These boots are made for walkin'

Lilly, Hank and I just couldn't stay inside another minute. Its beautiful here today; sunny with not a cloud in the sky and no wind. But its still only 40 degrees. So, to go for a walk I had to bundle Lilly up (luckily Hank required no extra layers).

If you look really, really close you can see Lilly's face underneath the blanket and hood.

Christmas, Christmas and more Christmas

First, I must apologize for this, the much anticipated Christmas blog, being so late. But, as you will clearly see our little family was quite busy the past couple of weeks.

We weren't home on the actual Christmas so we celebrated on the Saturday before the 25th. Santa came early and everything, then later that night my family joined us for Christmas dinner. Although she wasn't very adept at opening or unwrapping any presents, Lilly seemed to notice and enjoy her new gifts and toys. But, as you'll see in the last picture she took the most joy from violently jerking the bows off of gifts that were intended for others.

Here is Lilly sitting with the toys that Santa brought for her...evidently she was a very good girl this year.

Lilly and her Daddy Guy testing out the new walking toy. It also folds down and turns into a ride on toy. She seems to like it!

Lilly and Hank both took an interest in the musical animal parade as it rolls across the living room.

Christmas night, this is Lilly carefully removing the bow from a gift that was for my mom.

Sunday morning we packed ourselves up in the, literally, freezing cold to meet my dad's family for our annual Christmas brunch. This picture of my cousin Kelly's two girls, Ansley and Kennedy, Lilly and my dad's mom was taken after brunch. Suffice it to say, getting an 8 month old, a 9 month old and a two and a half year old to all sit still and smile was a challenge we weren't up for. So we focused on the holding still part.
Wow! What a weekend. But, we still weren't done.

On Christmas Eve we packed up the car and drove five hours in the pouring rain to eastern Kentucky to spend the rest of the holiday with Bryan's family. We had a great time and it was a traditional Christmas, complete with a tree, "A Christmas Story" marathon and of course 74 degree weather.

All in all it was a great 1st Christmas for Lilly and she can't wait for next year. Bryan and I will probably just be getting rested up from this year by the time next Christmas rolls around.

Ode to the Doodle

This post is dedicated to the member of our family that has recently and graciously stepped aside and given away his spot as most favored dependant. Hank has accepted his new position as #2 very well. He shares his toys with Lilly, while seeming to understand that he shouldn't play with hers. He is gentle with her and allows her to crawl on him, pull his hair and investigate his feet and tail. When he has had enough he waits until she is clear and then he gets up and just moves away. He doesn't steal food from her, but he does like to lick her face after she has had her juice.

Bryan and I have known for a while that we got lucky with our pound puppy, he is so good natured and well behaved. But, we didn't realize until Hank and Lilly started to interact what a truely good dog he is.

Gymboree

This past Thursday Lilly and I had to miss Gymboree, so we decided to do our makeup class on Saturday so The Daddy Guy could come. It was a lot of fun. Today we worked on balance, Lilly got to sit on a lambskin so she could be pulled up and down a few different slides in the playroom. It was supposed to help her learn to maintain her balance and body position while moving. While the slides were fun she was anxious to show her Daddy Guy what we did last week, which was crawl through tunnels. Here she is crawling through one of the longer tunnels, she had to be lured in with a ball. She's just like the Doodle in so many ways.

Here's Lilly at the end of class. She is enjoying some parachuet time, there is singing, a clown puppet and the best part of Gymboree...bubbles. She's quite taken with them and is very serious. While other babies crawl around, giggling and reaching for the bubbles, Lilly sits stone faced, gently touching any that happen to land on her.

Standing room only

Lilly riding her Lion with some assistance from the Daddy Guy.

I told you guys she could stand up!

She crawls right up to the table and climbs up on it. She's getting pretty sturdy on those little fat legs.

Go Cats

Bryan and Lilly spent the day together on Saturday: crawling around, pulling up on the furniture and watching the Kentucky basketball game. Aren't they cute in their matching outfits? But, that's not really the point now is it?

