Things I don't want to forget - 2 months

Lily, at 2 months - you still continued to sleep "Daddy style"...

... and you could fall asleep just about anywhere!

But sometimes, when you fell asleep, instead of spread eagle, you would cross your cute little feet.

At about 10 weeks, you officially hated the carrier we put you in and decided to retire it.

You still loved to fall asleep on your Daddy...

... and be held by him too!

At 8 weeks, you had your wellness visit and your first round of immunizations.  This was the first time you cried.  And getting your shots taught you how to really cry when you didn't like what we were doing.

At about 11 or 12 weeks (ish) was the first time you came to Church.  

During this month, it was also the first time we took you grocery shopping (right before Mother's Day).

Sometimes, on the weekends, your Daddy would dress you in clothes that were way too big for you and then take pictures because you "looked funny in such large clothes."  Here he thinks you look like a gangster.

Around this time, you wanted to be included and doing everything that Mommy was doing.  You helped me cook, clean, play the piano, read, and nap.

You started smiling for us all the time.

You absolutely cherished going on walks with us.  We always saw such neat things on walks like "popcorn popping on the apricot trees," rainbows, deer and other wildlife, and other friendly walkers.

You started blowing bubbles...

... and grabbing onto things.

You still continued to just LOVE your bath time, including being lotioned right afterward.

And right before you turned three months old we took you on your first "road trip" about 90-120 minutes away to a missionary homecoming.  We only had to stop and feed you once along the way... but you were such a good baby at church and everyone just couldn't take their eyes off of you!

Things I don't want to forget - 1 month

Lily, when you grew up and had your first month "birthday" you still loved to fall asleep with your arms over your head...

But, you also liked to start falling asleep on us also.

You loved when Daddy came home from work early, or had the weekend off, because he wouldn't set you down.  He just wanted to hold and rock you the whole time.

At six weeks, you not only started sleeping through the night, but you gave yourself your first scratch.  I felt horrible about it - so for the first time I trimmed your little nails when you fell asleep on me.

And at about 7 or 8 weeks, Mommy & Daddy got to go out and have their very first date.  The only picture I have to document this date is how funny we parked by backing in instead of pulling forward at a 45 degree angle.

Things I don't want to forget - 0 Months

I know that this might seem redundant and pictures may be duplicated, but when Lily was born I was so sleep deprived, I just didn't have time to blog or keep updated.

There are so many things that I don't want to forget about her, so I've decided that each month I will try to post pictures that remind me of the fun new things she experienced, learned, developed, etc. each month.  It will be a good reference point for me to see how quickly she is growing up because I don't notice it since I am with her day after day.

When you were born, Lily, they were concerned about Bilirubin problems and the second night at the hospital you had to sleep under lights. You didn't really like it (who would?) but you were a trooper and after that night it seemed like the problems went right away.

Lily, when you fell asleep you always had your arms up above your head. I believe you take after your daddy in this regard.

When you were a tiny baby you only liked the binkies that the hospital gave us.  You wouldn't take any other kind of pacifier.  We only had three (at the time) and keeping track of them were a nightmare.

You got your newborn pictures taken by one of the most incredible photographers ever.  She was amazing.  Actually amazing doesn't begin to describe her talent... maybe - prodigious, unbelievable, and incredible are better adjectives to describe her work.  It was so fun to watch her just ooh and ahh over you while we got your very first images captured on film.

Sweetheart, you didn't really like being wrapped up tight next to mommy - but when you did - you fell right asleep and I was able to get so many things done... all while holding you at the same time.

You would fall asleep in your bouncer. Which would, once again, make it easy for me to get things done while you dreamt the day away.

You HATED bath time until your umbelical cord fell off. Then you relished the time you were able to spend in the water.  It was your favorite time of day (and your Daddy's too).  To this day, Daddy likes to be the one to bathe you while I watch and we still "ooh and ahh" over how adorable you are.

Lily's First Car

On New Years, we had a breakfast feast with Auntie Keeley and Uncle Steven.  After our tummies were just oh-too-full, the boys decided to start putting together one of Lily's Christmas gifts from Grandpa.

It was a nightmare until instructions were pulled out.

Lily was so patient waiting for her toy to be put together.

But once it was finished, she didn't want to get out of the car.  It was such a hit, and our tummies hurt again from laughing to much at how cute she was just cruisin' in her first set of wheels.

Thanks Auntie Keeley and Uncle Steven for your help in putting together Lily's car.

Update: It's now 2/12/2014 and we still are missing its eyes.  Maybe we'll have to invite the Johnson's over for some food again so they can motivate Daddy to finish putting on the eyes and complete the car.

11 Months

Lily,

You just keep growing and growing.  And I love each surprise that you give us.

This month your vocabulary increased from Mama, Dada, Doll, and Dog (from last month).  To now include Juice, Book, Baby.  You also sign Milk, Clap, and Bye-Bye.  You understand the words Piano,  Look, Stand-up, Come here, and Teletubbies.

And your biggest accomplishment.  On February 9, you took 25 Steps for the first time.  It wasn't just you letting go and making one or two steps and falling down.  Or even 6 or 8 steps and falling down.  No.  You got up off my lap and walked over 25 steps out the bedroom door to go get your Cheerios.  Then we got lucky enough to catch it all on video.  We had to entice you with food, but you walked about 20 ish steps for us.  After that you just wanted to be held.  You had enough excitement for one night.

A surprise Christmas

On December 20, we embarked on a journey across America to (hopefully) pull off a great surprise.

We didn't dare tell anyone where we were going, or what we were doing for fear the surprise would be ruined.

And, we were successful.  We achieved our mission and were able to surprise the Grandmother by visiting her and making her holidays 'Merry and Bright.'

Grandpa was also super excited to spend time with Lily.

It was nice to take a break from holding her all the time and let other professionals do all the holding necessary.

Lily loved all the attention that she got.  And I loved it too!  

I especially loved all the extra sleep that I got while away.

During our time in Utah, we also went to a family party.  Last year we took photographs of all the cousins who were pregnant (in order of due date) and then took photos one year later.

(Seriously, just too many cameras).

and Christmas morning was such a delight with this little girl.  I thought she would just be ripping open gifts at any opportunity, but she was more interested in anyone's gift after it was opened.  She was just so overloaded with gifts, she didn't know what one to play with.

Thanks Grammy & Grandpa for letting us come out and visit for Christmas.  It was so magical.