One More Month Until Our Baby Turns One!

At 11 months, Lillian Grace has really started to show her little (yet strong) personality. I believe I had my first "temper tantrum" the other day when I wouldn't pick her up. She sat on the floor, crossed her legs (because crossing her arms at this point is not a skill she has mastered), threw her arms down to her side, popped that bottom lip out at me and began to cry. Seriously? Not even one and I have a stubborn child...and so the payback that I have been hearing about begins. Wasn't her conception and pregnancy enough?? Was I really that bad??

I will take Lily to Dr. Cannizzaro's office this coming week to get weighed, but for now I have settled for the scale in our bathroom. I couldn't believe my eyes: 20.5 lbs. However, this was a digital scale, and Lily had all of her clothes on, so we will see what doc has to say.

I am confident that I am going to have a toothless child on her first birthday...yes, that's right, still no teeth! Teeth are overrated...who wants to brush those little buggers anyhow? Obviously at 20+ pounds, she's not having any problems eating. And who doesn't love that little gummy baby smile? All joking aside, I do wish she would pop a tooth (or two, or three, or four...) out already! I swear this child has been teething for MONTHS now!

Lily has discovered the stairs and can crawl up them, but certainly not down yet. She is learning how to scoot off the couch backwards, and she has been super active with her walkers. Most recently I am sure I caught Lily and her partner in crime (Riley the dog) playing Frogger in the living room. He would casually walk back and forth as to say, "Ha, ha slowpoke, you can't get me!" In turn, Lily would muster up all of her baby energy and push her little Princess toy across the floor as fast as she could trying her best to run him over. So far I believe the score is: Riley - 3, Lily - o. She is also a very active crawler and continues to show her love for her brother. Just the other day Lily crawled out of her room and into his and asked, "Bra-bra?" Nope, sorry baby girl, bra-bra is not home.

And yet another first that I am not so proud of...the old, "Dump the bowl of food on your head" trick. Fortunately at almost one year, this is the first episode at meal time that required a follow up bath. Scot's question to me when he saw this picture was, "Did you put the bowl on her head?" No silly! Do you really think I like to make MORE work for myself? However, after the first dump on her head, you'd better believe I ran for that camera to catch the second attempt!

Lily is fast asleep in her bed this morning, and while I could continue to brag about our little princess...I should get a few things done. Like planning Lily's first birthday party!!

Sea World

Lillian had her first official trip to Sea World on New Years Day! It was a beautiful day out with plenty of sunshine and a cool breeze. It seems like just yesterday we were taking Canyon to Sea World on the weekends when he was a toddler, at 13 years old now, he would rather be out with his buddies.

I suppose I should dig out, and dust off, the old photos of Canyon. Every visit to Sea World required a picture in front of the manatees...how cute it would be to compare the two.

Two proud parents.

We weren't quite sure how Lily would react to the sights and sounds (and smells) of Sea World...but in true typical Shapiro fashion, she thoughtfully took it all in. While we were in the underwater viewing area for the dolphins, she perked up and it was then that we realized that she was able to notice and keep up with the fast swimming creatures. She loved them, and giggled with delight. She even did her trademark: outstretched arm-palm up...as if to say, "Yes, I see you dolphins, do some more tricks!" And I have to feel as though she ought to like the dolphins as it was my love of them that inspired the tattoo on my belly, which Lillian grew under for 9 months!

Bom-Bom-Bootsy...Aunt Harriet has started a new game in the family!

Big ornament, little girl!

Laughing till their bellies ached! And so was mom, once dad stood up and revealed the water mark on his rear end from the wet grass....

This was Lillian's first apparent "I want" moment....we were a ways away when she spotted the giant octopus. With arms stretched out and her little high pitched voice going, "Huh!"...she was trying to tell us that she wanted that. As my child's advocate, I encouraged her daddy to play the game and win that sucker for her!! And while we believe that most of the time, you lose at carnival-like games, this would be the time he actually won. Where on earth would that thing live? In her crib?? Not to mention we would have to haul it around for the day. Did you know that for a "small fee" Sea World will ship your winnings to your house?

Mommy and Lily in the sea of trees!

Buddies.

Happy New Year ~ 2011

Lillian rang in her first new year and only missed the midnight countdown by two hours! She was a real trooper and was able to "hang with the big dogs" until just after 10:00, at that point she made it clear she had had enough! Happy New Year, baby girl!

Fortunately Lily was a sound sleeper that evening as her brother had prepared quite the firework display for friends and family, maybe she'll be able to catch that viewing next year!

Cheers to a healthy and prosperous 2011!