Chicken Soup for the Soul

Oh what a wonderful day.

Okay so much to tell you.

First, Lauren Sos is in the hospital as we speak giving birth. What a joyous occasion. :) I am so happy for them.

Second, I have to share with you one of those "chicken soup for the soul" type stories. It was about a week ago. Your Dad was working late at Habitat for Humanity (thanks be to God for that new job). Anyway, it was just you and me for dinner. I fixed roast beef and mashed potatoes which you enjoyed. We were sitting at the dinning room table and you reached your hand out to grab mine. You took my hand and held it. I think this is just adorable, but only the beginning of our story. So, I asked you if you wanted to say a prayer, and in your infamous way you responded loudly "Uh Huh" meaning yes. So, I said a prayer, with my hand in yours then we ended with Amen and "Thank you God" in sign language which was tradition. So you said the thank you and then pointed up (our not so ASL approved sign for God), then you scooped up some of the roast beef in your hand and proceeded to reach it as high as you could, to offer it up to God. ..... Ahhhhhhhh. My heart melted. That was so precious.

The following night wasn't near as sentimental, but you repeated the entire event, this time with a fish stick. I'm sure Jesus would love a fish stick. What a sweatheart you are. I love you so much. You can test my temper at times, but I can not imagine life without you. You just bring so much love and joy to our lives.

Fall is in the Air

Hey Beautiful,
Well, the winter clothes came out of the attic last night, and the warm footsie pajamas are on. There is definitely a chill in the air. It's amazing how quickly the weather can change.
I do love this time of year though. The fall temperatures, the colors, the beutiful trees. Of course, don't get me started on the pain of picking up those pesky leaves. :) Oh well, it all comes with the beauty.

So, with this time of year comes flu season. I guess you and I should be in the clear. In mid-September we took you to the doctor because you were running a fever of 104. The doctor diagnosed you with the Swine Flu, which has been in the news as detrimental. It was a sad couple of days getting you over the fevers and other symptoms, and boy were you ever lathargic. It was so sweet though. I started having the same symptoms as you about 24hours after you. However, no matter how bad the news made it out to be, you were back to normal within about 4 days. Now, nobody wanted to see us around for several days after. Unfortunately, the night before the symptoms, we were visiting Lauren, who was about 7 months pregnant at the time. She was showing signs of cold symtpoms but never contracted the flu from us. That was a relief.

On to more current news. Your Dad has an interview today with Habitat for Humanity. We are praying hard for this one. Hopefully you will grow to know hfh as well as your Daddy and I have. They are a Christian based Non-Profit organization that houses people that are misplaced or of very low income. Daddy and I spent two separate weeks in Biloxi, MS. helping Habitat for Humanity build homes for those that lost their homes during huricane Katrina. You'll never remember, but you were there for our second trip down there. You were about the size of a softball, and still growing inside me, but you were there. :) Anyway, we pray for your Dad today.

Well, I love you more every day Sweetie. I am really enjoying this time of your development, as you try to repeat everything we say. You can read the word baby and you know what it is. You have over 30 words in your vocabulary, and that increases every day. I just hope our occassional bad words don't creep in there. We really have to watch ourselves around you.

Much love Lily Grace.

Dear Lily,
Things can change so quickly. God has blessed us again, with a little more stability. Looks like my job is secure again for atleast a year. In this economic time, a year is forever. Not only is it more secure, but it's going to be more enjoyable for me. I've been asked to start doing AutoCAD work for a new project. I love working in AutoCad, and I'm so grateful to be able to do something that is in my expertise. Thank you so much God. This will also make it a little better when looking for new work later on down the road.
As of right now, your Dad is still looking for new work. We're praying he gets a job at University of Richmond, which is about 5 blocks from our house. We'll see what's in store.

Well, on the 7th of August we celebrated your 1 1/2 Birthday with 1 1/2 scrumptious desserts. Your Grama and Pop-Pop came to town and Grammy Pam came over too. You sure do have a lot of relatives around.

Last week we took you to your 18 mo. Doctor's visit. The last one until 2 years. You have grown 2 inches and about 2 pounds since 15 months. You're at 30 1/2 lbs and 31 inches. I guess you're about as heavy as you are tall.

Yesterday, you added a new word to your growing vocabulary. You keep saying ba be. I guess all the mixed race baby dolls we have from Grammy Pam have taught you that word. Okay, one of those precious moments happened last week with your little baby doll. You took a diaper out of the basket, spread it out and then laid the baby doll on it, and attempted to close the diaper. It was so precious. Yes, I did get pictures!!

Lily, I love you so much. You are growing so fast and becoming so independent, but I just love that you give hugs and kisses frequently. You even say the I and U of I love you. :) Mommy's working on the word love.

