Tali - 2 & 3 months

The months are flying by.  2 and 3 months has been so fun.  

It's safe to say that Lydia loves you.  Most of the time, she does her own thing... but the moments that she wants to be with you are so sweet.  When you start to cry, she will sing "Jesus Loves Me" (loudly) so that you will calm down.

You found your hands. 

 You have rolled from your back to your belly a few times.

You enjoy tummy time... for about 2 minutes.

  You love hanging out with friends and family.

You are grabbing on to your toys.

My favorite thing is....your expressions.  You melt me with your smile.  

At your 2 month check up, you were 9lbs. and 2oz. I love watching you grow. xoxo

Tali - 1 month

I cannot believe you have been here for a month!  Tali, you are so very loved!  You were born in the middle of the night (4:33am), so all of our friends and family woke up to a picture of us holding you.

Lydia is a proud big sister.  So proud that everyone who comes to our house, even after a month, she announces to them that she has a little sister.  My prayer is that the two of you are the best of friends.

At 1 month, you love to be swaddled.  More than that, you love when I carry you in my wrap (which makes my heart so happy!).  We had Kelly from Kelly Is Nice Photography come over and take some pictures right after we brought you home.  Everyone cannot believe how alert you were while she took these pictures.  You have been described several times as "chill."  For that, I am thankful!

I love each and every ounce of you.  Which is 130 ounces at one month old. (8lbs. 2oz)

Toddler Life

 

Y'all, toddler life is so challenging and so fun!  Most days I am overcome with how much I love this little blessing that the Lord has entrusted to us. And some days I am overwhelmed by how much this little one teaches me.

I want to get back into writing things down.  My sister-in-law, Mandy, kept a blog when my niece was a toddler.  She would write down the toddler language of my niece.  It's so fun to see what words they are trying to say.

Lydia's Language:

- Fruit Gummies = Poot Yummies

- Strawberries = Strawbabies

- Blueberries = Bluebabies

- Nipples = Nickels

- Buggy = Bogey

- Computer = Pewter
- Please = Peas
- Deep and Wide = Cheese and Wide (which sometimes sounds like wine)

Also, she usually just sings the last phrase of each song.  Currently, my favorite is "You Are My Sunshine."  

Toddler life is entertaining.

 

12 months

The week before your birthday was, honestly, pretty emotional for me. I mean, to think of where we were last year and where we are today? The only thing I can say is that God is AWESOME!

This month, I feel like you became a big kid over night. 

Big kid food and drink.

Big kid swing.

We celebrated you on the weekend before your birthday. The inspiration for your party came from a photo that was taken of your dad reading to you in the NICU, while you were in the incubator.

This one. And like I said in last month's post, you still love to read.

We are very blessed that you have all you need. So in lieu of gifts, we had all the guests that were invited to your party bring children's books that we could donate to the same NICU that your dad and I read to you in. That was a special time for us, and one of the few things we could do for you while you laid there getting stronger. We want to make sure other parents have that same special moment.

You are very loved. A lot of people came to celebrate you, but most of all, we celebrated your Creator. Your dad said a few words about you. We all sang your favorite hymn, "Come Thou Fount." Then, before you dug into your smash cake, Big Bob (my grandfather) prayed over you. It was a very special day.

On your birthday, we went to the hospital, where you were born, to drop off the books. It was great to be able to thank the doctors and nurses who took great care of you.

I will end this year of posts with the verse that we prayed over you while we were in the hospital, awaiting your arrival.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:14-16)

We will continue to pray this over you, as you continue to grow. We love you.

11 months

In less than a month, you will be a year old. This year has been full of changes. The different stages, just in this one year, have brought me so much joy.

This past month was pretty funny.

 

You perfected the "stank" face. Which means the attitude is here, in full force.

You love to play chase. You may be tiny, but you sure are fast. You chuckle every time you crawl away from us. This is cute and funny, until we are really not wanting you to go somewhere. 

Each night we throw as many pacifiers as we can into your crib. Why??

Because you do that. You throw all but one out onto the floor. Usually in that same spot. I walk in each morning to find a pile of pacifiers by the door and scattered around your crib.

You also chew on the end of the crib. I suppose you are waiting for us to come in and get you. Look at those teeth marks!!!

The dishwasher and mirrors are hilarious. You found your reflection and are pretty proud of yourself.

When I say, "Oh, wee!," you will grunt and give love to whatever is close to you. Stuffed animals, your dad, me, etc. It's pretty stinkin' cute!

You love books. Especially reading them with Nonnie. She makes sound effects for you to copy, like the busy bees' noise. "Bzzzz." You mainly just spit, while trying to copy her.

Your hair is finally beginning to lay down. This makes some people sad. I am thrilled!! Bring on the hair that I can braid and put in precious ponytails!

You attended your first "sangin" practice. Ask your dad and Granny about the Ballew sisters. Your granny and her sisters sure can sing. 

We made it 10 months before you got sick. You got a stomach bug. It was not fun for anyone. Especially for your dad and Nonnie, who ended up getting it after you had it. :(

A lot happened this month. The invitations for your first birthday party have been mailed. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. Love you, boo bear!