! Who could have known our sweet little angel was capable of such dramatic behavior? It turns out she is...and she's pretty good at it too!

Well, we are off to celebrate by shopping for new jammies! We hope you have a beautiful day! Hugs & Kisses!

Updated "Comment" function

I know a few people have had trouble leaving comments on the blog so I updated the Comment format. Hopefully this will be easier for everyone to use.

Just playing around

After posting the previous video I decided to play around with the Movie Maker feature on this video. The whole process was actually very relaxing for me! I always enjoyed creating Power Point presentations and I love love love music, so this was a lot of fun! Maybe I found my new hobby?!

This is a longer video comprised of two clips. The first clip was from a few days ago when Lily was in a silly mood. The second was from April 9th, when Lily first started "dancing" and was actually repeating the movement (with some prompting). I added a Jack Johnson song, but wanted to maintain the audio quality of the clips because Lily's laugh is the best part!!

I realize the text passes too quickly, especially because the font is small...the video screen is also much smaller on the blog than when I view it in Movie Maker! I will keep that in mind next time and try to avoid the same mistake. After a few more of these short projects, I am going to tackle a bigger and better one--Making a video for Lily's first birthday!

Movie time

And now for your viewing pleasure...more HOME MOVIES!!

The first clip is of Lily in the morning--hair all cute & crazy and still in her jammies! The second clip is her "dancing"--Maybe KC and the Sunshine Band is playing in her head, "Shake, shake, shake..."

Bits and pieces

Every day Lily does something amazing and I think to myself, "This event has to go on the blog," but by the end of the day, I find myself so exhausted--I have just enough energy to remember that amazing something as a I drift off to sleep! But before I do fall asleep, here are a few thoughts that come to mind...

If given the choice between her colorful books or one of our books/newspapers/magazines, Lily always goes for the latter! Maybe its the noise the pages make as they turn? Maybe its because the pages actually crinkle in her hands? Or maybe she is going to become an editor when she grows up?

Lily is already sharpening her emotional intelligence. If she and Eric are together without me, she is a lot more independent and content. She easily smiles, plays, and takes more risks with her mobility. If its her meal time, Eric actually has to leave the room because he is such a distraction for her--Lily always has to know where he is in the room!

As soon as I join them, Lily gets more vocal and intently watches my face for reactions to her. When I'm around she is less willing to "travel" on her own and definitely plays up the "baby" role! And when we explain something to her in a stern tone, she only waits a second or two before giving us this big, sweet smile in return. Its the kind that even makes her eyes sparkle!

Just this week I noticed Lily has stopped "humming" every time we rock her to sleep. Now its only some times, although she does still make a few other noises. Like the hiccups, I guess this is just another quirk she will outgrow. It makes me sad (surprise, surprise!). I love her little hum and will miss hearing it! Thankfully that is something I do have recorded!

Not surprisingly, Lily is very interested in music. When I was pregnant, I would listen to my iPod at work and secure one of the earbuds to my belly so she could hear the music too. It made me feel closer to her, sharing a part of myself with this little stranger. Recently James Taylor was on TV and Lily stopped playing to watch him perform. Eric and I had to laugh because she doesn't usually watch TV and she was entranced!

I understand most babies like music...but in a small way it felt great to think maybe our prenatal jam sessions meant as much to her as they did to me.

I love this song!

At the top of our page I added something I wanted to share with you all:

Darius Rucker's* song, It won't be like this for long.

The first time I heard this song I was rocking Lily to sleep for her afternoon nap and it made me cry! And not just cry, as in a few silent tears while I pondered the lyrics, I mean cry-cry--as in runny mascara and runny nose weeping as I held her tightly!

Although its written from a father's perspective, it simply captured the mindset that I have with Lily! Every day I try to soak her in, knowing I won't ever get to relive these precious moments with her. She is growing up so quickly, I wish there was a way I could extend her infant-hood! But of course, I will always thank God for the time I am allowed with her!

I hope you enjoy the song and recognize the gift of each day with your own children! Be blessed!

