Lately {17 months}

Lilly Rose turned 17 months this past week! Craziness, right? We are knocking on the door of her being a 1.5 year-old. Hard to believe. This has been one fun month! Lilly gives us something to laugh about daily. I'm also at the point to where some times in disciplining her I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep a straight face. Oh this child of mine.

Here's a few things I want to remember about this past month:

-- Will ask for a snack: "snack, snack" (sounding like nak, nak)

-- Sounding out letters more (A,B,C,D,E, G, P)

-- Everything is a pretend phone: Lilly walks around with her hand up to her ear, toys up to her ear as she talks on the phone. Tonight, it was "Papa... papa... lots of blabber ... Pa!"

-- Likes to say, "Up, Down, Up, Down" (on repeat all the while doing the motions of going up and down)

-- Grabbed my toes and said "Toes" (as she has done to herself as well)

-- Opens favorite books and starts to name things/objects: "Fly" is butterfly, "Pup" is puppy, "Shee" is sheep, "Two" is lady bugs (we count the ladybugs in her counting bug book but each number at the moment is two)

-- New Words: Two, Pup, Toes, Down, Up, Ma (she has started saying MA! instead of mama), Papa, PEEEE (on repeat), Cook which is cookie monster and she's gotten really good at no, no, no, no, no!

Biggest noteworthy accomplishment: Open and closes doors now. I just happened to be sitting in the nursery when LR opened a closed door for the first time. I took pictures as it was happening with my phone. I was shocked. I knew she could reach the handle but didn't think she would figure it out so quickly. Ignore the big Elmo diaper, she had just fed herself applesauce and was stripped down about to be changed for a nap. :)

swinging

We had a fun visit from the Adamson girls on their way home from Disney World!

Learning to color in Cracker Barrel

First time skinning both knees (playing in the park)

Cracker Barrel, again

Lilly's favorite person ;)

It's been a really fun month and I see so much growth just in the past few weeks. Meal times are still our hardest as she is a picky eater. Yesterday, Lilly Rose ate blueberries at a Memorial Day BBQ we went to and I was proud and shocked! A step in the right direction... I'll take it!  Lilly Rose, you sure are a ray of sunshine in our lives. Love you so very much sweet girl.

Making Memories for Tomorrow {17 months}

It's the little things we do that I love so much ...

Baby Jaxx {family baby shower}

This past weekend we celebrated baby-to-be Jaxx Joseph Kriner. We are so excited about adding a baby boy to our family this August. Uncle Ken and Aunt Rosie hosted the Kriner family baby shower on Saturday and it was a really nice time. They always know how to make everything extra special. Seriously, Aunt Rosie thinks of everything. Unfortunately, for blogging and memory sake, I didn't take too many pictures. I was too busy chasing down Lilly Rose, talking... and talking some more! It was nice visiting with family and seeing Jordan, Oana and Carlo blessed with so many things to help them start out this new chapter. I know they sure appreciate it!

All the cousins had time to swim; LR was in heaven!

She wants down so badly...

...and there she goes touching everything. She's pointing to SK, I think she missed the Lucy girls ;)

Always a party with these folks :)

 

Cookie time

 

Cousins

Bye Bye {16 months}

And so it has begun...
I thought this didn't happen until ... 13 years old, maybe? ;)

Mother's Day {thankful}

I don't want this post to be heavy but I can't shake how I feel today. Three years ago on this day, Mother's Day, Billy and I were thrilled to tell our mama's we were expecting a baby! It was a day we had prayed would come for a long time. But, the prior Mother's Days were hard. Really hard. I can remember like yesterday the tears I fought back through the Mothers Day church services because we didn't understand why we couldn't conceive. I wanted to be a Mom so badly. Thankfully, God heard my cries and blessed us with my sweet Lilly Rose.

 

Today, my heart is SO full because I have a little girl who calls me mama. My heart is also sensitive to the heavy hearts who want to be a mama. I remember feeling this way last year and surprised when I woke up feeling the same way again. I guess once you struggle with something, you never forget and remember those who may be in the same situation. So while I am both thankful and prayerful today, I'm also elated. Elated because ... I have a busy toddler who couldn't stay still for a picture with me ... because she's growing beautifully inside and out ... because she's funny and curious and most importantly ... because she's happy and healthy. I am one thankful mama!

And not to be forgotten, my mama who is the best mom, a wonderful example of unconditional love, support and the best "Yaya" my girl could have asked for! :)

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Don't' worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:4-7 

Lately {16 months}

Nap time is happening and it is raining outside, giving me the perfect moment to post our 16 month update. For some reason I always feel like I don't have to do anything productive on rainy days. Luckily, the house isn't a mess... it's just the laundry room that suffers. There is always laundry to do though. :)

A few things I don't want to forget about Lilly Rose at 16 months:

 

-- Puts her hair bow or toy on her/our head & says "bow" & giggles.
-- Points to herself saying, "baby" and points to us and says "mama/dada"
-- Walks around corner (pretending to leave the room) and shouts "bye" with her arm in the air waving. Lilly also will say, "bye-bye" several times as we walk out of her room at night.

-- Likes to take things I hand her, put the item down so she can pick it up herself (snack item, sippy cup, toy).
-- Kisses her "babies" i.e. mickey mouse, Disney princess friends and Elmo... I guess this isn't new I'm just surprised this is still a 'thing' she does often (if not daily).
-- Knocks on bathroom door... I have no privacy. :)

-- Likes to play peek-a-boo: Lilly will hide behind our legs when we are standing and poke her head around and say "Boo!"

-- Takes my hand to point at objects in books or count (she copies actions I've used on her). She can also scroll through pictures on our phones.
 

Noteworthy accomplishments:

April 7th - I was standing at the kitchen sink, looked up and Lilly had just gotten on the rocking horse by herself and rocked for a bit then climbed off.

 

April 12th - Lilly looks at me and says, "Bath" and run towards her bathroom. I asked if she was ready for her bath (it was close to that time) and she giggled with excitement. I thought it was so cute she asked for a bath for the first time. :)

April 14th - fed herself applesauce using a spoon for the very first time. She did really well and I was so proud of her!

Above all else what we do the most, is what Lilly loves the most... PLAY! Lilly Rose stays BUSY...

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Lilly Rose, we love you SO much!!!!!