Birthday Party Pics

Waiting for the guests to arrive!
The older cousins waiting to hit the pinata!

My Husker Cutie and handsome hubby!

It's my birthday!

I'm one!

Not sure about this cake stuff mom.

Happy Birthday to Lily!

Playing with her new toys.

My Tutu Princess.

This gift came all the way from California...thanks Aunt Becky and Uncle Gary!

Opening her first present.

Get this hat off me mommy!

Pretty girl!

Yeah for me...I'm one today!

Lily's butterfly cake.

I'm a little late at posting these, but here are some pics from Lily's first birthday party. Lily spent the day with friends and family. She opened up lots of presents, ate some cake, watched the Huskers win, played with lots of new toys, and zonked out at the end of the night.

If anyone was watching the Channel Six news that Saturday, Lily was on during the First Birthday Segment. It was fun to see her on TV!

Thank you to all of our friends and family who were able to come and celebrate with our little girl. You helped us be able to make this a very special day for her.

One Year Checkup

Mommy cuddles post pokes.
Playing in the room before Dr. Russell came in.
Examined by Dr. Russell

Big girl!

Lily gained 3 pounds since her 9 month visit.

Lily had her one year well baby visit today with Dr. Russell. She is doing great! She is growing well...growing tall and slimming down...just like her Daddy. Lily had her hemoglobin and lead levels checked today which was a finger poke. I think finger pokes hurt worse than an actual shot, but not Lily! The nurse poked her finger and she didn't even flinch...no cry...nothing! However, it was a different story when the other shots came. She had 4 shots today. One of them being the influenza shot. Dr. Russell said that since Lily would have to come back in one month to get the other half of the flu shot that we could split the others up as well. So Lily got one or two less shots today than expected! YEAH! I always worry about getting multiple shots in one day, so this lessened my worries too.

Lily's One Year Statistics

Height: 31 3/4 inches (97th percentile)~ her dad is 6'5" remember

Weight: 23 lbs 3 oz (80th percentile)

Head Circumference: 47 1/2 cm (97th percentile)

Almost Mobile

On Monday night Lily kind of started walking again. She took 3-4 steps towards her cousin Madison right before I left for work. She kept going back and forth between Maddie and my sister. When Jason picked her up she walked over to him too! We're just at 3-4 steps at a time, but at least she is more consistent this time! I think we are REALLY getting close now! Last time may have been just a fluke. It is so cute to watch her toddle around. She gets so excited because of course everyone else is excited and clapping for her. Tomorrow is her one year check up. I will post afterwards and hopefully get some pics up from her first birthday party...it was a blast!

Happy Birthday Lily Rose!

Dear Lily,
Saturday, September 12th, 2009...Happy First Birthday baby girl! It is not quite 6:42am (the time you were born), but just like the night before Christmas I could not sleep. It should be you who couldn't sleep, but its not....its Mommy. I laid awake last night thinking of how much you have grown and changed this past year, and I sit here this morning with tears thinking about how much I love you and about how blessed Daddy and I are to have you as our daughter. The day you were born was the BEST day of my life and nobody will ever be able to take that away from me. I will still never forget the moment that Daddy said (after I asked "well, what is it?), "we have a beautiful baby girl." I remember the first time I saw you and held you just like it was yesterday. You had such a round chubby little face with beautiful eyes, lips and nose...you were absolutely PERFECT. I remember the car ride home from the hospital being the scariest car ride that I have ever taken, but once we got you home it just felt right. I remember placing you in your infant swing in the kitchen and you didn't like it. You cried and cried. I remember trying it again later and you cried even harder because I pinched your little leg in it. I remember when you were a few days old trying to trim your nails and I cried and cried because I snipped some of your skin. I remember your first bath. I remember staying up late every night with you because you always had your last feeding just before midnight and then you were up just two short hours later to eat again. You used to sleep in your bouncy seat on the floor next to Mommy and Daddy's bed. If we couldn't get you to sleep we would turn on the bathroom fan to help soothe you. I remember the first bottle you took. I remember the first day Daddy went back to work and I thought to myself, "How am I going to do this alone for 12 whole hours?" But, we did it. I remember your first Husker game at Ma and Pa Mikes house...we there was one on while we were still in the hospital but we didn't get to see it. The Huskers play Arkansas State today so we will be watching them play today too! I remember the first time you rolled over, it was December 30th, 2008. You were in the computer room at Ma and Pa Mike's house. I remember all of your firsts Lily Rose. I have to write about them in here just in case one day I forget something. This blog/journal is for you when you get older. It is for you to read so you know exactly how your little life went about from Mommy's eyes. I don't write it all in here, but it will be forever stored in my heart. Happy, Happy Birthday!

