Letters to Lyla and Lottie

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

9 months

4 comments Posted by Todd & Chelsea at 4:18 PM

Dear Lyla, 9 whole months have come and past. The above picture captures the very essence of you. Beautiful. Good natured. Kinda playful. Precious. The theme of this month has to active!!! You are such an expert crawler. You're working on standing. Being held is now for the birds and you much perfer playing.

I think if you weren't so absolutely perfect, this last month would be my least favorite. You've discovered the power of you cries. You can go EVERYWHERE but you're just awkward enough that you hurt yourself a lot. And you have to endure childbirth for babies (teething). Still, you find a way to make even these struggles so absolutely amazing. You have the most adorable and determined crawl. I love when you race towards me and follow me around the house. I love to my new partner while I pee. I love seeing you peek around a wall as if you've just made the world's biggest discovery by finding me. With all this new knowledge about crying, also comes knowledge about interacting. I swear you talk to me. You are so expressive. You are my little confidant. Partner in crime. I feel much less lonely while dad travels with you around. There are so many other things I love about you....your unruly bed head after a good night's sleep...the way you become chatty at night and can hardly refrain from hearing yourself speak....the way your belly hangs over your diaper. I am grateful for momentary glipses I get of the woman you will become. Smart. Good natured. Fun. Determined. Loveable. I treasure tiny hugs and embraces. spooning. and when you get your little death grip on my clothing.

Here's some other things about you this month....

You are a tiger's blood snow cone addict/DIVA. From your first try you were hooked and would wine for more. NOW, you won't even let me have a bite in between your bites. You actually cry. Whenever we order a drink now at a fast food place you sit up and start whining..thinking it's a snow cone.

You've learned how to take off your bow. Woe is me! But you normally still allow it to grace your beautiful head

You ate your first full container of baby food this month. For dad, not me. You've pretty much mastered baby food and eat it more a meal now, than just a snack.

You LOVE to crawl away while getting changed. I've learned to wipe you in all sorts of positions and practice restraints. Your strength and determination is AMAZING!

You raise your arms up to me now when I reach for you....love this.

Your hair has gotten sooo curly! It has stayed lighter than light as well.

You got you bottom 2 teeth this month

You have this lovely new grunt you make. Kinda like uhhn. So lady like

You have regained your love for books! Hooray. Okay, mostly you just turn the pages rapidly (better than eating them though!)

You pull your socks off the instant you notice them intruding on your need for free toe-dom

You give kisses! Ahhh. You open your lips when I move in.

You are quite the piggy breast feeder. In no way will you wait for me to latch you on. You root and dig til you get what you want. You still get a drunk face after eating.

When playing, you like to be independent but still want the option to crawl in and out of my lap.

You have this lovely habit of scratching when you eat or when you're tired. It hurts SOOO bad. You just literally scratch bare skin, or dig around for bare skin til you find it.

You're kinda getting thunder thighs! They look like jowls. I could kiss each roll all day long. They are now too chubby for the bumbo!

You can pull yourself up to the standing position! You rock the stand and play toys these days. You also enjoy walking along the couch.

You try to suck on Dad and I's toes. EEEEWWW!!

Sometimes with all the activity, I miss cuddling and beg you for more. I don't want to put you down so you arch your back til I relent. Sorry about that.

When you take a decent nap (pretty much never), I find myself missing you! Then I look at the clock to find its only been an hour!

A cup for of water is you total Nemesis. You get so determined and won't rest until you've knocked it over.

In Mexico you learned solids aren't such a bad thing--thanks to the help of cookies. You also became SOOO active. You want to move constantly

You can work a crowd! Smiling and carrying on. It's pathetic

You can still wear 6-9 month clothing easily

You've discovered outlets and opening and closing drawers. Needless to say, we've had to baby proof! And I cried.

You laugh when the little piggy goes wee wee wee all the way home

You can for from standing to sitting and sitting to standing.

You are just one of the girls! You love to play all the time and just want to be part of it all!

