Princess Bubbles!

Bubbles are very exciting for Lily at this stage! We play this game where I scoop up a handful of bubbles and clap my hands together once, sending tiny bubbles all over the place--I can repeat this twenty times and it never gets old to her. I'm not sure if it's the bubble mess or the element of surprise Lily enjoys, but she just giggles and giggles! It's adorable!

Happy 4th of July!

One of our neighbors coordinated a block party that we attended today. She did a wonderful job of getting so many different people together and the food was fantastic!

Holidays always make us miss our family and friends back home, so the day was bitter sweet. Plus, Eric had to work, which left Lily and me feeling extra sad!

Here's a few pictures from our day:

Lily was fascinated with this Barbie Escalade, it even had a working stereo! Once she and Ava were inside, she did not want the game to end!

Happy 4th of July!

After a long day at the block party, Lily was excited for fireworks!

It was 81 degrees out and raining, but we put on our jackets and enjoyed the show anyway!

Ready for the block party!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Tonight we had our neighbors over for a cookout. Lily loved meeting Lucca, and seeing her friend, Ava, again!

Whether it was through the screen door or the sliding door, both girls wanted to peek in on the baby. It's difficult to convince a toddler to stop a certain behavior after your initial reaction was laughter! I had little nose prints all over the glass by the end of the night!

Berry funny, Lily!

Yesterday after Dagg Park we made Strawberry-Blueberry smoothies at home (Will someone PLEASE open a Jamba Juice in KC?!). Lily enjoyed hers so much that she even stopped using a straw so she could get more of the smoothie, faster!

Tonight Eric and I have a date planned! We rarely get out together, but without family in the area to keep Lily, it's a challenge to keep date nights as a priority. We probably get time together about once every three months...but we're making the best of our situation!

Summer time!

After a quick morning workout we took Lily to Dagg Park (where we had her 1st birthday party) to play in the water. She wasn't as excited about the spray ground as she normally is, but she did love the wading pool! Lily loves being the water, and even though she dunked herself twice, she didn't let that interfere with her fun! I, on the other hand, was in panic mode until Eric saved the day by convincing her to hold his hand! *sigh* My hero!!

Of course, the hardest park about going to the park is actually LEAVING the park! Lily was not happy about our departure and protested the entire way to the car...and once we got to the car...and while we took off her suit and little swimmers...and as we tried to dress her...

We finally gave up and put her into the car seat in nothing but a diaper, which seemed to please her! We turned Taylor Swift on and Lily sang along and ate Goldfish the rest of the way home! But even with all the drama, it was a wonderful way to spend the morning!

22 Months Old!

Today we celebrated Lily's 22nd monthly birthday with a family pool party! We took a trip to Target for new swim wear and beach towels before heading to our neighborhood pool. The evening was just perfect and we had the place to ourselves for the first thirty minutes!

The water was already warm and after that initial shock of realizing it was okay to get wet with "clothes" on, Lily was ready to swim away!

Yikes! Is she really 22 months already?! It's all happening so fast! Sometimes it seems like she's going on five years old, and other times (thankfully) I see that she still is a baby...well, my baby at least.

Recently she called herself "Lily" for the first time. I was asking her what different items are called and then I asked her what my name is. She didn't answer at first so I asked her if I was Lily, and she pointed to herself and said, "No, I Lily!" It really felt like a "big girl" moment for her, although I try not to use that phrase with her.

Surprisingly, she is not oblivious to the differences of a "big girl" and a "baby". A few days later she crawled in my lap and wanted me to carry her in a cradle hold. Distracted, I tried to prop her up, how I normally carry her around the house, but she kept pushing her body back and horizontally. When I finally had her in a cradle hold, she cuddled close to me and said, "baby, baby". I have to admit, it made me soooooo happy and I said, "Yes, Lily, you are mama's baby!" I just love all our close moments and I'm dreading that day when she doesn't want me to carry her anymore!

Happy Father's Day!

I want to recognize my WONDERFUL husband for the INCREDIBLE father that he is! Although I always knew Eric would be a GREAT dad one day, I could not have predicted how well the role would suit him! Thank you for being the leader of our home and loving us both so much!!

Off to Kansas

Poor Lily, she spilled water on her original outfit at CiP and when I rushed to change her, I put her new dress on BACKWARDS!! After an inning or two at the game, I finally noticed and flipped it around!

Notice that her "pack pack" had to come along!

Tonight we headed over to the Legends shopping area for a family night out and I have a few personal recommendations I wanted to share:


First, we had dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Next time you're there, order the Teriyaki Broccoli instead of the fries--you won't regret it! I don't even like teriyaki OR broccoli...but together...with a little garlic (which I also dislike) they blend together to become something amazing!!


Next, we attended a T Bones game. I hadn't been there since a Cerner family fun day in 2006, but I was pleasantly surprised tonight! It is a GREAT place for families and everything costs a lot less than it does at Kauffman! There was so much for Lily to see and do here! We really enjoyed our night out!

Peek A Boo!