I said...crawling around and pulling up on the furniture. Yes, Lilly is quite mobile and has been for some time now. However, climbing up the coffee table and recliner are relatively new tricks. Then, just tonight she attempted to take a wobblely step from the table to Hank. She vastly over estimated her abilities, but attempted it just the same. Big Girl!

Lilly seems to be getting bigger every day and more curious every hour! She crawls everywhere and trys to get into everything. Some examples include...magazines and papers, Hanks toys, anything left on the coffee table or living room floor, anything on a low bookshelf, Christmas ribbon and of course the most coveted item...the dog's water. Its getting to be alot of fun at our house...and by the end of the day all four of us are worn out! Good night.

Exersauce

Lilly loves her exersaucer and Bryan and I feel that exersauce is very important for a peanut so we encourage her to use the exersaucer often, but this isn't exactly what we had in mind.

Thanksgiving

It was Lilly's first Thanksgiving. We ate dinner at my Uncle Chris's in Crawfordsville, packed up some leftovers and headed out to the cabin for our traditional thanksgiving bonfire and four wheeler riding. We dressed Lilly in some camo so she would fit in, but had no idea how cute she would be in it...or that she would so closely resemble an ewok from Star Wars. Here she is sitting on the Daddy Guy's lap, enjoying some apple juice.

This is me, my aunt Tracy, Lilly and my mom. On Thanksgiving day my aunt and mom had on similar black sweaters and it was obvious that Lilly was confused about who was who.

A close up of the little ewok with her aunt Tracy.

Here we are in the cabin. We had to get a picture of Lilly in the cabin to prove that she had seen it, hopefully there will be a new cabin next time she visits. Hint hint Dad and Chris.

Lilly got arrested

I'm not sure what she did, but evidently Lilly was arrested today.

Hank and Lilly share their toys

Hank and Lilly get along better than a lot of siblings, tonight they were even sharing their toys...well...sharing Hank's toys anyway. He never bothers her toys, he seems to understand that they aren't for him. But, Lilly doesn't quite play fair. She crawled right up to Hank and took his toy from him. He licked her on the hand and then sat watching her, waiting patiently for her to loose interest so he could take it back.

We couldn't be more proud of Hank. He may look ferocious, but he is gentle and sweet and seems to know that he has to be very careful with Lilly. He will also bring his toys to her, the same way he does with Bryan and I, he'll hold it out to her and when she reaches for it he will pull it away. He wants her to chase him and try to get it from him...it won't be long and he'll have his wish!

Messy dinner

Lilly is just begining to put eatable items into her own mouth, as opposed to the many non-food items that find their way there every day. So tonight at dinner while we fed her some green beans and rice cereal we also put some melt away sweet potato puffs on her high chair. As you can clearly see not only did a few of the puffs make it to her mouth, but the green beans and cereal some how traveled from her mouth to her chin, forehead, nose, eyebrows, ears, hair and even a little on her elbow.

Fixin' the swing

Lilly is planning to ask Santa for a creeper for Christmas...she hates laying on the ground to work on her swing.

That's just how she rolls.

She's a pro now. Sitting up is no sweat for Lilly now...she can even do other adorable things while sitting up without falling over.

Peanut is trying to crawl. Bryan can't wait...I'm content with just sitting up. At least if she is sitting up she is sitting still. When she is crawling all hell will break loose and I won't have a moment's rest.

The elusive game of peek-a-boo, rarely caught on tape.

Gymboree

Lilly and I started Gymboree today. Gymboree is just a fun little play and music class for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. There are toys and games that are developmentally appropriate for each age group, songs, and just some really cool sensory objects, like bubbles and a parachuet. Lilly is in the six to ten month class, most of the kids are learning to crawl or crawling. She really seemed to like it, especially "baby soccer". A small beach ball is rolled into the center of the ring and all the Mamas hold their babies under their arms and use the baby's feet to "kick" the beach ball around the circle. Lilly watched the ball intently and waited for it to be her turn to "kick" it. When it was she smiled really big and laughed out loud. So five stars for Gymboree today, but no stars for my lack of pictures...sorry.

