Sunday, July 31, 2011

Just a Little Note...

I put Lorelai down for the night around 7:30-8:00pm. She falls asleep by herself pretty much all the time now. (She hasn't liked my rocking her to sleep for months now.) It's a good routine really, she drifts off while I go from room to room cleaning up her trail of toys and stuffed animals. I then clean dishes, bottles, and bath-time things. Once I sit down and check my email and have a chance to relax, I find myself missing her cute little face already.

Good thing I get to go in and peek on her as many times as I want ;) Before I know it she will be waking me up with coo's and sighs; and the minute I turn that corner she will give me that sweet smile. : D

I love my Lorelai ♥

M LEWIS

Saturday, July 30, 2011

8 Months

Yep, little Lorelai is 8 months old already!

We don't go to the Dr. again until September so no new stats on height and weight...but let me tell you, she is getting big!
You know how infant carseats have a base you snap into when in the car, and then snap out of to carry the little baby around with you? Well, she is sooooo heavy in that now. My arm seriously can't take it. I only do it if she is sleeping now. Her naps are still a little unpredictable so if she is sleeping, I don't dare wake her unless I have a pretty well-thought through plan. She has been taking more and more naps in her crib *hooray* but they are not usually easy to come by. She is still sleeping through the night...and I am so grateful!
She is eating 3 full meals a day along with bottles and snack time. Her new favorite food to share with mom and dad: ice cream! She loves it...though in cone form she is a little confused.
No teeth. Not one. I didn't have any until after 9 months, so we'll see if she'll take after me in that respect. She does take after her daddy in the feet department though. I could tell from day one but lately it has been more evident. We tried on shoes (sandals) earlier this week...her little puffy foot couldn't even fit in some styles! It was cute...and her face showed she wasn't enjoying the process. I think she was born in the right season. When she loved to cuddle with blankets it was cold out, and now she hates shoes and clothes which is ok since it's so hot out. Hopefully she will transition again when it get cold again...if it gets cold again.
She is crawling like a pro and pulling herself up on everything. Which has led to interesting baby proofing ;)

There is more, but she is waking up from her morning nap, so I better go!

M LEWIS

Sunday, July 24, 2011

House Update

No pictures, but my dad graciously changed out some of our fixtures today. We bought a chandelier for the dining room so we could take the ceiling fan that was there and put that in the family room. The fan that was in the family room went in the trash for numerous electrical issues. Anyway, it looks great and I am very pleased with it all. We still need to upgrade the foyer light sometime in the next couple months, and fix the back porch light, but we should be pretty set for lighting soon.

We also finally decoded the existing alarm system and I am so excited about that. Last night around 1 am Phoebe woke up growling and barking at something at/near our bedroom door. Our bedroom opens up to the main house and I was getting nervous that maybe something was going on out there that shouldn't. I woke up Chris and he checked the house while I checked Lorelai. Everything seemed fine but it still spooked me. After saying a little prayer I was seriously wishing we had a working alarm. Luckily Chris fixed it all in the morning and we are good to go in that department.

Chris also cleaned up the garage (I was going to wait until it got cooler but he doesn't mind the heat as much). There he found dozens of lizard eggs! Yuck. You know that scene in Jurassic Park when Professor Grant finds the hatched dinosaur eggs in the forest? The look of horror that washes over him when he realizes the dinosaurs found a way to breed? Yeah, that was my expression....though my results aren't as deadly. I know, I know, people have been trying to tell me it's a good thing: "they're cute," "the eat bugs," "they're harmless;" say what you want, I dislike them immensely. Over half of them were already hatched and Chris relocated the others...but I seriously do not want dozens of little lizards running around my house and pooping on the walls...yeah, Chris discovered their bathroom spot. So hopefully they will stay outside and not venture in.

Our flagpole is still frustrating me, you'd think our house is anti-American the way it rejects every way I have tried to fix the darn thing. I meant to ask advice from my dad...maybe next weekend.

And now that I have just discovered an ant crawling on my face, I think I will call it a night...for this post anyway.

I hate summer and their creatures. >:-\

M LEWIS

Friday, July 22, 2011

Little Touches

I got this bowl, candle, and green apples all at Hobby Lobby. With 50% sales and 40% coupon I got all of it for pretty cheap, and I think it gives our kitchen table a complete look. :) Just thought I would share!




M LEWIS

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Spiffed Up

Even though I truly love my previous layout pattern, I need something new.

I think this is pretty cute and summery...not that I like summer. Speaking of which, oy, could it get any hotter?! I am hating every day and that is not a healthy way of living. I CANNOT wait for fall! I want crisp air, warm jackets, comfortable boots, yummy hot drinks, pretty leaves, and cozy blankets. There is nothing appealing to me about summer. The only good thing about summer was the break from school, and that hasn't been a benefit for me for years.

Once the weather cools off I want to clean out and organize the garage, paint the front door, plant some landscaping material, and put together a guest room. I think we have enough old furniture to do this. I do enjoy updating and upgrading things for the house. Decorating and designing is a fun hobby for me. Oh! And I also need to fix my flagpole mount. That stupid thing has given me more frustration then its worth. All I wanted to do is fly the flag in the front yard...and every other day the mount has found a new and annoying way to pop out of the mortar. *sigh*

Alrighty, on with my day. Hope you all have a good one!