Economic Depression

Lily, In your future, especially when you get to high school economic classes, you're going to hear about the great depression in the 30's-40's. Well, I'm guessing by the time you're in high school, they will also be talking about the depression of the 08-09's. I don't know what it will be called, but just know you were there.
We've been blessed to have enough money to live the way we do, but this economic turn is really starting to hit home. First, thankfully, you're Mom and Dad are both still employed this long. Many haven't made it to this point. However, come November, you're Dad will be leaving Virginia21, now, you're Mom just found out that come December-January, I'll be in need of new work too.
So, we're both trying to find employement. This means that you may be starting Day care soon, as I will proabably need to go to work full time, for the first time in almost 2 years.
I know God will provide, but if he's ever going to test us, this is going to be the time. I've never been one to eat at home, and you wouldn't believe the accomplishment I feel having eaten the last 8 meals from home. That's huge for me.
Well, I will get back to you on the job front.

On other news, Andy's surgery went fairly well. There has been some improvement, but not nearly what they were hoping for.

Last night, we went to Barnes n Noble to let you play in the kids section, and we ran into Heather Zechman. She was the one who actually pulled you out into this world. It was great talking to her again.

Well, back to work, while I've got a job!!
I love you sweetie, hope you have fun with Daddy and Uncle Nick today.

Christmas yet?

Dear Lily,

What a little ham! You are such an independent already. This picture was taken last Monday at a park a couple blocks from the house. You had so much fun. I just love watching you play, and explore.

Today has been a day of reminicing. I just read all the blogs I wrote back in 2007. I can't believe It's been over two years since we first found out about you. I really get sad thinking of how fast it is going. Please don't grow up too fast. We just had another set of professional photos taken, and you look like such a big girl. You're almost 17 months old, but you're just growing up so fast.

Your Aunt Lauren has just started her prego blog. I am so happy for them. I wrote back in the October 2007 blog that they were pregnant, but sadly, God didn't think it was time. Hopefully in November of this year, another friend will be born. I am so thrilled to meet their little one and a new friend for you.

Today is a big day. Your Uncle Andy is going in to surgery today. He is going to have his spleen removed. Dear God, Please watch over him today. Guide the surgeons in all they do, and please make this a changing point in Andy's health for the better. I know they are warning him that this could be fetal to him, but I know that the outcome is all on you. You're in charge in that surgery and in his life. I pray that this day could be the beginning of a long healthy life for him. I pray too for Candice and Andy's Mom, who don't know that this is happening today. I just pray that you give them a sence of peace today and especially when they find out. I thank you for Chris' big heart. What an awesome friend to have to just sit and wait in the hospital for the whole day. Thank you for giving Andy a friend like that.

Another big event today is your ChaCha's Birthday. That's right, your Aunt Amy is 26 today. Happy Birthday Amy!!

Friday, your Daddy & I will celebrate our 5th Anniversary together. Wow, seems like a lifetime ago that we got married. I still love him more & more every day. He is such an incredible man. I am so blessed to have you both in my life.

Your Grandma and I talk via email every day at work, and today, the conversation was about decorating for Christmas. Is it too early??? It is already July, and we're going to start seeing Christmas stuff come out in another month or two. Welcome to the world of insanity. The people with white coats are looking to take us in.

I love you Lily Grace.

"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"

"so won't you be mine....so won't you be mine" ahhh, what a corny song from a corny but very respectable Mr. Rogers. Life always seemed perfect in the neighborhood of Mr. Rogers, but today, life was perfect in the life of Lily Grace. At least, I thought so. :)
Today, we went to Maymont. What a beautiful day it was in the park. We saw the farm animals, which honestly didn't seem to thrill you much. But, as we kept going through what seemed like miles of gardens we had such a fun time playing in the water, visiting the bald eagle, the black bear, the crazy people and other animals too. You walked most of it. I guess you're just getting too old to be carried or pushed in a stroller. It wasn't until the Japanese and Italian Gardens, when we me up with your Aunt Molly, that you let us carry you up the 200 stone steps. Man, I got my weightlifting in for the day. :) I know you're sill considerably small, but sometimes I forget how heavy you are.
It really was a beautiful summery day in the neighborhood.

Upcoming events:
Okay, I know you're going to be so anxious all night for tomorrow's big day, your first political event, the 2009 Gubernatorial Race. That's right hunny, I know you're looking forward to attending a meeting of the politcal minds in the primary race to become Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

A little more your speed will be Wednesday's event, when your cousins Claire & Kaylee will be visiting for the first time, along with your other cousin Mackenzie. It will be so nice to see them all together. Your Grandma Dah will also be here visiting for a few days.

