Almost 5 months old!

Well, I have a few minutes and a hubby who is busy entertaining the little one so I figured I would put up Lily's 5 month update a little early. 

So on May 1st, our little Lily will be turning 5 months old.  This past month has been full of milestones! 
As of April 16th, she is 19 lbs 11 oz and 27" long. 
 She is wearing at least 12 month clothes and  a few 18 month clothes.
Lil is rolling from her belly to back non stop and is doing about a 3/4 roll from her back to her belly.  She just can't get all the way over, but she is getting there! 
She is also sitting up on her own!  She started doing that early in April and is pretty good at it.  Of course, she falls occasionally and we try to keep a pillow behind her head. 
This past week, on April 20th, she started veggies (carrots) and yesterday she started oatmeal in the mornings. 
Right now, she is working on her pushing herself up on her hands when she is on her belly.  She is pulling those legs up underneath her when she is on her belly and scooting, but not crawling.  She's doing the little windmill action in her bed.  I put her in her bed one direction and when I get her in the morning, she is all turned around. 
This past month she has definitely started teething.  We can't keep the hands out of her mouth and she is sooooo drooly!  She is also grabbing for everything.  You put anything in front of her and she wants to hold it and explore it...with her mouth. 
Lily has also started laughing daily!  We love it!  She has started talking and squealing pretty consistently.  
She also has a very favorite character.  She loves Mickey Mouse.  In the mornings when I am making her breakfast, I put her on the floor and turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  She sees Mickey and gets a HUGE grin on her face.  I started putting her Mickey toys around her and she gathers them all up on her lap.  It's so cute..
Here is a pic

She also loves the cats and gets super excited when they come around! 
ECI is still coming to see Lily once a month.  I am so so so so grateful to have Jennifer.  She is really like a teacher for me!  She shows Brandon and I lots of things to do with Lily to help her move along.  Since she sees Lily once a month, Lily has gotten to know her and LOVES her!  She is one of the only people Lily isn't doing the whole "stranger danger" nonsense with....
Speaking of which, we are starting Lily in a Kindermusik class.  Her first class is on May 4th and then we will start the summer session in mid June.  Since she doesn't see anyone but Brandon and I, she has started crying everytime she sees someone and doesn't see us.  Like when she is in the store in a stroller.  This has just started happening, but I know putting her in a consistent class with other kids and adults will help.  I am also looking into a few playgroup type things in our subdivision. 

Out and about

Hi all!
Just wanted to give a quick update and let everyone know what we've been up to this month.  We have been super busy around here!  Last weekend, we had our first ever garage sale.  Our neighborhood puts one on twice a year, so we decided to give it a try.  We made about $200, so we consider it a success!  That weekend, we also met up with our friend, Ann Millazzo who is a photographer and went and had Lily's picture taken in the bluebonnets.  For those of ya'll who don't know, it pretty much is a MUST for all baby Texans.  Of course, the bluebonnet is the Texas state flower and around here, they take their bluebonnets pretty seriously.  Anywho, the pictures came out absolutely beautiful.  Ann ALWAYS does great work and she takes so many pictures, she never misses that quick smile.  I was ticked with Lily's last Sear's session and I don't think we will be going back. 
Here are a few of Lily's bluebonnet pictures:

You can see the rest at our Picasa Web Album

The past few weeks, we have also been working on turning the office into an office/playroom.  We put up shelves and we have a few more things to do in there, but so far it looks pretty good.  This weekend, we painted an accent wall in our foyer and also painted the art nook.  It looks great!  Today we went to The King's Orchard to pick strawberries and flowers.  The King's Orchard is located next to the Texas Renaissance Festival Location and is run by the same people.  They grow strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, flowers, figs, and tomatoes.  The place is HUGE!  Strawberries and flowers were the only things that are in bloom right now, so we picked those.
Here are a few of those pictures:

Like I said, we have been keeping ourselves busy! 
On Monday, my sister, Ali is having her gallbladder removed so say a prayer that her surgery goes well and that she heals nice and quickly.  Next month, we will be travelling to LA for Tim's graduation.  We are very excited for him and can't wait to see him cross the stage!  Till next time! :)

Little life, little blessings

So, everyday I think of a few little things that I don't want to forget...I really want to post them here. I don't want to forget them! 

