The Past Month

Posted in Liz's Life by Liz

Yikes – has it really been almost a month since I’ve blogged? I try to keep this corner of my life updated at least once a week, but I guess after the busyness of the month of November, I just needed a mental break.

Lila’s birthday went well and I was able to keep it together for the most part. I didn’t shed a tear until the night of her birthday party after everyone had left. Its hard to put into words why I was crying exactly. I am overjoyed that she is healthy & happy, but there is a pang in my heart knowing she won’t be my little baby for much longer. Having her in my life has shown me just how quickly time can go by, which at times can be an overwhelming thought.

I didn’t have much time to feel sad though, because soon Luke’s family was here for Thanksgiving. This is our third year in a row hosting, so we had things under control I like to think. The keys to a successful Thanksgiving? Planning and delegation. Thankfully Luke’s mom and sister are wonderful cooks and I have a hubby who is happy to do his part to host a good holiday.

Since then, we’ve just tried to settle back into our routine for a few weeks. Lila and I have gone to Gymboree, the Discovery museum and to the mall for some Christmas shopping. On the weekends, we’ve mostly been lounging at home, enjoying each other’s company, while doing one excursion for fun.

Last weekend it was sledding with Lila. She loved it!

Starting Tuesday, our hectic world picks back up again as we head to Florida for Christmas with my family. We will be Naples for two weeks. TWO WEEKS of sun, swimming and time together. I can’t wait to spend some down time with Luke. He’s been very busy at work, and so needs this break.

I love this time of year … packed schedules and all. There’s just something magical about twinkling lights, giving that perfect present and spending time with family.

Since I don’t have all your addresses, here’s our Christmas card. I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!

18Nov2013

Dear Lila, You’re One Year Old!

Posted in Kids, Lila by Liz

Dear Lila,

Happy first birthday!! I cannot believe you are already a year old. Time sure has flown by and you have grown so much in the past year.

This weekend we hosted your first birthday party with Mimi, Gee, Uncle Matt, Aunt Amy, Uncle Mike, Mabel and our friends here in Reno. We had everyone over to our house for desserts and you played in the living room with all your friends. You LOVED your birthday cake and made sure to smear it all over.

You have changed so much in just the past month and are really starting to become a little toddler vs a baby.

Standing is your latest development. You are perfectly capable of standing for 20-30 seconds at a time, but only do it when you don’t realize you are letting go, like when you start clapping in excitement. Once you realize you aren’t holding on though, down you go.

Climbing is your favorite activity. We got you a little climber for our house and you’ll spend most of your time climbing up the slide and then going down on your stomach. You learned this move from Gymboree.

You are beginning to verbalize what you want. Your only words so far are “Dada,” “Mama,” and “Doggie,” but you let us know your wishes by extending your arm and grunting in the direction of what you want. Often times it’s our food (which we’re happy to give you).

Right on cue, you’ve started to let us know when you are NOT happy about something. For example, when it’s time to leave the park, you usually don’t want to go, and you’ll tell us by arching your back and screaming. I try to tell you that I know how you feel and that it’s okay to feel disappointed sometimes and you usually calm down quickly.

You love all sorts of foods including Ethiopian food, sauerkraut, goat cheese, steak and most of all … coconut! Your daddy will cut open a coconut, stick a straw in and you’ll drink all the juice. Then you two will split the coconut flesh (mommy doesn’t like coconut).

We have so much fun with you. Even on days when you’re fussy and we’re feeling worn out, after you go to bed, Daddy and I always end up sitting together spending our precious free time watching videos and looking at photos of you. You’re always on our mind little bug.

I can’t believe a year ago today you were just a 6 lb, tiny baby resting against my skin and now you are a 20 lb sweet little girl constantly flashing us your smile. You were brand new to the world and to us then, but now you are my best buddy and the center of our universe.

A year is a short amount of time really, but when I think of how much you’ve become part of our hearts, it feels like forever.

I am so proud to be your mommy. Thank you for all you’ve taught me this past year.