*Yes, the same Darius Rucker from Hootie & the Blowfish...he's gone country!

Easter blessings!

Easter Blessings!

Our home life...

Birthday wishes!

Happy Birthday Auntie Kristen!

Cherub...

It is impossible to communicate the exact feelings and emotions that Lily brings out of Eric and me, but they are so vivid and intense! There is nothing like holding her close and listening to her gentle hum as she gives into sleep. Her precious face loses the usual excited expression, her cheeks and mouth fall into a little pout, her upturned eyelashes flutter a bit...she looks like an angel!

"Blessed" is the only way I can describe my life, because I know I haven't done anything to deserve all the joy, love, and happiness I experience!

Crawling!

After weeks of moving in reverse, Lily started crawling forward for long distances this morning! She's been bunny hopping around the house but today it all finally came together for her as she crawled from one end of the living room to the kitchen!

Quick note...

Lily is changing so much every day! Her current hobbies include bunny-hopping around, growling, and pulling herself up in her crib. Her most recent special talents are drinking from her sippy and tearing paper.

Earlier this week we had a home photo shoot for Easter and we took about 200 pictures! We were having so much fun and Lily looked adorable!

One Year Anniversary!

So, its also the one year anniversary of me leaving my job to stay home and it has been the BEST year of my life for countless reasons!

I am so blessed for the opportunity to be home with Eric and Lily to truly enjoy every moment we have together! With Eric's unique schedule, it was difficult to maintain our lives when I was working Monday-Friday. Now we have the freedom to sleep in, hang out, or vacation as we please. And Lily is such a precious gift! I can't imagine knowing that a babysitter was getting all her hugs & kisses while I was away at work!

God is and has been SO FAITHFUL to provide for us through this year and we are grateful for the knowledge we've gained through this experience! While I realize being a stay at home mom doesn't work out for everyone--I highly recommend it!

Love at first sight!

Today is the one year anniversary since our first ultrasound! That day was so special and wonderful, I knew right away I wanted to create this blog to share our complete joy with everyone we cared about!

In the beginning, I didn't want to find out our baby's gender because I wanted to be surprised in the delivery room, but after I saw the tiny person on screen I knew I wouldn't be able to resist! It was love at first sight and I wanted to know everything I possibly could about our precious baby! Her little profile was beautiful! Her delicate hands with long fingers were lovely! Her calves, because yes, she already had little calves, looked so...familiar!

Leading up the ultrasound I had so many fears about having a baby--the physical pain, a possible miscarriage, stretch marks all over my body, tantrums when she's three, leaving her with a sitter, dropping her off at school, tantrums when she's thirteen, boys she likes, boys who may break her heart, her self-esteem, this list could go on and on! But seeing her dance around my belly, I instantly knew her--my baby girl. And in that same instant, God replaced the fear with His peace; God gave me the wisdom, common sense, and maternal instinct I needed to be Lily's mother.

And knowing her, allowed me to know more of Him.

Our first day without company is always an adjustment as we try to return back to our "normal" schedule. Luckily the house was clean because Lily and I didn't do very much once Eric left for work. We were so tired, we went to bed at 7 PM and didn't wake up until 9 AM!

Yesterday was also Lily's seven month "birthday" and has been wonderful watching her grow! After we travel or have company visit, Lily is always a smarter, more capable baby. The new experiences and interaction with different people truly benefit her! I know she enjoyed all the extra attention from my mom and she also is learning about what can or cannot be tasted.

My mom started saying, "That's not for the mouth" and now if you tell her while she has something she shouldn't, she actually pauses and pulls it away. Sometimes she puts it right back in, but she is making great progress and I am in awe with how quickly kids can learn something new!

This video is from when Lily got her ears pierced and my mom let her have some ice cream. She really enjoyed it!

Goodbye Grammy!

This morning we dropped grammy off at the airport and we are sad to see her go! Our time together was so much fun--every day was packed! Even last night we didn't get to bed until after 2 AM and my mom was up at 5 preparing for her departure!

