Newsletter-- 21 months

Dear Lylah, 

You are just getting so big! My back pain is definitely proof. I know you are 28.8 pounds because I had to take you to the doctor yesterday for your awful rash that I don't want to talk about because I gave it to you with my fever blisters and sharing my water bottle. I've already said too much. 

This month has been the month of "Lylah do it!" You say it all the time. Even if we aren't doing anything for you, but it's clear we're thinking about it. 

You want to put your shoes on by yourself, scoop your food by yourself, put your clothes on yourself....everything. You are definitely getting more and more independent. You get frustrated when you can't do something, and will eventually ask for help. Then you say "Lylah do it!" again, and the cycle continues. 

You talk ALL day. And recite lyrics. And your numbers. And letters. Here you are "singing"...

You often say things that I am about to say. Apparently, I have certain phrases I say constantly, and you pick up on them. For example, if you crawl into one of the kitchen table chairs, I say "Are you sitting in that chair?" And you'll say "like a big girl!" Because I've said that before. Or after you get aspirated, you say "All done! Did so good." And recently, if I ask you to say hi to someone, you say "Being shy." 

Every time you play the piano, you say "DA DA DAAAA". Always. 

You are obsessed with the Barbies and Barbie car I found at a garage sale. You also love puzzles, books, stickers, coloring (although sometimes it turns into "Mommy do it" and I end up coloring), pulling your puppy around, and anything with Elmo. Except TV. Too stressful, apparently. Anytime Elmo leaves the screen you cry. Maybe one day.

I love this face!

This month school ended, so we are adjusting to having no where to be. :) It's been kinda nice, actually! We just got back from Austin, where we met your cousin, Olivia. 

You really surprised us with how well you did on the 8 hour car ride, and sleeping in the pack'n play. It was in the biggest master closet ever at a rent house, but still. You were amazing. I was so worried for nothing. And you loved Olivia. She is precious!

Snuggling with Daddy

You love to be tickled, and your big tickle spot is under your chin. So cute. 

A little bug watching. . .

Being outside is your absolute favorite thing. You love to color with sidewalk chalk in the front yard, play with your car and blow bubbles. In the backyard, you love to swing, step in holes the dogs have dug, and take their toys from them. And you like to throw tennis balls for the dogs to chase. They don't go very far yet, but we're workin' on it. 

Peanut, you are just too much fun. You are loud, funny, demanding, cuddly, loving, friendly, sweet and  active. We cannot imagine our lives without you! 

We love you so much! 

Mom and Dad

Lylah-- 20 months

Dear Lylah, 

20 months old! You are SO close to being two, and I can't seem to fathom that. You are just such a funny, sweet, silly, smart little girl. 

Things about this month I don't want to forget....

--How you call strawberries "strawbabies" and blueberries "bluebabies". 

--Love to say the ABC's, minus a few letters occasionally. "ABCFG....menenopeeeee!" You love to say your letters and numbers with Daddy. 

--You love to take your temperature and call it "mer-da-der". 

--We were at the park and you were climbing, and I opened my mouth to tell you to slow down and you said "Don't go too fast!". Wow. 

--You love to say "How 'bout...." Because apparently, I say that constantly. 

--You want to "sungle" constantly. "Sungle Daddy. Hold Daddy." 

Sleeping: 

This month you have been sleeping LATE, which I love. A few times this month, you slept until 9, and it was amahzing. (Which is totally a word my iPhone recognizes now.)  You take a good nap at 1, and it's usually 2-3 hours. Occasionally you'll nap for an hour and then roll around in your bed and sleep off and on. And talk. 

You've started waking up and instantly being on the go. You used to want to be held and "sungle", but now you want to be put down and you are on the go. It's pretty cute. You look like a mini realtor. You point out pictures and rooms, and head to the living room to play. 

 Here you are counting: 

Playing: 

Above is one of your new favorite games. You love playing in your bed. You like to put your bear "to sleep" and say "night night" and pat him. Pretty cute. And you love to put all your animals in your shopping cart and "go shopping". And when you put them in your cart you say "Get in there!". 

Still love outside, and have recently discovered sidewalk chalk. I'm starting to trust you to play in the front yard more, which is fun, cause we have great neighbors. And the weather (hopefully) should continue to warm up, so we should do this more! :)

We LOVE you!

Love, 

Mom and Dad

Newletter--19 months

Dear Lylah, 

This month I have felt like you are so big. You are growing up so fast! I want time to slow down, but at the same time, it's fun to see you learn new things. The bigger you get, it seems the more fun you have experiencing new things. 

You definitely have a mind of your own, and are developing more and more independence each day. As I slowly figure this toddler parenting out (uh, trying to), I have found you enjoy when I explain things to you. And most of the time, you seem to understand. Ish.