Today during Hide & Seek, Lily actually surprised me by finding a new place in our guest bathroom! Her other hiding spots are usually out in the open, just around the corner from where I am counting! This choice makes me believe that she is understanding the game better! I had to laugh when I finally found her--She certainly is creative!!

Loose Park

Today we took a family trip south of the river. Coffee Girls (near 75th & Wornall) is one of my favorite local places so we stopped by for sandwiches and fresh squeezed juices before heading to Loose Park for a stroll.

This visit was especially fun because Lily was excited to see all the ducks and Koi in the pond! She wouldn't get out of the car without her backpack which was a funny sight...sometimes she seems older than 21 months! It actually made us sad to think that she's growing up and will be in Kindergarten in only 3 more years!!

A rock collector's dream!!

Tonight on a family walk Lily came across her greatest discovery to date--a neighbor's landscaping rock pile! The avid collector that she is, you can only imagine her elation! We had to physically remove her from their driveway, but not before she pocketed two of those shiny, smooth stones (Which we later returned).

Last day in Washington

After a wonderful visit, Lily and I had to head home to Kansas City. Our trip was brief, but action-packed!

Auntie Ema came to give hugs & kisses to Lily before our flight

On the plane, Lily spent a short time in her own seat before deciding it was better to be cuddled up on my lap. Unfortunately, Lily had a fever so she spent the rest of the flight asleep!

In Denver, our layover was extended from two hours to three! I thought it was going to be miserable, but thankfully, we found a Jamba Juice kiosk to cheer us up. It's been almost two years since my last trip to a Jamba Juice and I was devastated to discover that The Berry Lime Sublime was taken off the menu!

The best part of our day was actually getting home and seeing Eric for the first time! Lily was so happy to show him her new outfit (Thanks, Auntie Lo & Danielle!) and I couldn't wait to sleep in my own bed! Hopefully our next trip to Washington will be this summer, and this time, we're travelling as a family!

Grandma & Grandpa visit!

Today was extra special because Ed & Christy drove down for lunch and Lily was ready to play!

After a long nap, we headed to Vivian's birthday bbq where Lily and the rest of the little cousins ran wild! The food was AMAZING (I miss Carne Asada) and seeing all the kids together was so much fun!! Although Lily was an infant the last time we were home, she blended in so well with the rest of the kids...it was obvious that this is her family! She just showed up and fit right in--it was almost as if they've known her all along and she's never been away from them! I guess that is one of the many ways families are precious--everyone belongs and we can pick up right where we left off, despite time or distance!

Lily had a great time hitting the pinata, but when it came to collecting the candy, she took a while to catch on! Auntie Marissa had to show her what to do since Lily seemed a little lost in the chaos!

Our trip home

Tonight we are heading home for a short trip to Washington. My cousin is getting married on Saturday and I am a bridesmaid! Although I am sad that Eric won't be joining us on this visit, I am so honored to be part of Liseth and Tim's special day!

Lily is 21 months old!

I can't believe that Lily is 21 months old today! 2 years old is just around the corner! To celebrate her monthly birthday, we bought a pink tricycle! It may be a while before she learns to ride, but this one comes with a parent steering handle and the weather is perfect for playing outside!

Lily is getting into a really animated and interactive stage right now! Her vocabulary increases daily and her coordination has improved tremendously! Last month I wanted to buy knee pads for her because she seemed to scrape a knee or elbow every time she was outside, but this month she has already learned how to gallop!

Sometimes I have to close my eyes when I see her run because her little legs get going so fast--it's the equivalent of the Looney Tunes Road-Runner move! I pray that she doesn't get hurt, but I also expect to hear a crash momentarily. When I look again, she's arrived at her destination and doesn't pause for breath. She usually does something funny, like a dance or silly face, then she's off to another corner of the yard! Lily collects rocks, adores digging in the dirt, and she simply cannot resist splashing in puddles!

The best way to describe Lily right now is to say that her energy is incredible! And it's more than her stamina or activity...it's her character and her heart! She has so much love for people and such a curiosity for the world...it's absolutely poetic! She is emotional and lively, and independent, and vibrant!

And at this stage, she is testing her boundaries and testing our patience. But even on the difficult days, she remains pure light, life, and joy for us!

Lily loves Go-gurt!

After months of enjoying yogurt from a tube, Lily has finally mastered eating it WITHOUT any spills!!

Is there something on my face?

During lunch Lily was very well mannered today--she loves avocado added to her turkey sandwich! She even seemed annoyed that I would rudely interrupt her meal just to take pictures.


But earlier at breakfast, it was a different story! As I stepped away to load the dishwasher she decided to make a huge mess of her turkey and eggs!

We just can't seem to keep our house clean with a toddler around...there's always crumbs or little drips from her cup...some days it feels like I leave one room to start cleaning another, and when I return, the first room is a disaster again!

But the wonderful part about her messes, is that they have really helped me learn to relax and enjoy life more! She is freeing me from unnecessary worry and allowing me to truly experience each moment we share as a family!