Santa

Halloween Fun

I don't know about you, but Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Maybe it's because I love the fall or maybe it is because I love candy and dressing up in costume. I watched the "Ladies of SNL" this week, and I swear I missed my calling...but I digress.

Halloween week started out with a bang on Wednesday with our annual pumpkin carving with the Louters. It's our 4th year! Kyle decided not to carve a pumpkin this year and to just hold Lily - Michelle called dibs on that next year. Looks like it might just be Jer and I next year. Can you tell which pumpkin is mine? I'll give you a hint - it has our last name carved in. (inspiration taken from the Lafler pumpkin on their mantel!)

I think Jeremy was declared the winner...this year.

Lily knew to keep looking at her daddy. Looks like the Louters are looking at me!

Thursday night was the Haunted Halls of Plante Moran. Here is my cute little monkey on our way there and at the dinner with Kyle. It was a very fun event, and the room that I helped to decorate won first place! We didn't do Halloween, but went with a princess theme. Luckily there were about 5 princesses who voted for us!!

Then on Sunday Grammie and Grandpa came up for a visit. Lily wore her Mommy's Little Pumpkin outfit and tried hard to crawl towards the bowl with the hand!

We went out to lunch/brunch at the Electric Cheetah (not a strip club - actually a really good restaurant). Lily did NOT want to stay seated in her car seat and is a little too small yet for a high chair. So that means someone has to hold her instead of eating. Or maybe in addition to eating. When she fell asleep in Grammie's arms, Grandpa fed Grammie and even held up her drink for her so that they wouldn't disturb sleeping beauty. Spoiled already!

We made it home in time for Lily to have dinner, a nap, and then a costume change. Here she is with our next door neighbor's nephew - both monkeys!

We actually only walked over to two houses with her - both right next to ours - but I think I still get to say we trick or treated. Then we had to do a photo shoot with her in her costume. I think she found it funny that the 4 of us (Kyle, my mom and dad, and I) were all crowded around her with cameras and trying to make her smile. Notice the banana that we gave her for a prop! She wasn't all that interested.

The only bad thing about this Halloween is that I didn't dress up. I am already starting to think of what we should be next year - oh yeah - I am totally going to make Lily do something with me. That's totally why I had a kid.

Spirit Day

Lily came to work to visit me for Spirit Day. Kyle wasn't feeling good that day so he asked if I could come home early and watch Lily. Instead, I brought her back to work with me. We went out to lunch with Kelly and Michelle and visited Sparty! In honor of the day, I dressed her in green (we don't have a Spartan outfit in her current size - we do for 18 months though - so look out), but we had to balance it out with Michigan socks for Daddy (and since there were given to her by Indy, I allowed it). Speaking of Indy, Spirit Day really made me miss her. Spirit Day was huge for Linda - she was the one who really brought all the Michigan fans together to decorate and trash talk. Even though we were on opposite sides, I always had a great time with her on this day. She would have really rolled her eyes at the huge blow-up Sparty that Kelly brought in.

After lunch and visiting, I tried to see if Lily would sleep so I could get some more work done. That lasted MAYBE 20 minutes. Here is a picture of her on her tummy rubbing her face into the blankets.

I bet she would have slept longer in a pack-n-play. Maybe I should keep one in my office...

Lily and I loved it! Well, I did - I am not sure Lily knew what was going on.

Lily and Michelle - fast friends

Lily loves her exersaucer

Back in September, my friend Michelle and I had plans to go to the Fifth Third Ball Park garage sale (garage saling for Michelle and I is an annual thing - 4 years this year!). When we got rained out, I asked Michelle to go to the Mom 2 Mom sale with me. You don't realize how big of a request that is because 1. Michelle doesn't have people children (she has furry ones) and 2. the mom sale is a lot like shopping the day after Thanksgiving.

We arrived at the Deltaplex and Michelle dropped me at the door to hold us a place in the already super long line (this was at 8:40 and the sale didn't start until 9). (I did freak for a minute that Michelle was just going to take off and leave me, but she wouldn't do that....) After getting our tickets we snuck a little (ok a lot) further up in line so that we could get a jump on the action. I was drilling Michelle with what I was looking for before we got in - an exersaucer. As soon as we got in we saw one in mint condition. I asked Michelle to stay at that table and stake my claim as I quickly ran around to make sure that this was the best one at the best price. That running around paid off as I was able to talk them down $10!

As you can see, Lily loves her new (used) exersaucer. Thank you Michelle for making it happen!

Don't worry - I washed it before I let her get in it. Lily likes turtles just like her Grammie!

7 Years

Happy Anniversary honey! Love you so much.

Roll Over

LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!!!

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you Lily! (Yes Kyle dressed her. She's dressed for movement, not for fashion).