Sadly, I don't believe she will ever move out here to Kansas City, but I do know that she enjoyed her visit and will be back soon. We are going to miss her terribly and as soon as I got back from the airport I consoled myself with a piece of Carrot Cake from Bristol. It doesn't make up for my mom leaving, but it was delicious!

These are a few random pictures my mom took of Lily during her stay.

New earrings!

After much consideration we decided to pierce Lily's ears on Sunday.It was important to me that my mom was here for this momentous occasion. I will admit that I struggled to commit to it--questioning if I was taking away Lily's freedom to decide--I probably made a bigger deal out of this than necessary. But she is just so precious, I want to be the best mother possible!

Back to Claire's--An added bonus of having my mom there was that she actually held Lily during the procedure, which made me feel better. Of course, there were a few tears (hers and mine) but the new earrings look adorable!

Once we got home let her have a little treat (Rocky Road Ice Cream) because she was such a great sport!

Day one...

"What?! I can't go to bed yet--grammy just got here! The fun is just beginning!"

The first day of grammy's visit has been wonderful so far! Its only 61 degrees, but its been a beautiful, sunny day! We spent the day doing normal, everyday things: enjoying lunch at Panera and then grocery shopping. Nothing too exciting, but just the type of things we would do together if my mom lived in Kansas City! (My plan is working out perfectly...wink wink)


Last night when we picked my mom up from the airport, Lily was sleeping, but as soon as she realized there was a guest in our home she perked right up! She didn't go to sleep until after midnight! Although she was tired, she keep fighting it--She hates to miss a party and loves the extra attention!

Grammy in town for a visit!

Tonight we get to pick my mom up from the airport and we are looking forward to a great visit! Yesterday it was 80 degrees and gorgeous outside! I really hope the weather stays nice through the weekend so we can spend time outdoors. During her visit we have a night out at P&L and visits with friends planned. We want to convince my mom to move here! I will keep you posted on whether we are successful or not!

This week is going by so quickly--I think it is due to the anticipation of a guest! Of course I wanted to deep clean our home in preparation of my mom's arrival and that turned into a massive spring cleaning. That part was a blessing in disguise because I wanted to get around to it sooner, but the task seemed overwhelming and I couldn't motivate myself. Knowing we would have company this week, I was able to get it all done in two days!

De-cluttering our lives was one of my "resolutions" for this year and I am proud to say that we are doing well in that area as far as "stuff" goes. Once, a terrible pack-rat, now I feel a sense of accomplishment seeing the donation pile grow, the trash get tossed, and our space become more simple. I can't say the change happened over-night...I still want to keep things with sentimental value!

Now that we have less junk lying around, I hope my mom can offer some decorating tips for a new summer look.

Below is a picture I found of Lily and Parker. Tara and I probably couldn't take enough pictures of these two when they are together--The love each other!!

I knew she was advanced!

Today Lily pulled herself up in her crib, from a seated position into a standing position. Watching her figure out the mechanics of movement is fascinating and also very funny! Thankfully she was supervised while playing and now we know it is time to adjust her crib into stage 2!

She also made another phone call today! As most of you know, it is difficult for me to make a long story short, so I will share all the details:

Lily loves cell phones! I think it might be because the screen lights up when she presses the keys?? So I found my old cell phone and sanitized it for her this morning so she could have her very own.

While reading the paper this evening, I thought I heard a little voice talking. It sounded far away, so I figured it was outside...But after about thirty seconds I could still hear it. I looked away from my paper and over at Lily, who was in her jumper...jumping like crazy and being very noisy! Then it hit me--the voice was coming from her cell phone! I grabbed the phone and was shocked to discover a T-Mobile customer service representative on the other end of the line!

Somehow Lily turned the phone on and actually dialed 611! I could not believe that the representative stayed on the line for so long, but she had listened to Lily for nearly a minute! I didn't realize the phone still had a Sim card or that the battery was working after all this time. I am just glad she didn't dial 911 instead!

Clearly I need to consider things more thoroughly in the future...but of course it does make me laugh! Only my daughter could be given an old, broken, cell phone that is turned off and still find a way to call and chat with someone!