Love you forever little bug,

Mommy

11Nov2013

Things You Do Well

Posted in Liz's Life, Married Life by Liz

Dear Luke,

This morning you seemed worn down. I asked you what was wrong and you told me (in so many words) that you “feel like you’re doing a lot of things, but none of them well.” I wanted you to know that I couldn’t disagree more.

You are the rock of our family and are what keeps our little train chugging happily along. I know sometimes it’s hard to realize what you’re bringing to the table when you’re the one living it, so I wanted to help by telling you a few things I think you do remarkably well.

1. You pretty much are the best husband I think a girl could ask for. You make me feel cherished and valued. When I need support, you are always there to listen, give me a hug or talk things out. And when I need space, you arrange your schedule so I can get away to spend time with a friend, play volleyball or just read in bed.

2. You are a wonderful father to Lila. She adores you – as is evident by her whines every time you walk away or have to leave for work. The best part is that you adore her right back. While some dads might grumble about working full time and doing part of the childcare, you approach it as if it’s a privilege to get to spend time with Lila.

3. You are a kind, caring and thoughtful person. I am always amazed at how well you listen to other people and remember what’s important to them. Like the other night when I said we should get a friend a bottle of wine and you remembered exactly the type she liked from a certain winery based on a conversation you had over a year ago with her.

4. You make everyone around you healthier. Your dedication to nutrition and fitness rubs off on me, our families, friends and even co-workers. Because of you, I have lost 12 lbs since we first met, had a healthy pregnancy and am focused on my long-term health in a way I never was before.

5. You take pride in everything you do. Whether it’s your job, your interests, your family, pretty much anything you care about you take pride in. You never want to give less than your best, and your “best” is a really high bar to reach.

Sometimes this pride makes you frustrated that you can’t give 100% to being the perfect employee, or the perfect brother, or the perfect father, or the perfect husband, but what you don’t see is just the fact that you care and try so hard, means you’re already doing much better than you give yourself credit for.

I hope you know how proud I am to call you my husband. I appreciate all you do for us and even though you may feel like you can’t do everything you want to … just know that having your presence in our lives is everything we need in itself.

1Nov2013

Questions and Answers

Posted in Kids, Lila by Liz

This week Luke was in Mexico (he got back last night), so it was just me and Lila. We had a lot of time together and I feel like I got to know her even better.

My favorite time from this week was Tuesday before her afternoon nap. I took her into her bedroom for some wind down time. I sat in the rocking chair watching her play for awhile until she crawled over to her basket of books, retrieved one and handed it to me.

I pulled her onto my lap and we “read” the book, which means she turns the pages quickly while I describe the image on the page. About four pages into the book, she shoved it aside and crawled to the edge to the chair to peer at the basket with all her other books.

She grunted a few times and when I asked her if she’d like me to pick another book, she grabbed my hand and pushed it toward the basket. So I picked another book and she settled in my lap to flip the pages again.

This process continued until we had a pile of 15 different books at our feet and she was ready for bed.

As I walked out of her room after saying “night, night,” I smiled to myself. This was one of the first clear-cut times she has led an interaction with me and been able to communicate exactly what she wants.

It feels like lately Lila has begun to really understand our words and actions. In addition to our reading routine, this week she’s also started signing “all done” and “more” during meal times, she is clapping and waving bye-bye without prompt, and she has been calling for her “Da da” on repeat.

Most of the first year of life you don’t really know what they’re thinking. It’s a guessing game and I had so many questions about her. What does she want? What interests her? What is her personality like? So now that I’m getting more and more glimpses into how her mind works, it’s brought a whole new exciting experience to parenting.

It’s funny to me what I find exciting these days … my baby clapping or touching her hands together to tell me she wants more blueberries has me calling anyone who will listen to tell them about her latest “trick”. I just love that I’m finally getting some answers to all those questions I had floating around in my head for 11 months.

I have a feeling the more I learn about her, the more this parenting thing is just going to get better and better.

A Batty Life

Finding My Way Through this Crazy World

The Past Month

Dear Lila, You’re One Year Old!

Things You Do Well

Questions and Answers