What You are Currently Up To:

Crawling

Crusing all around, but not quite walking on your own

Standing up alone for long periods of time

Throwing the kitchen towels out of the drawers and the pots and pans

Drinking mostly whole milk, but some formula too

Eating 3 regular meals a day plus snacks

Sleeping 10-11 hours each night plus 2 naps a day

Loving Baby Einstein DVD's still/Baby McDonald is your favorite

Rosie the Tiger is still your favorite toy

Still loving to laugh with Daddy

You like showers with Mommy

You try to stand in the bathtub

You wear size 4 diapers

You will still eat some babyfood(green beans and rice, sweet potatoes)

You LOVE strawberries, blueberries and raspberries

You like to drink your morning bottle in bed with Mom and Dad

You can say Mama, DaDa, Daaa-eeee, Bubba, Bobba, Bompa, Maddie and a few other things

You wave hi and bye

You know when you do something good because you clap for yourself

You dance all the time when you hear music

You can "raise the roof"

You know where your tongue, nose belly button and toes are

You like to have your teeth brushed

You HATE your bows that Mommy loves so much

Diaper changes are a challenge because you like to roll/crawl away

One of your favorite toys is the pink piano that used to be Madison's when she was little

When you wake up in the morning you look around and say "Daaaa-eee?" When daddy is gone at work

You know when you aren't supposed to do something because you look around to see if we will tell you NO, and then you do it anways

You like to play in the closet and take all of the clothes out of drawers

I will stop, but I could go on and on with what you are up to these days. Each day is a new day and it brings new things. You are a little ball of fire somedays and very calm other days. You let us know if you don't get what you want. You are starting to cuddle more before bedtime and you will actually sit through a book now. I am so excited to wake you up in 8 minutes to sing to you! The house is all decorated and ready for your party. You are having a butterfly birthday this year. I hope you like it. I just still can't believe you are a year old. It has been the best year of my life. I love you.

Love,

Mommy

Last Day as an "Infant"

Asleep in her crib.
Sweet, sweet baby girl.

How is that comfortable?!

Playing in the hallway.

In less than 24 hours our little girl will no longer be considered an "infant"...she will be ONE and now a "toddler". Whatever her title may be she will ALWAYS be her momma's BABY! When she is 30 years old she will still be my baby girl. This time last year I was 3 and a 1/2 hours into the labor process with Lily. I was induced at 7:00am on September 11th and she was born at 6:42am on September 12th. I'll never forget it. I though she was being stubborn and just didn't want to come out, but she tells me that she was right on time. She is right...she was born exactly on her due date. Not early. Not late. Right on time. I don't know why, but I have tears as I write this today. Lily is sound asleep in her crib and I have peeked in on her many times already. I could just watch her all day long. I love her so much. She has changed our lives in so many wonderful ways this past year. I can't imagine life without her. She is such a good baby. She is stubborn like her momma and she has also inherited her momma's temper, but she is still a good baby. I did not see my baby girl at 6:42am on the day she was born, but my alarm will be set tonight and you better believe I will see her at 6:42am on her first birthday.

T Minus 7 Days

Lily playing with her ball.
Laughing with Daddy.

Pretty girl.

Never leaves her shoes on.

Playing in her toy box.

We are just one short week away from Lily's first birthday! I have mixed emotions about this. I am so excited that she is growing up and turning one, but I also can't believe it. I remember this time last year anxiously awaiting her arrival. It couldn't have come any sooner! I remember starting my maternity leave a week early from work because I could seriously NOT move anymore. I was so miserable and uncomfortable, and when she came out weighing 9lbs 3ounces I then understood why I felt like I did! The moment I laid eyes on her I instantly forgot all of the misery and discomfort...she was worth it in every way! I think we are all ready for her party. We ordered the cake yesterday and our family room is FILLED with presents for her. I have had all of the decorations for a while now and I can't wait to get them all out and decorate to the hills for my little girl! She really has NO IDEA how spoiled she is. Oh well, she is my little girl and she is turning one! If you watch the early morning news keep your eye out for Lily. I sen her picture in to WOWT Channel Six for their First Birthdays segment. It is supposed to air on Saturday the 12th at 8:35am. If for some reason there is not news on that weekend (not sure why this would happen) then her picture will be on the 6:00am news on Friday the 11th.