Open for Business!

Its official--EOSnutrition is open for business!

EOSnutrition is Eric's online store featuring sports and nutritional supplements.

Eric has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and I am so proud that he is actively pursuing his dreams!

Please visit his site: WWW.EOSNUTRITION.COM

Home movies

Lily's seven month "birthday" is coming up soon and sadly, I actually struggle to remember what it was like when we first brought her home! I am so glad we have lots of pictures and videos of her because the time has passed too quickly! I am so blessed to be able to stay home with Lily, I hate to think of all the precious moments I would miss out on if I had to leave her with a sitter Monday through Friday (But, because I love to torture myself, I do occasionally imagine myself in that scenario and it almost brings me to tears)!

Being home to truly watch her grow and learn is such a blessing! I wanted to share a few of our latest clips. I hope you enjoy them!

"Pool honeys!"

Lily has always loved the water. Now that she is outgrowing her baby bath tub, I occasionally like to take her "swimming" in our tub. She hasn't really learned to splash yet, but she does enjoy when the jets are on. She also likes to lay on her back in the water and "float". I look forward to when she wants to start taking bubble baths because I've heard the jets help create a crazy bubble mess! Its going to be so much fun!

Lazy day!

Today was a lazy day for our family--our favorite kind!!

Lily is so curious and silly--its unbelievable how she's developing! She keeps us laughing with her funny faces and monologues--it's the best part of our days! I wasn't sure if we could enjoy parenting more than we did when she first arrived, but each day keeps getting better!

We are so blessed!!

Fan Mail

Hello, loved ones!

Have you ever wanted to submit a question about Lily or a private comment about this blog but were unsure how to do so? Have you ever had a poll suggestion or maybe an entry of your own that you would like to see published on this page? Are you curious about sending an email directly to the little princess herself?

Well now you can! I've created a new email address specifically for readers of our blog to provide feedback, ask questions, and most importantly, communicate* with Miss Smith! Please note the address: sweetlilybelle@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Hugs & Kisses!


*: As unusual as it may be, I like to write letters to Lily; Letters about our time together in the present moment, letters about the future, letters about what she means to you and me. As she gets older, I want her to be able to look back and know what her life was like even if she doesn't remember. If you would like to submit a similar type of letter, a bible verse, or a blessing for her future, it will be included in her memory box.

Baby news

I recently found out that a friend of ours is pregnant with her first child. Talking with her about pregnancy and parenthood lately has been so much fun because it allows me to reminisce about my own experiences--I actually miss being pregnant!! Its such a beautiful thing: Knowing a tiny baby is being knit together inside of you. Its hard to comprehend how God set such special plans in place...New life is a true miracle!

Of course I advised her to cherish every moment of being pregnant and encouraged her to document her journey more thoroughly than I did with my own...I just didn't realize how quickly the memories would fade or how much I would love the experience. Does it sound odd that I sometimes want to re-live that time? I certainly don't mean I want to be pregnant a second time, I just mean that I would like to re-do 2008 again--I enjoyed it so much!

6 month check up

Today was Lily's six month check up--She is 27.5 inches long and she weighs 17 pounds 13 ounces. That puts her in the 75-90% for weight and 95% for height! She was a little more sensitive after her immunizations today than she has been at previous appointments, but quickly cheered up after a visit from her friend Parker!

Her second tooth also finally came through her gums today--the right lower central incisor. Tonight while playing with a teething toy she actually bit her lip and made it bleed! So many tears in one day...Its been a long day, even for me!

Even now, I still tear up when she cries from pain or discomfort! I don't know how I'll handle her first scraped knee, bike wreck, or broken heart! She's such an angel, I wish I could protect her from all the disappointments she'll face later in life.

6 months old today!

Well the day finally arrived--My baby is six months old!

In some ways it seems like our first days together, when she was fragile and so delicate, were ages ago! But, it also seems like just yesterday when I saw her tiny face and heard her little cry for the first time!

There is so much I want to say about what this time means to me, but I know I've said most of it all before...Not surprisingly, these have been the best six months of our lives! Each day is filled with so much joy and love--we are blessed beyond belief!