Lily has something to say

6 Months Old!

Lily is now 6 months old. Man how time has flown! At her 6 months doctor appointment, she weighed in at 15.4 pounds and was 26.5 inches long.

She is not yet sitting up on her own or rolling over, but we are working on both of these things at physical therapy and at home. Lately Lily has been a little fussy, so we have started some medication for reflux - here's hoping it helps! She didn't like it peppermint flavored, so we reflavored it grape - with only slightly better results. Kyle has figured out a way to get her to take it (since just putting it in her mouth was NOT working - she just let it all run out of her mouth while making a face), so I hope to report better news soon.

Here are some pics of her on her 6 month birthday - enjoy!

My Favorite Toy

Here you go mom!

This video wouldn't post last time for some reason - so here it is now. Same cereal eating day. Watch how she attacks the spoon! I think she likes it.

Yum...Cereal

Lily tried rice cereal for the first time on Saturday, August 28th. She did so well! I am proud that my daughter likes to eat!

Here are some pictures of her enjoying the experience. (I have saved you - Kyle and I literally took 50 pictures....and 4 videos).

Still a Baby

A lot of people were worried that I looked so big already, that they missed the baby stage. Don't worry! I'm still a baby! I am currently wearing 0 - 3, but I am moving out of that any day now. 3- 6 - here I come!

Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Life for Me

Lily and I went to Chi McWilliams' 3rd birthday party on Sunday. Happy Birthday Chi!! It was pirate themed, so of course Lily and I dressed up! I hope she loves theme parties as much as Mommy does. But until she has a say in the matter, she's my sidekick!

We didn't have a "pirate" outfit - so this black shirt with a sparkly butterfly will have to do.

Lily likes to pretend she is a big girl and stand up.

It's hard to see, but she is wearing cute shoes. The necklace is from the booty all the kid pirates found on their treasure hunt. Cute party Jamie! Thanks for the invite.

funny little video

taken by accident before we left for PT on Tuesday.

Lily's Physcial Therapy Appointment

Some of you may know that when Lily went for her 4 month check up, we told the doctor that Lily looks to the left a lot. The doctor diagnosed this as Torticollis, a tightening of the neck muscles on one side, that litter ally translates into "twisted neck." The doctor referred us to Mary Free Bed to a physical therapist for an evaluation (but sent us home in the meantime with stretches to do with Lily to help her stretch that tight muscle).

Our physical therapy appointment was yesterday and it went AWESOME. First they did see that Lily has a minor neck tightening problem, but think that with some PT, she will be looking both ways more consistently in no time. The therapist we saw, Jen, did an evaluation of Lily and then showed us stretches and activities we can do with Lily to help with her neck but to also work on rolling over from her back to her tummy. I am excited to work with her on these exercises.

After her round of PT yesterday, she ate and then completely passed out. I haven't seen her that completely asleep in awhile! She must have been exhausted from all her strength training!

Jen recommended that Lily come to physical therapy once a week for the next 6 - 8 weeks. Kyle is going to have to bring her to these appointments - I am so lucky that he is the best Dad in the world! We will keep you posted on her progress, and hopefully Kyle will take lots of pictures for me of her during her PT.

Special Guests

Lily had a lot of special guests in July, including Grammie Sue and GG. Sue and Mal were in Michigan for a family reunion, and fittingly, met up with the Meades for Lily's debut. Sue even got to feed Lily (which is a pretty big deal on the weekends when I am around, since that means that I have to pump instead. Who loves you Sue?)

I am not sure why we didn't get a picture of GG...Then the following weekend, Aunt Cassie flew in from Boston. Ok, not for us, but we did get to see her! She didn't feed Lily, but she helped give her a bath and played peek-a-boo. (See how we manage to pawn off our responsibilities but make it seem like we are doing the other person a favor?) Here Lily is after her bath in the dress that Grammie sent her.

Isn't she a doll?

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Aunt Cassie

That same weekend Grandma Powers, Auntie Kishelle and cousin Mason came to visit. They were supposed to babysit while I hosted a babyshower, but my poor friend Heather was put on bedrest, so the shower was postponed. But we couldn't keep Auntie Kishelle away - she needed her Lily fix. Mason was so cute - he came in with a list of things we could throw down the laundry shoot and showing off the binoculars Grandpa gave him.

Cute Cousins

Guess Who...

got 7 hours of sleep last night? This girl! And her Mama! (note - the red eyes are due to crappy camera, not from lack of sleep)

4 Months Young

Lily had her 4 month check up on Friday, July 23. She is doing great, weighing in at 11 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 23.5 inches. The doctor says she is tall and skinny! But we definitely see that she is bulking up!

Here are some pictures that I took of Lily on her 4 month birthday - I will teach her to sit more lady-like in a skirt later.

Look at those rolls on her legs! Imagine if she was chubby!

This look is called "Blue Steel"

Random July Pics

Enjoy!