Checkup &Goals

Measurements

Length - 29.5 inches (60th percentile)

Weight - 20.6 pounds (40th percentile)

Head circumference - 17.5 inches (25th percentile)

Dr. Troast held Lily while we discussed her development and was amazed by how social she was. She kept alternating between holding the stethascope up to her ear and then to his. I told her she had the wrong end, but she didn't pay me any attention :)

She was given 3 separate shots - MMR, Flu, and HepB. He didn't want to give her more than that today, so we go back in a month for the Flu booster and another vaccination or two.

The nurse was so sweet. She kept telling Lily that she was giving her the shots "with love" and then she was sad when Lily cried after. But, the crying only lasted about 15 seconds, until she was given her cup full of strawberry milk. Momma comes prepared :)

We have several things to work on this month:

1. My goal was that all bottles and pacifiers would by gone by 1 year. Well, bottles have been gone for a month now, but pacifiers are still in full effect. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the 2 back-to-back sicknesses have caused her to become even more attached. So, that means it is something we will be tackling in the next couple months.

2. Food - I think has has always eaten pretty healthy. She likes almost everything, and she gets a balanced diet, but I am really trying to make sure that every meal is packed full of nutrients. I bought spinach at the store last week and cut it up small enough so that it is parsley-like in size and have been putting it in everything. I am trying to go organic with a lot of the food that I get for her.

3. I want to spend some amount of time outside with her every day. I know she gets outdoor play time at preschool, but I am not about letting the school take care of my responsibilities for me. There are certain precedents I want to set as a family - and I've decided that a family walk or outdoor jaunt of some kind is one of them.

4. Faith will be the most important thing that I pass down to her. Yet, I do my daily quiet time in seclusion and pray for her when she's not around, or only at meals. At her dedication, I promised to live Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 which says:

"Write these commandments that I have

given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of

you and then get them inside your children. Talk

about them wherever you are, sitting at home or

walking in the street; talk about them from the time

you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed

at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as

a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your

homes and on your city gates.”

I want to do more to model my faith in front of her. I know there's not much she can understand right now, but it's better that I set certain habits now, and then she will never remember it having been any other way.

I'm determined that my parenting will be very deliberate. I'm sure goals will be added and revised. So, I think there is a lot to make me busy in the coming months (and beyond).

First Birthday!!!!

This morning we were all woken up by the sound of a balloon coming into contact with a ceiling fan - I know, how ironic. I was so excited to see Lily this morning! As soon as I woke up, all I could think about was her little smiling face - it was almost like a year ago when I was anxious to see her for the very first time. I relived a lot of moments today - the scary parts of labor when they couldn't stabilize my blood pressure, the unexpected c-section, the long wait by myself after they took her away - but most of all, the happiest moment when she was finally in my arms for the very first time. My arms ache to hold her even now as I think about it.

So as soon as I heard her wake up, I went running to her room to greet her with a big "Happy Birthday!"

The first thing we did was to go play outside. She loves to be outside - everything about it - birds, grass, plants, mulch, dirt - she wants to play with it all.

 She obviously has some kind of secret here.

Then we went to a farm north of where we live. I figured it would be an activity she would enjoy, since we would be outside, and there are certain things I want to instill in her as she grows older - a love for God's creation and a desire to eat healthy.

Checking out the tomato plants.

Hug me, Daddy!!!

I'll take all of these!

This isn't the kind of avocado you normally see at Walmart!

Somebody got really excited to be running around at the market!

On the way home from the farm we stopped at McDonalds for lunch. Who would have thought that some of my favorite pics of the day would come from that.

She has a very ambiguous eye color if you can't tell by these pics - sometimes they look gray, sometimes they look green, sometimes they will be gray with a very distinct brown in the middle. I'm not sure if they are still changing, or if she will never be able to really answer the question about what color her eyes are.

After lunch we went by the citrus center for their orange and vanilla twist ice cream cones. This is normally a tradition for when we are on our way home from the beach, but today was a special day.

Yum!!!

Next we came home for a nap. I played with her on the couch until she fell asleep - one of my favorite moments of the day :)

While she was sleeping, Clay and I finished filling the balloons and decorating the dining room. She is obsessed with balloons - she can hardly focus on anything else when we see one out in public. The one that got caught in the fan this morning has been in the house for a couple weeks now. She points it out several times a day. I had this idea of creating a wonderland of balloons for her. I think it came out close to what I had pictured in my head.

THE CAKES!!!!

I am obsessed with the cake! I absolutely loved it - it was better than I imagined. I said I wanted a fanciful 1 on top, some flowers and butterflies, her name in round circles, and just a little bit of sparkle. Many thanks to Extreme Sugar Cake Shop in Fort Myers for making such a beautiful creation.

Lily's smash cake.

 Pictures of the main cake:

We also had some cheesecake flavored cupcakes - just for funsies.

After she woke up from her nap, Clay, Nana, and Papa were waiting in the dining room for her. I set her down so when she rounded the loveseat she would see all the balloons for the first time.

She was immediately intrigued.

She obviously can't get to them fast enough!

She has captured one by its string and is showing it to Papa - as if they aren't obvious already :)

Time for pizza!!!

She was so serious when I was putting her bib on - as if she knew she had a very important cake-eating moment coming up.

This cracks me up :)

In a second I'll notice it....

Getting the feel of it.

Testing out the taste.

Must have tasted good - cause now I'm gonna dive in face first!

This icing is good!

Starting to make it past the icing to the red velvet cake!

Smashing!

(I am cutting the main cake in the meantime)

Starting to get messy.

Really messy.

Doesn't get much messier than this!

After a shower, followed by a bath, she was ready for presents.

I always thought these kind of boots were lame, until I saw the baby version - cutest things ever!

Nana and Papa got her a mini-suitcase - she thought it would be great to sit in it and play with all her new clothes.

Opening the big one.

Lily's first car - haha.

Playing with her new pool toys from Aunt Jodi in the sink.

After all of that, we went to go see Lion King since it is out for a couple weeks in theaters. It's the first movie we've seen that she's really paid attention to. She fell asleep after about 45 minutes, but before that she was watching and dancing and clapping the whole time.

Cuddling with Nana at home before going to bed.

It was a day packed with activity and all the fun and sweet moments that are typical of life with Lily. I am so, so happy to be a mother in the first place, but most of all, I am happy to be HER mother. I hope she felt just how much I love her today. The last year with her has been the biggest blessing.

To see Lily's 1 Year pics go here 1 Year.

To see Lily's 1 Year post go here 1 Year Pics.