Cuteness

Lily cried her eyes out again when I dropped her off at school today, but her teachers said that she had a great time. When I picked her up, I told her we would go to Andolini's for lunch. She said, "pizza." As we pulled into the parking lot, she said, "we're here, Andini's house."

As were eating, she picked up one of her mushrooms and said, "alligator, chomp, chomp." Sure enough, I looked at her mushroom and it looked like an alligator.

Congratulations James

Congratulations James on completing your first triathlon. James and Allan decided a few months ago to train for a triathlon. They signed up for one on Parris Island (in Beaufort) and completed it this Saturday. Out of 500 entrants, they both finished in the top third. James has been very dedicated to training, but also has worked so hard to not let his training interfere with family time. He trains early in the morning, nap times, lunch breaks, and after Lily goes to bed. I am very proud him for this big accomplishment. GO DADDY!

I think he has the bug now. He informed me he is signing up for the James Island triathlon, which is on June 15th. Hmm, isn't my due date on June 16th?

Lily's first Easter egg hunt

Our neighbors, Mills and DuBose, invited us to their second annual Easter egg hunt this past Saturday. We crammed three car seats in James' car and headed over with the Clums. Lily had a blast and very quickly caught on to egg hunting. Thank you Mills and DuBose for including us. You are blessed with a wonderful group of friends.


Margaret Anne and I resting before the big hunt.

Margaret Anne found her favorite spot. Those are goldfish if you can't tell.

Lily enjoyed sliding with Daddy.

The Easter bunny even showed up. Lily liked him, but wouldn't get close without Daddy.

They had over 1500 eggs scattered throughout the field.

The coaches are giving last minute pointers.

Margaret Anne is off. I couldn't get a picture of Abigail. She led the pack out and was very serious about her egg hunting.

Here goes Lily.

Found one





You mean there's candy in these things!

YUM

More please.

Margaret Anne enjoyed swinging while...

Abigail took inventory.

Wednesday Night Live

Every Wednesday night James, Lily, and I join our church family for dinner. We eat dinner, then Cameron does a small presentation which is followed by music. Lily loves going up front to sit with the big kids and listen to the music. She gives everyone a giggle after the song when she stands up, claps, and yells "yay" - she feels the spirit.

It warms me so to see Lily and Margaret Anne to sit up there with the other children and participate. Our babies are growing so fast right before our eyes. I love that Lily is so comfortable in this setting. We are blessed to belong to such a caring and nurturing church.

On the way home tonight, Lily rode with James. He said that she kept saying something about a hat. He said, "Lily, I don't have a hat." She very adamantly said, "Daddy, two hats right here" while pointing over the edge of her car seat on the backseat. James had forgotten he had put some hats back there to give away. It's a good thing our girl keeps us straight.


Lily is in orange, MA in pink


She sure does look comfy in front of an audience.

Well, I wish I could say that Lily was still as eager to go to school as she was that first day, but she has really developed some anxiety about school and Mommy leaving her. When we talk about school, she says, "No school, Mommy hold you me, Mommy go with you." Yes, just a wee bit of anxiety. She actually did a little better today with drop-off. She didn't cry until I put her down in her classroom. She hugged me bye and walked with her teacher to the play kitchen, crying the whole time, but at least leaving me. Her teachers say that she does really well most of the time and has a good time. Today was pajama day. They all wore PJ's and had pancakes for a snack. Lily's teacher said that she was a little crabby until those pancakes came out, and then she ate her fill and was quite happy the rest of the morning. My girl does like to eat.

I think Lily has been a little fragile these days because she is working on her two-year molars. At her two-year visit on Monday, her MD said that they were pretty swollen but had not cut through yet. She also is drooling a lot, which she only does when teething. I'm really hoping this is the reason for her recent tantrums. Whew, today we had two in a restaurant and one in the parking lot. Never thought that would be my sweet Lily rolling around on the floor of a restaurant while everyone looks on. Hmmm, do I seem to remember myself saying that I would never let my child do such a thing. Oops, guess I will eat those words now. It's a very helpless feeling, because the more you try to calm her or discipline her, the worse it gets. She basically has to get it out of her system, suck her thumb a moment, and then bounce back to herself again. James and I have been very spoiled, because Lily has always been great when eating out. I guess we are due for some drama. Hopefully, this will be a short lived phase. It has to be the teeth. I just know it's the teeth.