It's fun to hear the phrases you've picked up. The ones you say are things we say a lot. It's so funny to discover what you say all the time! "Dirty Hands" "Yucky Now" (when something falls on the floor) "It go?" (Where'd it go?) "Come on!" "Ryan!" (Apparently I saw this a lot, because L does, too...)

Here you are the zoo with your BFF, Hannah!

We went to the zoo, and you talked about it for weeks. Rhino! Hippo! Duck! Hannah! Loller! (Stroller)

You love going to church, and to MDO. You love to name your teachers and the kids in your class. 

Daddy said the other night at dinner that in a few months, we are not going to be able to get a word in edgewise. And he is so right. You talk constantly. Here's an example: 

Daddy: What did you do today? 

Lylah: Park! Asher!

Daddy: You went to the park with Asher!

Lylah: Swing! Slide!

Daddy: You went on the slide and you played on the swing? Fun!

Lylah: Bye bye park!

Daddy: Then you said "Bye" to the park?

Lylah: Yeah. Car! Car! Bye Asher!

Recently you started saying "Throw fit!" and throwing yourself or whatever you are holding down. This cracks me up. And for some reason, it helps. Once I say "Okay, you throw your fit", you are fine. And sometimes you walk for a little bit and proclaim "'Nother fit!". 

You still love to eat. You were sick in the middle of the month, and I knew you were sick because you didn't really want anything to eat...even grapes. That was not fun. 

When you are not sick, your favorite things are grapes, broccoli (I know...crazy), corn, a few bites of an apple slice, cheese and recently ham. You ask for ham all the time. 

I'd have to say being outside is one of your favorite things.  You love going to the park, and you love running around in our backyard. You love the puppies! You prefer Sadie, but Parker likes you more than Sadie does. You will throw a fit if you only see Parker, and scream "Sadie! Hold you! Hug!" until you come around the corner or into the garage. 

Your other favorite things would have to be reading books. I literally read you books allllll day. You would be happy if all we did was read books. You love your barn, your new tunnel, and your car. And recently you are obsessed with your belly button. :)

You are such a fun, happy girl! We love you!

Love, 

Mom and Dad

Beaver Creek 2013

Ahhhh, Colorado.



End of February we went on a family ski trip! We were in Beaver Creek, Colorado. We had a blast! We were there for an extended weekend in a condo with this view right up the road.

Gorgeous!

L loved the snow. So much she would throw a fit if she had to go inside.

 The group before leaving. Fun times!

Newsletter-18 months

Dear Lylah,

I am not prepared to write an 18 month newsletter! I just cannot fathom this. Maybe it's that February is a short month. Or that 18 months just seems so big....so close to being 2! Crazy.

Still love books!

You are constantly talking, and learning and signing and talking. Did I say talking? You love to go through all your signs. You will say them in the car. In your bed after you wake up. Everywhere. We'll hear: "Sky! Grass! Please! Banana! Flower! Leaf! Juice! Milk!" (it goes on and on. and on.)

You've started picking up some phrases. Here's a video: 

You absolutely love other children. Every child is "a baby!".  You love a good playdate! You show off your toys, but are still pretty bad at sharing. We're working on it!

I love this picture cause it captures our life. The clutter, the bedhead....our little moments. 

You are sleeping well and eating REALLY well. Still love food! Your favorites currently are bananas, broccoli, applesauce, corn, avocado (which you call "a-cado"), grapes and crackers. You would eat crackers all day if we let you. And pretzels.

We had a fun Valentines day! I made you a little last minute Valentines breakfast, including pink cereals I had from the Valentines snack I made for your MDO party and a piece of toast cookie cut into a heart. (So thankful for whoever gave that cookie cutter as a wedding favor....whoever that was.) You had a fun day at MDO, and got a new toy from us...Elmo. Whom you LOVE. You sleep with him (we finally got brave enough to let you have a stuffed animal in your bed) and ask for him constantly. "Elmo? Hug?"..... "Elmo! Eye. Nose. Mouth. Hand. Feet."

You are SOO tall! Your pants just get shorter and shorter and it gets harder and harder to keep your belly from showing. I'm going to have to get you some 3T clothes. You can wear some 2Ts, and a few 18-24 months, but you are getting so big. Your hair is getting long, too. 

At the end of the month, we went on a ski trip (separate post coming). This was the one exception to your great sleeping. You are not a fan of sleeping in the pack'n play. But other than one bad night and crying for a bit when we put you down, you did fine. Ish. 

Here you are before the trip, trying on your boots. (a last minute $9 Walmart find!)

And yes, that's a toothbrush. One of your favorite things. 

You loved the snow! Gigi and I took you out twice and we both had fun snapping pictures of you. It was great because you were such a marshmallow that you couldn't run away. You walked around for about 15 minutes, and touched the snow a few times. Then you looked up and said "all done".



We love you!

Mom and Dad