belly buttons, a lemon, and hair

 Excuses are like belly buttons, everyone has one.

My excuse for not blogging in a long time is approximately the size of a lemon: 

Yep, we're expecting our 2nd baby the first week in September!!

I've felt much different this pregnancy. I have been sick a lot and the cravings are UNREAL. Basically anything sweet sounds good morning, noon, and night. Valentines candy and Easter candy being spread across the grocery store isn't helping the situation in any way. Did I mention the little girls dressed in green sashes posted outside? mmhmm. 

Does this mean it's a boy?! We'll see :) 

We've been taking it easy around here. Lily has been wonderful! She reads books all by herself and is generally becoming more "independent", which has been a huge help to me. 

I'll post on her birthday in the next few days. We had a party and it was lots of fun, definitely a whirlwind!

Two pictures from Instagram (for those not on Instagram) of Lily:

on her belly reading books 

 We got her hair in a pony-tail!

11 months!

My last post was a month ago?! I've got some updating to do. 

First order of business, Lily's last "monthly" post update. Translation: she is turning ONE next month. 

(trying to keep my composure over here..)

11 months:

• You're a busy girl! You crawl everywhere, including up the stairs. You love to pull yourself up on anything and everything; cupboards, drawers, tables and the back of mama and dada's legs.
• You love to walk using your new giraffe walker. We think you'll be walking by yourself within a month or two. Oh my!
• Foodie Faves: broccoli, bananas, grapes, carrots, potatoes, peas, turkey, veggie nuggets, and black beans.
• Sleeping is still your least desirable 'past time'. Napping usually is sporadic and unpredictable. One day, my sweet.
• Number of teeth: 5
• I don't know if I've posted this before, but you rarely take a pacifier. You have it when you sleep and sometimes in the car.
• Favorite song: "Somewhere over the rainbow"
• What makes you really giggle is when mama and dadda hide with you under blankets... we have so much fun doing this with you!
• Words: mama, dada, hi, up

You have such a fun and loving personality. 

Your 3-second smiles are really funny to watch.

10 Months!

Lily is 10 months old! Which is also the official, "you've been out of the womb more than you were in the womb" milestone. :)

About you:

• You weigh just under 18 lbs. You're in the 18th percentile for weight and 17th for height.
• You are incredibly busy. You are getting into EVERYTHING; climbing the stairs, and crawling very quickly when you see something you want. 
• You eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner and usually a snack after your nap. Some of your favorite foods are: broccoli, bananas, sweet potatoes, peas, chicken, applesauce, pears, oatmeal, and yogurt. You nurse 3-4 times a day and usually once twice during the night. (zzZZz)
• You go to bed at 7 and usually sleep until 6:30-7. Up and at'em.
• You are VERY vocal. You and Mama have lots of conversations throughout the day and you love to tell Dadda all about it when he gets home.
• You give kisses to Dadda, Mama, Mr. Duck, and the mirrors. We LOVE when you give kisses!
• Other fun facts:
• Favorite book: Pat The Bunny
• Number of teeth: 3 (soon-to-be 4!) 
• Tickle spots: feet, neck, belly
• Least favorite activity: napping
• Clothing size: mostly 12 months
• Hair: Blonde 
• Eyes: Hazel

Love you, sweet girl.

It's Beginning..

I love listening to Christmas songs. Don't you? During the day, I always have music playing in the background and one of the local radio stations has "gone Christmas" so lately I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music.

In an effort to keep myself posting throughout the busy-ness of December, I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of what we are up to paired with a Christmas song. 

To kick-off, we'll start with a favorite:

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Everywhere you go

Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again

With candy canes and silver lanes aglow

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

(Christmas)

Toys in every store

But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be

On your own front door.."

My favorite ornament!

new traditions

What a gorgeous Thanksgiving Day we had in DC!

It took us 12 minutes(!) to get to the National Mall.

Look at that gorgeous blue sky! Not a cloud in sight!

I am thankful for this man and this little girl 

Funny thing, 10 years ago (Spring 2002), Mark and I were on the same trip to Washington, DC with our 8th-grade class. It's funny to think about the possibilities of being in the same places now that we were then...and not even knowing all that was ahead!   :) :)

This is part of the WWII Memorial (opened 2004). Very moving. 

We saw a few families and group of friends playing football in the grassy areas in front of the Washington Monument, what a fun tradition!

Nothing says Thanksgiving like a hot dog from a vendor, right?

No turkey this year, we had shrimp and salad. 

Fancy Weekend

We just got back from a weekend vacation with Mark's family. We stayed in a cute cabin for a few days in Fancy Gap, Virginia. 

Here are some of the highlights of the trip:

Where we sojourned.

Making ice cream with Uncle Mark. Ari kept saying, "I'm making ice cream!"

The three of us at the waterfall near the cabin. Very pretty...but I was freezing!

Mark and his siblings: David, Katie, and Dan.

David, where is your green?!  ;)

Me and my sweet nieces, Ashlyn and Ari.

cousin lovin'

Bill and Barb watched the girls while the adults went outside for a bit.

Maybe Dan should've stayed inside with the children? 

All the babes playing with Uncle Mark/Dadda.

Absolutely beautiful view!

Mark's parents came to visit after our trip. Thank for your help AND company and for putting up with two sick girls!! 

9 months!

Lily is 9 months old today!

You are changing a lot in such a short amount of time. You weigh 18lbs, certainly getting heavy to carry. You have beautiful big hazel eyes that melt my heart every time you look into mine. Your personality is really showing; you're a playful, goofy girl while also quiet, shy, and sweet, a fun mix. Lately, you've been keeping me and your dad on our toes, crawling all over everything; you're an explorer! A particular eater you are, eating mostly bananas but also sweet potatoes, peas, and yogurt. You still love to chew on whatever you can get your little hands on, especially with your front tooth about to show its face.
You're so much fun to be around and I'm anxious to see how you grow and change over the next few months!

You LOVE to clap!

two little teefers

busy, busy!