Christmas 2011

This year was so much fun! Not only was I looking forward to Lila's first Christmas, but I was just ready for some good quality time with my family. It's been heaven being home with Micah and Lila. Everyday I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be with these two for eternity. It's been fun seeing Lila get bigger and stronger and she seemed to really enjoy the Christmas things we did with her. Micah got into the holiday spirit more this season also.

First, I went caroling with my family which is something we do every year. It's so much fun and really gets me into the Christmas spirit.

Lila loved the decorations in our home, especially the lights. She was so interested in the music from my music box and snow globe.

She liked listening to the Polar Express and loved to look at the picture books I read to her, but as for Christmas day she was asleep for all the present opening. She did however have some adorable pjs. Thanks Keri!


We made ornaments of Lila's hand and footprint out of salt dough.

On Christmas Eve morning we had Christmas tree waffles because we were at my parent's house on Christmas day.


I also got a new dress, shoes, and earrings from my wonderful mother-in-law.

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun listening to the Christmas story in the scriptures, singing carols with my family, and eating delicious cheese and broccoli soup. I also loved that Christmas day was on Sunday. I was initially disappointed that we wouldn't be opening gifts in the morning as we have done every other year, but to have the added spirit from church just made the day even better.

Thanks to the rest of the family for the great gifts! I'm so excited to use them, play with them, display them (mum), and enjoy them! Micah is great at giving gifts and gave me a bunch of fun stuff, but one of my favorite gifts he gave me was money to finish decorating Lila's room so pics soon to come as I am doing that tomorrow.

6 months and other fun things

I haven't posted any of this previously because I was trying to find my camera battery charger to upload pictures, but I can't find it and so have decided to post anyway. Because of this though the post is going to be pretty long. This post is going to be a smorgasbord of things that have happened with our little family lately... mostly revolving around Lila.

Lila's first Thanksgiving was spent in Nebraska with the Pratt's side of the family. It was such a blast and Lila loved her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and they loved her. She was seriously spoiled, but who doesn't want to spoil this chubby cheeked angel? Anyway, she also progressed in her development a lot over the week that we were there and is now an excellent sitter! She no longer needs her hands for support, she gets up on her knees when she is on her belly, and she scoots herself around on the floor by pushing off with her legs. Her little personality is really coming out!

Lila also got to sit on Santa's lap for the first time at our ward Christmas party and was so good about it. It's a good thing she's still a little too young for stranger anxiety to kick in. :) She looked so adorable and so tiny on his lap. She also received a beautiful little blanket with "Lila's first Christmas 2011" embroidered on it. Thanks Lorraine!

Finally, our little bean turned 6 months. Half a year gone already! I can't believe it. She is doing well with all the milestones that she is supposed to be meeting, but we need to now make sure she sleeps through the night entirely on her own. This is a goal of ours for the Christmas break so I will let you know how she does... and how I do. The papers with her measurements got thrown away so I can't remember them exactly and will have to wait until 9 months to have them again, but I can remember that she is just above 17lbs. keeping her in the 76 percentile. She stayed in the same percentages except for her height. Our little shorty isn't as much of a shorty anymore... she has moved from the 33rd percentile to the 52nd. (I think around there.) I also really think she's teething as of today. She won't stop tugging at her ear, is pretty clingy, and starts crying for no real reason.

I love everything about this little girl, but I'll just share a few reasons with you...
her smile
her dimples
her blue eyes
how her eyelashes curl and up and over her eyebrows... seriously the longest lashes I've EVER seen on a baby.
her giggle
her bashfulness
when she grabs your face when she gets excited

Things that Lila loves...
her mommy
her daddy
Matilda, her stuffed wombat
empty plastic bottles
throwing toys
copying daddy's noises
rolling and scooting around on the floor

I'm so excited for Lila's first Christmas! It's such a wonderful time of year. I hope you're enjoying the spirit of the season.

Believe

I've always heard and believed that the veil is very thin for babies, but I don't think I've ever truly witnessed how miraculous this is until now. At church we have paintings up all over the hallway walls. There are several with Christ, but some without. Every time I walk through the hallways with Lila it's amazing how she just knows which paintings have Christ and which person is representing Christ. Whenever we get to one with Christ that is the only face that she looks at and stares at for such a long time. She always ends looking at His face with a smile. It strengthens my testimony every single time. Then, when we were on a tour of Welfare Square in Salt Lake they showed a video at the beginning of what they do in the program. Parts of it was scenes of Christ serving the poor. EVERY time the actor that portrayed Christ came on the screen Lila would coo at him as if she were talking to him. It was so sweet! I love my little girl and even in this small way she is already an example to me and makes me want to be better for her. What a blessing it is to have such a great family!

I love...

I love Lila's little hands. Especially when she puts one on each of my cheeks, "pulls" me toward her and gives me kisses. They are the wettest, sweetest kisses ever. Perfect little girl!

5 Months

Time really does fly when you're having fun! I guess it probably seems that way also because my last post was about her at 4 months. Anyway, that's right... our little bean is 5 months! She is adorable and angelic as ever.



At 5 months she loves:
her exersaucer
her daddy... he makes her laugh the most
her momma... she has the biggest smile when I get home from work. It melts my heart.
her first two fingers for sucking
rolling over... that's right! My baby is a master roller. :)
having raspberries blown on her tummy... she laughs SO hard when this happens
rice cereal... at least today she did (it was her first time).
going out with her mom and dad

Things she no longer really loves are:
her swing... she's just getting too big
laying down... she gets way too squirmy
that might be it.

Can I just say that I love my little girl so much and also that I have a new found respect for working mothers. Don't get me wrong... I completely recognize how much work it is to stay home. I by no means mean to take anything away from you. I only did it for a few months, but it was incredible work. I just mean that because I never expected to work and be a mother I think I underestimated how tired I would be, how emotionally taxing it is, and how unmotivated toward work I can feel sometimes. It's a good thing I love my work and that Micah is such a great caregiver. I know Lila is in the best hands and it only makes me work harder knowing that if I do, I can return home to my sweet baby that much sooner.

Life is so beautiful and I can't think of a better place to be right now. It's not perfect, but it is our dream.

**We took family pictures so as soon as I get them I'll post them. I'm excited!!**