M LEWIS

Thursday, July 14, 2011

One of Those People

I have been trying to transition Lorelai from taking naps in her swing to taking naps in her crib. I would say about 85% of the time Lorelai does pretty well. I turn on her CD player that has her beloved lullaby Queen music and plop her her down in the crib. She has about half a dozen soft toys and snuggle items in there with her along with a mobile decorated with birds and flowers.
Now I can't just put her down and walk away, usually I have to go through the steps of my naptime "routine."
This involves closing the blinds, placing her favorite stuffed lamb by her face, plugging in a pacifier, and then the most ridiculous of steps:
I can't just walk out of the room. If she sees me leave, she screams; so I have to drop down to the floor like I am picking up something...and then I just don't get back up. I wait for a few seconds to see if I prematurely exited her eye sight. If there are no cries I then start to maneuver to the door like one of those plastic army soldiers. Once I get to the door I rise to my knees and quickly scoot out into the hall. After I leave the room without cries or screams I am usually in the clear.
Today I worked my routine and then proceeded to get dressed. I checked on her about 10mins later expecting to seeing a slumbering baby girl, instead I saw her sitting up in her crib quietly playing with her toys. The music was still playing with its light, cute little melody and it provided a sweet little soundtrack to LEL's playtime. It was so heartwarming. I backed out slowly so I wouldn't disturb her...after all, it is not often Lorelai entertains herself so easily.
She is getting so big! At 7 1/2 months she has developed so much! I look at newborn pictures of Ava and think "That wasn't so long along" but in reality, Lorelai stopped being a newborn at 2 months. She hated being held like a baby, she wanted to face upwards and outwards. She even quit nursing at 3 months and rather have a bottle instead. Now, she is a pro in her walker, rolling around like nobody's business and she is practically crawling and pulling herself up on anything she can grab.
She is still very much a baby but I look at her newborn pictures and then look at her now waving, clapping, and trying to say "hi" to everyone and I think...I am one of those people now. One of those people who look at little babies and say:

"They grow up so fast, don't they?"

As LEL continues to grow I know I will feel this more and more...and that's when I will being talking to Chris about having another baby, haha. That is still at least a year away, don't anyone think I am trying to make any sort of announcement here!!! I just wanted to reflect back on my little girl's little journey...and the path that lay in front of her. I love my Lorelai ♥


M LEWIS

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Baby Update

Jen had her little girl yesterday! Late afternoon, Ava Grace was welcomed into the world by loving parents Jen and Travis. I very much look forward to meeting the precious new addition to their family. Mom and baby both doing well!

...Now if technology will just work with us so we can get a picture...hmmmm.

;)

M LEWIS

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Baby Love

So my friend Jen went into labor...yesterday? Anyway, it has been like 36 hrs since I got the word and I am dying to know more! I have been getting small updates from our mutual friend Victoria, but still, I want like all the technical info so I can try to bet when she will actually deliver!
Jen was my made of honor and she got married in June of last year; she found out she was expecting several months later...around the time I delivered LEL. She then learned months later she was having a little girl, and I have been so jazzed about it!
Even though I have a 7 month old myself I still like rewinding back to when I was about to have Lorelai. I like to remember the hospital room (yes, I am one of those weirdos that LIKE the hospital), the monitors, the anticipation, everything was so...life-changing-ly wonderful. Forgive the awkward wording there. ;)
Now, I didn't enjoy the pain or the initial recovery, but seeing her emerge into the world was beyond awesome...and I mean awesome in the truest sense of the word.
I remember her little cries, her foot print ink, her perfectly wrapped swaddle...she was perfectly perfect.
I guess in my own way I want to hear news on little Ava's arrival so I know Jen just experienced all of those wonderful little moments...so I know she just became the happiest person in the world, someone's mommy.

Still my favorite commercial (I get teary-eyed every time):

M LEWIS

Monday, July 11, 2011

Hello Stranger

I feel I have been lacking in the blogging department...rightfully so, but still, I like to keep up with my projects.

A lot has been going on, nothing too new, but it has kept us busy. Since my last post I have finished painting the main rooms of the house. *phew* A lot more time consuming than I thought...and more of a work out too. My next room to paint is Lorelai's room (aka the nursery). The plan is to have her room be the "baby room." When she is older and we decide to have another baby, LEL will move to one of the other rooms on the other side of the hall and the new baby will move into the room, because it is the only room next to the master. I plan to paint it a light blue and accent it with pink and other "girly" things. That way it is easy to transition back if we have a boy later. Anyway, I hope my design plan comes out super cute and a place LEL will like for years to come. :)
We have also recently (like, yesterday) changed the kitchen faucet. Now, when I say "we" I really mean Chris and my Dad. I am so thankful my dad is nearby and can help tutor us on all these little projects we decide to embark on. We still have a lot we want to change and upgrade, some will need assistance but I think we are getting a hang on this homeownership thing. ;)
Two weekends ago was Independence day, and Chris and I had a lot of fun, and to my surprise, Lorelai did too! Don't get me wrong, it was painfully hot, but the festivities were great and I am glad we could partake on them. I am not sure why, but it is important to me to pass along the importance of holidays to Lorelai. I LOVE holidays and their traditions and I want LEL to grow up loving them as well. The family comes together and celebrates...what could be better? I very much look forward to this Christmas. Sure, LEL's first Christmas was last year, but considering she was 3 weeks old, I think we both kinds missed out on the traditional Christmas celebration. I also am excited about Halloween and her 1st birthday! :D :D :D
Speaking of babies, my friend Jen was due last week and I am sooooo anxious to hear about her progress! She is also having a little girl and I hope Lorelai and Ava will be good little buddies.
Also, I am planning for Lorelai's introduction into the Christian faith. My good friend, Maggie's, husband is a youth minister and we are all getting together soon to plan the ceremony. I know, I know, I am a little late with this, but we had a lot going on for awhile, and we had a lot of family out of town and such...so...we are doing it soon, and I think it will be a small but very sweet dedication for my little girl.

 I hope to update again soon...and not wait so long, but we'll see! Hope you all are having a great summer...and not melting out there! (I CANNOT WAIT FOR FALL!)

M LEWIS