♥ We Interupt Your Regularly Scheduled Day...

... for puke. What a day. Poor Lil. I was woken up at 2:30am to the pitiful cry of "mommy, mommy. Mess". It amazes me how within a nanosecond my brain can go from barely functioning enough to tell my eyelids to open, to full alert mommy mode. I entered her room and the immediate tell tale smell of previously digested food slapped me in the nose. Dear Lil's biggest concern was that beloved bunny had puke on him. "Bunny dirty. Wash mommy". So we changed the sheets, found a new pillow, and sent bunny for a spin in the washing machine and Lily went peacefully (surprisingly) back to sleep. As my mind was just about to shut down back into sleep mode I hear a coughing sound followed by that oh so pleasant gagging noise. Round two. For the rest of the day Lily did a continuous cycle of normal Lil, sucky Lil, pukey Lil, repeat. It has been a fun filled day of washing floors, doing laundry, rinsing out the designated puke bowl, and changing jammies. Even though we all had a visit with a stomach bug two weeks ago, this is the first time Lily has been really sick. I would do anything to make her feel better. One of the hardest moments in a mother's life is seeing her babies hurt.

I better go turn on another load of laundry. We may need more sleepers and blankets tonight.

♥ Good-bye Diapers?

Lily informed me today that she didn't want to wear diapers any more. At least she informed me as clearly as an 18 month old can. The conversation went something like this.
Lily (as I am attempting to put her clean diaper on. Visualize trying to put a diaper on a baby kangaroo or a joey as they are called) - "No Diaper. No"
Me- "You have to wear a diaper until you are ready to pee & poop on the potty"
Lily - "umhmm. Potty. Pissss" (We thank Curtis for this)
Me - "You want to start wearing panties tomorrow?"
Lily - "Yes, panties"
Me - "No more diapers?"
Lily - "No diapers. Panties"
Me - "Okay. Tomorrow we will do panties. You have to pee and poop on the potty."
Lily - "Panties 'morrow."
So, tomorrow we are going to start the 3 day potty training. Basically you talk up the whole no more diapers, you're going to wear panties, blah blah and then literally take the diapers away and walk around with bottle of cleaner hooked to your belt loop. You stuff them full of salty treats and liquid to make sure there is plenty of learning opportunities. I only have one daycare kiddo tomorrow and it's supposed to be rainy all day, perfect setting to let her run around in just panties and a tshirt. I have stickers, a sticker chart, princess potty seat, a lot of goldfish crackers, endless water, and hopefully a sprinkle of patience.

♥ Full Moon

I have been informed that the full moon is to blame for replacing my normally delightful, sweet, entertaining daughter, with a whiny, miserable, toddler. I truly hope this is correct since that means it should be over soon and I can go back to enjoying the precious little girl that is hiding in there some where. If the full moon is not to blame I will gladly take some recommendations for a good exorcist.

Of course it wasn't all bad. There was a glimmer of sweetness that broke through the otherwise sour mood. Her new mission today was to point out everyone's "giney" and "peis" (not a typo that is how she says it). As the day wore on it escalated from pointing, to trying to touch said body parts of the helpless children as they were getting their diapers changed. The naive mommy I am really didn't think I would have to tell my darling daughter at 18 months that other peoples giney's and penis's were not for her to touch. Or tickle for that matter *blush*. I will gladly take some recommendations for a good all girls boarding school.

I learned tonight that Lily ♥ shrimp. I made a simple supper of butter and garlic drenched shrimp over whole wheat spaghetti. Lily devoured the shrimps barely finishing what was in her mouth before asking for more. I immediately thought of the special time of year when Red Lobster has their "All You Can Eat Shrimp" and vowed to take her with us to indulge shamelessly. I wonder if the fact that I indulged in the buttery yearly tradition 3 days before she was born contributes to her love of shrimp? Look out Red Lobster .... *drool*

Lilligan is ready to do some shrimping

♥ My Beautiful Girl

Okay I just have to post some of the pictures that I got back tonight from Lily's "Cutest Baby Model Search" photo shoot. The photography at Perfect Image is stunning and they truly captured Lily's personality. She shines through in the photos. I honestly cannot stop looking at them.

~Photos taken April 17, 2010~

I never thought I could love another human being as much as this.

♥ 18 Months

This is not really a daily moment but I need to catchup on some stats and such I want to remember. On Friday, April 23 Lily had her 18 month check up and immunizations. She of course was a total trooper. She only cried for a couple minutes after the needles and even said thank you to the health nurse. Here are your 18 month stats
Weight - 22lbs 6oz
Height - 30.75 "
General health and development - Excellent. The PHN said she was the best 18 month talker that she had ever seen in the office. Of course mommy beamed with pride.

It still amazes me how much she has changed in the last 6 months or even the last 2 months for that matter. Her vocabulary s outstanding. She has at least 100 words and has started forming 2-3 word sentences. She has no fear and will easily (and quickly) scale the tallest play structure. I am so proud of what a independent, confident, loving, and clever little girl she is becoming.

~ photo from her "Cutest Baby Model Search" shoot on April 17, 2010 courtesy of Perfect Image Photography ~

Babe #2 is finally starting to make his/her presence known more often. Unlike Lily, this babe is much more subtle at this point. It will be interesting to see how much his/her personality is shining through already. Lily was a super active baby who was doing the wiggle worm consistently by 18 weeks (felt first movements around 16 weeks). Babe #2 is just starting to tap dance on a regular basis (20 weeks). Of course it may have taken me a little longer to notice all the moving and grooving since I don't have the time to focus (read: obsess) on my belly nearly as much as I did with Lil. Momma guilt is kicking in already for Babe #2. Poor little peanut doesn't have a whole pregnancy journal, weekly belly pics, or the constant belly rubbing. But I hope he/she knows that he/she is just as loved and wanted. My excitement is not less, I am just more laid back and instead of wanting to rush the pregnancy I am enjoying the time.

♥ Welcome

I am attempting once again to Blog. After realizing earlier this evening that the little moments were escaping from my memory vault, I decided I needed to start to document these memories better. No matter how small or mundane they may seem. Lily (and soon Babe#2) is growing so fast and everyday she says or does something that I want to remember. But after awhile it all becomes a blur as daily life takes over and slowly over shadows the little moments that should be much bigger.
So here I am once again. With renewed motivation and determination to succeed at taking time each day to remember the little things that make my world go around.