I love the smell of heated up formula.  Sounds gross I know, but for some reason I love the smell of it.

I get excited over a poopy diaper.
After watching my poor little one get so upset over not being able to poop for a few days, I get very excited for her when she poops.  It only happens every other day and gets excited as well.  It's so cute.

When she wakes up in the morning, it is the easiest and BEST part of my day.   Not the worst by far! 
I walk into her room in the morning and all I have to do is say a quiet "hello".  I am always greeted with the biggest and brightest smile.  To know someone is truly so happy to see you is amazing.  To start someone else's day with them having an honest smile is just wonderful. 

It is easy to be happy around her.  So easy and so enjoyable.  I can simply say motherhood is the best thing ever! 

When I have Brandon and Lily around, I am complete.
Running around, doing laundry, dishes, changing diapers, making dinner...by no means is fun, but it makes me complete.   I will fuss all the time about being so busy I can't keep my head on straight, but honestly, I can't imagine being in a better place.

Lily is just like Brandon.  All the way down to the dry skin!  Her smile lights up a room just like his and she is SO SO SO easy going.  How a person like me ended up with such an amazing husband is one thing, but an amazing husband AND an amazing daughter...Wow.  I did something right.  It's hard to think of where that "something" is but it is there somewhere. :)

Watching Lily grow is heartbreaking!  I need to toughen up.   Unfortunately, that doesn't happen till they are teenagers!  I had to buy Lily 12-18 month clothes the other day and I cried in Gymboree.  Where did our baby time go??!!  I buy those clothes and I think, oh she's so old, but she's still just my baby. She is still jsut 4 MONTHS OLD! 

Those moments in the middle of the night.  As much as I may gripe about them.  They are honestly really rewarding.  When you put the sleep deprivation aside.  Those moments are the best and I enjoy them. I hate doing my floors much MUCH more! 

I can see how the Duggars have 19 kids.  Having children is truly a blessing and having a baby around makes you really realize how important and amazing life is.  If money wasn't an option, I would have 19 kids, but then again...I only have one right now. Ask me again when we have 2 or 3.  :)

I am so fortunate for my life.  At one point, this life was only a dream.  Never did it EVER seem like it could be reality.  I don't know how I got here and how I got so lucky, but my little family is amazing.

Brandon and Lily, you  really truly make my life complete and I love you both so much. :)

4 months old

Well, 2 days ago, Lily turned 4 months old!  We went to her 4 month check-up and she weighed 18.7 lbs and is 26 1/2" long.  The doctor said she looks great.  The nurse said, "she looks perfectly healthy for a 7 month old".  I just can't get over how big she is, and the thing is, she isn't fat.  She is just a big girl.  She is in the 100th percentile for weight, height and head size, but her BMI is perfectly in the middle of the cone.  The dress in the picture above is 12 months.  She is wearing a lot of 9-12 month things, but mostly 6-9 months.  Anywho, she is absolutely beautiful and doing more and more everyday.  It is so exciting to see her learning new things, but she is just growing up so fast.  We love her so much.  She is amazing. :)

This past week, Brandon and I have been working on rearranging our office.  We went and bought some shelves from IKEA, put them in the office and we are looking at colors to paint the room and a few accent walls in the house.  I can't wait till we get that room painted and done with.

We are also having our first garage sale next weekend.  Our subdivision holds their communtiy garage sale twice a year and this time we signed up for it just to rid some unnecessary clutter.  It's pretty cool because they will advertise and hand out maps with the addresses of the garage sales.  Apprently, there are a lot of people who come though.  We are nervous about only having one of us working it, but hopefully everything will go well.  sheesh...hopefully.

Well, I better get to bed.  Lily is in bed already so I better take advantage of the situation.  Happy Easter everyone! 

Oh, everyone please keep Ali in your prayers the next few weeks.  She will be having her gallbladder removed and then she will be having surgery on her eyes to fix a weak eye.  :)