Christmas in Pictures

So here is the rest of our Christmas, yes let's just admit that it is a bit over due. Our Christmas was wonderful and I am so thankful for what this New Year has to bring.

Christmas morning. Loves her puzzle that makes animal sounds.

Checking out what is in her stocking. She pulled everything out herself.

Her new  magnets. Mostly she likes to knock them off the fridge. 

Yes she got three headbands, and yes she wanted to wear them all at the same time.

Had to add the bracelets to complete the look.

She wanted daddy to wear her boa...I am sure there will be lots of "girlie" moments for Adam.

Traditional picture on the stairs once we got to my parents house.

Allison and Dan.

Sarah checking out her stocking.

Lyla's present from mommy and daddy. She loves this. She wanted to be pushed around in it all morning. I was sad it was so yucky outside and we could not take it out.

Helping dad put it together.

Sarah.

My mom and dad.

Lyla trying out her new teddy bear backpack, which is really one of those child leashes. Yes we have used it and yes she has loved it. She no longer likes her stroller....we had to do something.

Riding in style.

At one point she was drinking her juice, eating her cheerios, and talking on her cell phone while driving....wonder who she has been watching....??

"talking" and eating after a long morning of opening presents.

I am so thankful for wonderful memories and wonderful family and friends. I am so thankful that we are able to celebrate Christ together and enjoy time with each other.

Is it REALLY over?

I feel like by sitting down to actually catch up on all my blogging, the holidays will truly have come to an end. I always have this sadness after the lights come down, the stores stop playing the holiday music, and the Valentine's Day apparel is put out. It seems my blogging has been put on the back burner these last few weeks. And in those last few weeks we have been quite busy! Around here, things are getting back to our normal routine, and for Lyla and me that is always a good thing. Several weeks in a row of little to no naps for her is so hard on not only her, but me as well. It just seems like we have been go. go. go. Normal is good.
As I enter the New Year, I have felt really convicted to redefine my normal. I want what I do, say, and think to really matter. I have never been a New Year's resolution type of girl, but this year have really had somethings put on my heart. I want to actually come back to this, but feel like first I need to catch up on Christmas and Lyla turning 14 months!!

Christmas was so great this year. Focusing our eyes on the gift that God gave us is so sweet. Last year, I was still in that delusional state of trying to figure out a six week old's requests, routine, and I was still healing myself, so I felt like I was in the clouds. This year, reflecting on Mary actually giving birth to the King, knowing what was being asked of her and knowing that this sweet infant, would be the one to save not only her but the World, really brought me to me knees. Remembering giving birth to Lyla, with all the comforts of a hospital and my family, and then thinking of Mary giving birth in a stable, surrounded by stinky animals and no comforts at all, not even a bed! I cannot imagine. One of my many prayers this year is that our family would keep our eyes focused on Christ all year, not just during the holiday season.

The holiday season is definitely even more magical with a child. Surprisingly, Lyla left the tree and the ornaments alone the entire time that it was up...which it just came down today by the way and today was the day that she seemed to notice it actually existed. She did great with all things Christmas. We did not take her to see Santa, but she did enjoy looking at him at the mall from afar. Adam's parents came on Friday (the day before Christmas Eve) on their way to Savannah to spend Christmas with Adam's brother David. It was great that we were able to spend time with them for Christmas. Donna joined us for our annual Girl's Lunch and this was Lyla's first year partaking in this sweet tradition. Adam and Steve were able to spend some quality time together...I think they went shopping so Adam could get me a Christmas present. We opened presents later on that afternoon with them and went out to dinner. The rest of the weekend was spent with my family and it was so nice to have us all together. Adam and I have had lots of conversations about what we want our family traditions to look like and while I feel like a lot of traditions just happen naturally, there are some that our important that we include. One of those being that Lyla waking up in her own bed on Christmas morning and be able to open her presents from us and stocking here at home. So, this was the first year we were able to do that and it was so great. We really felt like a family and like we had started the Christmas that Lyla will remember growing up.