To celebrate her half birthday we decided to get some Gerber Biter Biscuits. Although the package says they are intended for children ten months and older, we bought them anyway. Lily handles her little celery and carrot sticks so well, I knew she would be okay with the biscuit. What I didn't know was how messy it would be!

After a few minutes with the biscuit it was obvious she would need a bath and fresh clothes. But watching her taste the new flavor and examine the cookie made it more than worth the clean up effort! I love watching her learn and I am excited for what the next six months will bring!

Lunch date

Today Lily and I had a lunch date with a former co-worker, Dawn (Please see Bass Family in Our Friends section to learn more about her). Dawn and I have talked about getting together for nearly a year and it finally happened!

Of course, it was fun to hear about what I'm "missing out on" at my old job (wink, wink) but the best part was actually seeing her and being able to continue our friendship right where we left off...it was almost as if 10 months hadn't passed since I last saw her. I guess that's the great thing about her blog--I've been able to read about their family's daily life and still feel connected to her.

Lily was very well behaved at lunch and she took to Dawn naturally (Maybe she could tell Dawn had some previous experience with babies and she felt safe?). Lily hasn't yet reached a point where she feels uncomfortable with new people, but she does do better with some than with others!

I asked Eric to take a picture of us today since we matched (Some might say, "Matchy, matchy, green squared!"). Below is Lily showing off her shiny new tooth! Its hard to get a clear picture of it because every time I try, she sticks her tongue out.

Personal Endorsement: Nature Babycare

As a new mom I was concerned with the amount of trash we would generate using disposable diapers but I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of sanitizing cloth diapers every night either!

After trying Luvs, Pampers Swaddlers*, Huggies Gentle Care, and Seventh Generation diapers, I finally found a diaper I love--Nature Babycare!

• Nature babycare diapers are 100% chlorine-free and keep oil-based plastics away from baby's delicate skin.


• The absorbent pulp is from sustainably harvested Scandinavian forests and the unique design of the ultra-thin absorbent core creates a more comfortable fit for baby while providing enhanced leak protection.


• Nature babycare was awarded "Best Disposable Diaper" Silver Award for 2006-2007 by Mother & Baby Magazine and also carries the approval symbol from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

Nature Babycare also makes other baby essentials!

To learn more about the company or find a local retailer, please visit their website: http://www.naty.com/

*: Pampers Swaddlers are still my diaper of choice for a newborn baby because they are SUPER SOFT and include a wetness color indicator line (newborn size only) which is very helpful for first time parents!

Updates...

I've had a few people ask me what we decided to do about getting Lily's ears pierced since I forgot to post an update. From our winter poll it was clear that voters did NOT want her to get them pierced and those people will be happy to know that we did NOT pierce them in December.

However, that does not mean we will wait until she's 16 or anything like that! We are waiting until we both agree the time is right and you can bet as soon as we get them done, I will post lots of pictures!

Lately Lily is spending more time on her tummy. She has already mastered moving backwards, but has yet to move forward. A few times last week she pulled her knees up under her and started rocking back and forth. I don't believe she will crawl before her six month birthday, but it appears she is ready to get moving soon!

Now that she's older, there is no doubt that Lily's personality is more similar to mine, than to Eric's. She sometimes gets this adorable, but mischievous, look in her eyes that I know we will see more of as she grows up! If Eric and I are busy and she's trying to talk to us, she will keep raising her voice until we stop and pay attention to her. Then she gives us this cute little look and we both know we've been suckered--Its only for a few seconds, but it seems like she's saying, "See. I knew I would get my way...eventually! You have to work hard for what you want, and I didn't give up!"

Of course, I know that as she matures, she will ONLY use her persuasive abilities and that cute little look for the power of good! Ha ha...yeah right!

And so the trouble begins...

As I picked out Lily's clothes for the day and got her bath time stuff together, I left her with my "locked" cell phone, knowing I would only be out of the room for a moment--Imagine my surprise when I return to her room and Lily was on a call with Grammy! I thought perhaps my mom had called and Lily answered (incoming calls can be answered by pressing only one button), but no--Lily somehow placed the call to my mom!