Playing on the floor

Kind of a boring night, just sitting (that's right sitting) on the living room floor and playing. But, its far from boring for Miss Lilly. She is sitting up really well now and getting more involved with the world around her. She is more interested in her toys now more than ever and can even play by herself for a little while without being entertained. She also interacts with us a little more each day. Hopefully soon I'll be able to capture on film and post some pictures of Lilly and the Daddy Guy's nightly game of "peek-a-boo". Its hilarious and really cute, but more on that later.

Walking in the woods

We went to my parents house on Sunday to take advantage of the nice weather and let Hank stretch his legs. Lilly really seemed to enjoy walking in the woods too. She just looks around, taking it all in. And of course, she loves to ride on the Daddy Guy!

Children's Museum

A little out of order, but that's o.k... This picture is from Friday. Lilly, Avery, Tania(Avery's mom) and I spent the morning at the Children's Museum. The girls seemed to have a good time. There was a specific area geared especially for little ones under age two and we spent the entire time in there. This picture that Tania took was just too cute to not post for everyone to see! Lilly is riding a foam cow.

Avery's 1st Birthday

Lilly was invited to her friend Avery's 1st birthday party at Carter's Toy Museum on Saturday. She had a great time, riding rides and tasting her first cake frosting. Although, she seemed to enjoy the rides better before we put the quarter in.

Halloween

A baby giraffe escaped today from the Traylor Wildlife Refuge.

She was wild and hard to track.

But, not to worry, the rangers were eventually able to round her up.

The whole ordeal really seemed to wear her out.

Look what I can do!

She's not going to win any olympic medals or anything, but Lilly can sit up. We're so proud!

Shoulder Rides

Now that she has the hang of it, Lilly loves shoulder rides!

Getting cold

Its starting to get colder and we all know what that means....an even cuter Peanut in hats, mittens, sweaters and fuzzy jammies.

Lilly in the baby "jeep"

I couldn't resist posting this...

Bryan, Lilly and I went last night to tour the Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home. This is how Bryan and Lilly went through the house. The first time Bryan "wore" Lilly he seemed unsure and a little embarassed. However, that quickly changed when all the women, young and old, started telling him how cute they both were. Now everywhere we go he's like "shouldn't we take the carrier?"

Day at Grandma's

Lilly and I spent the day at my parent's house yesterday. She seems to enjoy being outside. She just sits quietly and looks around, taking it all in.














The Peanut and the Doodle are resting together after playing outside. They're great friends. Lilly gets excited when he comes up to her to say hi, she flails her hands and then he licks her and she laughs.

October 12, 2008

Bryan's parents came to visit us this weekend from Russell Kentucky. On Saturday we spent the day in downtown Zionsville for the Friendly's annual chili cookoff. Lilly didn't eat any chili, but Bryan and his dad ate her share. Then on Sunday we took advantage of the nice weather to go to Pumpkinfest at the Country Market (or the dump depending on how long you've lived here). Lilly had alot of fun. She rode a barrel that was painted to look like a cow with a horse's head, she got to pick out her very first pumpkin and see her first pony. She really liked the pony (hint hint Grandpa). Well, actually she barely noticed the pony, she was more interested in her own feet. But, she did think the pumpkin was pretty cool. Oh yeah, and Bryan milked a wooden cow!

October 10, 2008

Good News. Lilly was feeling so much better today that she decided to try her very first shoulder ride. Her Daddy Guy was happy to oblidge. Although, he looks a little nervous. She has a history of spitting up at inopportune moments. Now that would have made for a good picture!

October 8, 2008

Poor little Peanut. She has her first cold. She is cranky and fussy with a runny nose and puffy eyes, but we still think she is cute. We thought you guys would too!

Pictures

Just a couple more pictures for your viewing pleasure.