You giggle like crazy when I sneak upon you and then start crawling away. What a playful little thing you are.

When you get hurt or scared, you look to me for comfort. Please always do this.

With all the activity you have gotten a few bumps along the way. Thankfully nothing bad like a bruise but little bumps here and there. It's tough learning to be big

You know that blocks of towers are meant to be knocked over

You follow Ty now all over the house! When he goes outside we can find you at the sliding glass window looking for him. You two are little buddies. You get so excited when you hear his collar jingle.

You sleep like crazy person. Thrashing about and every which way. Still have yet to pass to 7 hour mark on sleep. Still not loving naps. You fight sleep every time I try to lure you there. You simply SUCK at sleeping love.

You had your first experience falling off our big bed. I had my first heart attack. You were napping and woke. I didn't get there fast enough so you just crawled right off. And then screamed. It was so scary. But you were fine and haven't done it since

You understand complex play with toys. You try to stack things and feel things out. It's so amazing watching you learn

Your first act of a destructo baby was to smash my scentsy candle on the counter. Sending wax everywhere and cracking the burner.

I say this all the time but you are so admired. A rough and tough biker said to us at Brads the other day, "some guy's gonna get lost in those blue eyes someday and never find his way out". I hope he's good to you and rich. Another younger guy at church said to us "I've noticed all the babies in the ward and yours is by far the cutest".

We think you might get allergies. You get so congested and itch your eyes but it's only at night and early morning and at certain places.

Likes

Limes

Mexican cookies

tomatoes

potatoes

goldfish

cracker

bananas

apples (but not applesauce)

strawberry bananas

cherrios

snow cones

coke

Dislikes

craisins

most vegetables

all baby food meat

strawberries

Stats

15 lbs (2nd percentile)

26.5 inches long (14 percentile)

17inches head circumference (23rd percentile)

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Lyla's first 4th of July

1 comments Posted by Todd & Chelsea at 4:02 PM

The 4th came just one day after we got back from MX. Talk about jet lag! I insisted on doing the parade however, as it was Lyla's first Independence Day! I'd only had her dress for a month and her bow made on special order (I know, ridiculous). Lyla loved the parade. She lives for hustle and bustle. I was afraid the sirens would scare her (since the vacuum does) but she wasn't even phased. She screamed with excitement watching the kids chase the candy. I couldn't help but think that next year that'll be her! Crazy. After we went to the park and later went to the old stand by, Brads. That evening we ate homemade ice cream (we, minus me!) and watched the fireworks. Lyla gave them little attention but loved crawling around the grass with Addy. I'm grateful to live in American, especially after visiting another country.

Tradition: Fuzzy Lammy Style

0 comments Posted by Todd & Chelsea at 12:35 PM

*This post is sorely out of order*

There has always been things...events/stories/outings...from my childhood that I have a been excited to share with Lyla since she was born. Things that left a impression, however minor, in my heart or mind.

Visiting the baby lambs is one of them.

Every Spring, my mom would pack us kids in the van and drive us down to the fields (that just so happen to by less than 10 ft from my current house) to see that newly born lambs. I still remember thinking how cute they were--all fuzzy and awkward. It was just one of those seemingly small outings that has always stuck with me. I think it taught me that even as children, we mattered. That mom wanted us to experience some of life's little miracles. That we were worth her time.

So...this spring, I couldn't wait to take Lyla to see the baby lambs. I know, I know...she won't remember. But I will. Her first trip, of hopefully many, to see the baby lambs. Lucky for us, we just had to walk! It was windy and the sun was in her eyes but I still think she enjoyed it. She perked right up in the stroller when she saw them scuffling about. We watched them tug at their mommies and fight for a nuk (which made me happy our babies don't come in bulk).