Well, Goodnight hunny. I have no doubt you're sleeping well with a great deal of vitamin D you received today. "I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon...I love you in the evening, and underneath the moon. "

Happy Birthday Lily

Happy Birthday Lily Bug,

What a beauty you are at 1 year. Your First Birthday Celebration was done in style, with classy hats, a beautiful castle cake from your Aunt Laura, a traditional "Ice Cream train cake" just like your Daddy had at his first Birthday, and about 35 wonderful people who love you and wanted to share this special day with you. I think you were a bit overwhelmed with all the people in a tight space, we had it at our new favorite place, Cartwheels & Coffee. At one year, you started drinking from a sippy cup, even if it's not every time. You also want to feed yourself, as pictured above. You're actually quite the neat freak with food, I'm impressed and elated. You've also made some friends of your own that you meet up with Sunday's at the church Nursery. Above is Eamon Barras hugging you, a frequent site between you two. What a special day it was, with so many memories flashing by of the previous year. I know you won't understand this for a while, but I'm beginning to forget what life was like before you came. I know it was a good life, a great life actually, but still the past year has been absolutely amazing. Sure, the sleepless nights have not yet faded in memory, and the poopy diapers have definitely not faded in frequency or pungency, but all the same, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Shortly after your Birthday, you were diagnosed with your first ear infection. The first of two in a months time. You were diagnosed with your second ear infection just 2 hours ago. Common occurance, but please, don't feel you have to be common here.
You've also come down with a couple of colds in the past 3 months. Both requiring the use of a nebulizer, something you won't soon forget. Well, hopefully at your age, you already have forgotten. I would hate for you to hold a grudge on me for making you suffer through such treatments.
Yesterday we experienced a new thing for both of us. Something that today was diagnosed as Night-Terrors. It had to have been the worst 8 minutes of my life when you woke up yesterday from a nap, and didn't know who I was. Your eyes were open but glazed over. Your body was stiff, and motionless, your scream was torturing, and without meaning, and the look of terror on your face that you didn't know who I was had to have been the most difficult moments of my life. The diagnosis today confirmed that you were, in both instances that this occured yesterday, still asleep. You were infact, unaware of your surroundings and wouldn't recognize or realize where you were. The good news, if you don't mind me saying so, is that this was most likely caused by the on-set of the ear infection they discovered today. Hopefully, this will reduce the likelyhood of night-terrors being a frequent reoccurance. I'll try my best to heal you quickly of the ear infection, if you could promise to never have a night terror again. Maybe we'll just turn to God for both of those results.

I love watching you learn and grow every day. It's almost scary how much you pick up from us, without us teaching you. A couple of weeks ago, you were walking around here with a pad and a pen (holding the pen correctly and writing on the pad as you walked). We were joking that you were taking inventory. "(Alrighty then, this is the Chair, gotcha....next this is the table..okay got it)." Whatever you were thinking at that moment, I wish I knew. But, it sure is fun to try to guess.

Alright, more to come later, but just keep laughing. That sound is the most pleasurable sound in the world to me. I love you Sweetie.

Happy New Year

Lilybug,
Welcome to your first New Year!! What an amazing year 2008 was. It will go down in my history as the best!! Life has just never been so good, and I am so grateful for a beautiful, healthy and very happy Lily in my life. Sounds like a movie title "Lily in my Life". Maybe someday.

Well, I promised I would update you on Christmas. So here goes: Christmas Eve service was awesome. We sat in the front row of the Byrd so you would have the floor space to crawl around. Of course, you were the hit when every other attendee had to pass you by to take communion. Man the comments about the cheeks never end. Don't worry hunny, I was the same way. Most people call you a Gerber baby, and I wouldn't disagree with that. You are absolutely beautiful, and it doesn't take a professional photographer to make you so, but anyone who sees the photos thinks you are just so beautiful. Anyway, back to Christmas Eve. After service, Grammy Pam, you Daddy & Mommy and you went to Thai Diner Too in Carytown for dinner. We didn't leave without taking some photos of you infront of the Byrd though. That would turn out to be the last photo for a while. Long story, but with a very "Christmas Miracle" ending. The camera fell out of the stroller two minutes after that picture was taken, and 4 days later, your Daddy and I had exhausted all possible avenues, and ended our Sunday night taping posters to carytown about a Missing camera. Early the next morning, the Manager of Galexy Diner called to say he had the camera. Steven, an employee there, had apperantly found the camera minutes after we lost it, and had been hoping to find us to return it. We were so grateful, and they were so generous. It was truly just a miraculous moment. 200 photos of you in the Christmas Season were saved, and your Mommy's spirit was saved.
Okay, so on to Christmas morning, skipping the sad hour spent turning the house and car upside down to find the missing camera, we had a great time with you. I know you won't remember it, but your first Christmas present was a beautiful snowglobe, that says "baby's first Christmas". Of course, as everything, you just wanted to sense it with your teeth. :) You're next gift was the ABC drums. I thought you would love a toy that lights up and says the ABC's as you pound on it. That too went in the mouth. Everything else came from the Grandparents, including a rocking horse, a rocking girafe, a little pink riding car, a slide, two push carts, a wire bead thing, a huge jungle stand, and more clothes and books. Jeeze, you are so blessed with loving family. I really do hope that you will always appreaciate the gifts, but know in your heart that it is far better to give than to receive.
Dear God, Please bless my sweet Lily this year. May she continue to be healthy, happy, and a little adventurous in 2009.
Amen