I guess it really isn't that difficult to do...once you get the phone unlocked the screen has my "5 Faves" (or whatever they're called) pulled up. She just had to scroll down and press Call. Getting the phone unlocked seems like the hard part!

The funniest part is that she skipped over Eric's number (Daddy doesn't answer his cell phone when he's working) and Marissa's number (Auntie doesn't take calls before 10:00)...she called Grammy instead, knowing that if there is someone in the world who wants to hear Lily breathing into a phone at 7:00 AM--its her Grammy!

If she's already making calls at this age, I don't know how we'll be able to limit her cell phone use when she's older!

Thank you!

Thanks to my sweetheart for the Valentines delivery!

Its crazy to think that Eric took me on our first Valentines date back in 2002! I can remember every detail of that night! We went to dinner at Tony Romas and he gave me a card, a gold rose pin, a special "mixed tape" cd (with R&B--ha ha!), and the soundtrack to A Walk to Remember (The first movie we saw together).

After dinner we went on a double date with friends to the "beach" (aka river bank). It seemed like the boys had thought of everything--sparkling cider, a bon fire, conversation hearts, and a discman & little computer speakers!

The night ended by getting in trouble for being late for curfew, but it's still such a great memory! We were just kids back then!

I am so blessed that Eric and I are still best friends. We've truly grown up together! Our relationship wasn't perfect over the years, but our hearts were always connected. Eric is such a gift in my life, I could not have asked God for a better husband!

Valentines...

Happy Valentines Day to all our family and friends!

Hugs & Kisses!

Home movies

When Eric is at work my creativity for home movies is limited because it seems like the only way I can safely film Lily is when she is secure in a seat or toy. Even though most of the movies turn out similar, I still can't help but keep filming her! She's growing so much, I want to capture every moment! Below is just a glimpse of the loveliness that fills my day!

Lily eating a cucumber

Lily chatting

Growing so quickly!

Children grow so quickly. Its a phrase often repeated, but only truly understood by a parent. As Lily's six month "birthday" approaches I question where the time went...It doesn't seem like half a year has passed since she was born. When I remember our first week home with her, I am impressed with how she's developed in such a short period of time--her communication skills, her social skills, her coordination--she's blossoming into a little girl!

This week has been so much fun for our family as we learn more about what she likes. As soon as Eric walks in the room, she lights up and lets out a squeal of delight, ready to laugh and play--even if she was about to fall asleep moments earlier! Although anyone can put her down for a nap, when its bedtime, she clearly prefers for me to rock her! She spends most of her day "talking" and sometimes its hard for Eric and I to hold a conversation because Lily has so much she wants to "say" we are left trying to talk over her during dinner. And when it comes to sleeping style, she prefers her side or her tummy now that she can maneuver into a different position.

It is so strange to me that I ever thought I would return to a full time job after she was born! I absolutely love every day we have together because each new thing she does is like a surprise! Each giggle and smile feels like a reward and I would hate to miss out on such sweet gifts!

Lower Central Incisor!

Lily's first tooth broke through the skin of her gums today!

Its so exciting to watch her grow up--I couldn't have asked for a better "job" than to be her mother!

Birthdays

We want to wish HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Grandpa Ed and Auntie Lo!

Let me know if you need help blowing out your birthday candles!

Hugs & Kisses!

Family Pictures

(Double click on images to enlarge them)

We took family pictures today and Lily had a great time!

She is such a natural in front of the camera!

Sometimes when Lily's eating, she will suddenly stop, pull away, and just look at me for a few seconds. With milk on her face, she gives me this sweet, silly grin that I can only describe as pure joy! She quickly goes back to eating, but will repeat the process a few times and it always makes me laugh.

Because her initial look is one of concern and then she gives me a smile, it seems like she's just checking to make sure I'm still there with her. Maybe she's just playing a little game? These tiny moments with her are like a precious treasure!

Our delicate flower!

(Double click on images to enlarge them)