Anyway, It was a special experience for me to share with my girl. I hope she always knows that she matters to me. That I want her to experience ALL of the miracles of this world.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Mexico: Numero Ocho

2 comments Posted by Todd & Chelsea at 5:30 PM

Our last day in Mexico we went for a walk on the beach, ate at McDonalds (they offer salsa on their hamburger) and then endured another 18 hours of travel. It was sad to say goodbye, but we were ready to get home. The trip home was easier in my mind. EXCEPT for when we arrived in Las Vegas at 1am and still had to drive the 3 hours to Cedar City. Crawling into our bed that night was amazing.

Lyla learned some things in Mexico....1) she is equally adored by Mexicans 2) She can eat solids and the cookie Carmellitas is especially good. 3) Limes are good! 4)she can poop sand 5)Sunscreen sucks but not getting sunburned like everyone else was worth it! 6)sweaty back is no fun!

Adios' Mexico!

Mexico: Numero Siete

0 comments Posted by Todd & Chelsea at 2:43 PM

On the 7th day, we braved the beach again. Floating in the lazy river was much more my cup of tea, but I thought Lyla preferred the beach. This time she REALLY went to task on the sand. It wasn't so much that she was eating it intentionally, but she just couldn't help but putting sand-laced toys in her mouth. She created quite the beard. I think she loved hanging on the sand. This time we swam more in the ocean. Lyla loved watching the water sneak up upon her! She would squeal with delight. It was a true joy to watch her. We met a very talented Tido on the beach who sold us some amazing hand-painted dishes. Poor guy. We liked his work so much, our orders sent him working all night long in order to get them finished and delivered to us before we flew out the next day. I got two salsa dishes for my visit teachers too.

It was a good last day at the beach.

On our last evening, we took a taxi cab in town to a highly recommended restaurant. Again, this was nothing but a cultural experience. Outside, there was a woman on next to some type of makeshift stove making tortillas. Our first sigh of the authenticity of this restaurant. As we walked along the cobblestone path to our table. I caught sight of another makeshift stove, on other side of the restaurant. Just as I went to turn, I saw a lady lift up a white sheet on a table grab what I assume was meat, and toss it on the grill. Hmmm. Yikes. Maybe refrigeration is overrated? I tried to keep an open mind. We ordered what we thought we wanted based on the pictures, and sat back to enjoy an evening out. The low lighting and quiet of the restaurant set a nice mood for sipping coke in a bottle and chatting. Lyla was so well behaved. She loved the tall high chair she got to sit in. I think that's where the prettiness of the evening ended. The food was....questionable. Meat that resembled jerky. Jenny ordered soup with "chicken" that resembled fried cottage cheese. Pretty sure it was intestine.

Later that night, Todd remarked,

"I'm pretty sure that burp just meowed".

Definitely the best quote of the trip.

I guess it made for a good story, since we're still all paying for it. Montezuma Revenge like no other! Truly, the whole next day on the airplane was rough. A

Mexico: Numero Seis

0 comments Posted by Todd & Chelsea at 2:19 PM

Day 6 was about RECOVERY. We were spent from the day before. SO we chilled at the pool the whole day. I had a lofty goal of getting tanned or sunburned come hell or high water and boy did I reach that goal and then some! All trip Melissa had been calling me whitey mcwhiterson. It was true. All trip I stayed in under the umbrella or in the shade to be with Lyla. SO Melissa doing her duty to protect everyone's eyes from my whiteness, offered to watch Lyla in the hotel room for a few hours so I could get some sun. I laid out for 2 hours with no sunscreen. And I got toasted. On my legs and lower arms. After the roast, we came inside, made a play barrier for Lyla and relaxed some more. Tough life huh? Lyla and Addy were so cute together. Here's them tossing the ball. In the evening when we were fixing dinner (chicken burritos...we literally ate Mexican food every night) I was letting Lyla air out her bum, and she repaid me by pooping on the nice marble floor. Pretty gross. After a scrumptious dinner and the best cantaloupe ever, we hooked the DVD player up to our flat screen and watched Big Love (tv series we're watching on Netflix). I could hardly move most the night and cursed myself for being vain and wanting to get tan. Todd cursed me too because I complained a lot. All in all, it was another great day.