Lily is currently in Des Moines with her Daddy for her cousin Miles' baptism tomorrow. I would have loved to have gone, but it is a holiday weekend which means I am working the entire weekend. BOO HOO! I miss her dearly, but Jason sent me a picture of her in her Husker dress...super cute! She is all ready to cheer on the Big Red tonight! GO BIG RED!

First Steps

Today, Lily took her very first REAL steps! She has been standing up all by herself for longer periods of time, and today she finally turned to my sister and took about 2 steps towards her. She was holding onto my dresser and just let go and went! YEAH for Lily...UH OH for Mommy! We have tried all sorts of tricks to get her to do it again, but she will just stand up and look all around at everyone. She gets so excited because we all clap and cheer for her, but then she'll just fall to her little butt. It is a start and we will keep practicing. She walks all over with her walker...I don't think it will be long!

11 Months Old

Well, Silly Lily...you are one month away from your 1st birthday. Your mommy is very saddened by this. Could you please just slow down and stay my baby girl forever?
Thanks,
Mommy

Oceans and Worlds of Fun

Swimming at the hotel.
Pa Mike and his 2 girls.

Family pic in the Plaza.

Lily and her cousins...Jahrran and Maddie.

Jahrran, Maddie and Lily after dinner.

Lily and Mommy at the Cheesecake Factory.

Lily, Pa Mike and Daddy at Worlds of Fun.

Uncle Justin, Daddy and Maddie on the Rip Cord!

Snoopy, Lily and Mommy at Camp Snoopy.

Loving the Carousel!

Last Sunday we drove down to Kansas City with my family (all but my mom because she had to work). It was a nice getaway since Jason and I hadn't been anywhere all summer due to our crazy and opposite work schedules. We arrived at our hotel early Sunday evening and we headed for the pool right away. Lily had fun playing in the water with Pa Mike, Uncle Justin, Aunt Kylie, Maddie, Jahrran and Mommy and Daddy. This has been such a weird and not so hot summer so it was fun to hit up the pool on a scorching hot day! After an hour or so of swimming we showered up and walked down to the Plaza for some dinner. Lily was so zonked from a long day of traveling and swimming that she slept right through dinner. Oh well. On Monday morning we headed to Ocean's of Fun for the day. It was 100 degrees outside and a perfect day for the water! I wish I had my camera with me on that day, but I figured it would have been more of a hassle. I missed some really great shots of Lily in her lifejacket and floatie! It took her a little while to warm up in the water, but all in all she had a good time in the Lazy River and Kiddie Pool. On Tuesday we packed the car up and headed to World's of Fun. There wasn't a lot for Lily to do this year, but for sure next year! We wandered through Camp Snoopy, but she was too little for any of the rides. The highlight of Lily's day (and mine) was the Carousel. She LOVED it! I rode with her of course, but she hung on to the pole of her horse and smiled and giggled the whole time! Pa Mike wanted to take her on the train all day, but by the time we finally made it over to it there was a 20 minute wait so we didn't go...next year we will! I was so proud of my little girl at how well she did on this trip. She had long, hot days with no naps and she was such a trooper! It is hard to believe that she will be one next month...no matter how old she gets she will ALWAYS be my BABY!

Cousins and the Zoo

We had been trying all summer to get a zoo trip lined up with Lily's cousins from Sioux City (the Joines). Last Friday we were finally able to get them all together and off to the Zoo! Lily's Aunt Trina (Jason's sister) drove down to Omaha with her kids (Justin, Rachel, and Mitchell) and Lily, Maddie and I met them at the zoo. It was a hot day, but the kids all had a good time. Lily has now been to the zoo five times this year. I think we have now seen it all! Something new for Lily this time was a ride on the train. I think she could have cared less that she was on it, but it was a nice break from walking for the rest of us! After the zoo we came back to our house for a night of grilling and some relaxing. Lily's cousins spent the night and then they took her shopping on Saturday while Mommy slept before work...THANKS GUYS!