Walking Blues

Okay so just about a month since Lily's first and second step and we are still waiting for the third. I have three theories for the delay in upright forward motion -- one, she has decided that she just doesn't like walking; two, she only walks in California; or three, she has just decided to focus on something else for a few weeks (like physics).

Like the lack of walking, the week was pretty much the usual. A lot of school, a lot of playing and a lot of eating. On Saturday we took Lily for her first real haircut to Cartoon Cuts ... photographic evidence is below. She did very well if you consider crying and writhing in agony to be very good -- it was if her soul could feel every hair being cut. She managed to survive and has a nice little bob now ...

We followed up the haircut with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with Grandma Phyllis and Grandpa Maurice. Lily had a grilled cheese sandwhich and she loved it. Yesterday was a quiet day around the house with some errands thrown in. We concluded with dinner with Aunt Tracy who was in the neighborhood to help sell our neighbor's (Dave & Dorinda) house.

That is all for now. Enjoy the pictures.


Lily playing with her door.


Riding the Pooh-mobile.


Happiness is a Winnie-the-Pooh airplane.


A close-up.


Why do I think this is the first of many times reaching into my wallet.


Lil's first real haircut.


Lil shedding a tear for her lost hair.


An after shot of the haircut.

Why They Call It Falling

Post-birthday, we did not take too many pictures but hope you will enjoy the few we did. Lily went to her 1 year appt on Friday with Dr. G. She weighs 21 pounds, 14 ounces and is 31 inches long - 60th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height. Apparently, she is following in Stuart's footsteps in the height department!! Dr. G gave her a clean bill of health, and gave her a cookie to celebrate.

Later that evening, Lily experienced her first meeting with pavement. She was riding in her wagon, tried to stand up, and managed to fall out of the wagon. Fortunately, there were no major injuries and she recovered relatively quickly after the initial shock of the fall. The fall did leave a few marks - a bruise on her forehead, fortunately covered by her hair, a scrape on her nose, and a slight black eye.

Fortunately, the rest of the weekend was very relaxing and lots of fun, however, she tried to avoid all mirrors. She played with all of her new birthday toys, and enjoyed some strolls in the beautiful weather. Enjoy the pics...


I weigh how much??!!


Lily contemplating all the things she has to tell Dr. G, I mean she has lived an entire year now...


...


Post-shots...


Who is calling me? Can't they see I am trying to play with Elmo.


Playing with her ball popper.


Playing with her ball popper and her ball handmade by her Great Auntie Dora.


This chair is so comfy...

Birthday

Wow what a busy week. We had a very busy week/weekend with Lily's first birthday and her little party.

First, Lily had a great week at school. On Thursday the kids, okay well maybe just the teachers, sang her a rousing happy birthday that she apparently enjoyed. (As you can see from the pictures, she doesn't shy from the spotlight.) She seems to like her new room and all the fun new toddler oriented toys. Lil is now basically off the bottle - she is getting one before bed - and she is eating regular food. And is she eating. She will eat anything -- tofu, beans, soy burgers, soy chicken, meat, cheese, foie gras. If you put it on the tray, she will eat it.

Saturday's party was a lot of fun. We a small gathering of family and friends over for a lunch and cupcake party. Lily seemed to have a lot of fun and she got a many wonderful gifts. Below you will see photos and mentions of just a few but many more will be featured in the coming weeks. Lily's Cousin Stephanie, (Grand?) Aunt Donna and Great Auntie Dora made her wonderful hand made items that I know she/we will cherish for years to come. She has been very busy the last few days playing with all her new toys -- there is not a boring minute in the living room. She seems to have an especially fun time taking the entire set of Mega Blocks - from Aunt Kelly and friends Karen, T.J. and Brendan - and dumping them on the floor.

We finished up the weekend with dinner with our friend's Michelle & John and Lil's friends Hayley & Cole. It was Hayley's birthday on the 2nd. She is walking around very well and maybe will serve as an inspiration for Lily to put two steps together.

That is all for now. Pictures and video below. This blog has now made it one year with Lily posts - it has been a lot of fun and hopefully you continue to enjoy it.




Lily enjoying her birthday meal of tofu, mixed veggies and beans.

Lil checking out her birthday haul with her Great Bubbie.

Yummy cupcakes.

lily's special green cupcakes. The umbrella looks very much like a hat she was wearing a year ago.


Video.


"Why are these people watching me eat and why is this cupcake on fire?"

Tentative steps into her first sugar rush.

Riding around in her new wagon from Aunt Tracy and Uncle Stan.

In her fancy new rocker hand painted by Cousin Stephanie. Remember cousin Steph spent a lot of time painting for Lil last summer also.

A close up of Cousin Stephanie's work. The back side is the same scene but during the day. On the sides, "Lily" is spelled out in building blocks. An amazing gift.

A pensive moment, contemplating her old age.

Seriousness up close.

"Yes, I am one. I can cope with that. Mom says it is not all down hill from here."

Playing with a new favorite from Grandpa Maurice and Grandma Phyllis - a talking Elmo activity table.

A family portrait. The Potomac River behind.

Fall Down

Sorry for the delay in posting. Holiday interference with the regular posting schedule. We haven't taken many pictures since we have been back but posted below are what we have - taken by Grandpa Maurice at Lily's second baseball game - the National's win over the Phillies. Also posted is the walking video as promised last week (although it is not really walking, it is more "step video"). Not much progress has been made this week on the front. Lil is just getting better at balancing herself and is slowly getting adjusted to the fact that, unlike Gypsy, she lives in bi-ped world.

Not much else to report this week. Lily seems to have adjusted to her new classroom and likes all the big kid toys they have there. She is coming along with getting off the bottle and we are working on less pacifier reliance. As of now she gets her pacy when she sleeps or is in the car, hopefully, once she turns around in her car seat she will be down just when sleeping.

Speaking of turning around, Lily's First Birthday Extravaganza is coming up on Saturday. At 3:31 she will be officially 1. The implications are huge as we can no longer tease her for being less than a year, she gets to have her car seat turned around and she gets to get her first really huge sugar rush when she devours her very own cupcake. I am sure the pictures for next week will be festive.

Until then, enjoy the movie.

P.S. - Grandma Gail has been in the hospital this week for some surgery and Lily just wants to send her some good wishes to feel better soon.


Lily taking her first step.


Chowing down at the game.

Engrossed in the action.

Lily loves water bottles. No worries, she is a bit warm here, not sunburnt. She had plenty of screen on.

Taking a nap at the end of the game.