Things I don't want to forget - 18 Months

Dear Lily, 

This month was full of surprises.

The first surprise came only one week after moving into our home.  Our water heater broke.  And $2500 later - we got some great photos of you playing in the leaked water, bathing doll-doll, and splashing in the water.  While it hurt to watch our water heater break, it was heart-warming watching you play and be carefree.

We were surprised at how much you loved to climb up on couches.  While shopping for one, you helped make our selection easier by the effort it took for you to climb atop and get comfortable.

We were so surprised that you are still able to fall asleep at church - and on us!  Usually, there is so much going on at church, and you get so much attention, that naps during the three hour block do not exist anymore.  But you surprised us!

You also surprised us with how much you love to go for rides.  Whether atop Daddy while he mows the lawn or on anything that moves or bounces, you are in heaven and so happy and excited to be getting a free ride!

Or taking others along with you!

Your daddy and I were so surprised to see how much you love to draw and color (even on our couch). It is one of the best pastimes for you because you sit still and are so content for over an hour and we get to relax and just peacefully watch you entertain yourself!

However, we were not surprised at how much you love to help us.  Your helping love just continues to grow, and while you find such interesting ways to make sure we get things done (toilets unclogged or stamps on envelopes).  Your motto should be: "When there's a will, there's a way!"

I was so surprised at how hard it was to get a photo from you.  One that actually looked decent and social media worthy.  It took numerous, numerous tries.  This experience helped me remember why I'm not a photographer.  Some just get lucky when coming to having babies cooperate.  You, on the other hand, were not cooperative.  

I was pleasantly surprised at how the final picture turned out.  

We were surprised at how much you love, love, love nursery.  You never cried - not even once - and you play so well with the other children.  You are such an angel sweetheart!

I was surprised at how much you enjoy shopping when you feel like you are in control and helping.  The only thing I haven't mastered yet, is figuring out how to keep you from putting the most random, random objects and groceries into your little cart!

Lily, this surprise came in the mail for you!  I think it will be your favorite chair once you grow out of your pipe chair.

But my favorite surprise of all was you on the swings.  You just giggle and squeal and laugh.  It brings the biggest smile to my face.  Even when you start falling asleep in the swing, you don't want to get out.  It is one of your new ultimate favorite things.

Sweetheart, thank you for all the fun surprises that you have shared with us this month!

Things I don't want to forget - 17 Months

Dear Lily, 

I am so sorry I slacked off this month.  This month was one of the busiest months I've had in years! In fact, it was probably busier than the month prior to your daddy & mommy getting married.

Here's just a quick list of some of the things that kept us busy this month:

- your first car accident

- filming

- mommy being pregnant and sick

- buying a home

- packing our apartment

- moving into our new home

While we did have a lot going on,  managed to take a few photos to remind me of fun new things that you learned this month!

I had to go shopping for some fun outfits and took you with me.  It was a lot harder than I anticipated because you didn't want to look at clothes with me, or even try them on in the dressing room with me, instead you wanted to go around and hug every mannequin in the store.  It made my heart swell at how much love you show towards others, even if they are inanimate objects. But even though shopping with you may be little more difficult, there are times where it's so fun to drag you along.  You find objects in stores I never even noticed, you always manage to find the stuffed animals, you are very clever at getting rides, and you have such an aptitude for getting others to compliment you on just how adorable you are!

You discovered lotion.  And if it's anywhere within your reach... it's all over you, it's all over doll-doll, it's all over the carpet.  Basically, it's everywhere.

You just want to be doing everything Mommy is doing.  And it's so hard to get mad at you when you are trying so hard to be like me.  Here's some of my favorite examples:

~ While packing you slipped the Polish hymn book out and started singing for me.

~ You snuck down the stairs in our new house to find the diaper bag, and one by one took the wipes out of the container and "wiped" doll-doll.  She was very clean and had an awesome attempt at you putting a diaper on her afterwards.  I couldn't help but be proud of your ingenuity.

You continue to grow and learn and make me so proud.  Thank you for being such a good little girl!

Things I don't want to forget - 16 months

Lily,

Shopping with you has become quite the adventure.  You find a way to sneak away and play with whatever intrigues you.  (Mainly balls and dolls).

You still, still love going on any type of ride.

Or using our phones when we aren't looking.

But your Daddy sure doesn't mind you looking at the iPad, especially when you watch his soccer games with him.

I took you to the library for the first time.  It's kind of a sore subject for Mommy because minutes after these pictures were taken we were in a terrible car accident and I could have lost you.  Luckily, angels were protecting us and you are still my adorable, precious, cute little girl.

... who loves to help me... even if it is creating a mess!

And your fondness for stuffed animals has reached a new obsession.  You can't go to bed without about a gazillion stuffed animals in your crib accompanying you.  And they have to be very specific stuffed animals, otherwise they end up on the floor of your bedroom the next morning.  I love to sneak in and see what crazy position you're in, or what stuffed animal you're snuggled up against, or how terribly uncomfortable you look laying atop the animals.

This month we started to pack to move into a brand new home.  Our first real home.  Your official fourth home.  But it was hard to get anything done because you wanted to "help".

This month you found your first frog.  When you woke up the next morning, you went straight to where it was the night before and were so confused when it wasn't there.  Later in the week, we had another run-in with a frog and we tried to get you to touch the frog... but it terrified you, and you possibly started crying.  This is when I realized how much you love, love animals - from a distance.

On the fourth of July, you experienced your second parade.  Your first parade where you remained awake the whole time.  You loved it.  So I think that going to parades often will be in your near future.

Things I don't want to forget - 15 months

Lily, 

I swear, the older you get... the more you have Daddy wrapped around your little finger.

Especially when you humor him and decide to watch soccer games (especially during the World Cup) with Daddy.  It just makes his heart melt.

It also melts my heart to see how much your Daddy loves you so.

You absolutely make nap time and bed time so, so easy for me.  Sometimes I just want to watch you sleep because of how you snuggle with your favorite stuffed animals.

This month, we worked on different facial expressions.  You had me in tears from laughing so hard.  Every facial expression looked exactly the same, but you wanted to imitate Mommy and you tried so hard.  We need to do this again more often!

Lily, 

This is Daddy's favorite picture of the month.  It has remained his background photo on his phone for months.  He is really hoping that you grow up to be a soccer player, at least one he can coach you in when you're in Elementary School.

You have such a fondness for dogs.  You want so badly to get their attention, but once they approach you, you back up and get timid and scared.

I love every kiss and hug that I get from you.  I especially love that you understand me when I ask for them!

Not only do you love Mommy dearly, but you love making friends with just about any other child your age!

You are so inquisitive and love soaking up new things. I love watching you learn new things every day.

We even had your first Art History lesson.  It didn't seem like you were paying much attention to my lecture.  I was sure hoping you were checking out how young I looked in the photo, not the naked man standing behind Mommy in the photo!

Thank you for being such a good girl and such a smart girl.