After we did presents here, we headed to my parents house to continue celebrating. We spent the night at their house Christmas night. I think Lyla got tired of opening presents, so we decided to space them out the rest of Christmas Day. Depending on how she is next year, I might have to remember that, so she does not get so overwhelmed. She liked opening a gift and then getting the chance to actually play with it for awhile. She did really well participating in the actual opening of the gifts. She liked ripping the paper and taking the tissue paper out of the bags and boxes. Next year should be really fun!! She got a lot of fun new toys! Here are the pictures of Friday and Saturday. I have yet to upload Christmas Day to the computer.

Opening a gift with daddy.

So amazed with what's inside.

New puzzles!

It's hard to tell, but that is a bruise on the left side of her cheek. She frequents those these days. 

What's inside?

She loves it! She was this enthusiastic with each gift.

New chair with her name on it.

Pawpaw and Honey. So glad they could come. Lyla is actually happy, just could not catch a smile.

Christmas Eve at my parents.

Everyone.

Their first Christmas married. 

Sisters with Nana.

Getting to open her one present on Christmas Eve. Pajamas! A Christmas tradition.

One last gift for the day, from my parent's neighbor.

A baby doll! Which clearly she is excited about.

You Never Know Who is Watching

I want this blog to be a place where I can write those sweet memories of Lyla as she is growing up. Those memories that you beg your heart and mind to remember, but you find as the days turn in to weeks, it becomes harder to remember how your sweet newborn smelled, or when she first smiled at you, or what she sounded like when she said her first word, or when she snuggled in close to you as she fell asleep on your shoulder, or cried those big tears when she got her first boo-boo. I went to see a friend who just had her first baby almost two weeks ago now and boy is he precious!! He is as small as Lyla was when she was born and I can hardly remember her actually being that small! Uhhh, this is going WAAAAY too fast!! But I keep trying to soak up every moment with Lyla and try to remember to thank the Lord for each sweet moment as it comes. Here are a few cute things I would like to remember.

So the last few weeks, we have not been able to kick this winter cold going around. The sore throat, the coughing, the snot. Yes, we have had it all in our house and it is finally clearing up...I am sure only for it to return again in a few weeks since we sent Lyla back to the nursery last week at church. Anyway, this girl hates for us to wipe her snotty nose and personally I cannot blame her. How awful to just have to let it drip down your face and then have a mommy or daddy have to "sneak attack" you (as daddy calls it) to wipe it off. Her poor nose, I am sure, felt so chapped and raw. So the other day I was feeding her breakfast and needed to blow my nose. I did it while sitting in front of her and she thought it was pretty neat and wanted to try for herself. So I decided to make "blowing" her nose a positive experience and I made a big deal about her blowing her nose like mommy. I put the tissue up to her nose and she actually blew out of her mouth, like she was really blowing her nose!! So funny! So for the whole day, every time I blew my nose, she did it and boy did it make for a pleasant experience.

So Lyla is still as picky as ever when it comes to eating, but oh well. I am learning not to stress about it. She still says no to milk, but I started trying vanilla flavored almond milk and she seems to like it so far. I mean, she is at least drinking it and not spitting it out, so we will see. She has also decided that she would like to try out the spoon and feed herself. It makes for a longer feeding process and is a lot more messy, but such a wake up call that she is growing up SO fast. I love to see her develop and learn, so I can't hate watching her do it, but at the same time can't help but feel like she is not a baby. She will move the spoon around her tray and then actually put some food on it with her other hand. It does not always make it in her mouth, but she is still so proud and so am I!

Today, Lyla and I were picking up Adam and mine's room. I turned around at one point and she had gotten a scarf of mine. The last time she had done this, she just handed it to me and moved on. But today, unknown to her, I just watched what she did with it. She ACTUALLY put it on her. Around her neck and everything. I had no idea she even knew what to do with it. It was too cute not to snap a few pictures.

Ready to go somewhere with mom's phone

"I am tired of cleaning mom" 

So the other day Lyla was playing with her picnic basket that she got for her birthday from her best friend Eva. She decided that she needed to go somewhere else to actually have her picnic so she picked up her basket to go. She put it on her arm right in the crook of her elbow and started walking somewhere with it. To that, Adam said "I wonder where she got that from?". I guess maybe that is how mommy carries her purse??