Despite the tantrums, she is doing some amazingly cute things these days. Having pneumonia made her a little more of a snuggler, and she will randomly come up and give me the biggest hugs and kisses. I just love it. She also comes up with some great one liners that James and I often find ourselves quoting to each other.

• "Mommy, hold you me" (when she wants to be picked up)
• "Beep, Beep, Miller's tail, Mommy's hand, couch..." (or whatever object may be her in way)
• "Daddy, no do that"
• "In five minutes" (when she wants to play longer)
• "oopsie daisy"
• "right there in the corner" (when asked where something is)
• "Lovey, are you me?" (when searching for Lovey)
• "6 months" (when asked how old she is)
• "one more time' (while holding up her finger)
• "oh my goodness, what happened" (while putting her hands on her head)

I amazed at how much she picks up on. You really do have watch everything you say. Last night I was talking to James and I didn't realize that I said our pediatrician's name. Lily jumped up and was saying something we didn't understand while putting her fingers in her ears. After a few repeats, we realized she was saying, "Dr. S. look in Lily's ears." We had no idea she was paying attention to us.

Pregnancy Update

I had another very good doctor's report today. I wasn't very optimistic going in because I have been fairly active the past week, and I've also been having some more contractions - not to mention crazy backaches. BUT, the ultrasound showed that my cervix was 36 mm long and firmly shut. I am now 25 weeks and 2 days. At this point with Lily, my cervix was 26 mm and softer. Thank goodness for progesterone. It seems to be the miracle drug for me. It doesn't stop the contractions, but I do think that I have less than I did with Lily and that it must make my cervix stronger. I still can't go crazy with a lot of physical activity, but I do have more confidence now. I've already made it 5 weeks longer than I did with Lily not on besrest. Now, I'm shooting for the whole pregnancy. Wow, what would that be like?!

I am so thankful to everyone for all of the prayers and kind thoughts. I feel truly blessed to have so many special people in my life.

Lily turns two!

I can't believe my baby girl is two years old already. This has been the fastest two years of my life. Lily continues to amaze James and I everyday. She will say something new, and we will look at each other and say, "did you teach her that." Yesterday she asked for a "pretty, pink napkin please" at lunch.

I have been amazed that the same week Lily turned two, she also started throwing tantrums. She throws herself flat on the ground then rolls around saying NO to everything in her way. It's actually quite funny to watch. I just ignore her, and eventually she figures out that the whole tantrum thing wasn't too much fun. I think she is still recovering from pneumonia and having a major growth spurt. Surely this behavior is caused by something physical and not just because my little angel is now two (let me live in my dream world).

Lily had two little parties this year (only fitting for a two year old), one up in Chapin and one here in Charleston. We celebrated at Mimi and Papa's the weekend before Lily's birthday.

Austin helped Lily open her presents.


She was able to coax everyone into her new house that Kami, Richard, Adam, and Austin gave her. This present was huge hit.

Lily got a kick out of everyone singing happy birthday to her.

Who taught this girl to blow out candles like that. Must be some kind of human instinct.


YUM, CAKE



We didn't do too much on Lily's actual birthday. We went shopping and then to lunch with Cekine(Caroline) and Margaret Anne. We had dinner at church, and Lily enjoyed hanging out with the big kids. We later played in the playroom with some play food that we gave Lily to go with her new kitchen. We didn't give her the kitchen until her party the following weekend, but she had a blast with all of the food.







On Sunday, we celebrated Lily's birthday here in Charleston. I had planned to have a small party at our house with just family. As we got closer to Sunday, I began to feel bad that Lily wouldn't have many little friends at her party, so in very poor etiquette, I last minute invited a few friends from church. They joined us for a fun afternoon with pizza and cake. Lily woke up rather cranky from her nap, but soon came around and enjoyed all of the excitement.

Margaret Anne and Lily performing Ring Around the Rosie for a captive audience.

Sharing a snack with my sweet girls.

Lily enjoyed the toys on the cake more than the actual cake.




Lily was so excited about her cake. We had been talking about it all week. This girl knows what to do with candles. She blew them out as soon as I put the cake in front of her. I had to relight them after we sang Happy Birthday.

Lily wanted to try all of her new hair bows. Such a girl

Lily clapped her hands and ran to her new kitchen when Daddy and Aunt Nette brought it out.

Lily had a lot of helpers with opening her presents.





Thank you to everyone for sharing in this special day with our sweet little girl.