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