Today, after Lyla's nap, we were walking out of her room and I asked her if she wanted to go get a snack. She looked up at me, walked over to me and reached up with her hand to grab my hand. We walked out of her room together hand in hand. Melt my heart. With her new to walking, she does not want our help with it. So this was a first. It was only for a moment, but it made an imprint on my heart.

Helping me wrap Christmas presents the other day.

She had a little fun with the ribbon!

Cannot express how much this girl L.O.V.E.S her juice.

Love this girl!

I guess she is watching me more than I realize. I so desire to be a wonderful role model for her. I know so often I will fall short, but thank goodness she is quick to forgive and love me regardless. She is making me such a better person and for that I am ever grateful to her!!

13 Months

I can hardly believe that I have a one year old. When people ask me how old she is, it is still hard to actually have the words come out of my mouth. This time last year my life looked so different. Trying to adjust to life with a newborn, no sleep, figuring out the breastfeeding thing, and wondering if I was cut out for this. Over a year later, I cannot imagine my life any differently. Celebrating the holiday season is so much sweeter with my sweet little one. As I often say, each day is better than the one before with her. She is so sweet and so easy. I love learning new things about her BIG personality. She is so much fun.
Currently:
~ Has mastered her waving. Nicole, just today, said her wave looks like that of a beauty queen. It does have a soft flow back and forth.
~ Loves playing peek-a-boo.
~ Loves climbing on furniture. If it is low enough, like our ottoman or her little chairs she can do it herself. If it is the couch, she needs a little boost. She loves climbing on and off and is so proud of herself. When she gets on the ottoman, she will stand on her head and wait for me to look at her face between her legs. She just laughs and laughs.
~ She L.O.V.E.S playing with the table and chairs that her PawPaw made her for her birthday. It is in her room by her kitchen set. She will first show me which chair is for me to sit in and then she will go to the other chair and get on it. She likes to set the table and she is getting very good at "making" food for us and pretending to eat it. Her imagination grows everyday. I love watching her and seeing her imagination in her eyes.
~ Loves books.
~ She has just recently starting "organizing". She likes to take everything out, like out of the toy basket, her grocery cart, her snack bowl, and she strategically places it on the ground where she wants it. A lot of thought goes into this, I can see her brain working. Then, she will put everything back. Just the way she wants it.
~ Still being a pick-ier eater. Don't get me wrong, this girl can eat, but only what she deems worthy. FRUIT is it right now. She loves her fruit. If she does not like what she puts in her mouth, she will spit it out or drop the next piece on the floor....very discreetly. We are working on this.
~ Always wants to be outside.
~ Says: Dada, Mama, jue (juice), no (can also shake her head "no"), go, more, gog (dog). Most of the time she does not use the words appropriately, but it is fun hearing her try more words. She talks all the time and is always making noise.
~ Will mostly walk when we are home, but still not confident to do it consistently when we are out.
~ Points at everything and is so friendly to others.
~ For the most part still takes two naps, sometimes can get away with one though. Still sleeps 12-13 hours at night.

I love this girl and am so thankful for her. I have learned so much through her about myself. I never thought about the legacy that parents pass on to their children. I am suddenly so aware of it. There are things about myself and character (my SIN, hello) that I do not want to pass on to her. I am so much more aware how much more I need, HAVE, to rely on Christ and how I need to pass that on to her. She is helping me grow and change my character, so that I can be a good role model for her. I know that I will not always be the perfect example and that I will lose my temper and she will hear me complain and see me not love others well. But that's where Christ can help me teach her forgiveness and compassion. I know that I will not always be the perfect mother and that I will not always love Lyla well, exactly how she needs to be loved, but through the work on the Cross, I know that I will get to try again. She is so forgiving and so loving. I pray daily that Christ would call her heart to Him and that she will know His love at an early age.

Here are a few fun pictures to end with. Her hair is really growing in now, so I decided to try some pig-tails. She surprisingly left them alone, and she looked so cute. She is such a little person now!! I love being able to do all the girly things with her that I loved to do as a little girl.

Getting on her chair

Sitting on her chair

Pig Tails

Finding things to put in her grocery cart